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Dominican Republic: Informe Preliminar de Situación No.28 por Sistema Frontal 6:00 pm (19/11/2016)

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Source: Government of the Dominican Republic
Country: Dominican Republic

Destacados

  • Se mantienen 6 Provincias en Alerta Roja y 8 Provincias en Alerta Amarilla y 10 en Alerta Verde, debido a la incidencia de un nuevo sistema frontal.

  • Se mantienen las operaciones de Evacuaciones obligatorias en las provincias en Alerta Roja y Amarilla.

Situación*

Continúa sobre el país la incidencia del sistema frontal, el mismo ha mantenido casi toda la geografía nacional con un cielo bastante nuboso y a esto se adiciona un nivel de humedad elevado, condiciones propicias para que continúen generándose lluvias que serán localmente de moderadas a fuertes, aisladas tormentas eléctricas y ráfagas de viento, hacia gran parte del país, con mayor intensidad y frecuencia sobre las regiones noreste, noroeste, norte, sureste y el Cibao central


Haiti: UNICEF Haiti: Humanitarian Situation Report on Hurricane Matthew #14, 19 November 2016

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Haiti

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Early data from MSPP indicate that 651,177 individuals received cholera vaccination in the targeted campaign that took place in the Departments of Grand’Anse and South. The campaign had a delayed start in Grand’Anse, and was therefore extended to 18 November.

  • Vaccinations took place in medical facilities throughout the 16 communes. In areas where the health facilities remain closed as a result of hurricane damage, teams went into neighbourhoods, administering the vaccine door-to-door, providing hygiene awareness at the same time.

  • UNICEF supported 1,709 teams, including with visibility, training, and megaphones for alerting communities to participate in vaccination campaign. Each team consisted of: 1 vaccinator; 1 recorder; 1 megaphone operator to alert the neighbourhood of the vaccination campaign arrival; 1 hygiene promoter to emphasise preventive measures such as proper hygiene to avoid infection from cholera or any other water-borne disease.

Iraq: Iraq Education Cluster Mosul Humanitarian Response Sitrep No 6: 14 November 2016

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Source: UN Children's Fund, Save the Children, Education Cluster
Country: Iraq

Key figures

 19,552 IDP children are estimated in need of education services following their displacement from from Mosul.

 2,342 displaced children (1078 girls) are currently enrolled in 13 TLS established in Qayyarah Jad’ah, Khazer M1 (MODM) and Khazer U3.

 22 teachers have been trained on PSS and EiE, majority of whom were trained in Al Hasudiya and Hasansham.

 17 TLS with education learning materials currently stored at a partner’s warehouse in Dahuk as part of prepositionining supplies, the tents will be established in Amala camp.

 8 Rapid assessments have been completed by the Education cluster partners with support from DoE and UNICEF majorly in Daquq, Quyyarah Jed’ah and Quayyarah Aistrip.

Iraq: More support needed as Mosul, Iraq displacement grows

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Iraq

HASANSHAM, Iraq– When displaced Mosul resident Fawzi Mohammed and his family finally reached safety at this camp in northern Iraq, he broke down and wept.

Given a tent, a hot meal and a chance to clean up after a harrowing flight from Iraq’s embattled second city, his sense of security is returning for the first time in years.

“We feel stable now,” he said. “My neighbour Abo Mostafa got his own tent too. So, we are a settled family now, and I’ve just had my shower.’’

Just over a month since the start of the Mosul offensive, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners have been intensifying life-saving, emergency assistance for tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis like Mohammed and his family.

They are among a rapidly-growing number of people fleeing since fighting intensified in the more densely-populated urban areas of Mosul. Of the 60,000 people who have fled their homes since the start of the campaign on October 17, around 40,000 have done so since the start of November.

‘’It’s very important for every family to have their own shelter, because nobody knows how long they will stay in this camp,” Hawre Abdullah, a field officer at Hasansham camp explains. “So, because of that, at UNHCR, we are trying our best to find a shelter per family.’’

As winter looms across northern Iraq, UNHCR is stressing the need for sustained funding support and a redoubling of efforts to reach the growing number of people displaced by the fighting in and around Mosul – many of whom now live in rudimentary conditions in camps.

Thanking donors for their support for those fleeing Mosul, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards on Friday (November 18) highlighted the urgent need for “additional resources to support the tens of thousands living in miserable conditions.”

Close to half of those fleeing Mosul are children, according to UN data and UNHCR surveys, and more than half are women and girls, including many female-headed households.

UNHCR currently has six camps open, hosting well over 14,000 people and with a capacity for 54,600. Three more are under construction and one is in planning. All told, the 10 camps will have capacity for 17,000 plots.

Speaking at a news briefing in Geneva on Friday (November 18), Edwards said additional land is required for UNHCR’s total planned plots, in order to provide shelter for 120,000 people in camps. “If needed, UNHCR and its partners, including the Government of Iraq, can potentially host 700,000 people, including a number of shelter solutions outside of camps. But funding for this is crucial,” Edwards told reporters.

With partners, UNHCR is providing life-saving protection and assistance to newly-displaced families, making sure they have adequate shelter, and basic household items including mattresses, stoves, kitchen and hygiene sets and jerry cans. So far, more than 5,705 emergency relief packages have been distributed by UNHCR.

“With temperatures declining, the focus is on protecting people against the weather and keeping them safe and warm,” Edwards said. “We plan to reach 1.2 million people in Iraq with special winterized kits including blankets, heating stoves, plastic tarpaulins and water and kerosene jerry cans. UNHCR is also providing cash assistance and plans to winter-proof 53,000 tents.”

UNHCR is also bolstering protection monitoring and psychosocial and legal assistance through mobile teams to ensure timely interventions when problems are identified. Among the main concerns are family reunifications, supporting female-headed households, a lack of documentation and assisting victims of abuse.

As more families, like that of Mohammed, flee Mosul, Edwards again stressed the need for all parties in the conflict to respect the rights and lives of civilians, and emphasized the importance of freedom of movement for residents of Mosul.

“We remain deeply concerned about the plight of civilians and — at the end of the first month of the campaign — call for international humanitarian law to be upheld.”

Myanmar: Myanmar health authorities struggle to prepare for Zika outbreak

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Source: Reuters - Thomson Reuters Foundation
Country: Myanmar

Myanmar health ministry slashing anti-virus measures due to lack of funds and overworked doctors skipping check-ups

  • Overworked doctors skip scheduled pregnancy check-ups-govt

  • Pregnant women in the dark about risks of contracting Zika

  • Little evidence of public health campaigns in hospitals

  • Zika spreading in Southeast Asia; new cases in Thailand, Vietnam

By Shwe Yee Saw Myint

YANGON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Myanmar is largely unprepared for an outbreak of Zika, experts say, with the health ministry slashing anti-virus measures due to lack of funds, overworked doctors skipping check-ups and pregnant women saying they are in the dark about the dangers.

Read more on the Thomson Reuters Foundation

Syrian Arab Republic: All hospitals in East Aleppo out of action -health directorate

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Source: Reuters - Thomson Reuters Foundation
Country: Syrian Arab Republic

"This destruction of infrastructure essential to life leaves the besieged, resolute people...without any health facilities offering life-saving treatment ... leaving them to die."

  • US demands immediate end of bombardments

  • Observatory says at least 27 killed on Saturday

  • Assad's military, Russia deny targeting hospitals (Adds US condemnation, death toll from Saturday bombing and Doctors Without Borders comment)

By Angus McDowall

BEIRUT, Nov 19 (Reuters) - All hospitals in Syria's besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo are out of service after days of heavy air strikes, its health directorate and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, though a war monitor said some were still working.

Read more on the Thomson Reuters Foundation

Syrian Arab Republic: Implementation of Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014) and 2258 (2015) - Report of the Secretary-General (S/2016/962) [EN/AR]

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Source: UN Security Council
Country: Iraq, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic

I. Introduction

  1. The present report is the thirty-third submitted pursuant to paragraph 17 of Security Council resolution 2139 (2014), paragraph 10 of Council resolution 2165 (2014), paragraph 5 of Council resolution 2191 (2014) and paragraph 5 of Council resolution 2258 (2015), in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to report, every 30 days, on the implementation of the resolutions by all parties to the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic.

  2. The information contained herein is based on the data available to United Nations agencies on the ground, from the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, other Syrian sources and open sources. Data from United Nations agencies on their humanitarian deliveries have been reported for the period from 1 to 31 October 2016.

Box 1 Key points in October 2016

(1) A unilateral pause in the aerial bombardment of eastern Aleppo has been largely in place since 18 October, providing a welcome respite to residents. The United Nations, together with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and Syrian non-governmental organizations, continues to work to urgently provide humanitarian and medical assistance, including evacuating the critically injured and sick from eastern Aleppo.

(2) In October, seven inter-agency convoys delivered assistance to 285,500 people in besieged and hard-to-reach locations, of a total of 962,000 people (29.6 per cent) requested under the inter-agency convoy plan.

(3) Following a comprehensive review by the United Nations, it was estimated that, as at 1 November, some 974,080 people were living in areas under siege, up from 861,200 in the previous report (S/2016/873).

(4) The United Nations and health partners received credible reports of 25 attacks against medical facilities and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) verified three attacks against educational facilities in October.

(5) The sick and injured living in Fu‘ah, Kafraya, Madaya and Zabadani continue to require urgent medical evacuations and assistance, but, owing to disagreement among the parties to the Four Towns agreement, these have been further restricted. This resulted in the death of a 13-year-old boy in Madaya on 29 October.

II. Major developments

  1. Throughout October, military operations continued to kill and injure civilians, destroy civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and schools and damage the livelihoods of millions. Attacks against educational facilities were particularly notable, killing and maiming scores of children. Insecurity remained a major factor limiting the ability of United Nations agencies and their partners to deliver much - needed humanitarian assistance. Heavy fighting continued nationwide, including in Aleppo, Dayr al-Zawr, Hama, Idlib and Rif Dimashq governorates.

  2. Eastern Aleppo, where some 275,000 people have been trapped since July, remained a particular focus of aid efforts. Following the announcement of a halt in all Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo on 18 October, the United Nations, together with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and Syrian non-governmental organizations, was ready to urgently evacuate the critically injured and sick, together with their family members, from eastern Aleppo to locations of their choosing, as well as to provide much-needed assistance. Humanitarian teams engaged in intense negotiations with all sides in an effort to undertake the evacuations before the pause ended on 23 October. Those efforts notwithstanding, the evacuations did not take place and were obstructed by a number of factors, including delays in receiving the list of patients to be medically evacuated from the local authorities in eastern Aleppo, conditions stipulated by non-State armed opposition groups and the Government’s objection to allowing medical and other relief supplies into the eastern side of the city. Despite the Russian-declared end of the pause on 23 October and initial reports of air strikes, the only further air strikes on eastern Aleppo reported during the month occurred on 31 October (see table 1 for information on reported attacks against civilians in October). Efforts to secure medical evacuations out of and deliver assistance into eastern Aleppo are continuing.

  3. On 28 October, non-State armed opposition groups announced a new campaign to break the siege of eastern Aleppo and continued their heavy shelling of western Aleppo. On 30 October, the building housing United Nations offices and staff in western Aleppo was damaged by a shell.

  4. Efforts were also undertaken to prepare for fresh displacement following the launch of operations to combat Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Mosul, Iraq, on 17 October. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees expanded space and prepared for the provision of necessary services in the Hawl camp, Hasakah governorate, near the Iraqi border, for some 15,000 refugees and is planning further expansion to meet the basic needs of a total of 50,000 refugees. There are currently 4,600 refugees living at the site, in addition to some 3,500 internally displaced persons. UNICEF is also providing additional support. To date, however, there have been no reports of significant new cross-border movements.

  5. Following a period of reported clashes and heavy shelling and bombing, on 1 and 8 October, government representatives and a negotiating committee representing non-State armed opposition groups reached local agreements with regard to Qadsayya and Hamah, Rif Dimashq governorate, respectively. Subsequently, on 13 October, some 1,400 individuals from non-State armed opposition groups from both towns were evacuated to Idlib governorate along with their family members. On 19 October, as part of a local agreement with regard to Mu‘addamiyah, Rif Dimashq governorate, some 1,800 non-State armed opposition fighters and opposition-affiliated local council members were evacuated to Idlib governorate along with their family members.

  6. Disagreements over the implementation of a local agreement with regard to Wa‘r, Homs governorate, in relation to the release of detainees resulted in the routes into and out of the town being closed on 18 and 22 October, respectively, with an impact on the movement of goods and people. While movements have since resumed, negotiations are continuing on a number of issues, including the release of detainees, final destination points for evacuees and humanitarian access. There are also disagreements over the implementation of the local agreement of 24 August with regard to Darayya, Rif Dimashq governorate, which included the evacuation of the entire town, in relation to the agreed release of detainees.

World: Near Verbatim Transcript of the Press Conference by Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General, 18 November 2016

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Source: UN Department of Public Information
Country: Central African Republic, Colombia, Haiti, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, World, Yemen

Geneva, 18 November 2016

Deputy Secretary-General: Thank you very much. I hope I can be a little bit personal to begin with because this is my last visit to Geneva as the Deputy Secretary-General and in fact this is my last visit outside of New York before the end of my term. I leave with Ban Ki-moon, as you may understand. I find it very fitting and very appropriate to have my last trip abroad going to Geneva. It will become a sort of a full circle in my diplomatic life. I was here, briefing media in this room 28 years ago, when I was leading negotiations as a personal representative of the Secretary-General on Iran-Iraq. I had a flashback when walking back here. I didn’t feel 28 years younger, but I said certainly I’ve been here before. As David Chikvadze knows, who was my colleague in those days, I was the head of OCHA, in those days called Department of Humanitarian Affairs – DHA. I was the first emergency relief coordinator between 1992 and 1994. The division of labour was very much in favour of operational activities being run from Geneva, so I was a frequent traveler across the Atlantic and spent much of my time in Geneva, working with humanitarian agencies here and also the NGO community, and my friends at the ICRC. That was a very intensive period, including situations in Somalia and Sudan. Then I came here several times in 2005-2006, as the President of the General Assembly, and had very close relationships with Member States. And now as the Deputy Secretary-General I have been here at least five-six times, to brief about the Sustainable Development Goals, Human Rights Upfront initiative… all that to make an important point that Geneva and New York are like Siamese twins, we are very closely related to each other. I have great respect for all the work done here. I feel all the time the dynamics of the UN growing more strongly if we are working closely with other UN capitals, of course Geneva as major one, Vienna, The Hague and Nairobi of course. I want to say that personally I spent most of my time in Geneva and New York and I want to thank you also, the press corps, for your constant interest in different aspects of our work at the United Nations. We have our success and our failures, and I can enumerate them, if you want, at the end.

For the time being, I can only say something about two things:

Yesterday I was in Brussels practically the whole day for a conference on the Central African Republic. I visited the Central African Republic less than two weeks ago, and it is a country in a very critical situation, but with some hope of turning the tide. There is the Government led by President Touadéra, which is very much aware of the need for peace and reconciliation, and the international community is giving strong support to this Government in its efforts to bring peace and security. We have a force there - MINUSCA - trying to play its role, although it is difficult, particularly in a country with practically no roads. Unfortunately, there is still violence between different groups there – ex-Seleca and anti-Balaka who are still fighting. It is very important that the tendencies for reconciliation will go stronger. I had meetings both with the Government and different groups in the opposition, including some of the fighting groups. We see positive trends, but there are still some elements of instability. So, the international community yesterday sent strong signals on supporting the peace and development efforts: 2.28 billion USD were pledged yesterday to support the Central African Republic – joint effort by the European Union and European Governments who were leading the meeting yesterday; behind the appeal, there was hard work done by the United Nations and, not least, the World Bank. The pledging document was produced by the European Union, UN and the World Bank, which is a solid paper, and good reason we got this great amount of money. It is important that all parties implement what is intended – both in terms of increased security and in terms of serious efforts for reconciliation.

The second issue is that I just finished the briefing with Ambassador Ramzy. Staffan de Mistura is on travel, but I met with Mr. Ramzy and his team, and discussed the situation around Syria, and it is of course a very troubled, serious situation, and the humanitarian needs are urgent. We have not had access for a long period to Eastern Aleppo and we are definitely running out of food, and it is a hugely critical situation.

At the same time, we know and you know, the fighting is going on; there is a lot of fighting between different parts of the city. There had also been attacks from the air, but it is being disputed from where they come. One thing we know, as you heard from the WHO, shocking news that five hospitals have been hit, and I felt for a long time that we have a serious decay, serious disregard of the international humanitarian law. And to now see so many examples of such attacks against hospitals, schools… is, of course, a complete disregard of the Geneva Conventions, and it is a very, very serious development. The aim is, of course, as always, to reach a reduction of violence, cessation of hostilities, first of all long enough for us to carry out serious humanitarian work, but also, of course, to prepare the ground for political talks. For the time being, we have no signs that these talks are imminent, even though some countries meet in the so-called “Lausanne format”. I am sure that there will be continued considerations about political process. My absolute conviction is that there is no military solution, you’ve heard that before, and the best way to come forward is to reduce the level of violence, make sure that we can do the humanitarian work we want to do and people need, and that we can start the process of political reconciliation with some form of a transitional governing body leading up to constitutional work and in the end elections and peace for Syria as whole.

This would be my introduction, but I am willing to look back at the successes of my five years here, and even going back to Ban Ki-Moon’s ten years, and also talk about our failures and disappointments.

Question: I have two questions. The first one, regarding Syria, with the Trump administration coming soon, are you concerned that the incoming President seems to be very cozy with Russia, and that this may change the situation on the ground there? Russia says it is fighting ISIS, but apparently a lot of fighting is against rebel groups. Could the situation turn worse if, in fact, the US administration becomes a closer ally of Russia in Syria? And the second question has to do with Mr. Trump’s opinion of the United Nations, which is not very flattering. I believe he said “What good is it? We don’t need it, let’s get rid of it.” What is your reaction to that? Is it a serious thing? Is the UN in danger of survival? He could even take away contributions or a lot it, and deal a blow that way.

DSG: Thank you very much, I will start with the second question. Mr. Trump has been elected in a democratic process and he is the incoming president of the United States. United States is a founding member of the United Nations. In fact, the first three words “We the peoples” have corresponding words in the US Constitution – “we, the people”. The United States has been a pillar and a main contributor to our work in all areas from the beginning, including peacekeeping operations, humanitarian action, human rights, the rule of law. I am working on the premise that the United States will continue to work with the United Nations, not only because to me it is the right thing to do, but also because it is in its enlightened self-interest, particularity of larger nations. Peacekeeping is an institution, an element that can help ensure that there was a neutral party rather than direct military involvement by major powers. The American people are very compassionate, and I am sure that they would like to have children vaccinated; for humanitarian crises we have a machinery in place. I am sure that Americans, of whatever political colour, would like to see comprehensive work done on dealing with terrorism in all its aspects, and there we also have a machinery in a broader sense. Americans have also been eager about election monitoring. I can continue like this, but the point is to say that all these issues are in the interest of all Member States, including the United States. So I suppose we will start a dialogue, in due time, with the new administration, and stand up for the values of the United Nations and hope that they will draw that conclusion.

I can’t deny that there is some concern on some points, including one on the direction we are going in the work on climate change. It is absolutely crucial we accept it as an existential threat. Three years in a row we have had the world’s highest temperatures, and we have to accept our own responsibility for our children’s and grandchildren’s future. I think the trends are very strong in moving towards renewable energy, reducing emissions according to the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November. The Agreement is not in danger, but, of course, if Member States don’t live up to the intentions and commitments of the Agreement, we will have trouble, especially if it is a country the size of the United States. So we hope very much that there will be a commitment to the work on climate change.

The other area where we have some concerns, and we hope very much that we will have positive indications is the area of migration and refugees, which is a new and a very important element on the global landscape, and where we hope we can live up to commitments in the New York Declaration on 19 September about the way forward on refugee and migrant movements. The third element is even more relevant – the commitment in that document accepted by all countries, including the United States, that we must carry on the campaign against xenophobia. So these are issues where we will particularly focus our attention. But we are a value-driven organization, the Charter is the basis for our work, and we hope very much that the United States will continue to work in that spirit as a partner. There may be discussions on certain issues, but we hope that in the end the conclusion will be that it is a mutually rewarding relationship between us.

On the issue of Russia, I think we still are still in a speculative stage. There are discussions about a different type of relationship between Russia and the United States. Practically always it is good news if there is an improvement of dialogue between the United States and Russia, as it has been a rather tense period. On the other hand, it is very important that agreements reached don’t negatively affect other parties or just solutions to different issues. This is an area where that type of discussions is relevant in the case of Syria, where we know very well that both the United States and Russia are interested in fighting and dealing with terrorists. But, on the other hand, it is important that nobody, including the United States and Russia, lose the perspective that we need to have a fair perspective of a political process and that should not be deserted or left behind.

Question: In your meeting of Mr. Ramzy earlier, when you said “we are nearly out of food” , can you be more specific, because Jan Egeland had indicated last week that the food had run out. Do you have an update on that? On what you just said, you mentioned concerns regarding xenophobia vis-à-vis the President-elect of the United States. Can you spell out exactly what you mean by that? Do you think he is promoting xenophobia, or that is the attitude shared by his supporters? What do you mean exactly?

DSG: Unfortunately, Mr. Egeland was not there today so I did not get a detailed briefing. I would simply characterize it as a critical humanitarian situation. Mr. Egeland said already last week that they were running out of food, and Mr. Ramzy just confirmed it to me - every day it is getting more serious. I don’t have more details but to say that it is a horrific situation inside Aleppo. You add to that five hospitals bombed, and imagine the conditions under which human beings live – it is just unbearable. I can only underline it is a hugely critical situation.

What I mentioned is that in the so-called New York Declaration on 19 September on migration and refugees, there were three chapters: one on refugees, one on migration, and one on importance of dealing with problems with xenophobia around the world. It is the Member States who will be implementing these programs. The more serious aspect coming from the meeting in New York was that we have seen that refugees and migrants are now seen by many as problem and peril rather than possibility and potential, and that we don’t recognize that in migration.

Let me give you the figures: 244 million international migrants, 65 million displaced people, 40 million internally displaced, and 25 million refugees – those are the figures. It is a huge number of people. We should not disregard that migration is a very important factor in economic growth. The International Monetary Fund and the OECD have both concluded that without migration we would have far lower growth figures, not least in Western world. In some cases we would also have negative demographic growth without migration. Remittances from migrants are three times as high as all official development assistance in the world, so imagine the effect on development if migration did not take place. And lastly, on a personal note, we need to be reminded of the strength that comes from diversity, I would even go as far to say the beauty that comes from diversity. Most of our nation states have minorities, different groups of ethnic and religious background, and in Africa in particular tribal backgrounds. And the health of the nation is based on good relations between these groups. Those countries with the biggest problems in the world today are those divided along ethnic and religious lines. I think one of the most dangerous trends in the world today is to divide people in us versus them, they put a lower quality on “them”, and the higher quality on “us”. That goes completely counter to the basic values principles of the United Nations. We hope very much that we will not continue to identify those outside, those different as the problems in our society. And that, I think, is a huge challenge for all of us today.

Question: With Donald Trump as President, who said he wants to cut contributions to the UN, and the US is the biggest contributor, what are your concerns if that happens, and what would that mean for the UN concretely?

DSG: We have constantly discussions with Member States about contributions – these are among the most difficult conversations every year. So it is nothing new. We hope we won’t see any drastic cuts. We know that when this goes through Congress, there are some voices against and some in favour. When they weigh in effects of different programmes which are of definite interest to the United States, in the end we usually come up with sufficient funds. For the standing of multilateralism, it is important we don’t see these drastic cuts. We also need to stand strongly for international cooperation and the value of international cooperation, and that we don’t have inward-looking tendencies. Going into loans would be a more expensive and a more dangerous proposition. So, it would not be wise of me to take it for granted that such cuts will take place. Unfortunately, I can only argue for this until the end of this year. I was in Washington two days before I came to Brussels, and I discussed this with different people in Washington, but not with the incoming administration. There has been the first contact between Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and President-elect Trump. I have personally met Mr. Trump earlier in my roles both at the UN and as the Ambassador in Washington, and at that time I did not discover such a hostile attitude to the United Nations.

Question: You started this press conference talking about your 30-year commitment to the UN and you have been talking about this awful trend. We have seen two major elections, where people voted for more isolated life, and it is growing, and we can have more radicals, not only in the UK and the US, but also in Germany, France, where right wing parties are gaining space. What do you think happened? Why did people lose trust?

DSG: Well, it is a bit presumptuous for me to do an election analysis or even an election forecast. Those of us who believe in international cooperation and the openness to the outside world understand that we as nations are part of the world, but also the world is part of our nations. We who have view of openness need to be very good in formulating a positive narrative. I think we have too much fear in today’s world, spread by terrorists, of course, but also there are political forces who use and exploit the sense of fear. When people are scared and feel uncertainty, they tend to simplify and look inward. That is one of the explanations why you see this growth and moving towards inward and not outward, and identifying forces outside as a problem. And therefore, I think that, basing my values on how I grew up in my own country, the values given to me by my parents and the society… I am enormously and strongly influenced by this Charter which I have carried in my pocket since 1980. Just read the preamble of this Charter and you see it all – we have to fight that the scourge of war will not explode in our face, we have to see the equal worth of all human beings, without any discrimination, we have to work for social, economic justice in larger freedoms, it says here – all these values worth fighting for, standing for. We need to have a convincing narrative in the national electorates. And that, I think, is a challenge for everybody. I, as a European, feel very strongly that we see how the political map has changed that much under the influence of migration and refugee flows in the last few years. I think we need to go back to the sources and ask ourselves which kind of world and which kind of values we want our children to grow up with.

Question: In Yemen, Sir, there was meant to be ceasefire going into effect yesterday. There are some disputes on whether Hadi will be part of it. What is your understanding and do you have any hope for a real cessation?

DSG: The situation in Yemen is deeply troubling. We are working very hard to start a serious political process. We thought we had made a qualitatively important step forward with the talks in Kuwait. Unfortunately the mistrust between the parties is very deep, and the fighting is going on to a tragic degree. We have had an enormous destruction of the country. We don’t have the exact figures of people dead, it is difficult to estimate, but it is over 8,000, huge numbers of the wounded, and the infrastructure destroyed in an already poor country. When this war broke out, I said to myself that I hoped we can finish it soon. My experience is that it is harder and harder to end conflicts the longer they go on. I wish the Security Council could have concluded a binding resolution in 2012, when Kofi Annan proposed a formula of a transitional governing body. But the world missed that opportunity. At that time, by the way, ISIS did not even exist. In the case of Yemen – I think the last I saw from New York before I left, was that the Houthis had accepted going to the talks on the basis that our mediator suggested. I saw another report that President Hadi did not accept this. We are working very closely with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region who can influence the situation. We have discovered stronger and stronger views that this has to come to an end. But we have to bring them back to the negotiations table. For the time being, we are not able to say that both sides accept it.

Question: Could you elaborate a bit on the Sustainable Development Goals and how do you think they will play out, given your experience with the MDGs? Do you have any views on why measuring corruption did not make it into the targets to be measured?

DSG: I am glad you asked that question. I have a pretty wild portfolio to oversee at the United Nations, both the political, peacekeeping, human rights area, but also the development area. When it comes to the humanitarian side, it is pretty much bad news, with some exceptions. But when it comes to development, I really want to say to you that if I want to look back in a good mood, I look at what was done last year. If you add up the Sendai Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Conference on Financing for Development, the SDG agreement on 25 September, and the Paris Agreement at the end of the year, I don’t think we have ever built a stronger foundation for the road forward in development, if we do it right and if Member States live up to these aspirations. The Goals are completely different from those in 2000, when most discussion was about official development assistance, and I remember people talking about donors and recipients. And if you now look at what constitutes the parts of development, you see a number of aspects: technology, trade, sustainability through energy, transport, housing… It is a completely different view, and the Goals are finally universal. Back in 2000, they were not universal, except for Goal 8 on partnerships; the others were directed only towards so-called developing countries. Now everyone has to do the work. We are all developing countries from the point of view of sustainability. The Goals are as applicable to the rich countries as they are to the poor countries; the Goals are very well prepared and mutually reinforcing.

I have worked very much, as you may know, with water after seeing children dying of diarrhoea in the 1990s. If you do water right, you reduce child morality, improve maternal health, improve gender equality, because women and girls are most affected by that. You, of course, also reach extreme poverty and education. The new Goals relate to each other: health, education and so forth. The Goal that touches your question on corruption is Goal 16, which speaks about the need for peaceful societies, access to justice and inclusive, effective institutions. One of the targets under this relates to good governance. The discussion on corruption was under that Goal. I can tell you that, if you want to have good institutions, which is a goal in itself, you have to make sure that corruption is effectively fought. Corruption is a poison in the body of any country, and a huge issue to be taken extremely seriously. Without healthy and strong institutions, it is extremely difficult not to have a demoralized society.

If I may be personal, since this is my last press conference with you, I can tell you that Sweden, which was one of the poorest countries in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s. My family was part of that. My aunt died of tuberculosis. We lived in one room. I was the first one to have more than seven years of education in my family; my mother had four years of education. I asked my father what was it that brought Sweden to be so prosperous, as it seemed to me as an 18-year old boy. He said three things: in the 1930s we borrowed money and built railroads, roads, schools, hospitals, which in the end constituted good public sector for our country; second, we introduced a strong education system, which made it possible for every boy and girl to study free of charge all the way through to university; and then thirdly, we trusted the people who ran our cities, our states, and they did a good job; corruption was non-existent, and we gladly paid for what it cost. And something that sounds completely incredible today: in the 1950s the party that promised higher taxes won the elections twice.

Question: Follow-up Sir: why can Transparency International measure corruption and the UN does not have a measure to do that among its Member States and the institution? It fell of the table during MDG discussions as well. Why is it twice in 15 years that it happened?

DSG: If that is the case, I can tell you: we are extremely grateful that Transparency International is so good at publicizing their figures. So please give me the list and I will use it as much as possible, especially after 1 January.

Question: On South Sudan, the resolution to stop selling to South Sudan was vetoed by Russia, not sure if it was also vetoed by China. The argument that was given was that selling arms to a country does not affect peace or anything of that sort. Do you agree and how do you react to the loss of this resolution? What needs to be done to get this country out of its terrible conflict?

DSG: I worked with Sudan and South Sudan for so many times from the humanitarian perspective and was a humanitarian envoy for Darfur in 2007-2008. I travelled frequently to the south, where I met the then Vice-President Kiir and Riek Machar. I spent a lot of time in Sudan and South Sudan. And I am very sad to see that the situation has developed as it has. There was great promise in the declaration of independence, and with them starting as a new nation. Many of us felt that there was a deep tension in the country, not least between the Nuers and the Dinkas. It is hugely tragic; it is one of the worst situations we deal with right now, in terms of security and humanitarian situation. We have growing problems in different parts of the country. We think it is very important that we have a very effective peacekeeping operation. For four months, we have heard discussions about an increase and how that increase should be proposed, but no conclusion unfortunately. I certainly believe that arms flowing into any country in conflict is a negative factor. I would hope that the discussions are still going on both on possible bans of travel for certain individuals, and discussions on arms issues. On the side of the United Nations, we have been truly in favour of closing the arms trade, which is a very negative, damaging element in an already troubled situation.

Question: Mr. Ban ordered an inquiry into the attack on the humanitarian convoy near Aleppo. Could you tell us where it is and provide an update? What action do you expect to come from that? South Sudan seems to highlight the systematic weakness in the whole Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Do you have any sense if discussions have identified a way forward for dealing with the peacekeeping operations?

DSG: Only a few days after it happened, the Secretary-General decided to set up a board of inquiry, which is a very serious process for exceptional cases. It took us two weeks to identify key people for the Board. We now have a five-person Board of Inquiry. They are in the area and working on it. We know that it is a difficult mission, because access is very difficult and we know, of course, that the manipulation of evidence can take place and disappear. They will do their absolute best and they are instructed what they can to find out the exact circumstances under which this horrible event occurred. An attack against a humanitarian convoy constitutes, without any doubt, a war crime, and it is absolutely crucial that we get as much information as possible. If we identify who was behind this attack, we will, of course, from our side, want to see it out in the open. And we will decide what to do after that. This issue would probably be of interest to bring to the Security Council, and then let’s see what happens at the Council. But it is still hypothetical.

On the second question, I am glad you asked it. I have dealt with peacekeeping since 40 years back. Sweden, by the way, has had 90,000 peacekeepers through the years. It is a different composition of forces today, with the biggest contributors being India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, some Latina American countries. The basic challenge for peacekeeping today is what I recall as a given in all peacekeeping: we were a neutral, impartial body and we were accepted by all parties and we were peacemakers and could move freely. That is not the case anymore. If you look, for instance, at the worst case in Mali, where we have lost over 60 peacekeepers, we are seen by certain groups as a problem, even as an enemy. This means that we are in a slightly schizophrenic situation, coming to warlike situations, while peacekeepers are not trained to be combating war. At the same time, we need to demonstrate that we are robust enough to protect civilians. That has been a challenge, including in South Sudan, Congo, Central African Republic, where sometimes IDPs were attacked. In some cases the peacekeepers were courageously there and in others not doing the job that we would expect. It is a huge challenge. I myself was in a situation when the IDP camps were attacked in 2014, and we decided to simply take in all IDPs in our camps. In some cases we had 25-30-50 peacekeepers behind with the mob outside. We did this in the spirit of the Human Rights Upfront initiative, which places emphasis on protecting civilians. Looking back at that decision, it could have been easily turned into a huge disaster. But then there were other cases where it did not happen; a recent investigation into South Sudan has led to draconian steps taken against the Force Commander. In the Central African Republic, there was this horrible sexual exploitation and abuse taking place, we asked the whole contingent from the Democratic Republic of the Congo not to take part in the peacekeeping operation. So, peacekeeping operations are under strain because in so many cases we are not seen as neutral and impartial and we are becoming targets. The protection of civilian component becomes even more difficult with the massive numbers of IDPs and limited numbers of peacekeepers. And, as I said earlier, this grown disregard and neglect of the international humanitarian law, those conducting violence don’t seem to understand that they are conducting war crimes… So it is a number of complicated factors that make peacekeeping much more complex and difficult than from what I recall from 30-40 years ago.

Question: You mentioned corruption and I want to touch upon its impact on social programmes. You mentioned Sweden, but in other places, such as Brazil, the situation is very different. Just this week two former governors were arrested. The stadium where the world applauded the Olympic Games was a centrepiece of a huge corruption scandal. What do you say that this should be either as an impact to fight against poverty, or can this be of impact, either by giving good news that these people are finally in prison, or by showing that actually this money that should have gone to social programmes or anything else ended up in bank accounts in Switzerland?

DSG: I can only speak from the UN perspective: every effort to fight corruption has to start with national and even local efforts. We set the guidelines and I very much sympathise with Transparency International’s guidelines. We have to be very strict on this. It is very important that the Member States and the institutions actually realize the importance of fighting corruption. A propos one of your questions earlier on what brought about this change when you mentioned elections, I think one very basic issue in today’s world is there is a lack of trust in the institutions, whether it is governments, the European Union, the United Nations. If the institutions don’t deliver good results, then people lose trust, and then people turn to others, who are completely outside of politics and who are appealing to their ethnic or religious identities. They are giving up. Therefore, I think, in the enlightened self-interest of anyone chosen to lead a country or who has taken power, corruption is a way to maintain trust and stay in power and have continued confidence in elections. I really would like to connect corruption to the diminishing trust factor in today’s world. For me, it is just a shame to see how money disappears from those who need it and goes to those who don’t need it and don’t deserve it.

Question: UN is also monitoring the ceasefire in Colombia? How do you see the next months in that regard? How could the ceasefire proceed in the light of the new agreement, which is to be accepted either through a new referendum or a vote in the Parliament. And which way would you recommend in order to get the best outcome?

DSG: I am not really completely briefed on this as I have been traveling for the past five days. But I was very heartened to see that there is a revised agreement to which both parties have agreed, and in consultation with those who were critical of the original agreement. I will not advise the Colombian Government as to which process they will do to make sure that there is broader support in Colombia. We have great admiration for President Santos and his work and work of his colleagues. The Security Council has given a full blessing to all efforts – a rare show of unity. We hope very much that there will be an agreement accepted by both parties, and I hope that President Santos can go to Oslo and have it become a reality and not only a stated intention.

I want you to know that one issue on which I worked very hard with a group of colleagues and at the request of the Secretary-General, was to develop a new approach to Haiti and cholera. I see that as very important. For a long time the United Nations had to wait for a decision of a US court that we had immunity, but we now want very much to send the message to people of the world and Haiti, that we are in solidarity with the Haitian people, and we would like to join Haitians in the process of the eradication of cholera. Almost 10,000 people have died of cholera. The country has been struck with an enormous earthquake, with almost a quarter of a million people killed, and then you had a cholera epidemic, thirdly a monstrous Hurricane Matthew. We feel now that we would like the international community support for this approach: 200 million USD to fight cholera and another 200 million USD to reach those who were affected by the cholera outbreak. We will try to find the best way possible, based on community support, to reach those directly affected. We want to send a message of deep regret and apology to the Haitian people. That is something that the Secretary-General and I want to do before we leave, and it is very important, in my view, for the reputational view of the United Nations. We can both have strict legal positions, claiming immunity, otherwise we would be very limited in peacekeeping and humanitarian actions in the future, but the United Nations also has to be on the side of compassion. We need to show the Haitian people a real practical sense of compassion and solidarity. We hope that the Secretary-General will outline this position in his speech on 1 December.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.


Niger: West and Central Africa: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (15 - 21 November 2016)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Central African Republic, Niger, Nigeria

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

DONORS PLEDGE OVER US$2 BILLION

Donors on 17 November pledged US$2.28 billion for he country’s National Plan for Recovery and Peacebuilding during a conference by the European Union and the CAR Government in Brussels. The funds are meant to support the country’s efforts to restore peace, security and reconciliation as well as promote development and economic recovery and support the ongoing humanitarian assistance. CAR is still struggling to emerge from the devastation of conflict triggered by a 2013 coup. Violence attacks continue to erupt across the country, causing new displacements and complicating humanitarian operations.

NIGER

SOME 1.9 MILLION PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE

Around 1.9 million people, including 340,000 in the conflict-hit south-eastern Diffa region will need humanitarian assistance in 2017, according to the Humanitarian Needs Overview published on 19 November. Assistance will focus on food security, nutrition, the displaced and those rendered vulnerable by natural disasters and epidemics. Some 1.3 million people are food insecure and nearly 1.2 million children require nutrition assistance.

RIFT VALLEY FEVER MORTALITY DROPS

The mortality rate in the Rift Valley Fever outbreak in Tahoua region has declined from 50 per cent at the beginning of the epidemic in August to 14 per cent currently, according to the Ministry of Health. From 7 to 13 November, 36 new cases and no death were recorded. The new cases bring to 227 the total number of cases, including 32 deaths. Among other control measures, the authorities have been urging people to bury animal carcasses, handle infected animals with care and avoid drinking raw milk.

NIGERIA

TEAM DEPLOYED AFTER IDP ABUSE REPORTS

The Government on 14 November deployed a team from the Office of the National Security Advisor to the President following allegations of abuse of women and girls in displacement camps in the country’s northeast. The move follows the deployment of some 100 female police officers to camps to ensure the protection of women. Male officers are now restricted to camp entrances and surroundings to provide general security. Last month, Human Rights Watch reported sexual abuse of women and girls in camps by security officers.

ATTACKS ON THE RISE IN MAIDUGURI

After a three-month lull, Boko Haram gunmen have stepped up attacks targeting camps hosting the displaced, military positions and public places in Maiduguri, the capital of the north-eastern Borno. No fewer than seven suicide attacks have been reported since late October, three of which targeted IDP camps. On 18 November, an explosive was detonated near a police post, while another suicide bomber targeted the federal high court complex. A third assailant was arrested while trying to detonate his explosives. Six people including two security agents were killed in the attacks.

Syrian Arab Republic: Stop bombing schools and hospitals, says UNICEF

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Syrian Arab Republic

Statement attributable to Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF MENA Regional Director

AMMAN, 21 November 2016 – “It has been a horrific week for Syria’s children – living and dying under the relentless bombardment of schools, homes and hospitals.

“Hospitals in eastern Aleppo and Idlib were targeted while attacks on schools in Aleppo and Ghouta left nine children dead.

“We saw footage of children being treated for asphyxiation in eastern Aleppo. Moments later, al-Bayan hospital is shelled, and terrified mothers carry their children to a basement while sick infants are taken out of incubators to be rushed to safety.

“There are no more working hospitals in eastern Aleppo, where more than 100,000 children are trapped under siege and heavy bombardment with dwindling access to food and medicine.

“They need these hospitals to stay alive.

“Children should not be dying in hospitals because of bombs and they should not be dying in schools.

“In western Aleppo two schools were attacked, leaving eight children dead and many more injured. In one school, a fourth grade class was practicing a dance routine when a mortar fell in the school yard.

“At al-Qarma primary school in east Ghouta near Damascus, a girl was reportedly killed and at least 15 injured when the building took a direct hit. The 10-year-olds were in a mathematics lesson.

“In Idlib, an additional two schools were hit with three children injured.

“This year, the UN has documented 84 attacks on schools across Syria, with at least 69 children losing their lives and many others injured.

“Parties to the conflict must stop bombing schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure – actions which are against international law and may amount to war crimes.

“There are few words left to express our outrage. We wonder if all those who are responsible have words left to justify these attacks on children.”

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About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org

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For further information, please contact:
Toby Fricker, UNICEF Syria, tfricker@unicef.org +963 (0) 950 044 274
Farah Dakhlallah, UNICEF MENA, fdakhlallah@unicef.org +962 7 9760 9270

Niger: Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre: Aperçu humanitaire hebdomadaire ( 15 – 21 novembre 2016)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Central African Republic, Niger, Nigeria

REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE

PLUS DE 2 MILLIARDS DE DOLLARS PROMIS

Le 17 novembre, les donateurs ont promis 2,28 milliards de dollars pour le Plan national de relèvement et de consolidation de la paix lors d'une conférence organisée par l'Union européenne et le Gouvernement de la RCA à Bruxelles. Ces fonds sont destinés à soutenir les efforts déployés par le pays pour rétablir la paix, la sécurité et la réconciliation, ainsi que pour promouvoir le développement et la relance économique et soutenir l'aide humanitaire en cours. La RCA peine toujours à surmonter la dévastation causée par le conflit déclenché par un coup d‘état en 2013. Des attaques violentes continuent d'éclater à travers le pays, provoquant de nouveaux déplacements et compliquant les opérations humanitaires.

NIGER

QUELQUE 1,9 MILLION DE PERSONNES ONT BESOIN D’AIDE

Selon l’Aperçu des besoins publié le 19 novembre, environ 1,9 million de personnes, dont 340 000 dans la région de Diffa au sudest, auront besoin d'aide humanitaire en 2017. L'aide sera axée sur la sécurité alimentaire, la nutrition, les personnes déplacées et celles rendues vulnérables par les catastrophes naturelles et les épidémies. Près de 1,3 million de personnes souffrent d'insécurité alimentaire et près de 1,2 million d'enfants ont besoin d'une aide nutritionnelle.

BAISSE DE LA MORTALITÉ DE LA FIÈVRE DE LA VALLÉE DU RIFT

Selon le Ministère de la Santé, le taux de mortalité de l’épidémie de fièvre de la vallée du Rift dans la région de Tahoua est passé de 50% au début de l'épidémie en août à 14% actuellement. Entre le 7 et le 13 novembre, 36 nouveaux cas et aucun décès ont été enregistrés; portant à 227 le nombre total de cas, dont 32 décès. Parmi les mesures mises en place, les autorités ont exhorté les gens à enterrer les carcasses d'animaux, à manipuler les animaux infectés avec soin et à éviter de boire du lait cru.

NIGERIA

DÉPLOIEMENT D’UNE ÉQUIPE APRÈS DES RAPPORTS D'ABUS

Le 14 novembre, le gouvernement a déployé une équipe du Bureau du conseiller en sécurité nationale auprès du Président suite aux allégations d'abus de femmes et de filles dans des camps de déplacés au nord-est du pays. Cette décision fait suite au déploiement d'une centaine de policières dans les camps pour assurer la protection des femmes. Les officiers de sexe masculin sont maintenant limités aux entrées des camps et aux environs pour assurer la sécurité générale. Le mois dernier, Human Rights Watch a signalé des agressions sexuelles contre des femmes et des filles dans des camps par des agents de sécurité.

HAUSSE DES ATTAQUES À MAIDUGURI

Après une accalmie de trois mois, les hommes armés de Boko Haram ont intensifié les attaques visant les camps accueillant les déplacés, les positions militaires et les lieux publics à Maiduguri, la capitale du nord-est de l’État de Borno, qui accueille près d'un million de déplacés. Pas moins de sept attentats suicides ont été signalés depuis fin octobre, dont trois ont visé des camps de personnes déplacées. Le 18 novembre, un explosif a été détoné près d'un poste de police, tandis qu'un autre kamikaze a visé le complexe judiciaire fédéral. Un troisième assaillant a été arrêté alors qu'il tentait d’amorcer ses explosifs. Six personnes, dont deux agents de sécurité, ont été tuées dans les attaques.

Syrian Arab Republic: Eastern Aleppo without any hospitals for more than 250,000 residents

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Source: World Health Organization
Country: Syrian Arab Republic

WHO statement

More than 250,000 men, women, and children living in Eastern Aleppo are now without access to hospital care following attacks on the remaining hospitals over the last week. According to reports to WHO from the Organization’s partners in Syria, there are currently no hospitals functioning in the besieged area of the city.

Although some health services are still available through small clinics, residents no longer have access to trauma care, major surgeries, and other consultations for serious health conditions, despite urgently needing this care. This further suffering is imposed on a population that has had only precarious and steadily declining access to health care for the past five years, as the conflict has brought relentless damage and destruction to health facilities. The situation has become critical since aid has been impossible to deliver to the besieged city since July 2016.

WHO once again urges all parties in the conflict to respect the safety and neutrality of health care facilities as required by international humanitarian law.

WHO’s Representative in Syria, Ms. Elizabeth Hoff, will address the United Nations Security Council on Monday to provide an update on the health situation in the country, at the invitation of the Council.

For more information, please contact:

Fadéla Chaib
WHO Department of Communications
Mobile: +41 79 475 5556
Email: chaibf@who.int

Christian Lindmeier
WHO Department of Communications
Telephone: +41 22 791 1948
Mobile: +41 79 500 6552
Email: lindmeierch@who.int

Chad: Chad: Bulletin MSF n°1 - novembre 2016

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Source: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Chad

DANS CE NUMERO

P1 MSF répond en urgence aux cas suspects d’Hépatite E à Am Timam dans la région de Salamat

Qui sont les Médecins Sans Frontières?

P2 Nos activités au Tchad

Interview: Une psychologue panaméenne dans la zone du Lac

Les enfants de Dr. Uli

P3 Les déplacés du Lac

P4 Lutter contre la malnutrition à Bokoro

P5 Interview Dr Rony Brauman: On soignait tout le monde, civils comme combattants

P6 MSF au Tchad en chiffres

Haiti: UNESCO assessing urgent needs in restoring education after the Haiti hurricane

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Source: UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Country: Haiti

UNESCO is working to restore education for children and youth following the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.

The hurricane, which hit the southern parts of the country on 4 October 2016, has disrupted education for more than 100,000 children, with over 770 schools affected, 150 of which are currently being used as shelters.

In the worst affected areas 90 per cent of houses have been destroyed and there has already been a rise in the number of cholera cases and people facing severe food insecurity and malnutrition as the majority of crops are destroyed.

UNESCO joined partner UN agencies and the Haitian Government in the aftermath to launch a Flash Appeal aimed at raising US$119m funds to reach the immediate needs of 750,000 people. Within the appeal UNESCO made a US44.3 million proposal focusing on the resumption of education activities in secondary schools, vocational training and tertiary education institutions in the seven most affected departments.

Physical and mental rehabilitation go hand in hand

Mr Paul Gomis, Head of UNESCO Haiti Office, said: “We have five main priorities: rehabilitation of schools from roofs to desks and furniture, kits and school manuals, disaster risk reduction, cholera health education and psycho-social support.

“We are very aware in this kind of emergency, that physical rehabilitation and psycho-social support go hand in hand. It is of little use to restore buildings if people are left severely traumatised.”

To address immediate difficulties related to secondary education UNESCO is supporting the Ministry of Education with rapid and light rehabilitation of the affected school infrastructure, distribution of school equipment, and coordination, assessments and information management activities.

Mr Gomis said: “Schools are not only urgently needed so that children can have some routine restored in their lives and continue learning but the buildings themselves are needed as shelters. Last week we had two full days of rain which meant that people already with no roof over their heads were hit again. And school buildings are also needed as polling stations for the elections which were due to take place but were suspended by the disaster.”

The second phase of UNESCO assistance involves participating in a detailed and comprehensive Post Disaster Needs Assessment.

Restoring education is one of the vital signs of recovery after a natural disaster. It allows communities to restart their daily lives and re-establish livelihoods while children and youth benefit from a return to routine and continue building the necessary capacities to ensure a strong foundation for their future.

As one of the primary partners of the Ministry of Education in the sectors of Teacher Training, Revision of Curriculum, Vocational training/informal education and Higher education, UNESCO Port-au-Prince is focused on providing sustainable support to education while at the same time reducing vulnerability to future disasters.

UNESCO supports the Worldwide Initiative for Safe Schools, which advocates for long-term resilience of the education community, an important aspect in a country which is among the most exposed to disaster risks.

UNESCO has been supporting the Ministry of Education in integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into the formal education system including standardized training tools and training of school directors and teachers on risks and best practices. It is currently providing assistance in the evaluation of vulnerability of over 100 schools in the Northern departments of Haiti and implementing public education and awareness activities.

UNESCO hopes to widen the array of its longer-term activities to the affected territories and adapt its education response to the specific needs of the most vulnerable communities reducing their exposure to disaster risks and ensuring prompt recovery in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

South Sudan: South Sudan: ‘Human health depends on a healthy environment’

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Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development
Country: South Sudan

ACTED’s presence in South Sudan has been visible since 2007 due to the implemented projects in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), as well as general food distribution. ACTED South Sudan is also known for its role in camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), as well as food security and livelihoods of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and influx of Sudanese refugees in Maban.

The December 2013 war in South Sudan forced civilians to seek protection in UN compounds across the country. Over 150,000 people have been displaced due to the conflicts and are living in protection of civilians (PoC) sites in Bor and Juba.

Richard, a senior water, sanitation and hygiene officer, thinks that human health depends on a healthy environment. He said he feels perturbed seeing people suffering, and is unable to help them as an individual. The presence of humanitarian actors prompted him to join aid work, especially the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. Richard said he enjoys working on ACTED’s WASH projects because the work covers a wide variety of hardware application activities. Therefore, he is able to learn and specialise in various aspects of WASH project implementation and complex water supply networking systems, including hand pumps.

Richard’s most rewarding moment while implementing a WASH project was building the capacity of the local population and community members he is serving to maintain the facilities by themselves. Currently, WASH activities in the camps, in terms of water supply, are relatively stable. The average water consumption per person per day stands at 19L/P. Richards say that he and his team are still looking forward to improve that average consumption figure.


Somalia: Garowe Mapping Exercise (May 2016)

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Human Settlements Program, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Vision, Shelter Cluster
Country: Somalia

BACKGROUND

Garowe (Somali: Garowe ),is the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland region in north eastern Somalia. Garowe is located in the Nugaal region, and is the seat of the Puntland parliament, presidential palace and government ministries. A fast-growing city, it has also evolved into a local media and cultural hub.

UNHCR reported in 2012 that Garowe hosts around 10.000 internal displaced persons, but the latest official estimate is outdated. IDP settlements in Garowe are very protracted (some more than 15 years) and have fewer intentions to go back to their places of origin. The existing IDP settlements have expanded and grown since the last estimate due to droughts, the recent Yemeni crisis (with many Somali refugee-returnee families have come), rural-urban migration and other displacement options. Therefore, UNHCR is funding a registration exercise in all existing IDP settlements in Puntland led by the government and starting in Garowe. This will help to get an updated number on the internal displaced populations that are residing in the urban centres.

This fact-sheet presents an analysis of primary data collected by NRC, UNHCR, WVI, OCHA DRC, UNHABITAT, CARE and the Garowe local authority during the month of May 2016. The collection of data was closely supervised by the Shelter Cluster in Somalia.

The objective of the infrastructure mapping exercise is to provide a useful and timely ‘snap-shot’ of the IDP settlements in Nugaal Garowe region, Garowe district and in the city of Garowe, with a main aim to map out the basic services that IDPs can access in their respective settlements. This factsheet does not aim to provide detailed programmatic information; rather it is designed to share with a broad audience a concise overview of the current situation in this area. In total, 2571 gps points were taken during the exercise, of which facilities.

Settlements in Somalia generally are divided into numerous ‘umbrellas’. Each umbrella is made up of multiple IDP settlements. Umbrella leaders are responsible for the oversight and management of the settlements. Each of the settlements generally have an elected leader or ‘gatekeeper’ responsible for multiple IDP settlements and landowner engagement. Settlements in Somalia are often divided by natural land boundaries belonging to one or more landowner.

The report takes into account several key limitations in the collection of data:

  • Due to budget restrictions and the short time-scale, general data on each settlement was collected through one or two key informant interviews (KII).3 32% of all KII were female.

  • Due to security restrictions and the capacity of field staff, the methodology used for average shelter density was limited to 0 case-studies and random sampling in the other settlements.

  • Data collected may reflect both IDP and host community needs.

  • Other approaches based on probability sampling, including cluster and area sampling4, were considered but were not used due to budget restrictions and non-availability of updated Satellite imagery. Emphasis was given to collecting reliable GPS data for the perimeter, density and facility purposes, which resulted in less representative data at the household level.

Chad: Chad: Providing Support for Mothers and Children

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Source: Médecins du Monde
Country: Chad

Chad is a landlocked country in the Sahel region of north Africa that is largely made up of arid and desert landscapes. Although it is the continent’s 5th largest nation in terms of its geographic area, the people of Chad face a variety of health issues. These issues are exacerbated by the fact that many live in rural areas with little to no access to healthcare. Compared to the United States, where the average life expectancy is 79, the average life expectancy in Chad is just 54 years for women and 52 for men.

In 2015, our Doctors of the World teams provided 1,711 medically supervised births and over 44,170 obstetric consultations for expectant mothers. Some of the leading causes of death for women in Chad are complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Since 2009, Doctors of the World has been working in the Kanem region, where pregnant women and newborns receive very little medical care, especially in rural areas.

Women often have to walk several hours to reach a health center or to see one of the few doctors in the country. As a result, many women die during childbirth without having received any medical attention. For every 100,000 women, 1,100 die during childbirth and only 4.8% of women use any form of contraception.

Lack of access to healthcare is one of the most challenging health issues confronting the people of Chad. Many women and children do not seek medical care or treatment due to the long distances they have to travel. To address this, our teams equipped local communities with horse carts in order to transport patients more quickly and efficiently. Using the carts greatly reduces the time and effort required to reach a center, enabling women and children to seek care more frequently.

Giving birth in Chad can be extremely risky. Caesarians are rare, and labor can often be obstructed or prolonged due to malnutrition. The difficult labor process can leave women with cases of obstetric fistula that can dramatically impact their wellbeing. These complications can lead to chronic incontinence, which severely impacts women’s personal lives and can result in them being ostracized from the local community.

In order to reduce the dangerous consequences of prolonged and ill-equipped labors, our team has recruited and trained midwives in addition to refurbishing the birthing rooms inside rural health centers. We also provide women suffering from obstetric fistula with medical care and psychosocial support.

Since 2015, Doctors of the World has worked with Action Against Hunger on advocacy in the health districts of Mao, Mondo, and in Mao City. We have worked in over 47 health centers and in Mao’s regional hospital, where we raise awareness among young adolescents about health related issues such as maternal health, the prevention of HIV, the transmission risk between mother and child and the importance of vaccinating new-born babies against disease. Throughout the region we also organize family planning activities and information sessions.

Iraq: Iraq: Newly renovated intensive care unit opens at Sulaymaniyah emergency hospital

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Source: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Iraq

The newly renovated intensive care unit (ICU) in Sulaymaniyah emergency hospital was officially opened on 19 November. It has 10 beds, including two in an isolation room with strengthened infection control measures for the most at-risk patients. "This hospital is very important to the people of Sulaymaniyah Governorate and neighbouring regions, as it is the main referral facility for the severely ill and injured, says Jonathan Henry, MSF's head of mission based in Sulaymaniyah. The renovated ICU is in use since Thursday last week and was officially inaugurated on 19 November.

Sulaymaniyah emergency hospital is the only trauma facility in Sulaymaniyah Governorate treating all people with acute medical and surgical illness. Over the last two years, there has been a significant rise in the hospital's catchment population (currently over 2.5 million people) due to the influx of internally displaced people from neighbouring conflict zones. MSF has been working in Sulaymaniyah emergency hospital since January 2016, with the aim of reducing patient mortality rates by improving quality of care in both the ICU and the emergency department through improved patient care and structural renovations.

"We treat people injured in road traffic and domestic accidents, as well as war-wounded. The Sulaymaniyah emergency hospital also treats patients referred from other areas including Kirkuk, Ninewa and Dyiala governorates. MSF aims to provide quality healthcare for all patients," says Henry.

The MSF medical team (one ICU doctor and nurse, and one emergency room doctor and nurse) is working alongside staff from the Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Health to deliver improved quality healthcare to patients, through the provision of clinical expertise that includes theoretical and hands-on trainings. This includes an ICU and emergency room induction programme for all nursing and medical staff; implementation of safe trauma and intensive care with evidence-based standards, protocols and guidelines; and implementation of infection control policies. When needed and in case of a stock-out in the hospital, MSF also supplies drugs and medical equipment.

Between January and September 2016, 250 patients were admitted to the ICU and over 25,000 patients were admitted to the emergency room.

MSF has worked in Iraq intermittently since 1991 and currently employs over 700 Iraqi and international staff, working in projects in 12 governorates. In order to ensure its neutrality, impartiality and independence, MSF does not accept funding from any government, or international agency for its programmes in Iraq, and relies solely on private donations from the general public around the world to carry out its work.

Iraq: Iraq: As fighting intensifies, MSF bolsters response around Mosul

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Source: Médecins Sans Frontières
Country: Iraq

With the battle for Mosul intensifying, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is setting up surgical field hospitals to treat the wounded and increasing its support to displaced populations.

As the fighting intensifies in and around Mosul, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq continues to worsen. As part of its response to widespread medical needs, MSF has established a field hospital with surgical capacity about 30 kilometres north of the city and is setting up another in Qayyarah, some 60 kilometres to the south.

“The objective of these hospitals is to treat patients severely wounded because of the ongoing fighting,” said Barbara Turchet, MSF Head of Mission in Iraq. “The hospital north of Mosul is located on the main road to Dohuk and aims to provide stabilisation and lifesaving emergency surgery. For the most critically wounded in this area, offering care as close as possible to the front lines can be a matter of life and death.”

“Among the first patients to be admitted were a family whose house was hit by a rocket,” Turchet continued. “Two members of the family were treated in the MSF facility. Two others were stabilised and referred to the hospital in Al Shekhan. Most of the patients treated or stabilised in the field hospital thus far had injuries caused by shrapnel or gunshots.”

The field hospital being set up in Qayyarah comes in response to the medical needs MSF teams are seeing south of Mosul. As with the other facility to the north, the goal is to provide surgical capacity within the compound of the existing primary health care centre in Qayyarah – as close to the frontlines as possible.

The emergency room and the hospitalisation wards are ready. The surgical facility is being installed temporarily under inflatable tents, pending the completion of a more robust structure inside retrofitted shipping containers.

Both field hospitals are linked to existing medical facilities in nearby cities. Patients are being transported between them by ambulances managed by the Directorate of Health (DoH). The medical teams in the MSF facilities are made up of staff seconded from the DoH who are now working in concert with international MSF staff.

MSF is also planning to deploy advanced medical posts even closer to the frontlines – sites where patients can be stabilised before referral for surgery at the two field hospitals.

MSF mobile teams already providing medical and mental health care to internally displaced people in Erbil and Ninewa governorates have expanded their reach to those most recently displaced by the Mosul campaign and now residing in camps in Zelekan (northwest of Erbil) and Hasansham (west of Erbil).

MSF has worked continuously in Iraq since 2006. In order to ensure its independence, MSF does not accept funding from any government or international agency for its programs in Iraq, and relies solely on private donations from the general public around the world to carry out its work.

Uganda: Food Security and Nutrition Assessment, Karamoja, Uganda, July 2016

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Source: Government of Uganda, World Food Programme, UN Children's Fund
Country: Uganda

Executive Summary

1.1 Food security situation

Overall food security classification shows that half of the population in Karamoja (50%) is food insecure, of which 12% were found to be severely food insecure. While these findings suggest a marginal increase in food insecurity at regional (Karamoja) level since June 2015, there were marked district level variations:

  • Significant deterioration in Kaabong, Kotido, Napak & Abim districts;

  • Marked improvement in Moroto & Nakapiripirit districts;

  • Relatively stable in Amudat district.

The major factors driving food insecurity in the region are:

  • Increased weather (particularly rainfall) variation that has led to poor harvests for the last three consecutive seasons. Consequently, there is reduced household food availability in the region with only 24% of households that reported having any food stocks.

  • The general decrease in availability of food stocks has meant that most food available on the market is sourced from neighboring regions. This has led to an unprecedented increase in staple food prices that are now at the highest levels in the last three years. This has significantly impacted household access to food given that three-quarters of the population derive more than 50% of food consumed from markets, amidst low incomes traditionally earned from agriculture (produce sales and wage labour) as well as charcoal burning.

1.2 Trends in food security

Despite the fact that the 2015 harvest in the region was below expected due to unfavorable weather conditions, and the fact that the 2015 season failure was the third consecutive one, a trends analysis shows that food consumption only slightly declined between June 2015 and 2016 with up to 17% having poor food consumption score this year. This is believed to be due to an increase in the level of humanitarian assistance over the 6-12 month period since 2015 in response to rising food insecurity.

1.3 Nutrition situation

Despite the fact that the food security situation has generally declined in the region, the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) has declined from 14.1% in June 2015 to the current 11%, nonetheless remaining at serious level. GAM prevalence is at serious levels in 5 of 7 districts in the region, and is classified as poor in the other two districts.

The main contributing factor to improved GAM rates is the scale up of food and nutrition assistance by the government and humanitarian partners starting from the last two quarters of 2015, following a deterioration in the food security situation and an anticipated poor harvest due to rainfall failure during the 2015 planting season.

Malnutrition rates nonetheless remain high in the region mainly due to:

  • Poor household food security situation that has a cascading effect on infant and young child feeding practices, including the ability of mothers/care givers to provide meals of an adequate diversity and at an acceptable frequency;

  • Poor water, sanitation and hygiene situation with marked levels of utilization of unsafe water sources, limited treatment of water before use, and the absence of sanitary facilities in majority of households. In consequence, the disease prevalence in the region is high, with 24% of children not having suffered an illness in the 30 days preceding the survey.

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