Kinshasa, le 06 septembre 2016 (caritasdev.cd) : le plan opérationnel 2016-2019 de la Caritas ACEAC (Caritas Burundi, Caritas Congo Asbl et Caritas Rwanda) vient d’être adopté lundi à Kinshasa. Il s’articule autour de cinq principaux axes : Développement Institutionnel et renforcement des capacités ; Eradication de la pauvreté et promotion de la Bonne Gouvernance ; Renforcement de la préparation et la réponse aux urgences ; Promotion du travail en réseau et de la communication et Développement de la mobilisation des ressources. C’est le fruit de la rencontre ordinaire des Caritas de la Zone ACEAC (Association des Conférences Episcopales de l’Afrique Centrale), réunies du 03 au 05 septembre 2016 au centre d’accueil de Caritas Congo Asbl à Kinshasa.

Ce plan opérationnel, élaboré par les Secrétaires Généraux de 3 Caritas de la Zone ACEAC, avec l’appui de quelques Points Focaux thématiques, est calqué sur le Plan Stratégique 2015-2019 de la Caritas Africa, lui-même inspiré de celui de la Confédération Caritas Internationalis.

Coordination de Caritas ACEAC : Caritas Burundi passe le relai à la Caritas Congo Asbl

Dans la déclaration finale de ces assises, les trois Secrétaires Généraux ont remercié les Pères Evêques qui leur ont mandatés pour la Pastorale sociale dans la Zone. « Nous renouvelons notre engagement pour mieux vivre le ministère de la charité, en travaillant en synergie d’action en vue de contribuer à la résolution de nombreux défis de notre Zone, dont ceux liés à la présence dans chaque pays de nombreux réfugiés et populations en déplacement, à l’insécurité due à l’instabilité politique et à la pauvreté croissante dans une zone qui regorge pourtant d’importantes ressources », soulignent-ils.

Abbé Jean-Bosco Nintunze (pour la Caritas Burundi), Dr Bruno Miteyo (Caritas Congo Asbl) et Abbé Jean-Marie Vianney Twagira Yezu (Caritas Rwanda) se sont engagés à travailler en coordination et en synergie avec la Commission Justice et Paix autour du Secrétaire Général de l’ACEAC.

En outre, les Secrétaires Généraux de Caritas Burundi, Caritas Congo Asbl et Caritas Rwanda ont réitéré leur détermination à tenir des réunions annuelles régulières en les programmant si possible près des dates et lieux des rencontres du Comité Permanent de l’ACEAC, à qui ils doivent rendre compte.

« En rapport avec la situation de la sous-région, nous nous engageons à poursuivre les actions humanitaires, selon les directives des Evêques et à leur fournir des éléments d’études en vue du plaidoyer pour la paix et la réconciliation », ont-ils poursuivi.

Pendant ces travaux, ils ont participé au Forum Pays (Country Forum) et ont apprécié la contribution positive des Agences Catholiques aux efforts de développement humain intégral que mène le Réseau national de Caritas en RDC. Vue partielle des participants au Forum Pays, élargi aux Caritas Burundi et Rwanda (Ph. GM Kamandji)

Par ailleurs, cette réunion de Kinshasa a permis de désigner la Caritas Congo Asbl pour assurer la coordination des Caritas de la Zone ACEAC pour un mandat de trois ans, prenant ainsi le relai de la Caritas Burundi.

Lundi dans l’après-midi, les deux Secrétaires Généraux de Caritas Burundi et Rwanda ont été présentés au personnel de la Caritas Congo Asbl, dans la salle Isidore Bakanja.

Guy-Marin Kamandji

Iraq- Displacement continues in Iraq as military operations are ongoing; more than 90,100 Iraqis have been recently displaced from Salah al-Din (Baiji and Al-Shirqat districts) and Ninewa (Al-Qayara sub-district) between 16 June and 5 September 2016, according to IOM Iraq Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Emergency Tracking. These displacements are in addition to the more than 3.3 million Iraqis already displaced across the country since January 2014.

The humanitarian community is unable to provide sufficient shelters for the overwhelming numbers of displaced Iraqis, with more than 545,000 living in critical shelter arrangements. These populations are particularly vulnerable, as they seek to find shelter in informal settlements, unfinished and abandoned buildings, religious buildings and schools. IOM Iraq is responding by providing assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in out-of-camp settings.

In response to new and protracted displacement, IOM Shelter and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) teams are working in critical shelter arrangements. The teams conduct infrastructure maintenance, training for IDPs and awareness campaigns in order to strengthen community participation. CCCM mobile teams are operating in Baghdad, Salah al-Din, Erbil and Anbar governorates; in 2016, CCCM services have improved the living conditions for more than 1,500 displaced families (9,000 individuals).

IOM services for Iraqi families living in out-of-camp settings also include the distribution of sealing-off kits. The sealing-off kits contain building supplies, plastic sheeting and plywood to reinforce shelters. Since July 2016, IOM has provided over 2,700 sealing-off kits to displaced Iraqis in Salah al-Din, Anbar, Kirkuk, and Baghdad governorates; an additional 700 kits are being distributed this week.

Donors supporting IOM’s work in out-of-camp settings include the European Union Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the Government of Japan, the Government of South Korea, the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund (IHPF), and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)- administered by UN-OCHA.

An additional 700 families will soon receive assistance to upgrade critical shelter arrangements, including building and water and sanitation repairs; contractors will hire IDPs to carry out the rehabilitation work, in order to support their livelihoods. Shelter rapid assessments for these activities, carried out with partners, have been completed for more than 60 sites in Baghdad and Salah al-Din.

Abu Ahmed* (45), is from a village near Al-Sharqat district in Salah al-Din governorate. He and 15 family members fled their home in June 2016 due to armed conflict. “We went on foot to avoid being seen by ISIL fighters. We walked for 14 hours until we reached a safe area. Now we live in the fourth floor of an unfinished building. We had open windows and were afraid of our children possibly falling. We managed to cover the open windows with the sealing-off kits from IOM. Now we also have doors and we feel so much safer. It also protects us from the wind.”

IOM continues to provide non-food relief item (NFI) kits to the most vulnerable IDPs. Since the military operations for the liberation of Mosul began in late March, IOM has distributed 19,200 family NFI kits to assist over 115,000 individuals. NFI kits are also being prepositioned in areas of expected displacement in Erbil and Salah al-Din. Donors towards NFIs include USAID-OFDA, ECHO, the Government of Germany, U.S. State Department-Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), IHPF, and UN-CERF.

IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Thomas Lothar Weiss said, “Iraqis who are forced to flee their homes and seek out shelter arrangements are in urgent need of protection from inclement weather. IOM, in cooperation with our humanitarian partners and donors, seeks to provide the assistance needed to improve shelter conditions for thousands of vulnerable displaced Iraqi families.”

Please visit the IOM Iraq DTM portal for details on the methodology, the most recent Datasets, Dashboards, Dynamic Displacement Maps and previous DTM products: http://iraqdtm.iom.int

For further information please contact IOM Iraq. Sandra Black, Tel. +964 751 234 2550, Email: sblack@iom.int

• Name of beneficiary has been changed for privacy reasons

Nicosia, Cyprus | AFP | Tuesday 9/6/2016 - 16:38 GMT

Police in Cyprus on Tuesday discovered 47 would-be migrants, thought to be smuggled Syrians, whose boat reportedly ran into trouble off the island's northwest coast.

An operation was ongoing in the Kato Pyrgos area to help the migrants, with 11 children, 10 women and 26 men picked up so far, authorities said.

It is believed they came ashore after the boat in which they were being smuggled became wedged between rocks.

State radio said some of those found were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The rest would initially be taken care of in the local community before they are placed in reception centres.

Police said there could be more migrants from the group that came ashore illegally and were also looking for the possible traffickers.

EU member Cyprus lies just 100 kilometres (60 miles) off the Syrian coast and its north coast faces Turkey, but it has so far avoided a mass influx of refugees from that country's conflict.

In October last year, 115 migrants from the Middle East landed on a British military base on Cyprus and asked for asylum before being handed over to the Cypriot authorities.

cc/dv/hc

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

Military operations to liberate ISIL-occupied areas near Mosul are causing widespread displacement.
This update covers IOM emergency activities in response to displacement in these areas

Shelter IOM is providing shelter support in Salah al-Din governorate in response to recent displacements from Al-Shirqat and Al-Qayara. Over 500 sealing-off kits have been distributed to newly displaced Iraqi families living in unfinished buildings and critical shelter arrangements.
The kits include building supplies, plastic sheeting and plywood to reinforce shelters. The kits are provided with the support of the European Union Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO).

Transportation IOM has been assisting the government with transportation of IDPs fleeing ISIL. Since March,
IOM has moved over 6,500 Iraqis to safety: IDPs held in Hawija were transported to camp locations in Kirkuk; IDPs fleeing villages in the outskirts of Mosul were transported to camps in Dibaga; and most recently on 16 August, 258 individuals were transported in mini-buses from al-Khazir, 30 km south-east of Mosul city, to Dibaga camp. As displacement continues, IOM is preparing to assist a further 30,000 individuals from reception centers to safety.

Health IOM is expanding its health programme in response to recent displacement. This includes a total of over 1,100 primary health consultations provided daily for recently displaced Iraqis in the governorates of Salah al-Din, Kirkuk and Erbil, and to returnees in Rabi’a, Ninewa.
The Mobile Medical Teams and two clinics focus on high-needs areas; Mobile Medical Teams travel between displacement sites and provide a range of health services including medication, and refer patients in need of specialized care to hospitals.

** Story** Ammar and his family fled Haj Ali, a village south of Al-Qayara town in southern Ninewa governorate.
Ammar said, “The fighting was intense in our village; we saw townspeople killed in the cross-fire. A piece of shrapnel hit my father’s right eye; he cannot see much with that eye now. We fled the village and walked for hours. When we arrived in Dibaga we slept on the street in the hot weather. After five days we were moved into Dibaga camp and have been here for four months. I am very happy to receive the relief kit; every item has been of great help.” Ammar and his family now live in Dibaga Camp for displaced Iraqis in Makhmor district, Iraq.

Executive summary

In 2015, Israel withheld Palestinian fiscal revenue for four months, donor aid declined and Israeli settlements continued to expand into the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while poverty and unemployment remained high. The Occupied Palestinian Territory continued to be a captive market for exports from Israel, while occupation neutralized the potential development impact of donor aid. Genuine reconstruction has yet to take off in the Gaza Strip despite $3.5 billion in donor pledges. Gaza's socioeconomic conditions worsened and the infant mortality rate increased for the first time in 50 years.

Occupation imposes a heavy cost on the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which might otherwise reach twice its current size. Yet, to date, attempts to estimate the economic cost of occupation remain partial and ad hoc. There is a need to establish a systematic, comprehensive and sustainable framework within the United Nations system to report to the General Assembly, as requested in its resolutions 69/20 and 70/12. Despite limited resources, UNCTAD continues to deliver technical cooperation, training and advisory services to the Palestinian people. While funding from Qatar will allow UNCTAD to maintain a third professional post in the Assistance to the Palestinian People Unit for 18 months, additional resources are needed for long-term retention of the post and the implementation of unfunded projects.

Highlights

• Fighting in Hama governorate displaced an estimated 20,000 families (100,000 people) from northern rural Hama towards neighbouring villages and Hama City between 28 August and 5 September.

• To date, 11,500 families have been registered by SARC, registration efforts are still ongoing.

• The Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster (CCCM) reported the arrival of 8,685 IDP families to Idleb governorate.

• Twelve schools in rural areas and four mosques in Hama city have been converted into temporary shelters.

• The United Nations sent an inter-agency convoy with life-saving supplies to Hama, and conducted a field visit to evaluate the prevailing humanitarian situation.

Situation Overview

As of 6 September, some 57,500 people (11,500 families) from Tiba Elemam, Suran, Halfaya, Maar Dis towns in Hama governorate were registered as having fled from fighting in northern rural Hama and the north-western countryside of Hama towards Hama city and neighbouring villages. According to Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in Hama, around 6,900 families were displaced to Hama city, and 4,600 others to the nearby villages of Kafraa, Shihet Hamah, Majdal, Ma'ar Shahror, Kamhani, KafrEmim, Ma'rin, Kason Aljabl, and Teizine. Actual displacement numbers, including those not yet registered, are estimated at 20,000 families (100,000 people) by SARC and the Governor of Hama.

Mass displacement began gradually on 28 August, when some 1,700 families were displaced from Helfaya town to Hama city and nearby villages. Helfaya town is located about 25 kilometers from Hama city, and was originally home to some 4,500 families. At the time of writing, 2,800 families remain trapped inside Helfaya town after they were unable to leave Helfaya due to heavy clashes between government forces and non-state armed groups.

On 30 August, due to further clashes, some 4,500 families out of an original 9,500 families were displaced from Tiba Elemam to Hama city and Kafraa, Shihet Hamah, Majdal, Ma'ar Shahror, Kamhani, KafrEmim, Ma'rin, Kason Aljabl, and Teizine villages. On 31 August, an additional 5,000 families were displaced from Suran town towards Hama city and the previously mentioned villages. Some 5,000 families remain in Suran town, located about 15 kilometers from Hama city. On 1 September, additional displacement occurred from Maar Dis town in northern rural Hama but exact displacement numbers are yet to be verified.

Furthermore, the Gaziantep-based Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster reported that 8,685 families have arrived in Idleb governorate since the 29 August. The majority of the aforementioned families arrived in Ma’aarat An Nu’man (3,128 families), Kafr Nobol (1,719 families), Heish (1,272 families), Khan Shaykun (962 families) and Ehsem sub-districts (1,164 families). Moreover, around 440 families were displaced to the Madiq Castle town, northwest of Hama governorate.

There has also been a minor displacement movement of 320 families from Muhradah city towards Mashta Alhelou in Tartous governorate (180 families) and some villages of Mesiaf district (150 families). Some internal displacement movements were also reported inside Mahardah city.

CHAD
LOCUST INVASION COULD WORSEN FOOD INSECURITY
Farmers in the western Kanem region and Sila and Ouaddai regions in the east have reported locust invasion in several farms. The authorities are planning assessments to organize response. Crop destruction by the locusts could increase food scarcity in these regions where more than 175,000 are already severely food insecure and malnutrition has been on the rise in recent months.

COTE D’IVOIRE
CONCERNS OVER PLIGHT OF PARK EVACUEES
The situation of 20,000 people evacuated in August from the Mont Péko National Park for illegal occupation remains precarious. Humanitarian response is ongoing, but resources dedicated to emergency assistance are scarce, with acute shortfalls in food, shelter and NFI as well as WASH supplies.
Additional resources are required to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

GABON
POLITICAL DEADLOCK AFTER POLL RESULTS
Some calm is returning to Libreville and the country after several days of violent protests and looting following the announcement of presidential election results on 31 August.
However, the outcome of the vote has triggered a political deadlock. Opposition leader Jean Ping has called for a general strike, terming the re-election of President Ali Bongo fraudulent, while the Justice Minister resigned over the disputed results. The African Union has said it will send a delegation to help resolve the stand-off.

NIGER
FIVE KILLED IN VILLAGE ATTACK
Suspected Boko Haram attackers on 2 September killed five people during a raid on Toumour village in the south-eastern Diffa region. The gunmen also torched several homes and injured two people before escaping. It was the first such incident in the region since June when tens of thousands of people fled their homes following a series of attacks. Military operations are ongoing in Diffa and a months-long state of emergency has been extended to 27 October.

NIGERIA
RETURNEES FACE DIRE CONDITIONS
The severe destruction of livelihoods, homes, hospitals, schools and roads in Gujba and Gulani localities in the northeastern Yobe Sate has left returnees in desperate need of immediate food and NFI assistance, including agricultural inputs. The two areas are inaccessible to humanitarian partners. Between 70 and 90 per cent of the original populations are reported to have returned to the two localities. Humanitarian partners are exploring alternative strategies, including third-party aid delivery to reach the affected people.

TCHAD
UNE INVASION ACRIDIENNE POURRAIT AGGRAVER LA SÉCURITÉ ALIMENTAIRE
Les agriculteurs de la région ouest de Kanem ainsi que des régions de Ouaddaï et de Sila dans l'est ont signalé une invasion acridienne dans plusieurs fermes. Les autorités planifient des évaluations pour organiser la réponse. La destruction des cultures par les criquets pourrait aggraver la pénurie alimentaire dans ces régions où plus de 175 000 personnes sont déjà en insécurité alimentaire sévère avec une hausse de la malnutrition ces derniers mois.

CÔTE D’IVOIRE
INQUIÉTUDES SUR LE SORT DES ÉVACUÉS
La situation des 20 000 personnes évacuées du parc national du Mont Péko en août pour occupation illégale reste précaire. La réponse humanitaire est en cours, mais les ressources consacrées à l'aide d'urgence sont rares, avec des déficits aigus dans la fourniture de vivres, d’abris, d’articles non alimentaires ainsi que de produits WASH. Des ressources supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour empêcher une nouvelle détérioration de la situation humanitaire.

GABON
IMPASSE POLITIQUE APRÈS LES RÉSULTATS DES ÉLECTIONS
Un certain calme est revenu à Libreville et dans le reste du pays après plusieurs jours de violentes manifestations et pillages suite à l'annonce des résultats des élections présidentielles le 31 août. Cependant, le résultat du vote a entrainé une impasse politique. Le chef de l'opposition Jean Ping a appelé à une grève générale, décrivant la réélection du président Ali Bongo comme frauduleuse. Le Ministre de la Justice a démissioné à la suite des résultats contestés. L’Union Africaine a déclaré vouloir envoyer une délégation pour aider le pays à sortir de cette impasse.

NIGER
CINQ TUÉS DANS L’ATTAQUE D’UN VILLAGE
Le 2 septembre, des attaquants présumés de Boko Haram ont tué cinq personnes lors d’un raid sur le village de Toumour dans la région sud-est de Diffa. Les hommes armés ont également incendié plusieurs maisons et blessé deux personnes avant de fuir. Il s’agit du premier incident du genre dans la région depuis le mois de juin lorsque des dizaines de milliers de personnes avaient fui leurs maisons après une série d'attaques. Des opérations militaires sont en cours dans la région de Diffa et l’état d'urgence en vigueur depuis plusieurs mois a été prolongé jusqu'au 27 octobre.

NIGERIA
LES RETOURNÉS SONT CONFRONTÉS À DES CONDITIONS EXTRÊMES
La destruction importante des moyens de subsistance, des maisons, des hôpitaux, des écoles et des routes dans les localités de Gujba et Gulani dans le nord-est de l’État de Yobe a plongé les retournés dans un besoin désespéré d’assistance immédiate en vivres et articles non alimentaires, y compris des intrants agricoles. Les deux zones sont inaccessibles aux partenaires humanitaires. Entre 70 et 90% des populations d'origine seraient retournées dans les deux localités. Les partenaires humanitaires explorent des stratégies alternatives, y compris la collaboration avec des prestataires pour atteindre les personnes touchées.

By Sarah Wade-Apicella

HYDERABAD, 6 September 2016 - Communities, local authorities and national disaster management authorities from 24 Indian Ocean countries are gearing up to put to the test their tsunami readiness during the 2016 tsunami mock drill “IOWave16” beginning tomorrow.

The two-day drill will test the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) for the efficiency and efficacy of the messages issued from the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre hosted at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad, one of three regional centres. And it will also test communities’ readiness to receive and react to the messages according to their community preparedness plans.

“We want to involve the ‘last mile’, not only in India, but among the 24 active countries participating in the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System”, says Dr. Srinivas Kumar Tummala, in charge of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre and Chair of the IOTWMS.

In India, the IOWave16 drill will test both of this year’s IOWave16 scenarios. The first will simulate a magnitude 9.2 Southern Sumatra earthquake on September 7, and the second will simulate a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the Makran trench south of Iran and Pakistan on September 8. Two levels of participation will also be tested. “Level II” will reach local communities across eight states in India.

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS), operating 24/7 since 2007, is made up of three parts: identification and risk assessment, detection and dissemination, and capacity building through community awareness and preparedness. The Indian system is also one of three regional Tsunami Service Providers providing real-time tsunami alert information since 2011 to National Tsunami Warning Centres – the other two are in Australia and Indonesia.

The centres were established under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Indian Ocean, the group that serves as a regional body to plan and coordinate the design and implementation of an effective and durable system.

The Indian system will issue both national and regional alerts from its system, with color coding to differentiate “warnings”, “alerts” and “watches” at national level, and “threat” or “no threat” status to Indian Ocean nations. Messages will go out over SMS, email, global telecommunication system (GTS) and fax, with links to a web-based bulletin system, public within India and accessible via password to the 24 participating countries.

The IOTWMS is the only system to have a feedback mechanism. Indian Ocean nations will each have a link to provide web-based feedback on the message received. “Getting feedback is a critical component to test how nations will use the system and identifying any needed changes.” said Dr. Tummala.

“Within India, the state level emergency operations centre will receive messages from INCOIS and take the decision on how to act, informing the District Emergency Operations Centre, who in turn, will communicate to all the local authorities, who will transmit the message to volunteer community leaders, who will finally transmit any warning message through any designated warning instrument, like drums”, said Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, Chief General Manager of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), one of the eight states participating in the drill. In order to avoid message failure, the OSDMA is also able to release messages directly to volunteers at district level. “It’s a kind of check and balance mechanism”, Dr. Mishra added.

The IOWave16 drill is an important part of exercising disaster risk reduction at regional, national and local levels. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the global blueprint for implementing disaster risk reduction adopted by UN member states at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015, aims among its seven global targets to increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people, as well as to substantially reduce global mortality.

The Government of India has embraced the Sendai Framework, recently adopting its first-ever National Disaster Management Plan. “The Sendai Framework and disaster risk reduction is very much a part of our government and state mission. It’s a survival tool”, said Dr. Mishra.

“We have captured many things from the Sendai Framework and incorporated them into our State Disaster Management Act. The first mandate of disaster management is to survive, and since our successful preparedness for Cyclone Phailin, our motto has been zero casualties”, says Dr. Mishra.

While 24 countries will test their tsunami readiness, they will also be testing their capacity to reduce disaster mortality which is the first target of the first Sendai Framework and also the theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction. World Tsunami Awareness Day will be celebrated for the first time this year, on November 5.

Kabul, Afghanistan | AFP | Tuesday 9/6/2016 - 18:18 GMT

by Emal HAIDARY

Taliban militants attacked an international charity in Kabul Tuesday during an hours-long assault labelled a "war crime" by Amnesty, as the capital reeled from a wave of violence that killed at least 41 and wounded dozens.

The assault on CARE International began late Monday with a massive car bombing, just hours after the Taliban carried out a brazen double bombing near the defence ministry.

A plume of smoke rose over the upscale neighbourhood of Shar-e Naw after the raid on the charity, located next to the office of Afghanistan's former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil.

It remains unclear which compound was the intended target of the attack, which left piles of rubble and shards of glass strewn across the area.

"An armed group launched an attack on what is believed to have been an Afghan government compound located close to the Kabul office of CARE," the charity said, adding its staff had been safely evacuated.

"The incident continued through early Tuesday morning with damages sustained to the CARE compound."

The interior ministry said 42 people including 10 foreigners were rescued. It added that six people had been wounded in the attack, which ended Tuesday morning when Afghan forces gunned down all three attackers.

The Taliban, who are stepping up their nationwide offensive, described the target as a foreign intelligence centre in Shar-e Naw "disguised as a guest house".

The attack on CARE International "is the deliberate targeting of civilians and constitutes a war crime", Amnesty International said, calling for an independent probe to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The assault had been preceded by twin Taliban blasts that killed at least 41 people during rush hour on Monday, including high-level officials, and left 110 wounded.

The rise in casualties was announced on Tuesday by the health ministry, which had earlier put the death toll at 24 with 91 wounded.

The second of the two explosions struck just as soldiers, policemen and civilians hurried to help the victims of the first blast.

• Double tragedy - High-level defence officials were among those killed, including a young police commander -- and compounding the tragedy, his mother also died when she heard of his death.

"Ahmad's mother died of a heart attack after hearing of her son's martyrdom," former deputy interior minister Ayub Salangi tweeted. "She lost two other sons before him."

Ambulances were overwhelmed by the carnage outside the defence ministry Monday. There were so many disfigured bodies that some had to be taken to hospitals in car boots and the back of police trucks.

Firemen raced to retrieve some bodies thrown into the Kabul River by the force of the blast.

The violence, strongly condemned by President Ashraf Ghani, came more than a week after 16 people were killed when militants stormed the American University in Kabul.

Earlier in August two professors from the university, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped at gunpoint near the campus. Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions.

The uptick in violence in the capital comes as the Taliban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation and the heavy price paid by civilians since NATO forces ended their combat mission at the end of 2014.

Afghan forces backed by US troops are trying to head off a potential Taliban takeover of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern opium-rich province of Helmand.

The Taliban have also recently closed in on Kunduz -- the northern city they briefly seized last year in their biggest military victory since the 2001 US invasion -- leaving Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts.

bur-ac/eb

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

BRAZZAVILLE, 6 September 2016 – The largest emergency vaccination campaign against yellow fever ever attempted in Africa, came to an end on 5 September 2016 with more than 10.6 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) vaccinated against the lethal disease.

In just ten days, 7 807 653 people were vaccinated in the capital city of Kinshasa, most of them using an emergency vaccine – one fifth of the full dose of yellow fever vaccine. This dose-sparing strategy was recommended by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Vaccination (SAGE) as a short term emergency measure to reach as many people as possible given limited global vaccine supplies.

“WHO congratulates the DRC for successfully conducting this complex logistical emergency vaccination campaign in record time of 10 days including very hard to reach areas,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “It was a race against time to provide vaccine protection to the people most at risk from yellow fever before the rainy season, especially in the densely populated capital of Kinshasa.”

As of 5 September 2016, a further 2 844 157 people in five provinces (Kasaï Central, Kasaï, Kongo Central, Kwango and Lualaba) bordering Angola were also vaccinated to halt transmission between the two affected countries.

WHO and partners played a key role in ensuring the availability of the required millions of vaccine doses, syringes and other materials, as well as maintaining the cold chain to ensure vaccines are stored and transported in the right conditions. Together with national health authorities and health partners, WHO led the coordination efforts during the planning and implementation phases of the campaign, trained and supervised health workers, and engaged with communities and leaders in disseminating information about the campaigns.

WHO also deployed some 100 experts in epidemiology, data management, vaccination, risk communications and community engagement, logistics, laboratory diagnostics and clinical case management to support the planning, implementation of the government-led response in some 8000 locations across DRC together with partners.

“Vaccination remains the key strategy to control the largely urban yellow fever outbreak in the DRC as it is the most effective protection against yellow fever,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “WHO remains committed to support the Ministry of Health for the planned campaign next year when people who received an emergency dose in Kinshasa will get full dose as soon as global vaccine supplies return to normal.”

Since 22 March 2016 when the country first notified WHO of yellow fever cases, DRC has reported 2513 suspected cases of which 75 have been laboratory confirmed and 16 deaths. No new confirmed cases have been reported in the country since 12 July 2016 and the downward trend of cases continues around the country.

Three sylvatic cases have been reported in the rural forests of Tshuapa Province. These cases are unrelated to the current outbreak. Sylvatic (or jungle) yellow fever is transmitted by monkeys and occasionally humans working or travelling in jungle areas are bitten by infected mosquitoes. This type of yellow fever is less likely to spread widely due to its remote, rural location. Yellow fever is endemic to DRC.

For further information and media enquiries, please contact:

Ebba Kalondo, Risk Communications Officer, at +243 991715425 or by email at kalondoe@who.int
Eugene Kabambi, Communications Officer, at +243 817 151 697 or by email at kabambie@who.int
Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Regional Communications Advisor, at +47 241 39420 or by email at boakyeagyemangc@who.int

I. INFORMACIÓN GENERAL

Las precipitaciones registradas, las condiciones del Océano Pacífico respecto al nivel del mar por la ocurrencia de los aguajes y oleajes, las condiciones de tiempo y clima en general y la actividad volcánica, han provocado varios eventos a escala nacional, los cuales corresponden a inundaciones, deslizamientos, caídas de ceniza, entre otros, causando impactos en población, salud, infraestructura física, líneas vitales y ambiente.

Se mantienen activos 18 COE cantonales por etapa invernal en: Arenillas, Huaquillas, Santa Rosa, Machala, Pasaje y Piñas en la provincia de El Oro; Santa Lucía, Palestina, Durán, Juján y el Triunfo en la provincia del Guayas; Santa Cruz en la provincia de Galápagos; Patate en la provincia de Tungurahua; Cañar en la provincia de Cañar; Chillanes en la provincia de Bolívar. Se mantienen activos 3 COE provinciales: Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Azuay y Cañar. Se mantiene activo el COE parroquial en Alluriquín provincia de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Se mantiene activo el COE cantonal en de Baños por actividad volcánica. Se mantiene activo el COE provincial de Chimborazo por deshielo del nevado del mismo nombre.

Los niveles de alerta declarados actualmente son alerta Amarilla por actividad volcánica del Tungurahua, Chiles-Cerro Negro y alerta Naranja en el Reventador. Alerta Naranja por etapa invernal en 19 provincias del país. Alerta Naranja por hundimiento en la parroquia Cube, recinto Las Juanitas – Mirador, cantón Quinindé, provincia de Esmeraldas; en la parroquia San José del cantón Atahualpa, provincia de El Oro y en el sector de La Palma, hasta las cercanías de villa Aidita en el tramo Alóag – Santo Domingo, provincia de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.

Plus d’un an après l’intensification des rapatriements de migrant-e-s haïtiens à la frontière haïtiano-dominicaine suite à la fin du PNRE, les autorités dominicaines n’en démordent pas. De janvier à août 2016, elles ont expulsé de leur territoire 21384 ressortissant-e-s haïtiens. 26704 retournés spontanés ont été enregistrés durant cette même période.

Parmi les personnes rapatriées enregistrées, 15794 ont été reçues par les autorités de la migration haïtienne dans les points frontaliers officiels de Belladère/Elias Piña, Ouanaminthe/Dajabón et de Malpasse/Jimani. De ce nombre, 905 mineurs non accompagnés ont été dénombrés. Les 5590 autres personnes ont été expulsées du territoire dominicain vers des points non officiels. Elles n’ont pas été recensées par les agents de l’immigration d’Haïti.

Ces migrant-e-s âgés entre 18 et 49 ans vivaient pour la plupart en situation irrégulière en République Dominicaine. Certains d’entre eux résidaient depuis plus de 5 ans en territoire voisin. Ils ont déclaré avoir été appréhendés en pleine rue, en milieu de travail ou chez eux. Ils ont critiqué le comportement des autorités migratoires dominicaines qui ne leur ont pas accordé le temps de récupérer leurs biens.

D’un autre côté, les rapatrié-e-s ont dénoncé les conditions dans lesquelles ils/elles ont été détenus avant d’être reconduits à la frontière. Bousculades, injures, harcèlements, travaux forcés, privation de nourriture, tels ont été les violations de droits humains dont ils/elles disent avoir été victimes.

Ils/elles en ont profité pour demander à l’Etat haïtien de travailler de concert avec les autorités dominicaines pour que les droits des ressortissants haïtiens vivant en territoire dominicain soient respectés.

Soulignons que depuis la fin du PNRE jusqu’au 1er septembre 2016, 136801 personnes ayant traversé la frontière ont été enregistrées, sans compter plusieurs milliers d’autres qui n’ont pas été recensées. Du nombre des personnes enregistrées figurent 83956 retournés spontanés et 52845 rapatriés.

Le GARR continue d’attirer l’attention des autorités haïtiennes sur leur obligation de travailler au respect des droits des migrant-e-s haïtiens au cours des opérations de rapatriement et dans les communautés de retour.

Il leur rappelle l’urgente nécessité de mettre en place dans ces communautés des programmes de réinsertion socioéconomique à l’intention de ces nombreuses personnes qui continuent d’être rapatriées au quotidien.

Il exhorte enfin les populations locales à faire preuve d’humanité envers les migrant-e-s rapatriés, tout en facilitant leur réintégration dans les communautés d’accueil.

I. HECHOS:

Durante el presente periodo se viene registrando heladas meteorológicas (temperaturas iguales o inferiores a 0°C) en gran parte de las zonas alto andinas y altiplánicas que se encuentran por encima de los 3,500 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Esta situación viene afectando de manera significativa la vida y la salud de las personas, así como a sus bienes consignados (ganadería y agricultura).

En el mes de junio 2016, se registraron descenso de temperaturas que han generado pérdidas de ganado y áreas de cultivo, además de afectar la vida y salud de las personas, las localidades afectadas son las que se ubican por encima de los 3,800 metros sobre el nivel del mar, en los distritos de Ricran, Sincos y Ataura descendiendo la temperatura por debajo de los -7°C, -8°C y -2°C respectivamente. Códigos SINPAD: 00077121, 00077829 y 00078092.

En el mes de Julio 2016 se registran descenso de temperatura, afectando a la vida y salud de la población y a la actividad pecuaria, las localidades afectadas se ubican en las zonas más altas de los distritos de Acolla, Pomacancha Llocllapampa, Curicaca y Paccha donde descendió la temperatura por debajo de -3°C, O°C, -10°C, -5°C y -4°C respectivamente. Códigos SINPAD: 00078102, 00078215, 00078214, 00078204, 00078219.

En el mes de agosto 2016 se registraron descenso de temperatura, afectando a la vida y salud de la población y a la actividad pecuaria, las localidades afectadas se ubican en las zonas más altas de los distritos de Ricran, Masma Chicche, Tuna Marca, Janjaillo y Acolla, donde descendió la temperatura por debajo de -10°C, -5°C, 0°C, 2°C y -6°C respectivamente. Código SINPAD 00078377, 00078223, 00078331, 00078298 y 00078448

I. HECHOS:

Durante el presente periodo se viene registrando heladas meteorológicas (temperaturas iguales o inferiores a 0°C) en gran parte de las zonas alto andinas y altiplánicas que se encuentran por encima de los 3,500 msnm. Esta situación viene afectando de manera significativa la vida y salud de las personas así como a sus bienes (ganadería y agricultura).

Desde el 01 de mayo de 2016, a consecuencia de las bajas temperaturas se registra la afectación a la vida y salud de las personas, áreas de cultivos, pastizales y animales. Códigos SINPAD: 00076862, 00077604, 00077123, 00077443, 00077622, 00077623, 00077743, 00077229, 0077125, 00077230, 00077492, 00077502, 00077820, 00077610, 00077617, 00076958, 00076959, 0077498, 00077819, 00077234, 00077281, 00077619, 00077624, 00077659, 00077629, 00077750, 0077620, 00077621, 00077628.

KEY FIGURES

121,956
South Sudanese arrivals since 8 July 2016, based on field reports (as of 28 Aug)

975,801
Total South Sudanese refugees as of 28 Aug (both pre and post Dec 2013 caseload and new arrivals)

259,796
Refugees in South Sudan

1.61 M
Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in South Sudan

FUNDING (as of 30 August)

USD 643.0 M
Requested by UNHCR for the situation

HIGHLIGHTS

• A total of 121,956 refugees have fled South Sudan since 8 July, including 95,331 into Uganda. New arrivals from South Sudan report ongoing violence against civilians, looting, forced recruitment, rape and kidnappings. Some arrivals into Sudan, report hundreds of people, predominantly women and children, are unable to reach the border due to heavy rains.

• UNHCR financial requirements for the South Sudan situation remain only 20% funded. Even before the recent influx, the funding shortfalls have hampered protection and response activities across all operations. In Uganda, many activities have had to be suspended in recent weeks to ensure the provision of life-saving support to the latest arrivals.

El Semáforo de Alerta Volcánica del Popocatépetl se encuentra en Amarillo Fase 2. El CENAPRED exhorta a NO ACERCARSE al volcán y sobre todo al cráter, por el peligro que implica la caída de fragmentos balísticos.

En las últimas 24 horas, por medio de los registros sísmicos del sistema de monitoreo del volcán Popocatépetl, se identificaron 68 exhalaciones de baja intensidad, debido a la intensa nubosidad en el área del volcán no se pudo observar la emisión de gases o cenizas. Durante la noche se tuvo visibilidad parcial hacia el volcán, por lo que sólo se observó por cortos episodios la incandescencia en el área del cráter. Al momento de este reporte, se tiene visibilidad parcial hacia el volcán, sin embargo la actividad sísmica asociada al volcán permanece en niveles bajos.

El CENAPRED exhorta a NO ACERCARSE al volcán y sobre todo al cráter, por el peligro que implica la caída de fragmentos balísticos (imagen 8).

El Semáforo de Alerta Volcánica del Popocatépetl se encuentra en Amarillo Fase 2.

En seguimiento al reporte de un nuevo hundimiento y grietas en viviendas, realizado por vecinos que residen en el asentamiento Jesús de la Buena Esperanza, ubicado sobre la Calzada José Milla y Vidaurre en la zona 6 capitalina, instituciones que conforman el Sistema de la Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres -CONRED- enfocan sus esfuerzos en acciones de prevención y mitigación ante el riesgo a deslizamiento latente en el lugar.

La mañana del día de hoy, el delegado regional de la Secretaría Ejecutiva de CONRED, acompañado por personeros de la Coordinadora Local para la Reducción de Desastres -COLRED-. Coordinadora Municipal para la Reducción de Desastres -COMRED- y de la Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos -PDH-, analizan brindar apoyo logístico y emocional a una posible evacuación de aproximadamente 30 familias en forma preventiva en virtud de grietas considerables en sus casas de habitación.

Entre las acciones en el lugar afectado, se llevará a cabo la instalación de un extensómetro que permitirá medir el movimiento de la ladera. Como parte de prevención, CONRED cuenta con recursos para atender albergues que sean necesarios habilitar en virtud de salvaguardar la vida de las más de 200 personas que se encuentran en riesgo en la localidad.

Al mismo tiempo, instituciones de primera respuesta que conforman CONRED, tales como Ejército de Guatemala, Policía Nacional Civil, Cuerpo de Bomberos Municipales, Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios, Ministerio de Comunicaciones, Infraestructura y Vivienda, realizaron una visita al lugar para establecer un plan conjunto ante un posible deslizamiento, priorizando resguardar la integridad física de niños, jóvenes y adultos que pueden ser afectados por un incidente de este tipo.

La Secretaría Ejecutiva de CONRED, consciente de la importancia de mantener una comunicación constante con la población guatemalteca, continuará brindando información a través de las redes sociales de la institución, recordándoles que para reporte de emergencias puede comunicarse al número telefónico 1566 de CONRED y coordinaremos la asistencia que usted y su familia merecen.