I. ALERT STATUS OF MAYON VOLCANO

A. Alert Level 3 is still in effect as of 8:00 AM, 08 October 2014, which means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks. Mayon Volcano's seismic network detected one (5) rockfall event during the past 24-hour observation period.

B. Moderate emission of white steam plumes drifting south-southwest and southeast was observed. No crater glow was observed last night. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 387 tonnes/day on 08 October 2014. Ground deformation data showed continuous inflation at the base of the edifice from August 2014 to October 2014 precise leveling surveys. The edifice remains inflated compared to baseline measurements. Tilt data also indicate continuous inflation at the base of the edifice since August 2014. All the above data indicate that the volcano is still in a state of unrest due to the movement of potentially eruptible magma.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A total of 8,033 cases and 3,879 deaths have been reported in the current outbreak of EVD in the affected countries, according to WHO - first case of EVD confirmed in the Guinean district of Lola which borders Côte d'Ivoire

• Marcel Rudasingwa appointed as Ebola Crisis Manager for Guinea, Peter Jan Graaff as Ebola Crisis Manager for Liberia, and Amadu Kamara as Ebola Crisis Manager for Sierra Leone

• UNMIL international staff member tests positive for EVD

HIGHLIGHTS

• The forecast for global cereal production in 2014 has been raised closer to last year’s record, which is expected to boost inventories to a multi-year high.

• Export prices of wheat and maize decreased further in September to multiyear lows, driven by expectations of large global supplies in 2014/15. Even rice prices, which had been rising in previous months, fell in September.

• In Western Africa, the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has disrupted markets, farming activities and livelihoods, seriously affecting the food security situation of large numbers of people. Moreover, irregular rains in several areas of the Sahelian belt result in mixed production prospects.

• In Central Africa, food crop production in the Central African Republic is estimated to have increased from the sharply reduced 2013 output, but still remains well below average due to the impact of widespread civil insecurity.

• In Eastern Africa, the overall food security situation is improving as harvesting has started in several countries. While food prices are generally stable or declining, they are at record high levels in Somalia and the Sudan.

• In Western Africa, in spite of adequate cereal supplies at the regional level following last year’s above average harvests, humanitarian assistance is still needed in several parts, due mostly to conflict related population displacements

• In Southern Africa, food security conditions improved significantly in response to bumper maize harvests and generally lower prices.

• In North Africa, a slightly below-average cereal crop was gathered in 2014. Wheat production in Tunisia recovered from last year’s weather-stricken harvest, while reduced plantings following poor rains caused a sharp reduction in Morocco.

• In Central America, drought conditions have significantly reduced the 2014 main first season harvest in key producing countries. In Mexico, cereal production is expected to remain above average due to better-than-expected yields.

• In South America, higher yields offset reduced plantings, with coarse grains production estimated at an above-average level. Wheat production is forecast to recover strongly following two consecutive low crops, due to increased plantings.

• In the Near East, drought conditions resulted in a below-average cereal harvest. Food security in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq continues to deteriorate as a result of the persisting conflict.

• In the Far East, aggregate cereal output is estimated to be close to last year’s record level. A considerable drop in the exportable surplus from India is expected to reduce aggregate cereal exports in the 2014/15 marketing year.

• In CIS Europe, cereal production is estimated at a record level. Accordingly, exports are forecast at an all-time high.

• FAO estimates that globally 36 countries, including 26 countries in Africa, are in need of external assistance for food due to conflict, crop failures and the impact of localized high food prices on vulnerable groups.

Saving lives at birth. Powering clean energy solutions in agriculture. Inventing new tools to teach a child to read. Across development, we’re calling on the world’s brightest minds to tackle our toughest challenges. In the last few years, we have helped launch five Grand Challenges for Development that have rallied students and scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs to tackle some of humanity’s toughest problems.

Today, we face just that kind of challenge—a global health crisis that is in dire need of new ideas and bold solutions. From Guinea to Liberia to Sierra Leone, Ebola is devastating thousands of families, disrupting growth, and fraying the fabric of society. The United States is helping lead the global response to the epidemic, but we cannot do it alone. That is why President Obama launched our sixth Grand Challenge. Fighting Ebola: A Grand Challenge for Development is designed provide health care workers on the front lines with better tools to battle Ebola.

As the U.S. and the international community work to contain the worst Ebola epidemic on record, courageous men and women are performing critical tasks every day to save lives and prevent the spread of the virus. Personal protective equipment (PPE)—the suits, masks and gloves the health care worker wears—is their primary protection, but it is also the greatest source of stress. In these hot and uncomfortable suits, health workers must administer to the patients and remove contaminated materials.

Together with the White House Office of Science and Technology, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense, Fighting Ebola seeks new practical and cost-effective solutions to improve infection treatment and control and provide better care to those who need it most.

The first part of the initiative is an open innovation platform powered by OpenIDEO, one of the world’s top design firms. Through it, the global community can brainstorm, collaborate, and comment on new ideas that generate practical solutions to the Ebola epidemic. The strongest ideas may be encouraged to apply for funding later in the Grand Challenge. Our aim is to begin funding ideas in a matter of weeks.

Over the last several years, we’ve found that Grand Challenges not only generate inventive tools and breakthrough technologies, but inspire us to confront seemingly insurmountable challenges—and succeed. To share ideas or join the conversation, please visit: http://ebolagrandchallenge.net/

Wet conditions are expected to persist in the coming three days in most parts of Somalia as indicated in the 3 day cumulative rain‐ fall forecast map below. Heavy rains are expected within the Ethiopian highlands within the Juba and Shabelle River basins. Given the forecast, it is expected that the observed river levels will increase in the coming days

On 7 October the Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response has received a RfA from the Ukraine government.

The Government of Ukraine is undertaking urgent measure to meet the humanitarian needs of the affected population, particularly in light of upcoming winter. The RfA therefore concerns a list of in kind humanitarian items, particularly medical supplies, which are required in order to alleviate the situation of internally displaced population in Ukraine.

ERCC disseminated the RfA to the UCPM Participating states and is actively monitoring the overall process.

Amara Bangura says his weekly radio show is a crucial tool in helping to change attitudes towards the virus at community level

The Ebola outbreak was sparked by a bewitched aircraft that crashed in a remote part of Sierra Leone, casting a spell over three west African countries, but a heavily alcoholic drink called bitter Kola can cure the virus.

These are just two of the rumours dispelled on Amara Bangura’s weekly radio show, which is broadcast on 35 stations across the country.

Read the full story on the Guardian.

For humanitarian aid operations of the type the MSB is now planning in Liberia, it is important that field staff get the training they need.

The field staff on the team to be deployed by the MSB (medical professionals, logistics officers, team leader and administrative officers) will be trained by the Centre for Research on Health Care in Disaster at the Karolinska Institute early next week.

They will gain necessary knowledge about the Ebola outbreak, the situation in the region, the international response, and contagion, and how to protect themselves against the disease. The training is suitable for UN field staff, government agency field staff and NGO volunteers.

The technical field staff from the MSB who are going to build the rest & recovery rooms, locker rooms, offices and medical care modules in Monrovia, will be trained over the weekend in how the modules should be set up.

The field staff who are going to work with health care, will, as required, receive additional training in Monrovia from the WHO.

The MSB team will also participate in a briefing on Wednesday 15 October, which will cover practical matters of various kinds, and will include, among other things, safety, security, gender and environment issues.

MSB field staff will also support WHO in facilitating training programmes in Monrovia.

I-INTRODUCTION

L’impact des niveaux élevés de sous-nutrition sur la survie des enfants, leur croissance et leur développement ainsi que le coût social et économique que cela représente pour les nations, est bien connu et documenté. En effet, Il y a plus de vingt ans que la nature et les facteurs déterminants de la sous-nutrition maternelle et infantile ont été décrits et présentés dans un premier cadre conceptuel élaboré par l’UNICEF. Ce cadre a permis de comprendre que la sous-nutrition infantile n’est pas seulement due à une carence en aliments adaptés ou suffisamment nutritifs, mais aussi à la fréquence des maladies, aux mauvaises pratiques en matière d’hygiène et de soins et au manque d’accès aux services sociaux et de santé1. De nos jours de nouvelles données et connaissances ont permis d’établir que la sous-nutrition risque d’enfermer les enfants, les familles, les communautés et les pays dans un cycle intergénérationnel caractérisé par la mauvaise alimentation, la maladie et la pauvreté. Aussi des données bien établies ont permis de mieux comprendre les effets dévastateurs de la sous-nutrition sur la morbidité et la mortalité. La connaissance de l’impact du retard de croissance et des autres formes de sous-nutrition sur le développement socio-économique et sur la formation du capital humain a été étayée et développée par des recherches plus récentes.

Au Mali, la malnutrition et ses corollaires notamment les morbidités et mortalité infantiles font l’objet d’une attention particulière de la part du Gouvernement et ses Partenaires Techniques et Financiers (PTF) présents dans le pays. Plusieurs enquêtes réalisées auprès des ménages notamment les Enquêtes Démographiques et de Santé du Mali (EDSM), les enquêtes par grappes à indicateurs multiples (MICS), les enquêtes SMART nationales et locales réalisés par les ONG, montrent déjà l’ampleur de la situation nutritionnelle au niveau national, régional et voire local.

Afin de briser le cercle vicieux de la malnutrition au Mali, des interventions d’envergure sont planifiées sur les court, moyen et long termes. De manière concomitante, et en collaboration avec des acteurs de différents secteurs, il s’agit d’assurer la prévention, la détection et le traitement des cas de malnutrition aiguë tout en travaillant sur les facteurs structurels (nombreux et complexes) de cette pathologie à travers le renforcement des capacités de résistance aux chocs des communautés et la consolidation des acquis du système national en la matière (PRS)4. En plus de ces interventions, il est indispensable de faire un suivi rigoureux de la situation à travers des évaluations périodiques bien planifiées telles que les enquêtes SMART annuelles, en vue de mieux documenter la situation et mettre à la disposition des décideurs et acteurs clés du domaine des données fiables actualisées d’où l’intérêt de la présente enquête.

India - Tropical Cyclone HUDHUD

• Tropical Cyclone HUDHUD is moving over the Bay of Bengal, strengthening. On 9 October at 6.00 UTC it had max. sustained wind speed of 111 km/h and its center was located over central Bay of Bengal, approx. 732 km south-east of Vishakhapatnam in northern Andhra Pradesh.

• In the next 48 h, HUDHUD is expected to continue moving northwest over water, towards the southeastern coast of India, strengthening.
According to the data of 9 October, it is forecast to reach the coast of north-eastern Andhra Pradesh in the early hours (UTC) of 12 October.

• Heavy rains, strong winds and storm surge may affect parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on 11-13 October. As Cyclone Alert is in effect for north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts.

• As of 9 October, media report some damage in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including affected electricity and telecommunication networks, as well as landslides.

Japan - Tropical Cyclone VONGFONG

• VONGFONG moved over the western Pacific Ocean during the last few days, strengthening significantly and becoming a very intense Typhoon. On 9 October it was a Super Typhoon with max. sustained wind speed of 249 km/h and its center was located over water, approx. 740 km southeast of the island of Okinawa.

• In the next 24 h, VONGFONG is forecast to move north, over water, slightly weakening. Its center is expected to pass very close or over the Amami group of islands on 12 October.

General Overview

Completenes for wekly reporting increased from 6% to 7%, while timelines decreased from 43% to 32% in wek 39 when compared to wek 38. Malaria is on the increase with the highest incidence (cases per 10,00) being reported in Man-Awan (2,746), Man-Anguei (2,351) and Renk (252.8). The total number of malaria cases reported from Man-Awan in wek 39 was 106, while 150 cases were reported in Man-Anguie. The total population of Man-Awan and Man-Angueis 386 and 636 respectively hence the high incidence rates per 10,00 are due to smal total populations against he backdrop of a high number of afected people.

The highest AWD incidence (cases per 10,00) was reported in Man-Awan (1,528), Man-Anguei (297) and Bentiu (80.3). The total number of cases reported was 59 in Man-Awan and 19 in Man-Anguei.
One measles case was reported in wek 39 from Awerial. During wek 39, Kapoeta North and Juba Counties registered new cholera cases. The total number of Hepatis E Virus (HEV) cases in Mingkaman remained 108, as no new cases were reported in wek 39. Deaths remained at four, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.7%. Kala-azar is on the increase with 4,582 cases (4,28 new cases and 294 secondary cases) and 141 deaths

reported from endemic areas in Jonglei, Unity and Uper Nile states since the begining of the year. Case detection and treatment are ongoing.

Man-Awan, Warap State reported nine cases of Acute Blody Diarhoea (ABD) in wek 39.
The under-five and crude mortality rates per 10,00 per day remained below emergency thresholds in al the camps

10/10/2014 - 20:42 GMT

Islamic State militants executed an Iraqi news cameraman and 12 other people on Friday in several towns and villages north of Baghdad, officials, relatives and witnesses said.

The jihadists shot dead Raad al-Azzawi, a 37-year-old cameraman for local news channel Sama Salaheddin, his brother and two other civilians in the village of Samra, east of the city of Tikrit, relatives of the journalist said.

"IS executed him, his brother and two other people in public today," one relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the jihadist organisation.

According to the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the father of three was detained by IS on September 7.

"They came to his home and took him and his brother," the relative said. "He did nothing wrong, his only crime was to be a cameraman, he was just doing his job."

"There must have been some people in the village who accused him of working for the government and tipped him off the jihadists... He always had his camera with him," he said.

According to an RSF statement issued last month, the Islamic State group had threatened to execute Azzawi on the grounds that he had refused to work for them.

After targeting religious and ethnic minorities in the areas it took control during its broad Iraqi offensive four months ago, IS has recently executed dozens of people it suspects of any connection with the Shiite-dominated government.

IS executed nine other people north of Tikrit on Friday, all of them on suspicion of ties to anti-jihadist Sunni grassroots organisations, according to security officials and witnesses.

In the town of Az-Zab, 90 kilometres (55 miles) west of the oil hub of Kirkuk, six people were executed in public.

"IS executed four residents of the lower part of Az-Zab and two from villages near Az-Zwiya," a few miles further to the west, a local security official said.

Witnesses said the six were accused of being involved in efforts to organise Sunni resistance to IS in the Hawija region. They were executed on a marketplace, they said.

It was in the same area that residents of the village of Tel Ali burned an IS flag last month.

In retaliation, the jihadists abducted 50 residents and put up flags across the region, even booby-trapping some of them to stop locals from removing them.

In Baiji, about 35 kilometres (20 miles) to the south, three men were beheaded on Friday, a security official in the region said.

The official said the three men had been abducted a few days earlier and were former members of the Sahwa organisation funded by the US military to combat Al-Qaeda in 2007-08.

str-ak/jmm/er

En date du 09 octobre 2014, la Branche de Mwaro a eu l’honneur de voir ses nouveaux bureaux ainsi qu’une salle de réception inaugurés par le Président de la République du Burundi, Son Excellence Pierre NKURUNZIZA.

Dans une visite guidée, il a été signifié à tous ceux qui étaient là que la salle allait être mise au service des communautés environnantes pour des manifestations diverses comme une source de revenus. Les dividendes permettront à la Branche de Mwaro de mieux assister les plus vulnérables sans trop solliciter l’appui du niveau central. La salle a une capacité de 200 places assises avec un local pour ateliers, une cuisine et un bloc sanitaire.

C’est une première qu’une infrastructure de la Croix-Rouge du Burundi soit inaugurée par le numéro 1 du Burundi. Comme l’a expliqué le Gouverneur de la province Mwaro, monsieur MARIRYOGO Gérard, le choix du bâtiment de la Croix-Rouge, dans la liste des infrastructures inaugurées par le Président de la République n’est pas un fruit du hasard. Cela est, en effet, dû au fait que, par ses actions, la Branche Croix-Rouge de Mwaro a su prouver qu’elle était un partenaire incontournable pour le développement de la province.

Entre autres activités, la Branche Croix-Rouge de Mwaro gère un centre de santé qui offre des services de qualité à ses patients. Le centre de santé de la Croix-Rouge est la seule unité de soins publique qui soit proche du centre urbain. Il est ainsi devenu une référence pour d’autres centres de santé tels que ceux de Gisozi, Mutumba, Rwintare et Rutyazo.

La Branche de Mwaro est non seulement l’un des grands acteurs du développement dans cette province mais elle est aussi le premier acteur humanitaire.

La Caritas prend en charge les frais scolaires et distribue des fournitures scolaires pour 939 élèves de 23 écoles primaires et 2 écoles de formation professionnelle du territoire de Kongolo dans le Nord du Katanga. Ces élèves vont étudier cette année sans que leurs parents ne paient les frais scolaires. L’opération est financée par l’organisation qatarie EASE. Elle coûtera 5 millions de francs congolais (environ 5 400 dollars américains) par trimestre.

La distribution gratuite des fournitures scolaires a débuté mercredi 8 octobre dans les écoles de la cité de Kongolo. Après deux jours de distribution, les élèves de huit écoles ont reçu des fournitures scolaires.

Pour Kennedy Seya, comptable à la Caritas, cette opération est destinée à réduire le taux d’analphabétisme à Kongolo.

« On avait trouvé qu’il y a des provinces où le taux d’analphabétisme était le plus élevé. C’est pourquoi EASE avait choisi 4 provinces de la RDC. Et au Katanga, on a ciblé aussi 4 diocèses ecclésiastiques. Alors, on a eu la chance d’être ciblés à Kongolo, comme le taux d’analphabétisme était aussi élevé », explique-t-il.

C’est pour la deuxième année scolaire consécutive que Caritas prend en charge les frais et les fournitures scolaires des élèves du territoire de Kongolo.

Aujourd'hui, 2,5 milliards de personnes n'ont pas accès à des toilettes de qualité, soit plus d'un tiers de la population mondiale, principalement dans les pays en développement. Au Burundi, près de 43 % des 10 millions d'habitants n'ont pas accès à l'assainissement amélioré.

Toilettes et éducation seraient-elles liées ?

Un manque d'assainissement de base comporte des dangers réels pour la population et le développement. En plus du risque d'attraper des parasites ou des maladies, telles que le choléra, et de propager ceux-ci, le manque de toilettes de qualité entraîne d'autres problèmes auxquels on pense moins souvent.

Dans le domaine de l'éducation, l'absence de sanitaires de qualité constitue l'une des causes majeures du décrochage scolaire des élèves. L'UNICEF estime même que 272 millions de journées d'école sont perdues à cause de la diarrhée . De plus, les jeunes filles adolescentes sont souvent gênées d'aller aux toilettes sous le regard de leurs camarades. Au moment de leurs premières règles, l'embarras peut être tellement grand que quelques-unes quittent les bancs scolaires pour ne plus y retourner.

« Gender Toilets », des toilettes bien pensées...

Au Burundi, la Coopération belge participe à la construction d'écoles à travers le Fonds commun Éducation et le Fonds d'appui au développement local. Comme les ingénieurs, les élus et les directeurs d'écoles sont souvent des hommes, ils ne pensent que peu au problème de genre lors des études et de la réalisation de ces écoles. C'est pour changer la donne qu'il s'avère nécessaire d'ajouter des sanitaires de qualité dans les critères importants figurant dans les dossiers d'appel d'offres.

Outre la séparation filles/garçons, il convient de même d'orienter les toilettes des filles de telle sorte que les garçons ne passent pas devant. Il est donc important de concevoir des « Gender Toilets », c'est-à-dire des toilettes qui tiennent compte de la sensibilité des filles. Mettre l'accent sur ces aspects genre et assainissement ne demande que peu d'efforts supplémentaires, mais peut avoir un impact énorme sur l'amélioration de l'enseignement et sur les conditions de vie des femmes.

Question de priorités

4,5 milliards de personnes ont accès à l'assainissement amélioré et 6 milliards possèdent un téléphone portable1. Ce n'est donc clairement pas une question d'argent, mais plutôt un problème de sensibilisation aux impacts d'un mauvais assainissement. Le débat a été ouvert pendant les réflexions thématiques des Plans communautaires de développement communal au sein du Projet d'appui au développement local et à la participation citoyenne dans la Province de Cibitoke au Burundi. Les nouvelles infrastructures construites dans les six communes de la Province de Cibitoke en tiennent compte aujourd'hui. Cette province serait-elle alors pionnière en termes de latrines de qualité sur son territoire ?

Doudly Elius, FICR

« Est-ce que vous savez comment vous protéger du virus chikungunya?’’, demande Marc Antoine, un volontaire de la Croix-Rouge Haïtienne à une foule avec l’aide de son mégaphone. Il fait partie de l’équipe d’intervention couvre les rues de Croix-des-Bouquets, une zone commerciale de forte affluence en Haïti, où la maladie transmise par les moustiques pose un risque pour beaucoup. Leur tâche est de diffuser des informations simples et pertinentes aux résidents, dont beaucoup peuvent ne pas reconnaitre le nom du virus, ni le fait que leur vie pourrait être en danger.

Il s’agit d’une préoccupation généralisée. Près de 65, 000 cas suspects de chikungunya ont été signalés en Haïti depuis le début de l'épidémie en mai de cette année, selon l'Organisation Panaméricaine de la Santé (OPS). Les autorités sanitaires n'ont pas cessé de travailler afin de pour freiner l'effet du virus, et la Croix-Rouge Haïtienne joue un grand rôle dans le renforcement de la communauté afin de rester en bonne santé.

De concert avec le Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP), les travailleurs de santé communautaire de confiance comme Marc visent à aider 25, 000 personnes dans les zones les plus touchées par la maladie. Les coordonnateurs des volontaires de la Croix-Rouge Haïtienne ont dirigé les sessions de "formation des formateurs’’, qui forment les volontaires afin qu’ils puissent à leur tour, former d’autres dans leur communauté a diffuser des informations importantes. Cela peut inclure: comment reconnaître les symptômes de chikungunya, où se faire soigner et la façon de prévenir la maladie.

Une main-d'œuvre sanitaire à l'échelon comme celle-ci, permet non seulement aux résidents de prendre en charge leur propre santé grâce à l'engagement des pairs, mais ils permettent également aux personnes les plus vulnérables d’accéder aux soins de santé.

« Nous prêtons une attention particulière aux mesures de contrôle des vecteurs de transmission de la maladie et les mécanismes de surveillance pour chaque communauté selon le réseau communautaire où résident ces volontaires », a déclaré Lina Villa, responsable de Santé en Urgence de l’Unité de Réponse aux désastres Panaméricaine (PADRU en anglais) de la FICR qui est basé au Panama.

Treize coordonnateurs, un de chaque branche de la CRH, ont pour mission de former 500 autres volontaires des communes les plus vulnérables afin de sensibiliser un maximum de personnes et impliquer les membres de la communauté.

Dans les zones urbaines de Delmas et Croix-des-Bouquets, les groupes de volontaires ne passent pas inaperçus dans les rues et leur présence suscite des réactions de la population à écouter, participer et agir. « Les habitants de Croix-des-Bouquets ont exprimé l'importance de cet effort de prévention du chikungunya, parce qu'ils ont admis qu'ils ne comprenaient pas vraiment comment éviter d'attraper la maladie », exprimait vivement Dorelus Jackson, coordonnateur de la Croix-Rouge Haïtienne en charge des activités d’assainissement et de sensibilisation avec les volontaires. Dans ces communautés, la connaissance c’est un pouvoir qui leur permet de se protéger du virus eux-mêmes et également leurs proches.

«La Croix-Rouge Haïtienne a mobilisé son réseau de volontaires afin de venir en aide à la population Haïtienne. Nous investissons dans des campagnes de promotion de la santé qui s'appuient sur de multiples moyens de communication, comme la radio et des travaux de sensibilisation de porte-à-porte incluant les activités de pulvérisations », a expliqué le Dr. Agénor Junior Clergé, Directeur du Département Programmes et Projets (DPP) de la Croix-Rouge Haïtienne.

183 volontaires qui sont déjà formés à la méthodologie de lutte contre les épidémies ont suivi un cours de recyclage sur les maladies vectorielles de façon à mieux faire face à l'épidémie de chikungunya.

Cette approche multifacettes a facilité la diffusion des messages de prévention à un plus grand nombre de personnes, surtout dans les zones rurales reculées qui sont difficiles d’accès pour les volontaires. Toutefois, le Dr. Clergé avertit, «Malgré la baisse significative des cas, le peuple haïtien doit rester sur ses gardes car la chikungunya est toujours présent dans notre environnement."

10 October 2014 – Declaring that the world has never seen anything like current Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa, senior United Nations officials today warned that the virus is “far ahead” of the global response as it is morphing from a local to an international crisis requiring all countries to scale up efforts and financial commitments to bring an end to the scourge.

Briefing the General Assembly on the situation on the ground, Anthony Banbury, head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), via-video link from the operation’s headquarters in Ghana warned that the crisis caused by the outbreak is severe and unprecedented.

“The world has never seen anything like it. Time is our enemy. The virus is far ahead of us,” he said, emphasizing that the outbreak is more than a health crisis as it is now impacting every level of society in the most-affected countries Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia – killing people, disrupting health systems, and derailing socioeconomic progress.

Joining Mr. Banbury in the briefing, which also included an update on the wider UN response, were the Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson; Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Ebola Dr. David Nabarro; and President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa.

Mr. Banbury noted that traditional social and cultural practices in the affected countries are among the factors contributing to the spread of the virus. “Many people in the affected countries are still denying Ebola is real. We must understand and respect social mores and practices…while finding methods to combat the disease” that are acceptable at community levels, he said.

As for his initial assessment of the situation in the early days of UNMEER’s roll-out, Mr. Banbury said: “The challenge is immense. We are late, but it is not too late to fight and win this battle. We are moving resources to where it is needed most. We will support national leadership and ownership. We shall play the role of ‘crisis manager’ not just ‘response coordinator.’ We shall fill gaps and support that which needs backstopping.”

But, he continued, UNMEER could not fight the battle alone; its contribution would need to be supported by an array of national and international partners. “To achieve results fast, we must have the world’s support,” he said calling for strengthened treatment centres and diagnostic laboratories on the ground, scaled up financial support for aid agencies, and reliable arrangements in place to treat and if necessary evacuate workers treating the disease.

Mr. Banbury also said that even as the international community works hard to turn the tide on the outbreak “we need to be incorporating early recovery and long-term needs into the response.”

“The world must now act to help the people and governments of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Failing to help will lead to unpredictable but very dire consequences for the people of the countries and well beyond. As long as there is once case of Ebola in any of these three countries, no country is safe,” he said calling for a broad global coalition to battle the spread of the virus. “We must rise to the occasion. We must defeat this disease.”

Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said that the Ebola outbreak was putting “hard-won development progress in jeopardy, neighbours are at risk and none of us are insulated from the threat posed by Ebola. No country, no organization can tackle Ebola alone,” he said, adding that the crisis requires collective mobilization inside and outside the affected countries.

The UN is on the ground with over 80 staff but many more will be needed to reach those areas where support is needed, especially at the local level. The Deputy Secretary-General appealed to Member States to act generously and swiftly, adding that a “contribution within days is much more important than a larger contribution within weeks.”

Closing borders or imposing travel bans will not isolate the disease but rather the affected countries and will prevent urgent aid from reaching those in need. More funds are needed as well as a surge in trained personnel who can deploy to Ebola Treatment Centres.

“Hospitals are overburdened and people are even worried to go to the hospitals. So you can imagine the number of people that are suffering and that are dying from other diseases – malaria, tuberculosis, all the things that you would normally treat,” Mr. Eliasson said.

In his briefing, Dr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Ebola, focused on the history of the current outbreak, its significance, the actions being undertaken to scale up response, as well as partnerships being built, national leadership, and the global coalition leading the combat against further spread of the virus.

“I’ve worked as a public health doctor for 35 years…but I have never encountered a public health crisis like this in my life,” he said, explaining that this is because the Ebola virus had spread from isolated areas and through major urban areas and regions.

He warned that without the mass mobilization of the international community to support the affected countries in West Africa, “it will be impossible to get this disease quickly under control, and the world will have to live with the Ebola virus forever.”

So, while the disease is now spreading faster than efforts to contain it, “we know what needs to be done and we are going to do it before this virus can cause more death and misery.”

President of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa said that despite the heroic efforts of doctors and nurses, the epidemic continues to ravage communities, with the death toll rising with each passing day.

There are grave concerns also that the outbreak could quickly spread from a regional to an international crisis, Mr. Kutesa said, adding that “Ebola is a threat that can easily land at any nation’s doorstep.”

“In a situation where each day potentially means more lives lost, the rapid response of UNMEER supports the implementation of critical prevention and containment measures,” he said.

Much more needs to be done, starting with UN Member States redoubling their efforts and following through on their financial pledges. Given the unprecedented nature of the epidemic, the international community must work together to come up with innovative solutions to contain the further spread of Ebola, declared the Assembly President.

€1 million donation to UNICEF will finance three cargo flights to Ebola-stricken countries

BRUSSELS/FREETOWN, 10 October 2014– A cargo plane with nearly 100 metric tons of essential medical supplies left Amsterdam today en route to Sierra Leone as part of UNICEF’s continuing response to the Ebola outbreak ravaging parts of West Africa. Similar flights are planned for Liberia and Guinea, part of a €1 million donation from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO).

"Each day the number of people infected and dying from this terrible disease is dramatically rising,” said Claus Sorensen, Director General of the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission. “Funding is critical. However, we need to find solutions that go beyond that. Close coordination of the response with partners such as UNICEF is vital to get the aid in time to the population in need."

Today’s shipment includes protective equipment such as masks, gloves, aprons, coveralls, body bags, goggles, face shields as well as medicine and hygiene supplies to be distributed to households and health centers. This supply has been funded by donors, such as the World Bank and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

“Ebola is shattering countries, communities and families,” said Yoka Brandt, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “Those risking their lives to care for the sick, whether they are health workers or family members, need to be properly protected. These supplies will help to keep them safe.”

To date, UNICEF has flown in more than 912 metric tons of supplies to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, in what is now the largest airlift operation of Ebola supplies.

Broadcast quality b-roll and photos from Ebola-affected countries.

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.

To know more about the EU-UNICEF Partnership for Children visit www.unicef.org/eu/

About the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) The European Commission funds relief operations for victims of natural disasters and conflicts around the world. The Commission's assistance relies on the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The European Commission is among UNICEF’s largest humanitarian donors. In 2013 alone, it provided almost €100 million for UNICEF projects to help children.

For more information, please contact:

David Sharrock, ECHO Brussels, +32 2 296 89 09, david.sharrock@ec.europa.eu
Irina Novakova, ECHO Brussels, +32 2 295 75 17, irina.novakova@ec.europa.eu
Rebekka Opfermann, UNICEF Brussels, +32 2 5050 106, ropfermann@unicef.org
Joan Howe, UNCIEF Copenhagen, +45 29 65 71 94, jhowe@unicef.org
Najwa Mekki, UNCIEF New York, +1917 209 1804, nmekki@unicef.org

10/10/2014 - 17:32 GMT

Neuf civils ont été tués dans la nuit de mercredi à jeudi à Oicha, une localité dans l'est de la République démocratique du Congo, par de présumés rebelles ougandais, a dénoncé vendredi soir la Mission de l'ONU (Monusco).

"L'attaque est survenue dans la nuit du 8 au 9 octobre quand les rebelles ont envahi la localité d'Oicha et tué 9 personnes appartenant à deux familles, dont des enfants", indique le communiqué de la Monusco. Les violences ont poussé entre 3.000 et 5.000 personnes à fuir vers Beni, 30 km plus au sud, a-t-elle précisé.

Selon la Monusco, les rebelles pourraient appartenir à la rébellion islamiste ougandaise Alliance des forces démocratiques (ADF), contre laquelle l'armée congolaise et les Casques bleus ont lancé depuis le début de l'année des attaques d'envergure dans le nord de la province du Nord-Kivu (est).

Ces attaques ont permis d'affaiblir le mouvement mais la Société civile du Nord-Kivu --qui fédère organisations associations, syndicats-- dénonce depuis quelques jours un regain d'attaques de l'ADF. Mercredi, la Monusco a reconnu que la rébellion conservait "encore sa capacité de nuisance" et souligné qu'il fallait la "décapiter".

Dans un communiqué publié vendredi, la Société civile accuse catégoriquement les ADF d'avoir perpétré un "nouveau carnage" et précise que, outre les neuf morts, les attaques ont fait quatre blessés graves, qui ont "tous ont reçu des balles". Elle qualifie la situation d'"extrêmement grave" et estime que le gouvernement congolais et la Monusco "doivent immédiatement agir pour limiter la catastrophe".

Le chef de la Monusco, Martin Kobler, a "fortement condamné le meurtre" des neuf civils.

"Je suis profondément choqué par cette attaque inadmissible qui démontre une fois de plus la nécessité de poursuivre et de renforcer la lutte contre tous les groupes armés en RDC", dont la partie Est souffre d'une instabilité chronique depuis deux décennies, explique M. Kobler dans le communiqué.

"La violence doit cesser. La Monusco mettra tout en oeuvre pour accompagner le gouvernement dans la traque et la neutralisation de l'ADF et de tout autre groupe rebelle qui sème la terreur en RDC", ajoute-il.

L'ADF, dirigée par Jamil Mukulu, un chrétien converti à l'islam, est présente depuis une vingtaine d'années dans le nord du Nord-Kivu, dans une région montagneuse frontalière de l'Ouganda.

Mi-janvier, l'armée congolaise et la Monusco ont lancé une grande offensive contre cette rébellion accusée de graves crimes (meurtres, enrôlement d'enfants, enlèvements, pillages...) et qui se finance grâce au trafic de bois et d'or. Elle a depuis lors perdu ses importants bastions.

L'ADF est visé par des sanctions de l'ONU depuis 2011 et de l'Union européenne depuis 2012.

Début juillet, le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU a décidé d'imposer des sanctions - embargo sur les armes, gel des avoirs, interdiction de voyager - à la rébellion, que les Etats-Unis avaient placée sur leur liste d'organisations terroristes dès 2001.

hab/thm