Main conclusions and options for risk reduction

Since December 2013 and as of 8 October 2014, 8 397 cases of EVD, including 4 032 deaths have been reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in affected countries (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria).

On 6 October, the Spanish authorities reported a confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in a healthcare worker who cared for a patient with Ebola infection repatriated to Spain. The ongoing investigation in Spain is providing information to further understand how the infection was transmitted to this healthcare worker. There is currently no evidence indicating that the healthcare-associated transmission resulted from a change in the transmissibility of the virus. The current recommended infection control measures remain appropriate, if strictly applied. While additional cases among the contacts of the infected nurse cannot be excluded at this time, it is considered extremely unlikely that the event will result in significant spread in Spain.

The evolving outbreak of EVD over the last weeks increases the likelihood that EU residents and travellers to the EVD-affected countries will be exposed to infected or ill persons. The risk of infection for residents and visitors in the affected countries through exposure in the community is considered low if they adhere to the recommended precautions.

Residents and visitors to the affected areas run a risk of exposure to EVD in healthcare facilities. The level of this risk is related to how well the infection control measures are being implemented in these settings and the nature of the care required. The risk of exposure to the Ebola virus is higher for healthcare workers who work in settings where appropriate infection control measures have not been fully implemented.

As the outbreak is still evolving and more staff is deployed in the affected countries to support the outbreak control, the risk of importation of EVD cases to the EU is increasing.

The risk of Ebola viruses spreading from an EVD patient who arrives in the EU as result of a planned medical evacuation is considered low. The transmission to a healthcare worker in Spain illustrates the connection between the outbreak in West Africa and the risk for the EU and further stresses the need to control the outbreak in West Africa.

If a symptomatic case of EVD presents in an EU Member State, secondary transmission to caregivers in the family and in healthcare facilities cannot be ruled-out. Once the possibility of EVD has been recognised and, healthcare providers have taken precautions to stop transmission, the risk of spread is reduced to a minimum.

By Kim Pozniak

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is distributing firewood critical to thousands of Muslims in the town of Boda in Lobaye district of the Central African Republic, who have been trapped in their neighborhood for seven months.

“Some 7,000 men, women and children have effectively been imprisoned within a few square miles of Boda, cut off from commerce, travel, food and freedom,” said Chris Hennemeyer, CRS’ Acting Head of Office in Lobaye district. “Attempts by the poorest members of the community to seek firewood or food outside of this small space have prompted attacks by (community militia) anti-balaka or by common criminals taking advantage of the volatile situation.”

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The Central African Republic has been embroiled in a brutal conflict for nearly two years. Mostly Muslim fighters of the former Seleka rebel group and anti-balaka, a non-Muslim community militia, have been fighting each other since the summer of 2013, with countless civilians caught in the crossfire. Though the conflict has taken on religious dimensions, at its core it is driven by economic and political motivations. Thousands have been killed. Many more have fled the country and hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes due to the violence and insecurity.

In Boda, in the southwestern part of the country, revenge attacks by some of the Muslim community in August prompted many to flee into the bush, where they still remain today. The Muslim population continues to be trapped in their enclave, with no signs of a political solution in sight. Conditions are worsening there, with reports of malnutrition and even starvation. Food and the firewood needed to cook it have become the greatest needs of these people who are too afraid to leave their homes.

“We have often seen in unsettled situations in Africa that people are vulnerable when they leave their communities and travel into the bush to get firewood,” said Hennemeyer. “This has proven to be the case in Boda.”

The national government has now made Boda a priority and has deployed police to re-establish a state presence after an absence of over seven months. People who fled during the August violence are slowly returning to the town, though a very large part of the population remains in the bush.

“With the return of a small national police force to Boda, a measure of relative calm has been restored, but security is still extremely fragile,” Hennemeyer adds.

There are other small signs of hope: some Muslims are leaving their enclave to seek medical care at the hospital, a few hundred meters away, something far too risky a few weeks ago. Some Christians are reported to have gone to the Muslim neighborhood to trade with its residents.

But with a large part of the Muslim population still encircled and threatened, Hennemeyer says more needs to be done to establish security, provide services and save lives.

Kim Pozniak is Catholic Relief Services’ communications officer for Sub-Saharan Africa. She is based in Baltimore.

RDC : les Nations Unies réclament la poursuite en justice d’auteurs d’exécutions sommaires et de disparitions forcées de civils à Kinshasa

KINSHASA/GENEVE, 15 octobre 2014: Un rapport des Nations Unies publié ce jour détaille des violations graves des droits de l’homme, y compris des exécutions sommaires et extrajudiciaires ainsi que des disparitions forcées, commises contre de civils par les forces de sécurité congolaises dans le contexte de l’opération « Likofi » à Kinshasa entre le 15 novembre 2013 et le 15 février 2014.

Le rapport, s’appuyant sur des enquêtes menées par le Bureau Conjoint des Nations Unies aux Droits de l’Homme (BCNUDH)* en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), recense le meurtre d’au moins neuf civils et la disparition forcée d’au moins 32 civils par des agents de la Police nationale congolaise (PNC) dans le cadre de l’opération « Likofi ». Le nombre total de victimes pourrait être beaucoup plus élevé dans la mesure où les enquêteurs du BCNUDH ont fait face à diverses difficultés dans le cadre de leurs enquêtes sur ces violations des droits de l’homme.

« Je suis consterné par la gravité des violations des droits de l’homme reprises dans ce rapport et j’appelle les autorités congolaises à traduire en justice dans les meilleurs délais les auteurs de ces violations des droits de l’homme qui ne peuvent rester impunis », a indiqué le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.

Le Représentant spécial du Secrétaire général des Nations Unies en RDC, Martin Kobler, a, quant à lui, déclaré que « cette situation démontre à quel point il est urgent d’accélérer la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et la mise en place de solides mécanismes de responsabilisation au sein de la police congolaise ».

Note aux éditeurs :

Conformément à son mandat, le personnel du BCNUDH a mené des enquêtes sur les violations des droits de l’homme commises à Kinshasa par des agents de la PNC dans le cadre de l’opération « Likofi » (« Coup de poing » en langue Lingala) entre le 15 novembre 2013 et le 15 février 2014.
L’opération « Likofi » avait pour but la traque des délinquants, communément appelés « kulunas », dans la ville de Kinshasa. Pour élaborer ce rapport, les enquêteurs du BCNUDH ont rassemblé plus de 70 témoignages provenant de différentes sources, y compris de la police elle-même.

Le rapport fait état de 41 victimes, dont quatre enfants, d’atteintes au droit à la vie, à savoir des exécutions sommaires et extrajudiciaires et des disparitions forcées, commises dans le cadre de l’opération « Likofi » dans plusieurs communes de la capitale. Les violations des droits de l’homme détaillées dans le rapport impliquent la PNC et en particulier des agents de la Légion nationale d’intervention (LENI) et du Groupe mobile d’intervention (GMI). La plupart des meurtres et disparitions forcées de civils présentés dans le rapport auraient été perpétrés selon le même modus operandi par des agents de la PNC, opérant généralement la nuit, en cagoules et à bord de véhicules sans plaque d’immatriculation dans certains quartiers de la ville de Kinshasa.

Le BCNUDH a pris note de la décision prise, le 15 août 2014, par le Commissaire général de la PNC de mettre en place une commission d’enquête ayant pour mission d’enquêter et de relever toutes les exactions qui auraient été commises dans le cadre de l’opération « Likofi ».

In the lush countryside of Burundi, you wouldn’t expect there to be chronically high rates of malnutrition. But hidden behind the walls of a family’s house, poor feeding practices, compounded by large families with kids close in age, means malnutrition lurks. According to a 2013 IFPRI study, more than 73 percent of the population in Burundi is undernourished, and 58 percent of the population is stunted. These figures are staggering, given the population of Burundi is only 10 million.

That’s where USAID and partner UNICEF come in. Burundi is one of the first countries where U.S.-produced Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, or RUTF, is being used to treat acute malnutrition.

Why do these small packets make such a difference? Previously, kids with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) had to be treated at the hospital. This meant families’ staying weeks and weeks as the child recuperated. Now, with the advent of products like RUTF, children without any other health symptoms can be treated at home. Imagine you’re a small kid who is sick – which would you prefer? Being at a hospital for weeks at a time, or in the comfort of your own home? It’s a no brainer.

A new food assistance product for the Agency’s Office of Food for Peace, this product is a game changer for tackling severe acute malnutrition. Previously the Agency did not have capacity to purchase this product in the United States for food assistance programs because U.S. suppliers were not producing it. This meant only doing small scale interventions with locally purchased ready-to-use foods, or not being able to treat severe acute malnutrition at all through food assistance.

Starting in 2012, this changed. Currently USAID plans to meet at least 10 percent of UNICEF’s global need for RUTF, and has already provided this specialized product in 14 countries since 2012. In Burundi, RUTF is helping treat 16,500 severely acutely malnourished kids under 5 in nine provinces.

UNICEF staff are working tirelessly to ensure that the Ministry of Health of Burundi is able to treat severe acute malnutrition, and help mothers learn to treat it themselves at home. In villages across Burundi, every week women bring their children to the local health clinic for nutrition training, and to get their kids’ health assessed. In exchange, they receive a week’s supply of RUTF for their kids identified as severely acutely malnourished.

In Burundi, more than 73 percent of the population is undernourished, and 58 percent of the population is stunted. U.S.-produced Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food is being used there to treat acute malnutrition. / USAID, Katie McKenna In Burundi, more than 73 percent of the population is undernourished, and 58 percent of the population is stunted. U.S.-produced Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food is being used there to treat acute malnutrition. / USAID, Katie McKenna Elias Ndikumana, a father of three, has two children enrolled in treatment for severe acute malnutrition. Twins Alain Don Divin Igiraneza and Alain Bon Idée Ahishakiye, both 1.5 years old, were brought into the health center in Muyange colline, in Makamba Province, when they started to show some of the telltale signs of being malnourished.

“The children were so weak when I brought them to the clinic. I was so worried about them,” said Ndikumana. For the last six weeks, they’ve been eating RUTF. “Now they’ve been eating the paste, they are livelier and getting healthier. I am so relieved.”

UNICEF and USAID are not stopping there. We are working to build the capacity of the Ministry of Health nutrition office to do outpatient care at the health center level and inpatient treatment of SAM at the hospital level. A first step is helping the government manage the supply chain for RUTF. With funding from both PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and Food for Peace, warehouses to store the RUTF have been equipped to improve storage space and stock management.

Health workers, nurses and doctors, including those still in medical schools, are also being trained to recognize the signs of acute malnutrition and how to treat it so the problem can be tackled early on, and not once a child gets to a critical stage. It is hoped in the long run that the Ministry of Health will be able to tackle this persistent problem without outside assistance.

MEXICO CITY – The 6th Latin American and Caribbean School Feeding Seminar started today with 200 participants who will exchange experiences to determine how school feeding programmes can improve their impact and efficiency, especially among people who are exposed to economic crisis or other shocks.

The event, titled “Towards Strengthening a Safe and Healthy School Feeding” is sponsored by the System for the Integral Development of Families in Mexico City (DIF CDMX) with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and of the Latin America and the Caribbean School Feeding Network (La-RAE).

According to WFP data, school feeding programmes are widely implemented by governments of the region with an annual investment of approximately US$4,3 billion to provide school meals to around 85 million children. Meanwhile WFP supports school feeding activities in 12 countries, assisting 2.1 million children in partnership with governments to make this programmes more efficient, effective and sustainable.

“Primary school enrolment rates are impressively high in Latin America and the Caribbean, which reaches 94% of the children. School feeding helps to increase enrolment and to reduce dropout rates while promoting gender equality because it allows girls and boys to access education,” said WFP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Miguel Barreto.

The event gathers until 17 October some 200 representatives from 18 governments, public and private institutions, as well as national and international high-level experts in the field of school feeding. The participants will exchange experiences to determine how school feeding programmes can improve their impact and efficiency, especially among people who are exposed to economic crisis or other shocks.

Besides education, school feeding programmes also offer a wide range of benefits related to health, nutrition and family income objectives as stablished by the UN Secretary General’s Zero Hunger Challenge.

According to Barreto, this seminar contributes not only to plan the public policy national agendas, but also the international agenda for sustainable development which is based on a vision and all countries’ joint effort to achieve Zero Hunger.

“WFP is increasingly focused on helping countries to stablish and maintain programmes linked to local agricultural production, with the aim of supporting smallholder farmers through institutional purchases, ensuring a more healthy and diverse nutrition which respects local food habits,” said Barreto. For example, smallholder farmers in Central America who participate in the Purchase for Progress initiative (P4P) sold 26,368 Metric Tons of food, worth US$17 million, to the school feeding programmes.

“It is paramount for this region to keep investing and strengthening its school feeding programmes to safeguard the progress achieved, and because there is still work to do,” said the WFP Regional Director. “It is a wise investment in the present and future of children, and therefore, in our countries’ development,” he said.

Among the topics covered in the sessions are: malnutrition among school children, the link between school feeding programmes and family agriculture – to observe World Food Day -, the promotion of partnerships for the joint development of school feeding programmes, and South-South cooperation to support school feeding.

During 2013, WFP provided school meals to 19,8 million children in 63 countries.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food in emergencies and working with communities to build resilience. In 2013, WFP assisted more than 80 million people in 75 countries.

Visit:
http://www.wfp.org
http://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme
http://twitter.com/wfp_media

For more information please contact (email address: Elio.Rujano@wfp.org):
Elio Rujano, WFP/Latin America and the Caribbean, Mob. 6677 0608

On World Food Day 2014 GOAL's Behaviour Change and Gender Officer Gillian Mckay reflects on a GOAL innovation - NIPPs - that is changing lives in Malawi.

Stunting, or small height based on age, is a problem in many of the countries in which GOAL works. It occurs as a result of long-term, chronic lack of food, as well as a result of poor hygiene, which is an issue because children who have multiple stomach bugs don't get the chance to absorb food properly.

Stunting doesn’t only result in reduced height. It can also lead to children failing to reach their full potential in school, and in life, due to reduced mental capacity and physical strength.

However, stunting can be reversed. If we work with families before their children turn two, it is possible to completely reverse the effects of stunting, meaning their children will grow up strong and do well in school.

GOAL’s Nutrition Impact & Positive Practice (NIPPs) innovation is a behaviour change approach to prevent and treat malnutrition in children. It also works with mothers and others at risk, including people living with HIV.

We have rolled out the intervention in 3 countries (South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Sudan) over the past three years, and this year, we are bringing it to one of the world’s most densely populated and poorly developed countries, Malawi.

Malawi is a country with a childhood chronic malnutrition prevalence of 47.1 per cent, meaning nearly half of all children under 5 are considered stunted.

GOAL’s NIPPs intervention works to improve household behaviours by increasing diet diversity through household kitchen gardens, and reducing disease by encouraging the construction of household latrines and handwashing stations.

Over a period of three weeks I had the privilege of working with the GOAL Malawi Health and Nutrition team to prepare and roll out this intervention to four Traditional Authorities in our areas of operation in Southern and Central Malawi.

We are starting small, as it is an intervention that requires a large amount of research into current practices, finding locally available solutions to challenges, and building the capacity of the local Ministry of Health to monitor the approach. We are hopeful, however, that in the next year we will be able to scale up the intervention to our entire area of operation, thus helping to improve the lives of many more vulnerable families.

The GOAL team here has taken up the challenge with a huge amount of enthusiasm and energy, as they can see how NIPPs goes beyond just teaching about nutrition, and really works to create sustainable change in households. This is happening in part of the world where food shortages come each year due to flooding and drought.

With all the planning and preparation complete, we are looking forward to recruiting NIPPs volunteers, who are women and men in the community who demonstrate positive behaviours, and who are considered influential leaders by their neighbours.

By empowering the community members themselves to identify and share their own healthy solutions, NIPPs is a departure from a “handout” approach that results in a dependent community that struggles once the distribution finishes.

Through a model like NIPPs, the community gains the confidence and skills to grow together as a healthier and stronger community that will be less likely to suffer from the shocks that climate change is bringing to fragile agricultural countries like Malawi.

I would like to thank the GOAL Malawi team for their hard work over the three weeks that I worked with them. I, and the wider food security and nutrition community, look forward to hearing how the intervention progresses, and to getting some great stories of families who have improved their lives thanks to NIPPs.

-Gillian McKay, GOAL Behaviour Change and Gender Officer

GOAL is an international humanitarian agency dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the poorest of the poor. We are a non-denominational, non-governmental and non-political organisation. GOAL is currently working in 15 countries: Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Iraq and the Philippines. Go to www.goal.ie to learn more.

ENDS-

On 13. October a visit to a demining project „Area of the Blinjski kut settlement and Gornje Komarevo“ took place.

With the realization of this demining project a total of 1,3Km 2 will be released back to use, which represents almost 15% of the MSA in the City of Sisak. The importance of this project is well illustrated by the fact that there was a Mine or an UXO found in each 2.875m2.

The demining works in Komarevo were financed within the project „Demining of the Socio Economic infrastructure in Lika Senj, Sisak Moslavina and Zadar counties“, financed via EU's IPA 2013, Component I – Assistance in transition and Institutional building for 2013. The total value of the project is 4,2 M EUR, out of which the European union financed the project with 3.159.000,00EUR and Republic of Croatia trough the state budget with 1.053.000,00EUR.

Sisak Moslavina County has 100 square kilometers of MSA spread over 11 cities and municipalities.

The director of CROMAC, Mr.Dražen Jakopec with his co-workers hosted the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic, Ph.D., members of the diplomatic staff accredited in Croatia, Members of Parliament, Mrs. Dijana Plaština Ph.D., Head of the Government office for Mine Action, Deputy County Prefect Mr.Zdenko Vahovec, Mrs. Kristina Ikić Baniček, Mayor of Sisak and other local dignitaries.

On Saturday, 11. October CROMAC participated in educational activity named „Less weaponry –less tragedies“, which was held in Hrvatska Kostajnica as a part of „Kestenijada 2014“ event.

With a large number of visitors from all over Croatia as well as abroad, those present had the opportunity to see the demining devices and were informed of the Mine situation in Croatia.

The interested members of the public were shown current demining sites that are active with emphasis on Sisak Moslavina County.

As in all previous activities, the aim to inform and educate the public about the Mine threat, educational materials were handed out, especially the young ones with explanations of risky behaviors in the MSA and the consequences it may have.

The Police officers from Hrvatska Kostajnica constabulary have been alerting the public about the National strategy „Less weaponry –less tragedies“, i.e. the possibilities to hand over the illegal arms and explosive devises without sanctions and anonymously should they decide to hand over such items.

Highlights

Inflation: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased (1-5%) in September in most regions that use Somali shilling (SoSh) but remains stable in Somaliland shilling (SISh) areas. Annual comparison indicates increased inflation rates both in SISh as well as SoSh areas, most significantly in the South (24%) followed by Central (14%). The CPI rose significantly compared to the base period (March 2007) in both currency zones (28% in SlSh zone and 118% - 136% in the SoSh zone).

Exchange rate: The exchange rates between local currencies (SoSh and SlSh) and the United States Dollar (USD) remained relatively stable in September in the Central zone and the Northwest SISh areas, but changed marginally (1-2%) month-on-month in the Northeast and the South. Compared to a year ago (September 2013), the rates remained stable in the Northeast but depreciated marginally (2-5%) in central, southern and northwestern regions. Compared to the five-year average levels (September 2009-2013), the SoSh shows a strong gain in value (23-25%) against the USD, while the SISh depreciated marginally.

Local grain (sorghum and maize) prices exhibited mixed trend in the month of September. Prices increased (6-10%) in central, northern, Banadir (Bakara market) and Bakool regions, due to reduced supplies on the markets as a result of deteriorated security situation and overall below average cereal production in the South. Conversely, local grain prices remained stable (Lower Juba and Gedo) or decreased moderately in the rest of southern Somalia. Annual comparison shows increase in cereal prices across the country, with particularly significant increases (above 30%) noted in southern regions. Compared to their five-year average levels, local grain prices were relatively higher in September in most parts of the country, except in Middle Juba and Bay regions where prices declined moderately (6-11%).

Imported food (rice, sugar, vegetable oil & wheat flour) prices as quoted in local currency remained relatively stable or exhibited mild monthly changes (increase/ decrease) in the month of September across the country. Prices of most food imports remained relatively stable in northern regions; declined mildly (1-3%) in Jubas, Banadir and Shabelle regions and increased (less than 9%) in the Sorghum Belt and Central regions. Annual price comparison generally indicates relative stability or mild changes in most parts of the country except in the Sorghum Belt regions of Bakool, Gedo and Bay where they rose moderately (9-18%) and Hiran where prices declined (3-11%). Compared to the five-year average levels, prices are lower for most food imports across the country.

Livestock (all species) prices showed mild monthly changes (less than 10%) in most regions in the month of September. Milk prices (cattle and camel) exhibited mixed trend patterns across the country. Milk prices remained relatively stable or changed at mild rates in most regions, except in Bay and Hiran regions where prices increased moderately (11-28%). Compared to a year ago (September 2013), values of most of livestock species have declined in most markets, while milk prices rose at moderate to high rates in most markets, with the highest increase of 104 percent recorded in Bakool region (for cattle milk). Livestock prices are higher compared to five-year average levels, particularly for big ruminants (cattle and camel), while milk prices exhibit mixed trend patterns across the country.

Labor wages (unskilled) remained relatively stable or changed at mild rates (less than 9%) in most regions of the country apart from Lower Juba where they surged significantly (18%) due to ongoing off-season farming activities. In Bakool labour wage rates have dropped (12%) due to trade disruptions caused by insurgents (mainly in El Barde). Labor wages showed mild annual changes in the month of September in most regions. Exceptions are increased rates (13-38%) in Bay and Middle Shabelle and declines (23-31%) in Bakool and Middle Juba associated with security conditions. The labor wage rates were higher compared to their corresponding five-year average levels in most regions. Exceptions are Central, Bakool and Middle Juba regions where the rates dropped at mild to moderate (4-12%) levels and Lower Juba and Hiran where they exhibited relatively stable rates

Terms of Trade (ToT) between daily labor wage and local cereals as well as between local quality goat and cereals have exhibited mixed monthly trend in September. Both ToTs have dropped (25% and 11% respectively) in Bakool region due to decrease in goat price and increase in sorghum price, mainly in El Barde market. ToTs remained relatively stable or changed at mild rates (1-5%) in Central and Northern regions and they increased (9-25%) in most other southern regions. Annual comparisons indicate lower ToTs in most regions, except in Northern, Central and Middle Shabelle regions where ToTs remained relative stable or changed at mild rates (less than 10%).
Compared to the five-year average levels, both ToTs declined in most southern regions, but increased significantly (above 30%) in northern and central regions, which is attributed to reduced rice prices, increased daily labor wages and livestock prices compared to their respective five-year averages.

10/15/2014 - 19:30 GMT

A strong 5.6 earthquake rocked two cities in western Iran Wednesday, injuring at least 16 people but causing only minor damage to homes, US and Iranian sources said.

The quake occurred just after 5:00 pm (1330 GMT), with the epicentre 51 kilometres (32 miles) east of Dehloran in Ilam province, close to the border with Iraq, according to the US Geological Survey.

It hit at the relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society gave the injured toll, saying the cities of Dehloran and Abdanan, and a total population area of 65,000, were affected.

"No deaths are reported," it said in an initial statement, classifying damage to houses and residential areas as minor.

But the statement said that, due to cold weather, Abdanan's governor had issued an appeal for tents for families whose homes had been damaged.

adm/al

SITUATION REPORT FLOOD – 2014

Sequel to the Flood September 2014, following actions were taken:

• Affected Areas: Affected areas are as follows:

• Districts of Punjab (Affected by Rain and Flood) :
  Attock, Rawalpindi, Jhelum,
  Khushab, Sargodha, Gujrat, M.B.
  Din, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot,
  Narowal,
  Nankana Sahib, Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, T.T.
  Sing, Sahiwal, Jhang, Chiniot, Multan, Khanewal, Bhawalpur,
  Bahawalnagar,
  MuzaffarGarh,
  Rajanpur & D.G. Khan

• Districts of AJ&K:

Neelum, Hattian Bala, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Haveli,
Rawalakot, Sudhnoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur.

• Districts of GB:

Gilgit, Skardu, Ghanche, Astore, Hunza – Nagar, Diamer,
Ghizer.

MIRA Assessment

o Multi Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) was jointly conducted by NDMA, UN,
NGO’s and District Authorities.

o Main objectives were to identify humanitarian needs and gaps in relief efforts and to give a snap shot of damages to community infrastructure.

o Districts / villages were identified in consultation with the Provincial Government and launched in 5 districts of Punjab (Hafizabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Multan,
MandiBahauddin).

o MIRA process has been completed and outcomes shared.

PRESS RELEASE, Nairobi, 15 October 2014

Today is the Global Hand Washing day and it is a great day to highlight a new partnership!
With safe, warm and clean water from Solvatten, we are improving health and hand hygiene in Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Solar safe water systems for Kakuma, Kenya There are almost a million people living in poverty in the arid north western corner of Kenya. In a joint effort with local Kenyan partner the Norwegian Refugee Council, Swedish organization Solvatten and the founders of H&M can now provide SOLVATTEN solar safe water system solution to 20,000 families in the Kakuma refugee camp and the Turkana host communities.

Refugees arrive on a daily basis to the Kakuma Refugee camp from the war torn neighboring country South Sudan. Refugees and host community have to coexist with very little resources and the high influx of refugees brings conflicts. Going solar can help to avoid conflicts over firewood and water. The project includes training and promotion on how to improve health through better hygiene.

Collaborators: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Familjen Erling Persons Stiftelse, Solvatten Charitable Foundation

Location(s): Kakuma and the Turkana region, Kenya

About SOLVATTEN
The benefits of SOLVATTEN Solar Safe Water Systems have been documented since its start in interviews and pilot projects around the world. “Safe, warm water. Just add sun.” These are just a few of the findings:

• Better health with improved hygiene
• Reduced medical treatment costs, less sick days
• Reduced indoor smoke and reduced risks and incidents leading to burn injuries
• Time savings - less time collecting firewood and less time spent by the fire
• Savings in energy and money
• Positive environmental impact
• Allows for more income generating activities
• More time for school

With more than 90 000 users in the world we are sure to say that SOLVATTEN brings lasting change. The SOLVATTEN Charitable Foundation was founded to bring forward solutions that in a practical and sustainable way, contributes towards the improved lives of, above all, women and children, living without access to safe water.

About Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
The Norwegian Refugee Council began operations in Kakuma in 2012 providing shelter, education, food security, water, sanitation and hygiene and environmental conservation services. NRC is the lead implementing agency in sanitation and hygiene promotion in Kakuma camp and responds to the needs of refugees including the current influx of new arrivals through provision of latrine facilities accompanied with hand-washing stations and cleaning kits. In 2013, NRC assisted 61,741 people in Kakuma, and constructed 3,293 latrines.

For more information including latest refugee new arrival data, and project detail, contact:
kennedy.mabonga@nrc.no | david.wadstrom@solvatten.se

Nashon Tado | Regional Information Officer
Norwegian Refugee Council | Horn of Africa & Yemen Regional Office
P. O. Box 21211 - 00100, Nairobi | Tel: +254 (20) 434 8246-7 | Mobile: +254 720 931 035
Website: www.nrc.no | Facebook: NRC Horn of Africa & Yemen| Vimeo: NRC Horn of Africa

Arusha, October 15, 2014 (FH) – The trial of Simone Gbagbo, wife of the former Ivorian President, is to start on October 22 before an Ivorian court, RFI reported Wednesday.

Simone Gbagbo is also under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant which Abidjan has so far refused to implement, arguing that national courts are willing and able to give her a fair trial.

The former First Lady is charged with crimes committed during violence that followed 2010 elections. She is to be tried in Abidjan with nearly 100 former close allies of her husband, Laurent Gbagbo, who is now in the hands of the ICC.

Nicknamed the “Iron Lady”, she was arrested in 2011 and has been held since then Odienné.

Those on trial with Simone Gbagbo include Gilbert Aké N’Gbo, who was Prime Minister under Laurent Gbagbo, and is currently on conditional release.

They are charged with “genocide and murder, endangering state security, rebellion and disturbing the public order” as well as “economic crimes”.

The juries for these trials were selected in a draw on Monday.

ER/ JC

EAST JEBEL MARRA / WEST DARFUR (15 Oct.) - Militiamen shot dead a farmer in the area of Dabanga in East Jebel Marra on Wednesday. On the same day, two residents of Riyadh camp for the displaced in West Darfur were seriously injured.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a relative of the victim said that “seven government-backed militiamen shot at Juma Adam Abdelrahman, while he was working on his farm on Wednesday afternoon”. “He died on the spot. The killers then took his money and belongings, and left.”

Drunken soldier

In El Riyadh camp, El Geneina locality, West Darfur, a man and a woman were seriously injured, when a drunken army soldier fired at the camp, a camp elder told Radio Dabanga. They had to be transferred to El Geneina Hospital for urgent treatment.

3RP planning underway in earnest

The 3RP is a country-driven, regionally coherent process which recognizes the centrality of national resilience and stabilization plans and seeks to strengthen national and sub-national capacities.

In Lebanon, strong progress is being made on the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), of which the draft chapters of 10 sectors have been produced.

In Jordan, planning is well underway towards the Jordan Response Plan (JRP) under the leadership of the Government of Jordan, including the completion of the 2015 Needs Assessment.

The Iraq chapter of the 3RP is being drafted ahead of schedule to serve as an annex to the Iraq Strategic Response Plan (SRP). The first draft abstracts of the Turkey and Egypt chapters of the 3RP have been developed in full consultation with the respective governments.

These strands are being pulled together at the regional level to ensure a coherent and clear statement of the needs of and response plan for refugees and impacted communities across the region.

Pas encore tout à fait.

Si la surveillance active des nouveaux cas actuellement en place se poursuit et si aucun nouveau cas n’est détecté, l’OMS déclarera la fin de la flambée de maladie à virus Ebola au Sénégal le vendredi 17 octobre. De même, le Nigéria aura dépassé les 42 jours requis avec une surveillance des nouveaux cas en place et aucun cas détecté le lundi 20 octobre.

Pour le Nigéria, l’OMS confirme que la recherche des personnes connues pour avoir été en contact avec un cas d’Ebola a atteint les 100% à Lagos et 98% à Port Harcourt. Par une enquête épidémiologique de classe mondiale, un lien a fini par être établi pour tous les cas confirmés au Nigéria avec le voyageur aérien du Libéria qui a introduit le virus dans ce pays le 20 juillet.

Cette déclaration attendue par laquelle l’OMS indiquera que les flambées dans ces deux pays sont terminées constituera pour le monde une nouvelle encourageante, alors qu’ailleurs l’épidémie demeure hors de contrôle dans trois pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest.

En Guinée, au Libéria et en Sierra Leone, le nombre des nouveaux cas continue d’exploser dans des zones qui semblaient pourtant arriver peu à peu sous contrôle. Une caractéristique inhabituelle de cette épidémie est son caractère cyclique persistant, avec des baisses progressives du nombre des nouveaux cas, suivies de brusques recrudescences. Les épidémiologistes de l’OMS n’observent aucun signe que les flambées soient en voie d’être maîtrisées dans aucun de ces trois pays.

Comment l’OMS déclare-t-elle la fin d’une flambée d’Ebola?

Le sous-comité OMS Surveillance, épidémiologie et laboratoire est chargé d’établir la date de fin d’une flambée d’Ebola.

Cette date est fixée en fonction de critères épidémiologiques rigoureux, comprenant la date à laquelle le dernier cas ayant eu un risque élevé d’exposition parvient au terme des 21 jours de surveillance médicale étroite et donne des tests négatifs à la recherche du virus.

Selon les recommandations de l’OMS, les agents de santé qui se sont occupés de patients ou qui ont nettoyé leur chambre doivent être considérés comme des «proches contacts» et surveillés pendant 21 jours après la dernière exposition, même si leur contact avec un patient a eu lieu alors qu’ils portaient un équipement de protection individuelle complet.

Pour les agents de santé, la date du «dernier contact infectieux» est celle à laquelle le dernier patient d’un établissement de soins donne un test négatif à la RT-PCR (amplification génique après transcription inverse).

Pour que l’OMS déclare qu’une flambée d’Ebola est terminée, un pays doit laisser s’écouler une période de 42 jours, en ayant apporté la preuve d’une surveillance active en place soutenue par de bonnes capacités de diagnostic, sans qu’aucun nouveau cas n’ait été détecté. La surveillance active est essentielle pour déceler les chaînes de transmission qui pourraient sinon passer inaperçues.

Période d’incubation

Cette période de 42 jours, avec une recherche active des cas en place, correspond à deux fois la durée d’incubation maximum de la maladie à virus Ebola, et l’OMS considère qu’elle est suffisante pour pouvoir déclarer avec certitude qu’une flambée d’Ebola est terminée.

De récentes études en Afrique de l’Ouest ont montré que 95% des cas confirmés ont eu une durée d’incubation comprise entre 1 et 21 jours et 98% entrent dans l’intervalle de 1 à 42 jours. L’OMS est donc sûre que, si aucun nouveau cas n’est détecté au cours de cette période de 42 jours, alors qu’une surveillance active est en place, cela signifie que la flambée d’Ebola est réellement terminée.

L’annonce de la fin des flambées, conformément aux dates fixées par le sous-comité Surveillance, épidémiologie et laboratoire, est faite par les gouvernements des pays touchés, en étroite collaboration avec l’OMS et ses partenaires internationaux.

Les annonces officielles pour les deux pays paraîtront en ligne sur le site de l’OMS.

Recommandations de l’OMS concernant les tests pour la maladie à virus Ebola et la confirmation d’un cas

L’OMS s’alarme des reportages dans les médias faisant état, dans de nouveaux pays, de cas suspects importés d’Ebola qui sont ensuite écartés par les responsables gouvernementaux ou les ministères de la santé comme étant «négatifs» dans les heures qui suivent l’entrée du cas suspect dans le pays concerné.

Il est impossible de déterminer aussi rapidement le statut infectieux, ce qui jette de gros doutes sur certaines des informations officielles transmises au grand public et dans les médias.

• Pour la détection précoce du virus Ebola chez les cas suspects ou probables, les tests recommandés sont la détection de l’acide ribonucléique (ARN) viral ou d’un antigène viral.

• Les cas confirmés en laboratoire doivent avoir donné un test positif à la recherche du virus par détection de l’ARN viral par RT-PCR, et/ou par détection d’un antigène d’Ebola au moyen d’un test spécifique de détection antigénique, et/ou par détection d’anticorps, immunoglobulines M (IgM), dirigés contre le virus Ebola.

• Il faut deux résultats négatifs à la RT-PCR, à au moins 48 heures d’intervalle, pour qu’un patient ne présentant pas de symptôme clinique puisse sortir de l’hôpital ou, pour un cas suspect, pour écarter la possibilité d’Ebola.

• Les résultats de laboratoire doivent être transmis à l’OMS aussi vite que possible, en plus d’être notifiés dans les conditions et les délais requis par le Règlement sanitaire international, administré par l’OMS.

Note

L’OMS recommande que les échantillons des 25 premiers cas positifs détectés dans un pays dépourvu de laboratoire national de référence pour les fièvres virales hémorragiques et 50 échantillons négatifs soient envoyés pour de secondes analyses de confirmation à un centre collaborateur de l’OMS, désigné comme étant spécialisé dans la détection sans risque (niveau IV de sécurité biologique) des fièvres virales hémorragiques.

De même, pour les pays disposant d’un laboratoire national de référence pour les fièvres hémorragiques virales, les échantillons des premiers cas positifs doivent aussi être envoyés pour confirmation à un centre collaborateur de l’OMS.

Si les résultats sont concordants, les résultats transmis par le laboratoire national de référence sont ensuite acceptés par l’OMS.

Pour en savoir plus, lire les recommandations de l’OMS à l’intention des laboratoires - en anglais

CONTEXT

In November 2008, USAID assumed responsibility for disaster response and reconstruction in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), reflecting the transition of FSM and RMI from U.S.-administered trust territories to independent nations. Under this new arrangement, FEMA provides USAID with funding to conduct response and reconstruction activities following a U.S. presidential disaster declaration, and USAID maintains FEMA’s previous commitment to supplement host government efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in the event of a significant disaster. To provide a framework for U.S.

Government (USG) disaster response and reconstruction in FSM and RMI under this hybrid agreement, USAID and FEMA developed an Operational Blueprint, which guides coordination between the two agencies. USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) collaborates closely with FEMA, as well as with USAID/Philippines and USAID’s Bureau for Asia, to implement programs in FSM and RMI. In Palau, USAID/OFDA responds to disasters through its normal disaster response mechanisms.

An important pillar of USAID’s disaster mitigation, relief, and reconstruction program in FSM and RMI is a cooperative agreement between USAID and its primary relief and reconstruction partner in the two countries, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which maintains offices in Pohnpei and Yap states, FSM, and Majuro, RMI. USAID/OFDA also maintains a full-time presence in FSM and RMI through a Disaster Assistance Coordinator (DAC). Located in Majuro and working as a member of the U.S. Embassy country teams in FSM and RMI, the DAC liaises with host governments and coordinates USG relief activities in FSM and RMI. USAID established a position for a Reconstruction Assistance Coordinator based at USAID/Philippines, who helps USAID fulfill the reconstruction component of its mandate as specified in the Operational Blueprint.

15 Oct 2014
UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Presents her Annual Report to the General Assembly

New York - Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, alerted the General Assembly that in the past few months, the intensity of fighting has reached unprecedented levels in many conflicts.

“Children are the primary victims,” the Special Representative said during the presentation of her annual report. “They have been killed, maimed, used and recruited, targeted and brutalized by armed forces and groups.”

She urged the international community to come together to protect children in the face of new waves of extremism sweeping across Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and northern Mali. In addition, protracted conflicts in Afghanistan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as large scale emergencies in Syria, Iraq, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Gaza continue to take a dramatic toll on children.

“Children’s association with extremist armed groups poses new challenges to child protection actors, especially when counter-terrorism measures are applied to children with little or no consideration for their age,” declared Zerrougui. “Another challenge is reintegrating these children back into society, which requires special care and psycho-social assistance that are not always available.”

Attacks against schools and hospitals on the rise

Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Peace Prize reaffirms the urgency to act to protect the right to education for all children, even in times of conflict. The increase in attacks against schools and hospitals is a call for all to better protect these facilities and to adopt concrete measures to deter the military use of schools.

Children, Not Soldiers

Leila Zerrougui concluded her presentation by calling on the General Assembly to endorse and support the campaign ‘Children, Not Soldiers’, which aims to end the recruitment and use of children in Government security forces in conflict by 2016.

“Ensuring that children are not associated with armed forces in conflict is essential to build professional armies and stable societies based on the rule of law and the protection of children’s rights,” said the Special Representative.

For additional information, please contact:
Stephanie Tremblay
Communications officer, Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
Office: +1 212 963 8285, Mobile: +1 917 288 5791
tremblay@un.org

15/10/2014

On a sunny Tuesday morning in mid-September 2014, an FAO team entered the Ebola-stricken town of Foya, carefully making its way to an FAO-supported poultry production facility. “About half a dozen women beneficiaries, looking visibly tired, awaited our arrival” said Alexis Bonte, FAO Representative a.i in Liberia.

“FAO is welcomed here.” said Nancy Morris, General-Secretary of the Togetherness Rural Women Farmers Organizations. “Ebola is the biggest problem we have here. All these women you see have been affected by the effects of the disease” she said pointing to the farmers.

Foya is the birth place of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Since 22 March 2014, when the first case was reported, the town has had no respite. Foya houses Lofa County’s only Ebola Treatment Unit.

Foya District was once a towering base of agricultural productivity, earning it from the Intofawor Farmers Cooperative, one of Liberia’s largest cooperatives. The long years of civil war seriously impacted agriculture and production dropped by more than 50 percent. Just when people were beginning to regain balance, the Ebola outbreak emerged with devastating effects still affecting communities with deaths, destruction of livelihoods, decrease of purchasing power, destruction of women’s loan schemes, fear of grouping and poor food production.

“Please explain what happened to the members of your organization in Foya following the Ebola outbreak” asked Mr Monibah, FAO communication officer. Pointing at her colleagues, Ms Morris replied, “See for yourselves. All of these women have been hard hit by Ebola. Direct relatives of our members were killed by the disease.” She disclosed that Sia Morris, Taiwa Tamba, Sonbodo Raylo, Tene Firyah, Ma Lusu Henry and Hawa Saah have all reported either losing sons, daughters, sisters, a husband, brothers and other relatives. “We suffer from the loss of our loved ones, and we also have to face the effects of Ebola on our resources. This gives us great problem because our weaving, poultry, farming savings and loan club have all finished.”

“Ms Taiwa Tamba lost her husband and two children who died from Ebola. She was infected but survived. Now she is alone, and has nothing to do. Another member, Nancy Thomas, borrowed L$9,000 [US$110], reimbursed L$5,000 and died without paying the balance,” continued Ms Morris.

Described as committed and hard working, Nancy Thomas became a war widow in 2000. “From that time she started working hard. She has three children. She sent two of them to Monrovia with the hope of supporting them through university to attain higher education in order to improve the family’s wellbeing. Her death means that the children may not make it in university any further.”

Ms Thomas insisted to to reimburse her loan and managed to repay 55 percent of it before passing away. “Some members took L$20,000 and L$10,000. Ebola spoiled their businesses mainly because of the disruption of market in August. They got sick or their family got sick and they died without paying a cent. Our savings club had a total of L$150,000 [USD 1,800]. Now we have zero,” confessed Ms Morris. There are no other means of paying back the loans or even revitalizing the loan scheme.

Their last hope was their farms, but many have now abandoned them at the mercy of weeds. “Ebola is spoiling everything here. It starts from the top and down to the children. It destroyed our savings and loans club and broke down our markets and poultry – we are left with nothing. That’s the face of Ebola,” Ms Morris concluded.

FAO is currently conducting an in depth assessment on the impact of the Ebola outbreak on the savings and loans schemes of women association. “If the depletion of their financial capitals is confirmed, FAO and partners will develop cash transfer activities to support women associations to contribute to a grassroots EVD awareness campaign and nutrition sensitive agriculture production through a financial agreement which will allow them to recapitalize their savings and loans schemes (Susu) in just a few weeks”, said Alexis Bonte.

FAO is calling for urgent support to enable the Organization to continue assisting vulnerable communities in Ebola-affected and at-risk countries. USD 30 million are urgently needed for its Regional Response Programme in West Africa over the next 12 months, of which more than USD 6,5 million is needed to implemented activities in Liberia

Faits saillants

• L’insécurité grandissante au nord de Beni pousse les civils à la fuite

• Plus de 17 500 personnes déplacées assistées en vivres et non vivres à Walikale centre

• 5 200 personnes déplacées ont besoin des Articles ménagers essentiels et d’eau, hygiène et assainissement à l’ouest de Lubero

Contexte général

Dans le Territoire de Beni, sept personnes ont été tuées dans la nuit du 6 au 7 octobre lors des attaques contre les localités de Mayi Moya et de Kisiki et dix autres personnes à Oicha dans la nuit du 8 au 9 octobre. Face à ce cycle de violences, la population de la zone s’est déplacée massivement vers Eringeti, au nord et vers la ville de Beni, au sud. Ainsi, plus de la moitié de la population de la cité d’Oicha, estimée à plus de 7 700 personnes, a fui et les villages de Mukoko, Kokola et de Mayi moya, au nord du Territoire de Beni se sont vidés de tous leurs habitants suite à l’insécurité depuis le début de ce mois. Bien que les chiffres précis ne soient pas encore disponibles, une évaluation rapide relève la présence de près de 767 ménages déplacés accueillis dans des lieux publics en ville de Beni (34 ménages) et dans la cité d’Oicha (733 ménages).

L’arrivée de plus de 100 nouveaux ménages déplacés a été rapportée dans la localité de Mweso (environ 20 km nord-est de Kitchanga, en Territoire de Masisi). Ces personnes proviennent des villages de Kanyangohe, Bumbasha, Masha et de JTN, situés au nord-est de Mweso et fuient des menaces des éléments présumés Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) et autres éléments des factions du groupe armé Nyatura dans leur milieu d’origine.