UNAMA report shows sharp rise in casualties among Afghan civilians in first half of 2103

31 July 2013 – Afghanistan saw a 23 per cent rise in the number of civilian casualties over the first six months of 2013, the majority caused by the increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), according to the latest Mid-Year Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan, released today by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Download the full report in English

UNAMA documented 1,319 civilian deaths and 2,533 injuries in the first half of 2013, marking increases of 14 per cent in deaths and 28 per cent in injuries over the same period in 2012. This rise reverses the decline observed in 2012 and suggested a return to the trend of 2011 when high numbers of civilian deaths and injuries were documented.

The report attributes 74 per cent of all civil casualties to actions taken by Anti-Government Elements, a rise of 16 per cent over the same period last year 2012. Pro-Government forces were found responsible for nine percent of casualties, 12 per cent of the casualties were unattributed and resulted from ground engagements between Pro-Government Forces and Anti-Government Elements and the remaining five per cent were unattributed, resulting mostly from unexploded ordnance. The annual report prepared by UNAMA has been documenting the deaths and injuries of non-combatants since 2007.

“The violent impact of the conflict on Afghan civilians marked by the return of rising civilian casualties in 2013 demands even greater commitment and further efforts by parties to the conflict to better protect civilians who are increasingly being killed and injured in the cross-fire,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš. “The increase in the indiscriminate use of IEDs and the deliberate targeting of civilians by Anti-Government Elements is particularly alarming and must stop.”

Of the documented casualties, the report observes that the main factor driving the increase were the use of IEDs, responsible for 35 per cent of deaths and injuries. Altogether 443 civilians were killed and 917 were injured from IEDs, a 34 per cent increase over the same period in 2012. Tactics involving IEDs, including suicide and complex attacks, accounted for 52 per cent of all civilian casualties documented by UNAMA.

The second highest cause of the increase in civilian casualties was combat between Afghan armed forces and Anti-Government Elements, accounting for 25 per cent of all civilian casualties. The report documented 971 casualties from such action, a 42 per cent increase from 2012, including 207 civilian deaths and 764 injuries. Also noted were an increase in targeted killings, attacks against civilian Government workers and high levels of threats and intimidation, which the report attributed to Anti-Government Elements.

“The growing loss of life and injuries to Afghan women and children in 2013 is particularly disturbing,” said the Director of UNAMA’s Human Rights Unit, Georgette Gagnon. “Deaths and injuries to women and children increased by 38 per cent in the first half of 2013 reflecting a grim reality of the conflict today in Afghanistan.”

UNAMA has repeatedly condemned attacks which have led to civilian casualties and called for their halt, in addition to emphasizing that indiscriminate and deliberate targeting of civilians are violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.

The report notes a number of other troubling findings. For instance, conflict-related violence killed 106 women and injured another 241, an increase of 61 per cent over 2012. Ground engagements involving parties to the conflict were the leading cause for such casualties. Children too were frequent victims. Altogether there were 760 child casualties (231 killed, 529 injured), up 30 per cent from last year. IEDs, followed by ground engagements and unexploded ordinance (or abandoned explosive ordinance) were the leading causes of casualties.

Casualties by Anti-Government Elements perceived to be supporting the Government of Afghanistan also rose. The report notes that 262 such incidents occurred, with 312 killed and 131 injured, up 29 per cent from 2012.

Civilians working for the government were prime targets. UNAMA identified a 76 per cent increase in civilian casualties from Anti-Government Elements targeting Government employees, offices, district headquarters and other Government structures. In 103 recorded attacks, the report noted 114 civilians killed and 324 injured. Four attacks alone, against courthouses and judicial and prosecution staff, killed 57 and injured 145.

Download the press release in English and Dari

• MSF says world has turned its back on rebel-held nation

• Outside capital, insurgent warlords rule countryside

• Rights group says rebels have murdered 400, raped dozens

• EU says deterrent needed to halt killings, looting, rape

By Paul-Marin Ngoupana

OUATA-NANA, Central African Republic, July 30 (Reuters) - The villagers ran away in panic when rebels brandishing machetes and AK47 assault rifles appeared from the bush, leaving the Red Cross medical workers standing alone in a dusty clearing in Central African Republic.

Read the full article on the Reuters-Alertnet

WFP has recently piloted a new price monitoring system in El Salvador. Selected P4P-supported farmers have been provided with smartphones and technical training on how to report updates on their crop sales and current farm-gate prices. This innovative system also allows smallholder farmers to benefit from the data when taking marketing decisions.

WFP/P4P launched the new price monitoring system in order to obtain a better understanding of the different marketing options available to smallholder farmers. In essence, the system will capture the volumes sold and the prices obtained by farmers in different markets, such as local markets, farm-gate selling and marketing through farmers’ organisations. El Salvador is the first of four target countries to pilot the new system. A data collection application for smartphones has been specifically designed for the trial.

Background

To date, there has been no conclusive evidence clearly indicating that collective marketing through farmers’ organisations is an efficient way to address failures in agricultural markets. As a result, the P4P Mid-Term Evaluation (2011) recommended P4P to “implement a practical system for quickly collecting farm-gate prices”. This innovative tool is a product of that recommendation. The system, developed and designed by WFP, aims to fill a gap in the current market data collection and enhance the understanding of farmers’ marketing choices.

Trained to report farm-gate prices

A three-day training was held in the capital San Salvador where 18 lead farmers from P4P-supported farmers’ organisations learned how to use the application. The lead farmers will use WFP-distributed smartphones to submit weekly reports to the WFP country office. This will allow for an instantaneous data monitoring and analysis by the WFP and P4P staff. Furthermore, a summary of the weekly update will be shared with the farmers. Alcides Ruiz, one of the participating farmers has already discovered the potential benefits this will bring to him and the Asaescla farmers’ organisation:

“The compiled price information will be extremely useful for us. At the moment, it’s the middlemen that are running the market in our community, as they dictate the price when they pick up our crops. They pull the prices down. If we as the producers are kept informed about the prices in other areas, and how they evolve, we will be able to negotiate fair prices and increase our incomes.”

Encouraged to use the smartphones

The smartphones include an arrangement with free calls between the 18 farmers and the WFP office. Due to the expected increase in the exchange of information, this will prove an instrumental tool. In addition, the participating farmers and their organisations are encouraged to explore other possible uses of the smartphone. As an incentive, a limited amount of monthly airtime and internet data is included in the arrangement.

In the coming weeks, the pilot system will be launched in Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania.

Sonia Patricia Diaz Participant

“With the smartphone, I will be aware of the prices is in the market and will be able to easily share the information with others. I will also be able to call relatives as well as the other associations to share information on prices and markets. Maybe we could even use this opportunities to sell products between our organisations and regions.”

Rufino Fajardo Participant

“In my community there may be one price and at the same time there is another price in another community. It is important to be informed about the prices at local and national levels. Is has happen before that our farmers’ association bought products that we could not sell further because it turned out we had paid too high price in the first place.”

Alcides Ruiz Participant

“I will not only use the phone for me, but also teach others in my organisation how to use it. It also enables the establishment of a network of communication with other producer organisations. Previously we did not know each other and now we are looking forward sharing important information on how to access better markets.”

Read more about P4P in El Salvador

• Factsheet about P4P in El Salvador

• Previous reports from El Salvador about the benefits of collective action and how female farmers are able to expand production.

• WFP operations in El Salvador

1.Cleaning and disinfecting wells 2.Cleaning and disinfecting boreholes 3.Cleaning and disinfecting water storage tanks and tankers 4.Rehabilitating small-scale piped water distribution systems 5.Emergency treatment of drinking-water at the point of use 6.Rehabilitating water treatment works after an emergency 7.Solid waste management in emergencies 8.Disposal of dead bodies in emergency conditions 9.How much water is needed in emergencies 10.Hygiene promotion in emergencies 11.Measuring chlorine levels in water supplies 12.Delivering safe water by tanker 13.Planning for excreta disposal in emergencies 14.Technical options for excreta disposal in emergencies 15.Cleaning wells after seawater flooding

07/31/2013 06:59 GMT

YANGON, July 31, 2013 (AFP) - Nearly 25,000 people have been evacuated to makeshift camps after floods ravaged eastern Myanmar, an official said Wednesday, as relief teams struggled to reach remote areas inundated by water.

Flood waters have risen dramatically after several days of heavy rain in Karen State forcing thousands to flee to nearly 80 relief camps, Chum Hre, director of the social welfare, relief and resettlement department told AFP.

"Altogether 24,499 flood victims have been evacuated" in Karen State, he said, adding hundreds more had been displaced in Mon and Rakhine states.

"It is very difficult to reach some of the disaster-hit places because of the bad weather and landslides," he said, adding that helicopters had been deployed.

Heavy rains also inundated areas across the border in Thailand.

Seven Thai provinces remained flooded on Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said in its daily update.

Three people have died since Monday after they were hit by trees felled by fast-moving water, it added.

In Thailand's western town of Mae Sot, which borders the flood-hit area of Myanmar, waters have receded in the town centre but remain high in outlying areas, especially near the frontier checkpoint.

"The situation has returned to normal in Mae Sot city," Pramote Chantasri, of Mae Sot City Municipality told AFP.

"The worst was on Monday after four days of heavy rain in the mountains," he said, adding the bridge between the two countries remains open.

Parts of Thailand and Myanmar are inundated each year during the monsoon period, which ends in October.

Deadly floods in 2011 left more than 800 dead in Thailand, inundating swathes of the country for months, deluging parts of the capital and taking a heavy toll on the country's lucrative manufacturing industry.

hla/ask/apj/ami

© 1994-2013 Agence France-Presse

Danish Refugee Council resumes and expands activities in Nairobi in support of urban refugees. The urban refugee programmes have been on hold until now as the Kenyan Government’s plan to relocate refugees from Nairobi has been overthrown by High Court.

An estimated 55,000 refugees in Nairobi no longer have to live in fear that they will be forcibly moved and relocated to eastern Kenya’s overcrowded and under-resourced Dadaab refugee settlements. Their already uncertain future has been in jeopardy since Kenya Government launched comprehensive urban refugee relocation plans in December 2012. The Kenyan High Court ruling on Friday 26 July, however, reverses plans to move 55,000 mostly Somali refugees from the capital by force, and paves the way for urban refugees to continue to reside in Nairobi.

‘Danish Refugee Council is relieved that there will be no forced relocation taking place. The recent months have put refugee rights at risk and jeopardised their already vulnerable situation and uncertain future. Therefore, we are pleased to see that the Kenyan High Court ruling support the approach of Danish Refugee Council and the many other humanitarian and rights-based organisations who have opposed the relocation plans,’ says David Kang’ethe, Danish Refugee Council’s Director of the Kenya programme.

Danish Refugee Council has now resumed activities in support of the urban refugees in the Kenya capital where thousands are in need of humanitarian aid and assistance. The vast majority of the urban refugee population are of Somali origin, while smaller groups of urban refugees come from the Great Lakes Region. Supporting small scale business development and sustainable livelihoods through training and provision of grants are the core assistance provided by Danish Refugee Council in Nairobi and its environs.

These urban refugee livelihoods interventions were launched last year following a comprehensive livelihood study among refugees residing in Nairobi. The research documents widespread poverty, unemployment, lack of food and water, and inadequate access to medical and legal aid as the harsh realities of lives for tens of thousands of East African refugees living in urban and peri-urban areas of Nairobi.

More information about Danish Refugee Council and the comprehensive livelihoods study as well as a documentary about urban refugee lives ‘Living on the Edge’ is available on www.drc.dk

Period covered by this Final Report: 28 March 2012 to 23 March 2013

Appeal target (current): CHF 3,466,967.

Appeal coverage: 18%;

Appeal history:

· This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 28 March 2013, seeking CHF 3,466,967 for 12 months to assist 9,000 families (54,000 beneficiaries).

· CHF 250 000 was initially allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the National Society in responding by delivering assistance.

· An Operations Update n°1 was published on 11 July 2012, to extend the geographical coverage of the appeal by including the Sennar State as well as provide an update on the progress of the operation.

· This final report presents a comprehensive update on the implementation of the response operation since the launch of the appeal.

Summary: Population movement across the borders of Sudan and South Sudan started after the secession and formation of the new Republic of South Sudan. In view of this, an emergency appeal was launched to assist 9,000 families affected.

Through this appeal, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) has reached 7,300 families (43,000 beneficiaries) with relief distribution(Non-Food Items) and shelter support to 2,800 families (16,800 beneficiaries) in White Nile and Sennar states and with bilateral support from Red Cross Red Crescent movement partners such as German RC, Swiss RC, Austrian RC and Qatar RCS as well as non-movement partners the SRCS was able to carry out water and sanitation, health care and livelihood activities.

The operational capacity of SRCS to respond to disasters in Sudan has been enhanced. During the needs assessment process, SRCS and IFRC headquarter staff trained a total of 55 volunteers in Kossti and Sennar Branches on basic assessment skills prior to their deployment on data collection as well as data analysis. An additional 40 volunteers, 20 in each of Sennar and White Nile Branches, were trained on the emergency shelter kit and in turn the volunteers assisted the returnees with technical guidance during the emergency shelter construction.

In May 2012, IFRC country office conducted a comprehensive external evaluation for two emergency appeals in Sudan, the 2011 complex Emergency Appeal (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) and the Population Movement appeal (White Nile and Sinnar). The evaluation team was headed by an international consultant and conducted the process in Blue Nile, White Nile and Sinner states.

The evaluation outlined SRCS contribution to mitigate the negative impacts of the resulting emergency situation and drew lessons as well as feedback from the target population and relevant stakeholders on the efficiency and effectiveness of the SRCS response to be used in future programming draw lessons learnt. The preliminary evaluation report that will be shared with relevant stakeholders has shown that the operation achieved the planned outcomes by reducing the vulnerability of the South-North returnees. The operation was found to be effective, efficient and relevant to the affected population needs and in line with SRCS and the local government policies and strategies during emergency.

Lessons learned and key recommendations included but were not limited to the following:

· There is need for SRCS to invest in warehousing and logistic hubs both at Khartoum level and field level for early prepositioning of emergency stocks at state and locality levels. This is mandatory in order to ensure a timely, cost-effective and appropriate emergency response.

· SRCS should strive to always use the DRR approach even during emergency responses and to apply the Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool to increase communities’ resilience and ownership of their priorities and also to assist them to better negotiate with government on resources that lay beyond the communities’ capacities.

· There is need for SRCS to s prioritise access to safe drinking water for most targeted communities by having emergency kits for rapid rehabilitation of water pumps ready for use at field level and a sufficient number of well-trained WatSan staff for rapid deployment.

At the close of the operation, there were higher expenditures than planned for shelter, which is attributed to inflated costs at local markets impacting on the price for the needed shelter items. There were forex gains as result of variations of the exchange rate and these have been recorded under financial charges and utilized for programme activities.

The major donors and partners linked to this appeal include the Netherland RC, Japanese RC and Red Cross of Monaco.IFRC, on behalf of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, would like to extend thanks to Partner National Societies for their generous contributions.

The IFRC,on behalf of Sudan Red Crescent Society, would like to extend thanks to all partners for their generous contributions.

All operations-related appeals, reports, updates and information are available on the Appeals, plans and updates section of the web site: http://www.ifrc.org/en/publications-and-reports/appeals/

KUPANG, NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR, INDONESIA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) are today presenting the findings of a joint logistics capacity assessment carried out in NTT, NTB and Bali Province, as part of efforts to further strengthen Indonesia’s emergency response mechanisms.

The assessment, conducted in May and June of this year, provides data supporting the location of a regional emergency response hub (Unit Pelaksana Teknis/UPT) in Kupang, as part of a network of such hubs across Indonesia. The hubs will be located in six strategic positions chosen for their proximity to disaster-prone areas, as well as the presence of vital logistics infrastructure, such as roads, gateways and warehouses.

The findings are being presented during a two-day seminar in Kupang that involves more than 40 stakeholders in emergency response and logistics, including specialists from government agencies as well as international organisations.

“The first hours after an emergency strikes are the most critical for emergency response. For disaster-prone countries such as Indonesia, a prompt humanitarian response is vital to saving lives – and for this, a strong logistics system is paramount. This seminar focuses on integrated logistics and supply chain management that will enable emergency responders in Indonesia to make sure that assistance gets to where it’s needed, fast,” said Peter Guest, WFP’s Acting Country Director in Indonesia.

“Preparation is the key to a country’s ability to manage and respond to disasters of any kind,” said R. Sugiharto Head of Law and Cooperation Bureau BNPB. “Indonesia is currently developing integrated Regional Logistics hubs (UPT) all across Indonesia, designed as preparedness tools that will enable the government to pre-position the right relief items and respond to disaster more effectively. The UPT comprehensive assessment will ensure those goals are achieved.”

WFP draws on nearly 50 years of experience of responding to emergencies in Indonesia, with interventions in the areas of emergency food distributions, nutrition activities, logistics, rehabilitation projects and community support.

WFP is committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia to prepare for and respond to natural disasters through an integrated system of early warning, contingency planning and finance and risk transfer tools.

WFP’s Disaster Risk Reduction programme in Indonesia is funded by United States Agency for International Development/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA)

#

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Last year, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance.

For further information please contact:

WFP /Jakarta, Clara Lila Tel. +62 21 570 9004 ext. 2110;
Mobile + 62811-166-1657 Email: clara.damayanthi@wfp.org

Uyo— The Nigerian government and HarvestPlus have flagged off the dissemination provitamin A cassava planting materials to farmers, inspired by agricultural reforms aimed at cutting down the number of persons afflicted with vitamin A deficiency and improving food security.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akin Adesina with the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio jointly kicked off the dissemination of the cassava planting materials in the capital city of Uyo on Tuesday.

Researchers say using provitamin A cassava to tackle vitamin A deficiency is an excellent option because of the easy availability and accessibility of cassava in most rural communities. A nutrition survey report by the Nigerian government shows that vitamin A deficiency hurts the health of about 20% of pregnant women and 30% of children below the age of 5, according to Dr Howarth Bouis, HarvestPlus Director in a speech read on his behalf today.

People afflicted by vitamin A deficiency suffer either from night blindness, stunting, low immunity or even death. “The World Health Organization estimates that about 250 000 to 500 000 vitamin A-deficient children become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight,” said Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Efforts by the Nigerian government to solve this malady include fortification of products such as wheat, soft drinks, flour, and sugar with vitamin A. The biofortification of cassava aims to amplify these efforts, taking vitamin A to people who may not be able to afford the cost of fortified foods.

Commonly referred to as yellow cassava, the provitamin A cassava varieties are products of decades of conventional breeding efforts by researchers at IITA in partnership with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, with funds from HarvestPlus.

Dr Dashiell said, “The development of provitamin A is a big milestone and working with our partners, NRCRI and HarvestPlus, we hope to develop more nutritious crops that will enhance food security.” HarvestPlus and partners plan to ensure that over two million farmers have access to vitamin A cassava stems for planting across the major cassava producing states in Nigeria with initial emphasis on Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Imo and Oyo States as regional hubs.

Paul Ilona, HarvestPlus Country Manager said the strategy is to distribute 300,000 bundles of stems to 100,000 households in Nigeria in 2013 alone, and support the emergence of a sustainable seed system to make stems available to all farmers in the years ahead.

Currently, more than 40,000 traceable farmers in Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Benue, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Rivers states received stems in June and July, while more states will receive stems before the end of August. “This is possible because over 500 hectares of the vitamin A varieties were proactively multiplied in 2012,” he added.

Stakeholders believe that rural households deserve better nutrition and the consumption of more nutritious crops is a good opportunity to reduce malnutrition globally. The Executive Director, NRCRI, Dr JC Okonkwo called on farmers to cultivate the varieties and consume them sufficiently especially for children under 5, and pregnant women for better health and nutrition. He also encouraged farmers to give stems to their neighbors at the time of harvest to ensure rapid dissemination of planting materials.
Besides improving the health and nutrition of the people, the cultivation of the varieties can provide jobs, improve incomes, and lift poor households out of poverty.

Consumers love the varieties because of their nutritional qualities and they can be processed into several dishes.

#

For more information, please contact: Paul Ilona, p.ilona@cgiar.org Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org; or Andrea Gros, a.gros@cgiar.org

About HarvestPlus (www.harvestplus.org)

HarvestPlus leads a global effort to improve nutrition and public health by developing and disseminating staple food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals. We work with public and private sector partners in more than 40 countries. HarvestPlus is part of CGIAR research program on agriculture for nutrition and health. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by its 15 research centers in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. The HarvestPlus program is coordinated by two of these centers, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

About IITA (www.iita.org)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.

• Several factors are maintaining pressure on food and non-food prices: depreciation of the Pakistani Rupee, deterioration of the trade balance and the widening fiscal deficit, long-lasting effects of floods, and localized droughts.

• Particularly food inflation is deteriorating households’ purchasing power and has contributed significantly to food insecurity over the last few years.

Link: Republic of the Marshall Islands: Drought Fact Sheet #3, Fiscal Year (FY) 2013

Executive Summary

During 2012, the ERRF did not receive any contributions, except for the transfer of remnant funds from the old Recovery and Reconciliation Fund (RRF Haiti) in the amount of $406,167.47.

Early in 2012, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) had decided to close down the Fund. Therefore, no resource mobilization efforts were made during the year. The focus of the ERRF was on maximizing the use of the remaining balance ($2.3 million) for cholera response, as well as on making sure that all projects were timely and fully closed before phasing out.

However, towards the end of the year, the Humanitarian Coordinator appealed to the donor community to consider the possibility of supporting the continuation of the ERRF beyond 2012, considering the devastating impact of tropical cyclones Isaac and Sandy, the overall fragility of vulnerable population and the steep reduction in humanitarian funding for Haiti.

Funds allocated in 2012 were earmarked for cholera response activities, including institutional capacity building and community mobilization for hygiene and prevention activities.

Thus, the ERRF funded seven projects with a combined value of $1.4 million, including 4 projects in the Health sector ($732,164.50) and 3 in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) ($707,636.00).

Funds were allocated to three UN Agencies and IOM, ($896,656), two international NGOs ($404,205) and one national NGO ($138,939.50).

Interventions targeted the cholera affected departments of Artibonite and West, while a country wide project to build national capacities in epidemiological surveillance was also funded.

In 2012, ERRF funds benefited 610,000 persons.

More than two years of fighting have had a major impact on every aspect of life in Syria. Untold numbers of people are dead, disabled, missing, detained or separated from their families. Fighting has hampered health care, water supply and rubbish collection. Schools, hospitals and other public facilities have been destroyed. Together, the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are providing food, water and health care.

Contents

• Emergency assistance: Food and other essential items

• Providing clean water and upgrading water and sanitary works

• Health care for the sick and the wounded

• Restoring contact between family members

• Visiting detainees

• Promoting international humanitarian law

• Apple transfer from the occupied Golan

• Working in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent

• The ICRC's mission in a nutshell

MR team distributed first batch of relief supplies to 500 displaced families

Gansu, 25 July - The devastating 6.6 magnitude earthquake which hit Gansu province on Monday morning caused immense damage across its Min and Zhang counties, where nearly 100 lives perished and 300,000 more displaced from their homes. Responding to a direct request for humanitarian assistance from the Zhang County Poverty Alleviation & Development Bureau (ZCPADB), Mercy Relief’s (MR) 4-man team reached the affected village of Jiu Dian this afternoon to distribute survival essentials to the displaced survivors there.

The MR team landed in Gansu via Sichuan, within 24 hours of receiving the appeal for assistance, and met with the Head of ZCPADB, Chang Yu Zhong, to receive first-hand information on the situation, and personally recce the affected grounds. Amidst temperatures hovering 14 degrees Celsius and persistent rains, the team went on to procure the first batch of supplies including 500 blankets, paediatric medicines and 6,000 milk packs to address the basic needs of the survivors, particularly the young, sick and vulnerable. The RMB60,000-worth of supplies reached Jiu Dian village on Thursday afternoon and saw the immediate distribution to 500 affected families.

Commenting from Zhang county, MR Senior Programme Manager for China, Tsai Pi Kuang shared, “Similar to the Lushan earthquake which we responded to back in April, this wet weather condition further exposes the displaced victims to natural elements such as rains and strong winds. Mudslides and landslides further threaten the safety and well-being of the survivors, rescuers and aid workers, and in tandem, delaying the delivery of relief supplies and hinder rescue work. Due to the high altitude, it is important that aid supplies, including blankets and medicines, reach the survivors quickly to prevent or mitigate any risk of a secondary disaster such as an outbreak of diseases.”

Back at its Singapore HQ, MR has launched a public fundraising appeal from 25th Jul to 31st Aug 2013 to support its relief and recovery efforts for the quake victims.

Poor farmers lost homes, livelihoods and life-time savings

Gansu, 29 July - 45-year old Madam Zhang He Yan and her husband scrambled to get their physically-handicapped sons, their daughter-in-law and one year old grandson out to safety when their mud-brick house in Bai Yang Po village collapsed under a strong quake which struck the mountainous areas of Min and Zhang counties in Gansu province last Monday morning. While they were all safe, they now have to stay separately at temporary shelters and relatives’ homes due to the lack of living spaces at the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) camp. Madam Zhang’s family used to survive mainly on their small-scaled vegetables farm and animals, which are now buried under rubbles and mud. With no home and means for sustenance, her family is dependent on the support from the government and aid organisations.

A week have passed, Madam Zhang is one of over 300,000 survivors still struggling to stabilise their lives. Persistent rains have caused serious cases of mudslides, hindering the pace of aid efforts. Survivors staying in temporary shelters have struggled with the cold and wet weather conditions, urgently requiring survival essentials such as beds, blankets and food. Singapore’s Mercy Relief was at the worst-hit county of Min last weekend to deliver its second batch of relief supplies. The 4-man team distributed 500 blankets, food and 6,000 milk packs to 500 affected families at Bai Yang Po village. The 2 batches of aid supplies worth RMB140,000 (SGD28,000).

Meanwhile, over at Mei Chuan Township of Min county, the MR team met with 40-year old Madam Ma and her husband who recounted their experiences of, and prevailing needs since the quake. The couple, who were vegetable garden farmers, now survive on eight packs of instant noodles every three days.

MR Senior Programme Manager for China, Tsai Pi Kuang commented from Min county, “The government announced that the acute relief phase would run for the first 15 days. Thereafter, it would be damage assessment and costs analysis, followed by compensation and recovery. Many of the affected communities are poor rural folks who have lost their homes, belongings, livelihoods and even small life-time savings. While the government is addressing the structural and infrastructural needs, MR is working closely with our partners to fill key survival gaps to support these communities.”

In response to a direct request for humanitarian assistance from the Zhang County Poverty Alleviation & Development Bureau (ZCPADB), MR’s response team reached the quake-hit areas of Gansu province last Thursday afternoon. A total of 1,000 families from both affected counties have benefited from the humanitarian assistance.

Back at its Singapore HQ, MR has launched a public fundraising appeal from 25th Jul to 31st Aug 2013 to support its relief and recovery efforts for the quake victims.

CPAD is a Congolese NGO, which is based in Kinshasa (The DRC). Its key objectives are, among others, promotion of peace and social dialogue, fight against poverty, promotion of gender, and support to under-privileged youth.

“MONUSCO Quick Impact Project (QIP) is helping to train 50 Congolese Women in information technology, marketing, English language, and sewing. The NGO “Congo-Paix et Actions pour le Développement” (CPAD) has been implementing the project since May 2013.

Several companies also are supporting the QIP project, including Sodeico (a Congolese recruitment agency), G.H. Investment Sprl, (a Congolese telecom and renewable energy company), Bank of Africa, and Dstv. They provided their expertise by delivering presentations during the marketing course. For instance, on 15 May 2013, Mr. Gilbert Nkuli Yen Yengani, Chief Executive Officer of G.H. Investment Sprl, shared his experience on how to become an entrepreneur during the marketing course. Check out video.

Through this project, MONUSCO is contributing to upgrading skills of these young women to boost their chances on the job market. For further details on the project, Check out the article released in Echos de la MONUSCO and some pictures.

The graduation ceremony is due to take place soon.

This project is monitored by Laure Gnassou, Economic Affairs Officer from Political Affairs Division, who is assisted by Aline Gerembaya from the same division.

Other CPAD activities include support to Pygmy children to go to school in Lomela (Eastern Kasai), a healthcare center in Kinshasa, as well as river transport of agricultural produce from Eolo (Bandundu) and Lomela (Eastern Kasai).

Goma, 31 July 2013 - Speaking to Radio Okapi and international media journalists in Goma, eastern DR Congo on 25 July 2013, Brigadier General James MWAKILOBWA, Commander of the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) said the FIB was already at work though not yet fully operational.

Taking place at MONUSCO regional headquarters in Goma, this was the general’s first encounter with the press, and the international media represented included the BBC, Journal le Figaro, Reuters, CCTV and ITV Tanzania/VOA.

Concerns were raised about when the Intervention Brigade will be fully operational, to which General Mwakilobwa responded that the FIB is already at work as could be noticed through training, familiarizing with the environment and carrying out patrols alongside the MONUSCO North Kivu Brigade to protect Goma and its environs.

The general very assertively said first of all that “Goma will never fall again as long as the FIB is on the ground. That’s the reason why the brigade is doing all in its powers through patrols to protect Goma and its environs. “ But he added that the brigade can only be fully operational when all the troops including Malawi arrive.

According to the general, 75% of the troops are already on ground and by the time Malawi troops join them, the team will then be complete. He said when that moment arrives and they go fully operational, journalists will be informed so they can transmit the message to the anxious population. He cautioned however that though they are working under chapter 7 of the UN charter their primary aim is to intervene when necessary, neutralize and disarm all negative armed groups including the M23.

Asked if the M23 had captured an FIB soldier for interacting with the Rwanda armed rebel group FDLR, General MWAKIBOLWA said that this was but false propaganda, because he had cross checked this with his troops. “The FIB has never met with any armed group and if they do, we will disarm them immediately. When orders are given and ready to strike we will do so. We are not here for war we are here to disarm the negative armed groups,” he said.

On the International Brigade’s alleged plans to attack Rwanda he said “Rwanda knows that the FIB is here for peace and have no intention on attacking Rwanda. We are here for DR Congo‘s operation and not Rwanda, he added.

It should be recalled that the FIB was put in place at the request of the UN Secretary General .The Security Council then authorized a peace enforcement capacity within MONUSCO mandate through Resolution (2098). The brigade is made up of three battalions (3096) troops who will carry out targeted offensive operations in support of the Congolese army or unilaterally. Its objective also includes neutralizing armed groups, preventing their expansion and disarming them.

Martha Biongo/MONUSCO

Highlights

Overall security situation in North Darfur remained tense especially in Jebel Amir crisis-affected areas namely Elseraif town, Kebkabiya and Saraf Omra. As results of the inter-tribal conflict that first erupted early this year, deaths and injuries were reported from Elseraif Hospital. In addition, cases of suspected acute jaundice syndrome (AJS) and Measles were from Elseraif area. The Health Sector has been looking into the situation and has initiated providing support to health services in Jebel Amir. During the week, shipment of medicines and supplies to Elseraif was the Sector’s main concern.

Due to conflicts around Nyala town in South Darfur, there has been an influx of ‘new’ internally displaced persons. Some of the IDPs were settling in temporary shelters while others were squatting in public areas around Nyala. With the onset of the rainy season, South Darfur’s health partners were alerted on damaging effects of environmental health issues such as open defecation and lack of potable water.

In Red Sea State, dengue fever outbreak was reported in the localities of Swakin and Port Sudan with 34 suspected cases. Together with the State Ministry of Health (SMoH), WHO and partners immediately responded to the outbreak by strengthen the disease surveillance system, supported vector control campaigns in affected areas, trained medical staff on proper case management and conduction of health promotion campaigns. In addition, WHO and SMoH completed the mapping of 321 sentinel sites in three eastern states to strengthen East Sudan’s communicable disease surveillance system.

Link: Pakistan: Monsoon Flash Update 30 July 2013

OVERVIEW

• The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has today issued a forecast that anticipates a high flood situation along River Chenab, ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) over the next 24 to 36 hours. The flood is expected along the river and its tributaries and is likely to affect low-lying areas of Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Hafizabad,
  Mandibahauddin districts in northern Punjab.

• The PMD has advised relevant stakeholders to take precautionary measures to avoid loss of life and property.

• Meanwhile, River Indus is in low flood at Guddu, with a rising trend, while River Kabul is in medium flood and River Swat is in low flood.