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Mali: Rapport d’evaluation rapide à Menaka situation des deplaces et familles d’accueil a Menaka suite au conflit entre Doshaqs et Peulhs, date d’évaluation : 8-9-10/12/2015

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Norwegian Refugee Council, Médecins du Monde, International Rescue Committee
Country: Mali

1. Introduction

Les ONG internationales ACTED, DRC, CICR, IRC, MDM ET NRC intervenant au Mali dans le cercle de Menaka fidèles à leur mission humanitaire, ont mis en place une équipe pluridisciplinaire pour évaluer les effets du conflit intercommunautaire opposant les Doshaq et peulhs sur les populations déplacées et celles d’accueil dans le cercle de menaka.

En effet, des violents combats intercommunautaires se sont déroulés dans les villages d’Infoukaretene, Tissaletene, et sites voisins, entrainant des déplacements massifs des populations depuis fin novembre vers d’autres villages et sites de la commune. Ces déplacements sont en plusieurs vagues selon les zones de combat.

Ainsi pour mieux évaluer leurs situations (nombre, besoins prioritaires) la dite mission s’est rendue dans les différents villages/sites d’accueil.

Par ailleurs, la mission n’a pas pu rencontrer certains groupes déplacés peulhs malgré que leur présence ait été signifiée auparavant cela est notamment dû à leur mobilité car ils sont à la recherche des zones de pâturages donc se déplacent fréquemment.

Actuellement, on peut donc estimer à environ 2756 déplacés soit environ 635 ménages dans la commune. Ces chiffres proviennent des listes fournies par les chefs de sites à l’issue des entretiens qu’ils ont accordé aux équipes d’évaluation. Ils pourraient augmenter en cas de recrudescence des combats où être revu à la baisse en cas d’arrêts des combats.

Si des solutions idoines ne sont pas entreprises en faveur des déplacés et ménages d’accueil, ils vivront une situation dramatique à cause des difficultés liées à l’alimentation et à l’insuffisance d’habitats auxquelles les communautés d’accueil sont déjà confrontées.


Syrian Arab Republic: Joint statement: An appeal to end the suffering in Syria [EN/AR/FR/SP/RU/CH]

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Source: Association for Aid and Relief Japan, Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services, ActionAid, American Refugee Committee International, Church World Service, Danish Refugee Council, Heifer International, InterAction, GOAL, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V., Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, United Methodist News Service, Jesuit Refugee Service, UN Population Fund, Islamic Relief, UN Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies, International Organization for Migration, World Health Organization, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Tearfund, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, CARE, MENTOR Initiative, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Terre des hommes, Caritas, Netherlands Red Cross, World Food Programme, Mercy Corps, Handicap International, UN Children's Fund, MERCY Malaysia, People in Need, Médecins du Monde, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps, Relief International, Acción contra el Hambre, Refugees International, World Hope International, Save the Children, Plan, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Vision, BRAC, Women's Refugee Commission, ChildFund International, ACT Alliance, Global Communities
Country: Syrian Arab Republic

More than 120 humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies issued a joint appeal today urging the world to raise their voices and call for an end to the Syria crisis and to the suffering endured by millions of civilians. The appeal also outlines a series of immediate, practical steps that can improve humanitarian access and the delivery of aid to those in need inside Syria. You are invited to “sign” the appeal simply by liking, sharing, and retweeting it.

Three years ago, the leaders of UN humanitarian agencies issued an urgent appeal to those who could end the conflict in Syria. They called for every effort to save the Syrian people. “Enough”, they said, of the suffering and bloodshed.

That was three years ago.

Now, the war is approaching its sixth brutal year. The bloodshed continues. The suffering deepens.

So today, we – leaders of humanitarian organisations and UN agencies - appeal not only to governments but to each of you - citizens around the world – to add your voices in urging an end to the carnage. To urge that all parties reach agreement on a ceasefire and a path to peace.

More than ever before, the world needs to hear a collective public voice calling for an end to this outrage. Because this conflict and its consequences touch us all.

It touches those in Syria who have lost loved ones and livelihoods, who have been uprooted from their homes, or who live in desperation under siege. Today, some 13.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance. That is not simply a statistic. These are 13.5 million individual human beings whose lives and futures are in jeopardy.

It touches the families who, with few options for a better future, set out on perilous journeys to foreign lands in search of refuge. The war has seen 4.6 million people flee to neighbouring countries and beyond.

It touches a generation of children and young people who – deprived of education and traumatized by the horrors they have experienced – increasingly see their future shaped only by violence.

It touches those far beyond Syria who have seen the violent repercussions of the crisis reach the streets, offices and restaurants closer to their homes.

And it touches all those around the world whose economic wellbeing is affected, in ways visible and invisible, by the conflict.

Those with the ability to stop the suffering can - and therefore should - take action now. Until there is a diplomatic solution to the fighting, such action should include:

  • Unimpeded and sustained access for humanitarian organizations to bring immediate relief to all those in need inside Syria

  • Humanitarian pauses and unconditional, monitored ceasefires to allow food and other urgent assistance to be delivered to civilians, vaccinations and other health campaigns, and for children to return to school

  • A cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure – so that schools and hospitals and water supplies are kept safe

  • Freedom of movement for all civilians and the immediate lifting of all sieges by all parties

These are practical actions. There is no practical reason they could not be implemented if there is the will to do so.

In the name of our shared humanity… for the sake of the millions of innocents who have already suffered so much… and for the millions more whose lives and futures hang in the balance, we call for action now.

Now.

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21 January 2016

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Chairperson, BRAC, Bangladesh
Zairulshahfuddin bin Zainal Abidin, Country Director, Islamic Relief Malaysia
Ryoko Akamatsu, Chairperson, Japan Committee for UNICEF
Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO, Plan International
Richard Allen, CEO, Mentor Initiative
Dr. Haytham Alhamwi, Director, Rethink Rebuild
Steen M. Andersen, Executive Director, Danish Committee for UNICEF
Barry Andrews, CEO, GOAL Ireland
Nancy A. Aossey, President and CEO, International Medical Corp
Bernt G. Apeland, Executive Director, Norwegian Committee for UNICEF
Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General, CEO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Lina Sergie Attar, co-founder and CEO, Karam Foundation
Carmelo Angulo Barturen, President, Spanish Committee for UNICEF
Gudrun Berger, Executive Director, Austrian Committee for UNICEF
Tomaž Bergoč, Executive Director, Slovenian Foundation for UNICEF
David Bull, Executive Director, United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF
Marie-Pierre Caley, CEO, ACTED
Adriano Campolina, Chief Executive, Actionaid
CARE Netherlands
Tineke Ceelen, Director, Stichting Vluchteling, Netherlands
Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization
Jonny Cline, Executive Director, The Israeli Fund for UNICEF
Sarah Costa, Executive Director, Women’s Refugee Commission
Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme
Emese Danks, Executive Director, UNICEF Hungarian Committee Foundation
Maryanne Diamond, Chair, International Disability Alliance
Hisham Dirani, CEO, BINAA Organization for Development
Edukans, Netherlands
Jan Egeland, Secretary-General, Norwegian Refugee Council
Patricia Erb, President and CEO, Save the Children Canada
Sanem Bilgin Erkurt, Executive Director, Turkish National Committee for UNICEF
Pierre Ferrari, President and CEO, Heifer International
Amy Fong, Chief Executive, Save the Children Hong Kong
Justin Forsyth, CEO, Save the Children UK
Michel Gabaudan, President, Refugees International
Meg Gardinier, Secretary General, ChildFund Alliance
Global Call to Action against Poverty
Mark Goldring, Chief Executive, Oxfam Great Britain
Pavla Gomba, Executive Director, Czech Committee for UNICEF
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Madalena Grilo, Executive Director, Portuguese Committee for UNICEF
Noreen Gumbo, Head of Humanitarian Programmes, Trócaire
Handicap International, Belgium
Abdullah Hanoun, CEO, Syrian Community of the South West UK
Heather Hayden, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children New Zealand
Dr. Dirk Hegmanns, Regional Director Turkey/Syria/Iraq, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe
Anne-Marie Helland, General Secretary, Norwegian Church Aid
Anne Hery, Director for Advocacy and Institutional Relations, Handicap International
International Organization for Migration, Netherlands
W. Douglas Jackson, President and CEO, PROJECT C.U.R.E.
Wolfgang Jamann, Secretary General, Care International
Kevin Jenkins, President and CEO, World Vision International
Bergsteinn Jónsson, Executive Director, Icelandic National Committee for UNICEF
Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Director, DEI-Belgique
Thomas G. Kemper, General Secretary, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
Neal Keny-Guyer, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps
Kerk in Actie, Netherlands Marja-Riitta Ketola, Executive Director, Finnish Committee for UNICEF
Peter Klansoe, Regional Director, Danish Refugee Council, Middle East North Africa region
Pim Kraan, Director, Save the Children Netherlands
Marek Krupiński, Executive Director, Polish National Committee for UNICEF
Dr. Hans Kuenzle, Chair, Swiss Committee for UNICEF
Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF
Jane Lau, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF
Lavinia Limón, President and CEO, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Jonas Keiding Lindholm, CEO Save the Children Denmark
Rosa G. Lizarde, Global Director, Feminist Task Force
Olivier Longue, CEO, Accion Contra el Hambre
John Lyon, President, World Hope International
Sébastien Lyon, Executive Director, French Committee for UNICEF
Dominic MacSorley, Chief Executive Officer, Concern Worldwide
Dirk Van Maele, Director, Plan België
Cécil Van Maelsaeke, Director, Tearfund, Belgium
Vivien Maidaborn, Executive Director, The New Zealand National Committee for UNICEF
Blanca Palau Mallol, President, Andorran Committee for UNICEF
Rev. John L. McCullough, President and CEO, Church World Service
Carolyn Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children USA
David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
Mr. Juraj Mišura, President, Slovak Committee for UNICEF
James Mitchum, Chief Executive Officer, Heart to Heart International
David Morley, President and CEO, Canadian UNICEF Committee
John Nduna, General Secretary, ACT Alliance Stephen
O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund
Ignacio Packer, Secretary-General, Terre des Hommes International Federation
People in Need
Dato Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, President, Mercy Malaysia
Plan, Norway
Peter Power, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland
Sarina Prabasi, Chief Executive Officer, WaterAid America
Chris Proulx, President and CEO, LINGOS, United States
Dr. Jihad Qaddour, President, Syria Relief and Development
Red Cross, Netherlands
Curtis N. Rhodes Jr., International Director, Questscope
Michel Roy, Secretary General, Caritas International
Paolo Rozera, Executive Director, Italian Committee for UNICEF
Dr. Tessie San Martin, President and CEO, Plan International USA
Christian Schneider, Executive Director, German Committee for UNICEF
Rev. Thomas H. Smolich, S.J. International Director, Jesuit Refugee Service
Janti Soeripto, Interim CEO, Save the Children, International
SOS Kinderdorpen, Netherlands
Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO, United States Fund for UNICEF
Marie Soueid, Policy Counsel, Center for Victims of Torture
John Stewart, President, Australian Committee for UNICEF
Limited Odd Swarting, Chair, Swedish Committee for UNICEF
William L. Swing, Director General, International Organization for Migration
Florence Syevuo, Global Call to Action against Poverty, Kenya
Daigo Takagi, Association for Aid and Relief, Japan
Tearfund, UK
Terre des Hommes International Federation
Constantine M. Triantafilou, Executive Director and CEO, International Orthodox Christian Charities
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches
Monique van ‘t Hek, Director, Plan Nederland
Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace
Pierre Verbeeren, Director, Medecins du Monde, Belgium
Damien Vincent, Executive Director, Belgium Committee for UNICEF
Sandra Visscher, Executive Director, Luxembourg Committee for UNICEF
Vrouwen tegen Uitzetting, Netherlands
Tove Wang, CEO, Save the Children Norway
David A. Weiss, President and CEO, Global Communities
Kathrin Wieland, CEO, Save the Children Germany
Jan Bouke Wijbrandi, Executive Director, Dutch Committee for UNICEF
Nancy E. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Relief International
Carolyn Woo, President and CEO, Catholic Relief Services
Daniel Wordsworth, President and CEO, American Refugee Committee
Samuel A. Worthington, CEO, InterAction
Leila Zerrougui, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Mohammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Chief Executive, AwazCDS and Pakistan Development Alliance

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About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: www.unicef.org

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For more information contact: Najwa Mekki, UNICEF New York, nmekki@unicef.org +1 917 209 1804

Syrian Arab Republic: Supporting Syria and the Region: NGO Joint Position Paper, London 2016

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Source: Association for Aid and Relief Japan, Concern Worldwide, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, HELP - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V., Danish Refugee Council, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V., Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, War Child International, Trócaire, Islamic Relief, International Alert, Norwegian Refugee Council, Lutheran World Federation, Tearfund, CARE, MENTOR Initiative, Caritas, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Women for Women International, Christian Aid, Mercy Corps, Handicap International, People in Need, Médecins du Monde, Mines Advisory Group, International Rescue Committee, Kvinna Till Kvinna, Kindernothilfe, Save the Children, World Vision
Country: occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic

Background

Five years into a conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, conditions confronting civilians in Syria continue to deteriorate, particularly for children and youth. Warring parties continue to violate UN Security Council resolutions and international humanitarian law by deliberately and wantonly attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, including homes, markets, schools and hospitals leaving a deadly legacy of Unexploded Ordnance.

Widespread loss of documentation further challenges civilians’ freedom to move inside Syria, hindering their ability to reach safe areas, access assistance, and ultimately seek asylum. Meanwhile, as needs increase, the availability of basic protection and services such as health, education and livelihoods for the almost 4.6 million Syrians sheltering in neighbouring countries is diminishing. Access to legal stay and legal employment is limited, and poverty rates are rising to unprecedented levels. More and more refugees are exhausting their financial reserves and sinking deeper into debt, forcing them to accept exploitative work, driving impoverished parents to send their children into exploitative child labour, forcing desperate women and girls into survival sex and early marriage, and leading men, women and children to return to Syria, or try to reach Europe and third countries through informal channels, at great risk to their lives.

As Syrian, national and international non-governmental organisations providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Syria crisis, we have since 2011 repeatedly stressed that only a political solution and an end to the conflict can spare Syrian civilians further violence, trauma and misery. The Vienna process launched in October 2015 may yield such an outcome, but the urgent humanitarian, protection, health, educational and livelihoods needs of Syrians cannot be put on hold while national, regional and international leaders work to overcome their differences. A whole generation risks losing its future: six million children affected by the conflict are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. More than half of children living as refugees in countries neighbouring Syria are not in school. In addition 30 per cent of refugees have specific needs with one in five affected by physical, sensory or intellectual impairment, requiring immediate and long term effort for all to access services.Moreover, present and future stability in the Syria region depends on the development community’s ability to positively engage, equip, and empower a critical generation of youth who will someday rebuild their communities/society/economy.

To ensure the needs of Syrians living under daily conflict are met it is absolutely vital that the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria and that the 3RP Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan 2016-2017 are fully funded throughout all sectors and for all host countries.

We ask that the international community be bold in its ambitions and commit to providing ‘compacts’ which strive to improve protection, educational and economic opportunities for Syrians. It is against this backdrop that we collectively submit the following recommendations to national governments and other stakeholders.

Lebanon: Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC): Impact Evaluation of the Multipurpose Cash Assistance Programme January 26, 2016

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Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, CARE, Solidarités International, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, World Vision
Country: Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic

Executive Summary

Introduction The Syrian crisis is currently in its sixth year, with over one million Syrians still living in Lebanon as refugees. Nearly 60% of all financial resources pledged by UN agencies and INGOs were to secure basic assistance for Syrian refugees, mainly to support them in meeting food and healthcare needs. In the context of this protracted crisis, humanitarian actors continuously face resource shortages to help affected populations meet their basic needs. Therefore, donors look for cost-efficient yet effective solutions, and rely on the available evidence to make their funding decisions. In the Lebanese context, multipurpose cash assistance (MCA) has been used extensively to meet refugees’ basic needs, ranging from food, shelter, health and hygiene and other items, in a manner that allows refugees’ choice of spending priorities.

The Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC) brings together six international NGOs, including Save the Children (Consortium Lead), the International Rescue Committee (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Lead), Solidarités International, CARE, ACTED, and World Vision International. The mandate of the Consortium is to provide MCA to economically vulnerable Syrian households, whose eligibility is determined based on the inter-agency Proxy Means Test (PMT) score that seeks to measure economic vulnerability. During 2015, 20,000 household had been assisted with MCA out of 25,000 that were found eligible for MCA. The remaining 5,000 were not enrolled in the MCA program reportedly due to lack of funding. This study aims to measure the impact of the MCA delivered by LCC at a six-month midline of assistance on several proxies of physical and material wellbeing, encompassing food security, health, hygiene and housing.

Methodology

The study uses a quasi-experimental design called Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) to compare indicators of the physical and material wellbeing of households that receive cash assistance versus households who do not. The RDD shares similarities to Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) and can establish the causal effect of an intervention. The key difference between RDD and RCT lays in the modality of forming the two groups to be compared.

Without having to randomize those who will receive or not receive cash assistance, which is considered unethical in humanitarian programs, in this RDD study the intervention and control households have been chosen in proximity of the PMT cutoff point. Hence, they are supposedly similar from a socio-economic and demographic perspective, as if they were randomly chosen. The only difference that is assumed between them is in the receipt of cash assistance. In turn, this allows establishing and measuring the causal effect of LCC intervention.

The study compared a group of 247 recipient- and 261 non-recipient households, most of which are male-headed households (76% recipient and 77% non-recipient), with an average age of around 39 years old. Households in the two groups were found very similar, except for the fact that non-recipient households possessed a greater variety of basic household assets, had smaller size and received a lower amount of cash assistance from sources other than the LCC.

Jordan: Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) by humanitarian personnel in Jordan - Inter-agency SEA Community-based Complaint Referral Mechanism (CBCRM)

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, UN Population Fund, Islamic Relief, International Organization for Migration, International Relief and Development, Norwegian Refugee Council, INTERSOS, CARE, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Terre des hommes, World Food Programme, Mercy Corps, UN Children's Fund, International Catholic Migration Commission, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps, Un Ponte per, Save the Children, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Vision, Terre des hommes Italia, UN Women, Première Urgence - Aide Médicale Internationale, Jordan Health Aid Society
Country: Jordan

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) violates universally recognized international legal norms and standards and has always been unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for humanitarian workers. It brings harm to those whom the UN and humanitarian agencies are mandated to protect, and jeopardizes the reputation of these agencies and their ability to provide protection.

Sexual exploitation and abuse is not a new phenomenon. In 2001, the UNHCR/Save the Children assessment1 highlighted how international and national aid workers, working for Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies were perpetrators of gross misconduct in West African refugee camps. The aid workers abused their roles as decision-makers and their positions of trust, to sexually exploit and abuse beneficiary populations. Humanitarian workers traded items, as seemingly insignificant as biscuits, in exchange for sex with women and children.

The shocking findings of the assessment highlighted both the vulnerability of such populations and that humanitarian and development agencies have an obligation to put in place organisational and programmatic systems that protect those we serve, and that we do not inadvertently recruit potential perpetrators. It also highlighted that we need to put in place complaints mechanisms so that alleged cases can be raised and reported; investigated; and, where necessary, referred to the authorities where a crime is suspected.

The findings resulted in the establishment of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Taskforce on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), which advised the UN on specific measures and adopted six standards of behaviour (core principles) to be included in the UN Secretary General’s Bulletin: Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) (SGB)2 (Annex I) which is based on the UN’s Code of Conduct and applies to all UN Staff, partners and contractors. As a further expression of intent and will to act, the Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and Non-UN Personnel (2006)3 (Annex II), is endorsed by 42 UN agencies and 36 Non-UN entities (as of 2008), binding all signatories to the Core Principles and prevention measures as outlined in the SGB.

Despite efforts to establish systems and mechanisms to facilitate reports, underreporting of sexual exploitation and abuse remains a challenge for the humanitarian community. Several reports researching the issue (i.e. No One To Turn To, 20084; To Complain or Not To Complain, 20105) have concluded that sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian personnel is chronically underreported. Several factors explain this including: fear of losing muchneeded material assistance; fear of stigmatization; the threat of retribution or retaliation; the lack of knowledge on how to report an allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse; vulnerable groups feeling powerless to report an abuse; lack of effective legal services to which cases of abuse can be reported; lack of faith in the response that an allegation of sexual abuse would receive; cultural barriers to reporting sexual exploitation and abuse; fear of the consequences of mandatory reporting requirements and lack of maintaining confidentiality.

Niger: Niger: Civilians Caught in the Crossfire and Left Behind

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Source: Concern Worldwide, HELP - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V., COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, CARE, Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli, Mercy Corps, Action Against Hunger, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, Plan
Country: Niger

Victims of War Urgently Need Protection and Humanitarian Assistance

Editor's Note: The following is a joint statement issued and signed on June 24th, 2016 by 12 international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) with operations in Niger in response to recent attacks on civilians. The INGO signatories to the statement are Oxfam, CARE, Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, International Rescue Committee, CISP, COOPI-Cooperazione Internazionale, Concern Worldwide, ACTED, Mercy Corps, and Plan International.

Diffa, 24 June, 2016 - Two of the largest attacks in the history of the current conflict in Niger killed unknown numbers of civilians and displaced over 40,000 people on 19 May and 3 June. Three weeks later, families continue to live in the open, under trees, without adequate access to basic life-saving assistance. The rains have started and children are at particular risk of illness and disease. Save the Children estimates that 60 percent of the displaced are children. Families are still not safe and those that fled faced a repeat attack on 16 June. 280,000 people are now living in displacement in Niger contributing to the 2.7 million people displaced across the Lake Chad Basin region.

Commitments recently made by world leaders at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul and the second Regional Security Summit in Abuja for improved humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians urgently need to be turned into real-time actions in Niger. The world is currently focussed on a military solution to the insurgency, while the humanitarian and protection needs of 9 million people across the Lake Chad Basin region are being consistently forgotten.

Twelve international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) working in Niger are calling on United Nations Member States when they come together during the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment meeting in New York this week, for increased diplomatic efforts and financial aid to support the humanitarian response in Niger. The humanitarian situation in Diffa is rapidly deteriorating and the current response is inadequate. Support needs to be given to the Government of Niger and humanitarian actors for improved capacity to prevent, prepare and respond to the growing humanitarian crisis. This includes improved coordination, community participation, and emergency stockpiling as well as better access to information on needs, specific measures in place for children and women and quick emergency financing. Additionally, actions taken to safeguard civilians must include measures by the Government of Niger to build the confidence and trust of the local population. While the scale, urgency and complexity increases, funds are running dry.

"It is not weapons that create the greatest mortality during war; it is the secondary impacts of conflict that are the most devastating for civilians. Disease, hunger and the exhaustion of coping mechanisms can cause up to 90 percent of conflict-related mortality. Diffa was already prone to food insecurity, malnutrition, and maternal-child health risks, it is all the more crucial that the humanitarian response is rapid, to reduce preventable death” said Mohammed Chikhaoui, Oxfam Country Director in Niger.

The undersigned INGOs urgently appeal to international donors to mobilise funding that is rapidly available, flexible and meets the survival and protection needs of hundreds of thousands of people caught-up in conflict in the Diffa region of Niger as well as Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. Before this new emergency, the humanitarian needs in Diffa were only 28% funded. Now the needs are even 2 greater. This crisis is severely overlooked with only 16% of required funds received for the overall Lake Chad Basin response.

"Humanitarian support in Diffa is crucial – not only because it is lifesaving, but also because it will help keep those in dire straits, especially youth, away from insurgent groups, which in a place where there is hardly any schooling, food, or jobs, can often be seen as the only option,” said Matias Meier, Niger country director at the International Rescue Committee.

Addressing the causes and consequences of this conflict requires innovative joint actions in collaboration with the affected governments and local civil society to address inequality, social and political marginalisation and poverty.

Signed by: Oxfam, CARE, Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, International Rescue Committee, CISP, COOPI-Cooperazione Internazionale, Concern Worldwide, ACTED, Mercy Corps, and Plan International.

View the original PDF statement here: Joint Niger INGO Statement ECOSOC_25 06 16_ENG

Notes: The attacks in Yebi took place on 19 May, 2016 and in Bosso on 3 June, 2016 - a subsequent attack took place in an new displacement site on 16 June, 2016.

The actual figure for the number of people displaced by the attacks in Yebi and Bosso is unknown, the number could be up to 75,000. See OCHA Niger: Diffa (Bosso-Yebi) Flash Update No. 2, 6 June 2016 and OCHA Niger: Diffa (Bosso-Yebi) Flash Update No.4, 9 June 2016

The actual number of civilians killed in the attacks in Yebi and Bosso are not yet known and due to displacement and insecurity are likely to be under-reported. Official reports state that 26 military personnel and 55 members of Boko Haram were killed in the Bosso attack alone.

The Lake Chad Basin humanitarian response is only 16% funded. See OCHA ‘Lake Chad Basin Crisis Update no.4: June 3, 2016’

2.7 million people displaced across the Lake Chad Basin. See OCHA ‘Lake Chad Basin Crisis Update no.4: June 3, 2016’

280,000 displaced by the Boko Haram crisis in Diffa is the most recent figure as reported by the Government of Niger on 16 June, 2016.

90% of conflict related deaths are caused by the secondary impacts of armed violence, Howard Zinn, Moises Samam, Gino Strada. Just war, 2005, p. 38.

Yemen: Closure of Yemen’s main airport puts millions of people at risk [EN/AR]

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Norwegian Refugee Council, INTERSOS, CARE, Mercy Corps, Handicap International, Action Contre la Faim, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, Global Communities
Country: Yemen

Twelve aid agencies today called on the Saudi-led coalition to lift restrictions on Yemeni airspace in order to allow for the reopening of the country’s main airport, Sana’a International, and to allow humanitarian flights to resume.

A spokesperson on behalf of the agencies said: “The closure of Yemen’s main airport, which serves much of the country, is inexcusable when millions of Yemeni families are in urgent need of life-saving assistance.

“The closure only serves to make it even more difficult for aid agencies to get help to those that desperately need it, cutting off an important humanitarian assistance lifeline.

All parties to the conflict must ensure that they allow humanitarian aid to reach the Yemeni population, in line with their obligations under international law.”

As a result of the conflict, over 14 million Yemenis are in need of food aid. One in three Yemeni children under five years old – approximately 1.3 million – are suffering from acute malnutrition.

Alongside humanitarian flights, commercial flights which also often bring in vital supplies and allow the free movement of civilians should also be allowed to recommence.

The spokesperson added: “The closure effectively seals Yemen off to the rest of the world at a time when half the population is malnourished and hospitals urgently require more medicine and medical supplies.

“We call on the Saudi-led coalition to immediately lift all airspace restrictions in order to allow for the airport to be re-opened without further delay.”

The announced closure of Yemen’s airspace for a period of 72 hours was made on Monday, 8 August. As of Sunday 14 August, the airspace remains closed.

The airspace closure coincides with a resumption of airstrikes on Sana’a and other parts of Yemen, which put the lives of Yemeni civilians as serious risk. Already the first civilian casualties – including children – from renewed aerial bombardments are being reported.

Uganda: Office of the Prime Minister, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations in Uganda issue appeal to end suffering of South Sudanese refugees

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, Food for the Hungry, Government of Uganda, DanChurchAid, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Jesuit Refugee Service, International Organization for Migration, World Food Programme, UN Children's Fund, International Rescue Committee, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Save the Children, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Finn Church Aid, UN Women
Country: Uganda, South Sudan

15 December 2016

On the third anniversary of the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in December 2013, the Government of Uganda Office of the Prime Minister, six UN agencies and eleven humanitarian organisations in Uganda are appealing to the world to bring an end to the suffering of the South Sudanese people. With 527,472* South Sudanese refugees having fled to Uganda over the last three years, including more than 338,000*since July alone, it is vital that the international community comes together to support humanitarian organisations in delivering life-saving assistance to those who have been forced to flee their homes, and to take urgent action to find a solution to the conflict.

Thousands of people continue to flee South Sudan to Uganda every day, 64% of whom are children under 18, leaving behind them tales of horrific violence. Refugees report that armed groups operating in the Equatoria region are attacking villages, killing civilians, burning down houses, raping women and girls, and kidnapping young men and boys. People are reportedly being prevented from using major access roads out of South Sudan, forcing many to walk through the bush for days, often without access to food and water. New arrivals report that in the weeks and months ahead, they expect thousands more will follow them to Uganda.

New arrivals are provided with shelter, food, water and an environment where they can live in safety however, the humanitarian response to South Sudanese refugees in Uganda continues to face significant challenges due to chronic and severe underfunding. Currently, just 36% of the US$251 million needed for 2016 has been received. This is creating significant gaps in the response which threatens to compromise the abilities of humanitarian organisations to provide life-saving assistance and basic services.

In August, this year, a new settlement was opened in Bidibidi, Yumbe district to accommodate the thousands of new arrivals. In the space of a matter of months, humanitarian organisations have transformed Bidibidi from empty bushland in to one of the largest refugee-hosting areas in the world. Uganda continues to show outstanding generosity and hospitality towards South Sudanese refugees, at a time when the country is hosting the highest number of refugees in its history and is receiving two additional refugee influxes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Uganda has maintained open borders to allow refugees to reach safety and, as part of its settlement approach, provides them with land to build new homes and grow crops. Refugees in Uganda enjoy a range of rights and freedoms that allow them to gain employment, start businesses and make positive economic contributions to their host communities.

Host communities in northern Uganda are to be particularly commended for having donated the land on which settlements hosting South Sudanese refugees are located. In recognition of the solidarity shown by host communities, as a guiding principle, approximately 30% of the humanitarian response directly benefits Ugandans through improvements to local infrastructure.

We are grateful to our donors for their contributions so far but more must be done to end the suffering of the South Sudanese people. We urge the international community, both those already engaged and new partners to the response, to expedite their contributions of funds and expertise to ensure we can meet the needs of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. With political solutions to the crisis in short supply, further efforts are needed to find long-term solutions that will allow these refugees to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. It remains vital that those with influence over the political leadership in South Sudan use all available channels to encourage the warring factions to come together in dialogue and bring an end to the bloodshed. For the sake of the South Sudanese people, the world cannot afford to fail.

For more information contact:

Commissioner for Refugees Kazungu David Apollo, Office of the Prime Minister, dakazungu.dor@opm.go.ug
John-Paul Magezi, Office of the Prime Minister, +256 782 462 599, pmagezi.dor@opm.go.ug
Charlie Yaxley, UNHCR, +256 776 720 045, yaxley@unhcr.org
Beatrice Okello, FAO, +256 77 650 2504, Beatrice.Okello@fao.org
Peter Nzabanita, IOM, +256 703 301 056/ +256 776847090, pnzabanita@iom.int
Catherine Ntabadde, UNICEF, +256 717 171 111/+256 772 629 567/+256 703 729567, cntabadde@unicef.org
Cheryl Harrison, WFP, Cheryl.Harrison@wfp.org
Karin Elisabeth Lind, Dan Church Aid, +256 782 318 735, keli@dca.dk
Severine Moisy, DRC, +256 772 261 305, s.moisy@drcuganda.org
Wycliffe Nsheka, Finn Church Aid, +256 772 961551/+256 706 021551
Trisha Okenge, Food for the Hungry (FH), +256 783371710, tokenge@fh.org Angela Rugambwa, International Rescue Committee, +256 772 774594, angela.rugambwa@rescue.org
Kevin White, Jesuit Refugee Service, +256 414 501 790, uganda.director@jrs.net
Amy Frost, Save the Children, +256 788 506 676, afrost@savechildren.org
Helen Manson, Tutapona Trauma Rehabilitation, +256 778 989 338, helen@tutapona.com

Issued on behalf of:

Government of Uganda Office of the Prime Minister Department for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
World Food Programme (WFP)
ACTED
Dan Church Aid
Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Finn Church Aid
Food for the Hungry (FH)
Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Jesuit Refugee Service Uganda
Real Medicine Foundation
Save the Children
Tutapona Trauma Rehabilitation

*Figures are based on biometric registrations in the Government’s Refugee Information Management System, and manual emergency registration, headcounts and wrist-banding for the emergency influx of new arrivals.


World: Providing cash directly to those most in need is revolutionising the way we provide overseas aid to the world’s poorest people

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Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Tearfund, Mercy Corps, International Rescue Committee, Cash Learning Partnership
Country: World

3rd January 2017

London, United Kingdom - As the global partnership for cash transfer programming in humanitarian aid, the Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) takes issue with recent criticisms of cash transfers made by Nigel Evans MP and in the media.

Cash transfer programming is one of the most highly scrutinized forms of aid. CaLP’s members decide to use cash relief not only because it works but also because it saves taxpayers money compared to other traditional forms of aid. We applaud the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, for speaking out so strongly in favour of cash programming.

Far from being a waste of tax-payer money, providing cash directly to extremely poor and vulnerable individuals or families has proven to be one of the most effective and efficient ways of providing overseas aid and living up to our obligations as global citizens.

It is quicker and cheaper to reach people in need through relief in the form of cash. Not all people in crisis need the same set of items and delivery of physical goods incurs additional procurement, logistics and transport cost. In Ethiopia, a World Food Programme found cash to be more cost efficient than food aid by 25-30%. According to another study in Ecuador, Niger, Uganda and Yemen 18% more people could have been helped at no extra cost if everyone received cash instead of food.

Cash relief is also more effective in helping people recover from a crisis. Providing assistance in the form of cash after an emergency can literally save lives. Humanitarian cash transfers also allow affected people to fulfil basic needs according to their own priorities, making decisions for themselves rather than relying on bureaucracies.

The positive effects of cash relief go beyond the direct recipient. Robust evidence shows that cash transfers not only reduce poverty, they can also boost economic recovery and build the resilience of local markets.

CaLP’s members use cash transfers both in response to emergencies and to alleviate poverty. A comprehensive review of more than 150 robust studies by the Overseas Development Institute demonstrated the impact of cash programming.

CaLP’s members welcome DFID’s and other donors’ investments in cash transfer programming. Cash transfers help to deliver the efficient, lean approach to aid that donors aim to achieve. Digital payments systems and biometrics can reduce corruption and leakage as they allow aid to be directly traced from donor to recipient.

Cash alleviates suffering by ensuring people have the means to meet their basic needs, while enhancing dignity and choice. CaLP and its members will continue to improve aid so that it achieves as much as possible for people in crisis.

Find out more about the evidence supporting humanitarian cash relief at www.cashlearning.org

Media contact:

CaLP
Paula Gil Baizan
Advocacy Coordinator
advocacy@cashlearning.org

About CaLP:

The Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) is the global partnership for cash transfer programming in humanitarian aid. Our 50 members include UN agencies, donors, NGOs and private sector companies.
Together, they deliver the vast majority of cash programmes in humanitarian settings worldwide. Since our founding in 2005, CaLP has played a leading role in promoting and improving cash programming across the humanitarian sector.

Mali: Mali : Rapport d’évaluation rapide multisectorielle à Ménaka | Sous bureau de Gao, 22 au 28 novembre 2016

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Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Médicos del Mundo, World Health Organization, UN Development Programme, Norwegian Refugee Council, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Programme, Mercy Corps, UN Children's Fund, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Mali

INTRODUCTION

La mission inter-agences à Ménaka a été motivée par la nécessité d’avoir une lecture globale et consensuelle de la situation humanitaire après la création de la nouvelle région de Ménaka, et une réponse adéquate aux besoins multisectoriels et croissants des populations cibles. La mission s’est déroulée du 22 au 28 novembre 2016, avec la participation de représentants d’OCHA, de la FAO, du PAM, de l’UNICEF, de l’UNHCR, du PNUD et de l’OMS.

Objectifs :

  • Confirmer le nombre de personnes et ménages déplacés, retournés et rapatriés volontaires dans la région en indiquant leurs localisations actuelles ;

  • Evaluer les besoins humanitaires prioritaires et urgents des populations vulnérables parmi les populations hôtes, déplacées, retournées et rapatriées en termes de protection, assistance alimentaire et nutritionnelle, santé, abris, éducation, WASH, etc ;

  • Déterminer les zones prioritaires à envisager dans la région dans le cadre d’une réponse humanitaire, de résilience et de cohésion sociale ;

  • S’enquérir des conditions d’accès des populations aux services sociaux de base et au marché et faire un état des lieux des infrastructures sociales de base dans la zone ;

  • Constater le degré de coexistence communautaire et de cohabitation pacifique entre les communautés, particulièrement entre les retournés/rapatriés et les communautés hôtes ;

  • Organiser des rencontres bilatérales entre les Agences et leurs partenaires d’exécution, ainsi qu’avec les bénéficiaires.

Résultats attendus :

 Le nombre de déplacés, rapatriés, retournés spontanés, leur localisation par commune dans la région de Ménaka sont estimés ;

  • Les besoins humanitaires prioritaires sont connus par secteur sur base de la vulnérabilité au sein de la population hôte, déplacée, retournée et rapatriée ;

  • Les conditions d’accès des populations aux services sociaux de base et au marché sont connues ;

  • Les données sur les élèves et les enseignants dans les écoles, ainsi que leurs contraintes de fonctionnement sont connues ;

  • Les besoins en biens domestiques et les conditions d’approvisionnement en eau dans le chef-lieu de région et les localités rurales sont connus ;

  • Les zones de tensions et/ou sources de conflits inter et intracommunautaires sont identifiées ;

  • Les agences font le suivi de leurs activités en rencontrant leurs ONG partenaires et leurs bénéficiaires.

Méthodologie :

Outre l’exploitation d’outils d’évaluation multisectorielle synthétique, à travers des interviews individuelles, il a été procédé à des groupes de discussion, des rencontres avec les autorités locales, les délégués de la société civile (femmes, jeunes et leaders communautaires), les ONG humanitaires, services étatiques et techniques déconcentrés, ainsi qu’avec des rapatriés, déplacés internes et populations hôtes présentes dans la région. Au total, quinze rencontres se sont déroulées sous forme de groupes de discussion à Ménaka ou en plénière dans la localité d’Andéramboukane, avec la participation de cent quarante personnes.
Six visites et observations directes ont par ailleurs été réalisées sur les infrastructures (école, cantine scolaire, centre de santé, champs, pâturages, points d’eau).
Le présent rapport de mission, produit par les membres de la mission et détaillant les résultats de l’évaluation, est soumis à l’appréciation du GIAC (Groupe inter-agences de coordination) régional avec des recommandations et points d’actions, mais aussi aux clusters et à l’Equipe Humanitaire Pays au niveau national.

Yemen: Yemen: Humanitarian agencies warn that escalating fighting on coast could cut off vital supplies for millions

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Source: Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, ZOA, Islamic Relief, CARE, Mercy Corps, World Relief, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children
Country: Yemen

Humanitarian agencies working in Yemen today warned that escalating fighting on the west coast of the country risks cutting off vital supplies to millions of people.

Fighting in and around the port of Mokha has forced thousands of people from their homes and, according to the UN, trapped 20,000 - 30,000 people in the town. These people are in need of immediate protection and assistance.

As the fighting moves north, the agencies warn that access to the country’s main sea port of Hodheida could be blocked, further worsening the widespread humanitarian crisis. Yemen is witnessing a prolonged conflict which has killed or injured over 46,000 people since March 2015. It has left nearly 19 million people in need of aid and forced more than three million people to flee their homes in search of safety. Some seven million people do not know where their next meal is coming from and less than half of the country’s health facilities are fully functioning.

“With more than 2 million children suffering from acute malnutrition, it is critical that Yemen’s air and sea ports remain functional to receive food and humanitarian supplies such as essential medicine not available in country”. Said Shoqi Maktary, the Country Director, Search for Common Ground in Yemen.

Before the escalation of conflict in 2015, Yemen imported approximately 90 percent of its food. Its main airport in Sana’a has been closed for commercial flights since August 2016, leaving thousands without access to medical care abroad.

The agencies call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, facilitate safe passage of those trapped in conflict areas, allow humanitarian access to those in need and cease damage to vital infrastructure that helps keep people alive and to allow vital food and relief supply to reach conflict affected populations.

Notes to editors

Agencies who have signed:

ACF
ACTED
ADRA
CARE International
DRC
Global Communities - Yemen
IRC
Islamic Relief
Mercy Corps
Oxfam
Pure Hands
Save the Children
Search for Common Ground – Yemen
World Relief Germany
ZOA

Contact information

For more information, please contact:

Benjamin Wiacek, Yemen Media Lead, bwiacek@oxfam.org.uk, +216 53 547 791 (Tunis)

For updates, please follow @Oxfam or @OxfamYemen.

Syrian Arab Republic: Joint statement: An appeal to end the suffering in Syria [EN/AR/FR/ES/RU/ZH]

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Source: Association for Aid and Relief Japan, Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services, ActionAid, American Refugee Committee International, Church World Service, Danish Refugee Council, Heifer International, InterAction, GOAL, Welthungerhilfe, ACTED, United Methodist News Service, Jesuit Refugee Service, UN Population Fund, Islamic Relief, UN Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies, International Organization for Migration, World Health Organization, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Tearfund, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, CARE, MENTOR Initiative, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Terre des hommes, Caritas, Netherlands Red Cross, World Food Programme, Mercy Corps, Handicap International, UN Children's Fund, MERCY Malaysia, People in Need, Médecins du Monde, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps, Relief International, Acción contra el Hambre España, Refugees International, World Hope International, Save the Children, Plan, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Vision, BRAC, Women's Refugee Commission, ChildFund International, ACT Alliance, Global Communities
Country: Syrian Arab Republic

More than 120 humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies issued a joint appeal today urging the world to raise their voices and call for an end to the Syria crisis and to the suffering endured by millions of civilians. The appeal also outlines a series of immediate, practical steps that can improve humanitarian access and the delivery of aid to those in need inside Syria. You are invited to “sign” the appeal simply by liking, sharing, and retweeting it.

Three years ago, the leaders of UN humanitarian agencies issued an urgent appeal to those who could end the conflict in Syria. They called for every effort to save the Syrian people. “Enough”, they said, of the suffering and bloodshed.

That was three years ago.

Now, the war is approaching its sixth brutal year. The bloodshed continues. The suffering deepens.

So today, we – leaders of humanitarian organisations and UN agencies - appeal not only to governments but to each of you - citizens around the world – to add your voices in urging an end to the carnage. To urge that all parties reach agreement on a ceasefire and a path to peace.

More than ever before, the world needs to hear a collective public voice calling for an end to this outrage. Because this conflict and its consequences touch us all.

It touches those in Syria who have lost loved ones and livelihoods, who have been uprooted from their homes, or who live in desperation under siege. Today, some 13.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance. That is not simply a statistic. These are 13.5 million individual human beings whose lives and futures are in jeopardy.

It touches the families who, with few options for a better future, set out on perilous journeys to foreign lands in search of refuge. The war has seen 4.6 million people flee to neighbouring countries and beyond.

It touches a generation of children and young people who – deprived of education and traumatized by the horrors they have experienced – increasingly see their future shaped only by violence.

It touches those far beyond Syria who have seen the violent repercussions of the crisis reach the streets, offices and restaurants closer to their homes.

And it touches all those around the world whose economic wellbeing is affected, in ways visible and invisible, by the conflict.

Those with the ability to stop the suffering can - and therefore should - take action now. Until there is a diplomatic solution to the fighting, such action should include:

  • Unimpeded and sustained access for humanitarian organizations to bring immediate relief to all those in need inside Syria

  • Humanitarian pauses and unconditional, monitored ceasefires to allow food and other urgent assistance to be delivered to civilians, vaccinations and other health campaigns, and for children to return to school

  • A cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure – so that schools and hospitals and water supplies are kept safe

  • Freedom of movement for all civilians and the immediate lifting of all sieges by all parties

These are practical actions. There is no practical reason they could not be implemented if there is the will to do so.

In the name of our shared humanity… for the sake of the millions of innocents who have already suffered so much… and for the millions more whose lives and futures hang in the balance, we call for action now.

Now.

###

21 January 2016

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Chairperson, BRAC, Bangladesh
Zairulshahfuddin bin Zainal Abidin, Country Director, Islamic Relief Malaysia
Ryoko Akamatsu, Chairperson, Japan Committee for UNICEF
Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO, Plan International
Richard Allen, CEO, Mentor Initiative
Dr. Haytham Alhamwi, Director, Rethink Rebuild
Steen M. Andersen, Executive Director, Danish Committee for UNICEF
Barry Andrews, CEO, GOAL Ireland
Nancy A. Aossey, President and CEO, International Medical Corp
Bernt G. Apeland, Executive Director, Norwegian Committee for UNICEF
Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General, CEO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Lina Sergie Attar, co-founder and CEO, Karam Foundation
Carmelo Angulo Barturen, President, Spanish Committee for UNICEF
Gudrun Berger, Executive Director, Austrian Committee for UNICEF
Tomaž Bergoč, Executive Director, Slovenian Foundation for UNICEF
David Bull, Executive Director, United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF
Marie-Pierre Caley, CEO, ACTED
Adriano Campolina, Chief Executive, Actionaid
CARE Netherlands
Tineke Ceelen, Director, Stichting Vluchteling, Netherlands
Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization
Jonny Cline, Executive Director, The Israeli Fund for UNICEF
Sarah Costa, Executive Director, Women’s Refugee Commission
Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme
Emese Danks, Executive Director, UNICEF Hungarian Committee Foundation
Maryanne Diamond, Chair, International Disability Alliance
Hisham Dirani, CEO, BINAA Organization for Development
Edukans, Netherlands
Jan Egeland, Secretary-General, Norwegian Refugee Council
Patricia Erb, President and CEO, Save the Children Canada
Sanem Bilgin Erkurt, Executive Director, Turkish National Committee for UNICEF
Pierre Ferrari, President and CEO, Heifer International
Amy Fong, Chief Executive, Save the Children Hong Kong
Justin Forsyth, CEO, Save the Children UK
Michel Gabaudan, President, Refugees International
Meg Gardinier, Secretary General, ChildFund Alliance
Global Call to Action against Poverty
Mark Goldring, Chief Executive, Oxfam Great Britain
Pavla Gomba, Executive Director, Czech Committee for UNICEF
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Madalena Grilo, Executive Director, Portuguese Committee for UNICEF
Noreen Gumbo, Head of Humanitarian Programmes, Trócaire
Handicap International, Belgium
Abdullah Hanoun, CEO, Syrian Community of the South West UK
Heather Hayden, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children New Zealand
Dr. Dirk Hegmanns, Regional Director Turkey/Syria/Iraq, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe
Anne-Marie Helland, General Secretary, Norwegian Church Aid
Anne Hery, Director for Advocacy and Institutional Relations, Handicap International
International Organization for Migration, Netherlands
W. Douglas Jackson, President and CEO, PROJECT C.U.R.E.
Wolfgang Jamann, Secretary General, Care International
Kevin Jenkins, President and CEO, World Vision International
Bergsteinn Jónsson, Executive Director, Icelandic National Committee for UNICEF
Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Director, DEI-Belgique
Thomas G. Kemper, General Secretary, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church
Neal Keny-Guyer, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps
Kerk in Actie, Netherlands Marja-Riitta Ketola, Executive Director, Finnish Committee for UNICEF
Peter Klansoe, Regional Director, Danish Refugee Council, Middle East North Africa region
Pim Kraan, Director, Save the Children Netherlands
Marek Krupiński, Executive Director, Polish National Committee for UNICEF
Dr. Hans Kuenzle, Chair, Swiss Committee for UNICEF
Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF
Jane Lau, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF
Lavinia Limón, President and CEO, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Jonas Keiding Lindholm, CEO Save the Children Denmark
Rosa G. Lizarde, Global Director, Feminist Task Force
Olivier Longue, CEO, Accion Contra el Hambre
John Lyon, President, World Hope International
Sébastien Lyon, Executive Director, French Committee for UNICEF
Dominic MacSorley, Chief Executive Officer, Concern Worldwide
Dirk Van Maele, Director, Plan België
Cécil Van Maelsaeke, Director, Tearfund, Belgium
Vivien Maidaborn, Executive Director, The New Zealand National Committee for UNICEF
Blanca Palau Mallol, President, Andorran Committee for UNICEF
Rev. John L. McCullough, President and CEO, Church World Service
Carolyn Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children USA
David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
Mr. Juraj Mišura, President, Slovak Committee for UNICEF
James Mitchum, Chief Executive Officer, Heart to Heart International
David Morley, President and CEO, Canadian UNICEF Committee
John Nduna, General Secretary, ACT Alliance Stephen
O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund
Ignacio Packer, Secretary-General, Terre des Hommes International Federation
People in Need
Dato Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, President, Mercy Malaysia
Plan, Norway
Peter Power, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland
Sarina Prabasi, Chief Executive Officer, WaterAid America
Chris Proulx, President and CEO, LINGOS, United States
Dr. Jihad Qaddour, President, Syria Relief and Development
Red Cross, Netherlands
Curtis N. Rhodes Jr., International Director, Questscope
Michel Roy, Secretary General, Caritas International
Paolo Rozera, Executive Director, Italian Committee for UNICEF
Dr. Tessie San Martin, President and CEO, Plan International USA
Christian Schneider, Executive Director, German Committee for UNICEF
Rev. Thomas H. Smolich, S.J. International Director, Jesuit Refugee Service
Janti Soeripto, Interim CEO, Save the Children, International
SOS Kinderdorpen, Netherlands
Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO, United States Fund for UNICEF
Marie Soueid, Policy Counsel, Center for Victims of Torture
John Stewart, President, Australian Committee for UNICEF
Limited Odd Swarting, Chair, Swedish Committee for UNICEF
William L. Swing, Director General, International Organization for Migration
Florence Syevuo, Global Call to Action against Poverty, Kenya
Daigo Takagi, Association for Aid and Relief, Japan
Tearfund, UK
Terre des Hommes International Federation
Constantine M. Triantafilou, Executive Director and CEO, International Orthodox Christian Charities
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches
Monique van ‘t Hek, Director, Plan Nederland
Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace
Pierre Verbeeren, Director, Medecins du Monde, Belgium
Damien Vincent, Executive Director, Belgium Committee for UNICEF
Sandra Visscher, Executive Director, Luxembourg Committee for UNICEF
Vrouwen tegen Uitzetting, Netherlands
Tove Wang, CEO, Save the Children Norway
David A. Weiss, President and CEO, Global Communities
Kathrin Wieland, CEO, Save the Children Germany
Jan Bouke Wijbrandi, Executive Director, Dutch Committee for UNICEF
Nancy E. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Relief International
Carolyn Woo, President and CEO, Catholic Relief Services
Daniel Wordsworth, President and CEO, American Refugee Committee
Samuel A. Worthington, CEO, InterAction
Leila Zerrougui, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Mohammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Chief Executive, AwazCDS and Pakistan Development Alliance

###

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: www.unicef.org

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information contact: Najwa Mekki, UNICEF New York, nmekki@unicef.org +1 917 209 1804

Yemen: Closure of Yemen's main airport puts millions of people at risk [EN/AR]

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, ACTED, Norwegian Refugee Council, INTERSOS, CARE, Mercy Corps, Handicap International, Action Contre la Faim France, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, Global Communities
Country: Yemen

Twelve aid agencies today called on the Saudi-led coalition to lift restrictions on Yemeni airspace in order to allow for the reopening of the country’s main airport, Sana’a International, and to allow humanitarian flights to resume.

A spokesperson on behalf of the agencies said: “The closure of Yemen’s main airport, which serves much of the country, is inexcusable when millions of Yemeni families are in urgent need of life-saving assistance.

“The closure only serves to make it even more difficult for aid agencies to get help to those that desperately need it, cutting off an important humanitarian assistance lifeline.

All parties to the conflict must ensure that they allow humanitarian aid to reach the Yemeni population, in line with their obligations under international law.”

As a result of the conflict, over 14 million Yemenis are in need of food aid. One in three Yemeni children under five years old – approximately 1.3 million – are suffering from acute malnutrition.

Alongside humanitarian flights, commercial flights which also often bring in vital supplies and allow the free movement of civilians should also be allowed to recommence.

The spokesperson added: “The closure effectively seals Yemen off to the rest of the world at a time when half the population is malnourished and hospitals urgently require more medicine and medical supplies.

“We call on the Saudi-led coalition to immediately lift all airspace restrictions in order to allow for the airport to be re-opened without further delay.”

The announced closure of Yemen’s airspace for a period of 72 hours was made on Monday, 8 August. As of Sunday 14 August, the airspace remains closed.

The airspace closure coincides with a resumption of airstrikes on Sana’a and other parts of Yemen, which put the lives of Yemeni civilians as serious risk. Already the first civilian casualties – including children – from renewed aerial bombardments are being reported.

Lebanon: Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC): MEB and SMEB Revision: Community Consultation July 2016

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Source: European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, ACTED, CARE, Solidarités International, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, World Vision
Country: Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic

The Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC) is comprised of six INGOs that provide severely socio-economically vulnerable refugees with $175 worth of Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MCA) per month. The LCC uses a formula called the Proxy Means Tests (PMT), which generates a composite score representing economic welfare, to target households eligible for MCA. In addition, the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) and the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB), which are baskets containing the food and non-food items, with their expenses, that are needed by a Syrian refugee household of five members over a one-month duration, are then used to determine the amount of cash given and to set the eligibility threshold.

The MEB and SMEB were developed by the Cash Working Group in June 2014, but have not been revised since then. As such, an Advisory Committee (AC) of several INGOs led by the LCC was formed to lead on the revision of the two baskets. As a core part of this revision process, 33 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted across eight governorates to gauge the community’s perspective on what items the MEB must include and the costs implied. Furthermore, the current study aimed at exploring the community’s disagreement and/or agreement with the content of the existing baskets. Both of the aforementioned objectives were also investigated on gender and location level.

Lebanon: Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC): Community based targeting report

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Source: ACTED, CARE, Solidarités International, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, World Vision
Country: Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic

The current study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of SEV from the community’s perspective and to assess the targeting practices implemented by cash actors in Lebanon. It demonstrated that, according to the community, HH size had an impact on vulnerability, but that that depended on its composition.

The study also found that beneficiaries do not have a clear understanding of the selection process. Moreover, some of them believed that there were inclusion and exclusion errors embedded in the process. Agencies can make use of the current study to assess HHs who appeal or those who are being qualitatively evaluated for inclusion. Furthermore, some beneficiaries revealed that community members might implement significant coping strategies such as debt and dependence on assistance in order to cover their basic needs. Should agencies plan to mitigate the impacts of these strategies, they will need to investigate these strategies and their implications further.

When choosing targeting methodologies, agencies need to take into consideration the context, the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of these tools, and, most importantly, the potential risks implied. However, they should also consider the input of the targeted population. Through this study, the community proved to be a reliable source for defining vulnerability, which they perceived as a dynamic construct where multiple variables can act as either contributors or ameliorators. To date, agencies have not shared the targeting formula with the community nor with field staff, and this ambiguity is causing understandable frustration among the community. This frustration is exacerbated when refugees detect HHs who are of less need of assistance but receive it nonetheless. The trade-off between sharing the formula and allowing for corruption should be revised, as the community has the right to know how and why households are chosen for assistance.


Syrian Arab Republic: Basic Needs Gender Analysis Report 2017

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, ACTED, International Rescue Committee, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Jordan, Syrian Arab Republic

Executive Summary

The protracted Syria Crisis, now nearing the end of its sixth year, has forced millions of Syrians to seek refuge in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and beyond. Since 2011, approximately 659,828 Syrians (as of May 2017) are living in Jordan, placing further strains on Jordan’s already fragile economy and public services.

As the crisis becomes increasingly protracted, social and economic factors are continually changing and influencing the overall ability of refugees to secure their basic needs. In situations of displacement, such as has been created by the Syrian crisis, there is always loss of personal property. Very often people flee with little other than the clothes they are wearing. Refugees in Jordan often arrive with very few possessions and are not prepared for their new situation. The majority of displaced families have used any savings or sold any assets they may have had when fleeing Syria.

With limited stable livelihood opportunities in Jordan, Syrian refugees face obstacles to developing long-term resilience and self-sufficiency. This depletion of resources means that since the onset of the crisis, vulnerable Syrian refugees are struggling to cope with the tremendous hardship of covering their own basic needs.

This gender analysis was conducted to assess the gender dimensions of the Basic Needs Sector and the challenges that Syrian refugees have encountered in Jordan. Refugee population demographics were analyzed together with refugee community practices, cultural and social roles and responsibilities for females and males. In addition to analyzing the special needs of elderly and persons with disabilities.

The research methodology included desk review and organization of Focus Groups Discussions (FGDs) with Syrian refugee women, men, girls and boys in Zaatari camp and in urban settings in Mafraq and Karak to better understand if displacement has caused any shifts in the gender aspects and power dynamics within households among female and male members of the family. These FGDs were organized with the support of BNWG members mainly UNHCR, UN Women, ACTED and DRC.

Yemen: Yemen Crisis: Closure of Sana’a airport – One year of aggravated suffering

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Source: Human Appeal, Danish Refugee Council, Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, ACTED, War Child UK, ZOA, Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE, Saferworld, Mercy Corps, Action Contre la Faim France, World Relief, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Help
Country: Yemen

INGOs in Yemen are calling on all actors to lift restrictions on Yemeni airspace and allow for the reopening of the country’s main airport, Sana’a International. The official closure of Sana’a airport, one-year ago today, effectively traps millions of Yemeni people and serves to prevent the free movement of commercial and humanitarian goods.

The impact of the decision to close the airport on the lives of Yemenis has been severe. The Ministry of Health (MoH) estimates that 10,000 Yemenis have died from critical health conditions for which they were seeking international medical treatment, but were unable to do so due to the airport closure. While difficult to verify independently, this estimate is roughly equivalent to the number of people that have died as a direct result of the fighting. It represents the hidden victims of the conflict in Yemen.

Prior to the conflict, an estimated 7,000 Yemenis were travelling abroad from Sana’a each year to access medical treatment (OCHA). Because of the unrelenting violence, the amount of people that require life-saving healthcare abroad has grown exponentially to an estimated 20,000 Yemenis over the last 24 months (OCHA). Yemenis awaiting critical medical treatment abroad now have to find alternative routes to leave the country, which include a 10-20 hour drive to other airports, often through areas where active fighting takes place.

This situation violates the freedom of movement of the population, a human right safeguarded in article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yemeni people find themselves in a very restrictive situation to travel abroad to seek medical attention, study, conduct business or visit relatives.

The closure of Yemen’s main international airport also negatively affects the speed at which humanitarian organizations can deliver much needed commercial supplies and humanitarian aid to the roughly 20 million Yemenis in need of it. Nearly all humanitarian organizations are forced to rely on the UN Humanitarian Air Service for travel in and out of the country.

The current cholera outbreak and near-famine conditions in many parts of Yemen make the situation far worse. The importance of unhampered delivery of humanitarian aid cannot be overstated.

All channels of domestic and international movement should therefore be reopened immediately.

Signed by:

ACTED

Action contre la Faim

ADRA

CARE International

Danish Refugee Council

Human Appeal

International Rescue Committee

Islamic Help UK

Medicins du Monde

Mercy Corps

Norwegian Refugee Council

SaferWorld

War Child UK

World Relief Germany

ZOA

Central African Republic: RCA: les violences entravent la fourniture d'une aide humanitaire essentielle

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Source: Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services, Danish Refugee Council, Welthungerhilfe, COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale, DanChurchAid, ACTED, Triangle Génération Humanitaire, Norwegian Refugee Council, Lutheran World Federation, INTERSOS, Tearfund, MENTOR Initiative, Mercy Corps, Cordaid, Handicap International, Action Contre la Faim France, Action Against Hunger USA, Médecins du Monde, Solidarités International, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps, Invisible Children, Plan, Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, World Vision, ACT Alliance, ALIMA, Finn Church Aid, Première Urgence Internationale, International NGO Safety Organisation, African Humanitarian Agency / Agence Africaine Humanitaire
Country: Central African Republic

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE

RCA : Le regain de violence contre les civils menace la fourniture de l’aide humanitaire essentielle et la survie des populations fragilisées par la crise.

Bangui, le 11 Août 2017 - Suite à la dégradation de la situation sécuritaire et aux cycles de violences qui affectent un grand nombre de préfectures du pays, les Organisations Non Gouvernementales (ONG) signataires, membres du Comité de Coordination des ONG Internationale en République Centrafricaine (RCA) appellent à la protection des civils et de l’espace humanitaire afin de permettre aux populations vulnérables d’accéder à l’aide qui leur est nécessaire.

En tant qu’ONG travaillant en RCA, nous sommes témoins, au quotidien, de l’impact de la violence sur les populations civiles :

  • Un nombre croissant de civils, travailleurs humanitaires inclus, sont victimes d’attaques souvent mortelles : Un incident sur 2 résulte en un blessé minimum. Il y a au moins une victime civile dans près d’un incident sur 5.

  • Les femmes et les enfants sont les premières cibles du fait de la banalisation des violences sexuelles et du recrutement d’enfants par les groupes armés.

  • Plus de 20% de la population a dû fuir son lieu de résidence : le nombre de déplacés internes a dépassé les 600.000 en juillet – le chiffre le plus élevé depuis Mars 2014, 215.000 personnes se sont déplacées dans les derniers 6 mois. De plus, au 31 Juillet 2017, 438.724 ressortissants centrafricains sont enregistrés comme réfugiés dans les pays voisins. (Source : OCHA/UNHCR).

« La communauté humanitaire en RCA est très préoccupée par cette situation désastreuse. La population civile est celle qui est la plus touchée par la violence qui a un impact sur leur sécurité et leur capacité de survie » déclare Mr. Mohammed Chikhaoui, Président du CCO.

En tant que civils, nous sommes également cibles de nombreux actes de violence. Pour la troisième année consécutive, la RCA est classée comme le pays le plus dangereux au monde pour les humanitaires avec 181 incidents enregistrés depuis le début de cette année.

Ces attaques ont un impact sur notre capacité de mettre en oeuvre la réponse aux besoins vitaux des populations vulnérables. Si l’on considère que plus de la moitié de la population dépend de l’aide humanitaire pour sa survie, il est fort préoccupant que les organisations qui oeuvrent pour fournir une aide d’urgence aux personnes les plus fragilisées ne puissent plus mettre en oeuvre leurs programmes à cause de la violence contre les civils. Cette réduction de l’espace humanitaire, que ce soit en termes d’accès aux victimes ou aux services de base et aux secours, pourrait transformer la crise centrafricaine en véritable catastrophe humanitaire.

C’est pourquoi les ONG signataires de ce communiqué :

  • Rappellent à toutes les parties, leur obligation de protéger les populations civiles et leurs moyens de subsistance ;

  • Appellent fortement toutes les parties à ne pas utiliser la force, l’abus de pouvoir et à s’abstenir de toute violation des droits humains en RCA ;

  • Appellent les groupes armés à un cessez-le-feu immédiat et à s’engager dans le dialogue politique pour trouver une solution pacifique à la crise ;

  • Appellent toutes les parties à garantir un accès sécurisé des civils aux secours d’urgence et aux services sociaux de base, ainsi que celui des acteurs humanitaires à tous les groupes vulnérables comme stipulé par le Droit International.

A ces fins, le 11 Août 2017 a été choisi comme journée de mobilisation et de dialogue dédiée à la protection de la population civile et de l’espace humanitaire en RCA.

ONG SIGNATAIRES

Central African Republic: CAR : Increased violence against civilians threatens the provision of aid and puts many lives at risk

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Source: Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services, Danish Refugee Council, Welthungerhilfe, COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale, DanChurchAid, ACTED, Triangle Génération Humanitaire, Norwegian Refugee Council, Lutheran World Federation, INTERSOS, Tearfund, MENTOR Initiative, Mercy Corps, Cordaid, Handicap International, Action Contre la Faim France, Action Against Hunger USA, Médecins du Monde, Solidarités International, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps, Invisible Children, Plan, Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, World Vision, ACT Alliance, ALIMA, Finn Church Aid, Première Urgence Internationale, International NGO Safety Organisation, African Humanitarian Agency / Agence Africaine Humanitaire
Country: Central African Republic

The following is a press release (408.34 kB) signed by 35 INGO's working in the Central African Republic

Bangui, August 11th 2017

Following the escalation of violence in many parts of the country, NGOs signatories, members of the INGO Coordination Committee (CCO) in the Central African Republic (CAR) call for an increased protection of civilians and an improved humanitarian access to allow the affected population access to vital aid.

As NGOs working across CAR, we witness the impact of violence on the civilian population on a daily basis:

  • An increased number of civilians, including humanitarian actors, are being attacked or are losing their lives: while there are wounded civilians in one out of 2 security incidents, almost one out of 5 is lethal

  • Women and children are being affected the most given the spread of sexual exploitation and abuse and the recruitment of children by armed groups

  • More than 20% of the population have fled their homes: The number of internally displaced persons reached 600,000 in July - the highest it’s been since March 2014, with an increase of 215,000 people in the last six months. An additional 438.724 people live as refugees in neighbouring countries (Source: OCHA/UNHCR).

“The INGO community in CAR is deeply concerned by this very worrying situation. The civilian population are the ones who bear the brunt of violence the most as it impacts on their safety and livelihoods.’ says Mr. Mohammed Chikhaoui, the Chair of the CCO.

As civilians ourselves, we also face numerous incidents and attacks. For the third consecutive year, CAR is being named the most dangerous country in the world for humanitarian personnel in the world in terms of number of incidents they face, with 181 incidents being recorded since the beginning of this year.

These attacks impact on our capacity to deliver life-saving assistance and much needed services to the affected population. And given that half of the population is dependent on humanitarian aid, it is worrisome that the humanitarian organizations working to provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable can no longer do so due to the continuous violence towards civilians, them included.

This reduction in the humanitarian space - both in terms of the humanitarian actors’ capacities to reach the affected population and the population’s ability to access basic services and life-saving assistance – could rapidly lead to a new humanitarian catastrophe in the Central African Republic.

Therefore, the INGOs signatories to this statement: - first and foremost, remind all parties of their responsibility to protect civilians’ lives and livelihoods;

  • strongly urge all parties to refrain from targeting civilians, and perpetrating or allowing the use of force, - abuse of power or any action that violates human rights in the CAR;
  • call on armed actors to agree on an immediate cease fire and to engage in a political dialogue to bring about a peaceful solution to the current crisis;
  • call on all parties to guarantee the safe access of civilians to life-saving and much needed services, and the safe access of the humanitarian actors to all vulnerable groups as stipulated under international humanitarian law.

Bureau CCO, 427, avenue de la Victoire, Bangui – République Centrafricaine

In this regard, August, 11th 2017 has been chosen as a day of mobilisation and dialogue dedicated to the protection of civilians and of humanitarian space in CAR

Read the press release here (408.34 kB)

Central African Republic: Open Letter from ACTED, ACF, DRC, Première Urgence Internationale, IRC and NRC to the UN Secretary-General for immediate action on the Central African Republic

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Source: Danish Refugee Council, ACTED, Norwegian Refugee Council, Action Contre la Faim France, International Rescue Committee, Première Urgence Internationale
Country: Central African Republic

Mr. António Guterres,
Secretary-General
United Nations

Bangui, 14 August 2017

Dear Mr. Guterres,

This Open Letter is to express our grave concern about the rapid deterioration of the security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), and to request your office take immediate action to prevent the country collapsing into another full-blown conflict.

The wave of violence that has intensified since the beginning of 2017 has set CAR spiralling into chaos again. The crisis is now reaching the same levels seen during the peak of the conflict at the end of 2013. At that time, the UN declared a Level 3 emergency, setting in motion a global humanitarian response. We implore you to give equal attention to the crisis faced by the millions suffering in this country today.

Armed fighting is engulfing territories that had been relatively stable, including Basse-Kotto, Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou. In the past 12 months, 8 of CAR’s 16 provinces have been affected by violence. Nearly 70 per cent of the territory lies in the hands of armed groups, all of whom have shown little to no interest in the protection and wellbeing of civilians forced to live under their constant threat of violence. We are witnessing a barrage of indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians across the country. A least 821 civilians have been killed since the start of the year, while even more have suffered grave injuries as a result of being in the crossfire of battles for territory. The blatant disregard for human life in this conflict cannot be ignored.

Callous attacks against women, children and men continue to occur in areas once deemed safe by the international community. Just a few weeks ago on 11 July, an innocent baby was brutally killed in her mother’s arms when two armed men entered a hospital in Zemio City sheltering displaced people. This callous act demonstrates the utter disregard that armed groups have for humanity – no place is sacred, no person is safe.

Despite the recent visit of your Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, and your Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the violence continues to spread. On 21 July, civilian homes were set on fire and a cathedral was attacked in Bangassou City. On 29 July, the violence reached once again the Batangafo vicinity resulting in approximately 20,000 newly displaced people. These are just a few recent examples of the brutality that is mirrored across the country.

Massive population movements have resulted from the fighting. Since May this year, over 100,000 people have fled their homes. This means that one in five people is now displaced or living as a refugee in neighbouring countries – over 1 million people. Again, we remind you that we have not witnessed this level of displacement since the peak of the conflict in at the end of 2013.

The wave of violence comes on top of one of the largest humanitarian caseloads in the world. Nearly one in two people in CAR needs humanitarian aid. Over 2 million Central Africans are suffering from hunger, up from 1.5 million at the peak of the crisis. Two-thirds of the population have no access to basic healthcare – there is only one doctor available for every 22,000 people. Eight months into the year, CAR’s aid appeal is only 24 per cent funded.

These figures paint a bleak picture of a nation teetering on the brink of catastrophe.

Aid workers have not been spared from the violence either. CAR is now the most dangerous place in the world to deliver humanitarian assistance. Since January, CAR has witnessed the world’s highest level of violence against humanitarian workers; one third of all incidents recorded globally have taken place here.

Outright impunity has followed attacks against both civilians and aid workers.

More and more aid organisations have had to suspend operations because of violence against staff and looting of assets. Aid workers have been victims of attacks, aggressions, arrest and detention, armed robberies, compound break-ins, looting and death threats. Only last week, six Red Cross volunteers were violently killed while they held a meeting at a health facility in Mbomou. In the last three months, aid organisations have had to suspend operation because of insecurity in Kaga Bandoro, Bocaranga, Batangafo, Zemio, Bangassou, Alindao, Bria and Mobaye.

If these incidents persist, aid organizations will need to re-evaluate the risks faced by our staff and may be forced to withdraw from especially violent areas. We are painfully aware that any long-term withdrawal would increase the vulnerability of those very people whose survival depends exclusively on our presence and proximity. But we cannot operate in a country where we are the target, where our staff are continuously under fire.

These incidents are also severely hampering humanitarian response on the ground, despite the ongoing efforts to reach vulnerable people who desperately need food, clean water, shelter and medicine.

The UN peacekeeping mission’s (MINUSCA) mandate to protect civilians is not being fulfilled in CAR because of insufficient human and financial resources. Humanitarian access cannot always be secured with support of the mission, and humanitarian corridors are established in a way that not all Central Africans can be reached.

In June this year, a peace deal was signed by 13 out of 14 armed groups in the country. The day after the agreement was endorsed dozens of people were killed in clashes in Bria town. We must cast aside rhetoric that peace is prevailing in CAR.

We are at an absolute loss as to what more we can do as humanitarian organisations. We call on you to take action on behalf of the people of the Central African Republic. We urge you to take the following immediate actions:

  • Ensure the UN Security Council resolutions/ recommendations are implemented, by ensuring that MINUSCA has the financial and humanitarian resources required to fulfil its civilian protection mandate.
  • Reinforce support to the CAR government in the political, humanitarian and security sectors - with a particular emphasis on the enhanced protection of civilians. Simultaneously reinforce support to recovery and development efforts. The situation in CAR requires a multifaceted response to meet the emergency needs of civilians while also addressing the conflict’s root causes.
  • Ensure MINUSCA supports Central Africans and their representatives in the implementation of political conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes.
  • Hold parties to the conflict accountable for their actions against civilians, aid workers and their assets.

On behalf of the following non-governmental organisations operating in the Central African Republic:

  1. ACTED
  2. Action Contre la Faim
  3. Danish Refugee Council
  4. Première Urgence Internationale
  5. The International Rescue Committee
  6. The Norwegian Refugee Council

CC: Stephen O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations
Anthony Lake, Executive Director UNICEF
David Beasley, Executive Director WFP
Tedros Adhanom, Director-General WHO
Filippo Grandi, High-Commissioner UNHCR
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Head of Mission, MINUSCA

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