Soualiga
Menu

Soualiga (15412)

First famine, now cholera and dengue fever surge hits war-torn Sudan

INTERNATIONAL, 4 November 2024 Humanitarian Aid - War in Sudan has devastated towns and cities across the country and pushed the healthcare system to collapse, just as cases of cholera and dengue fever are surging and hunger levels remain “above the famine threshold”, humanitarians have warned.
In an alert from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, it reported more than 28,000 cases of cholera and 836 deaths in 11 states between 22 July and 28 October.

The actual number of people infected with the disease may be higher owing to under-reporting, said OCHA; the UN agency also noted in its latest update on the emergency that cases of dengue fever have continued to tick upwards, too.

Rain compounds disease

The current cholera outbreak gained momentum following an unusually heavy rainy season which caused flooding that contaminated water sources. Kassala is the hardest-hit state with 6,868 cases and 198 deaths, followed by Gedaref, Al Jazirah, and Northern state.

Sudan’s dengue fever surge has been particularly severe in Kassala and Khartoum. As of 28 October, 4,544 cases and 12 dengue-related deaths were reported, with Kassala alone accounting for over half of these cases.

On 12 August, the Ministry of Health declared a new cholera wave that began on 22 July, prompting a renewed response by Sudanese health authorities and humanitarian organizations. A vaccination campaign launched in October aims to immunize around 1.4 million people in the most affected states.

The development comes as UN and partner aid teams have continued to warn about life-threatening hunger in parts of Sudan, linked to a blockade and escalating fighting in El Fasher, North Darfur state. The lone Government-held city left there has seen some of the fiercest clashes since the start of the war between rival militaries the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last April.

Famine risk grows

“This has delayed or prevented the delivery of commercial and humanitarian supplies to areas of acute need,” said OCHA. It cited NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) which confirmed that acute malnutrition rates “remain above the Famine (IPC Phase 5) threshold in Zamzam internally displaced persons camp”, referencing the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative.

Famine conditions were confirmed in Zamzam camp in August. While data remains limited for nearby Abu Shouk and Al Salam displacement camps near El Fasher, OCHA noted “significant civilian movement away from these camps and towards Zamzam”, driven by the heavy fighting, for safety and access to services.

These vital services are under threat, however, including for some 5,000 children whose treatment by MSF for acute malnutrition in Zamzam camp had to be halted on 10 October “because reportedly for months the parties to the conflict had blocked the delivery of food, medicines, and other essential supplies”.

Humanitarians are also “increasingly alarmed that similar extreme acute food insecurity” is happening among internally displaced communities in the besieged areas of Dilling and possibly Kadugli in South Kordofan state.

8 in 10 health facilities shut

Sudan’s healthcare system remains overwhelmed, with many hospitals barely operational or completely shut down due to supply and fuel shortages. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), up to 80 per cent of health facilities in conflict zones - including Al Jazirah, Kordofan, Darfur and Khartoum - are either barely functional or closed.

“This collapse is impeding child vaccination programmes and accelerating the spread of preventable diseases, raising concerns about potential large-scale outbreaks,” WHO said.

Medical staff and centres under attack

Violent attacks on healthcare facilities have intensified, with 116 incidents reported since the outbreak of hostilities on 15 April 2023, resulting in 188 deaths and 140 injuries. The WHO surveillance platform for attacks on healthcare has documented widespread incidents of violence, looting, and intimidation affecting medical staff, facilities, ambulances and patients.

In the face of Sudan’s enormous humanitarian crisis which has uprooted more than 11 million people inside the country and pushed some three million across its borders, aid partners have continued to scale up response across the country and reach 12.6 million people.

Read more...

COP16: Landmark biodiversity agreements adopted

INTERNATIONAL, By Greace Vanegas 3 November 2024 Climate and Environment - The world’s largest biodiversity summit, known as COP16, concluded this weekend in Colombia, with several landmark decisions, including first ever agreements on nature’s genetic data and on recognising people of Africa descent and Indigenous Peoples as key stewards in conservation efforts.
“This is an unprecedented occasion in the history of multilateral environmental agreements,” Camila Paz Romero, spokesperson for Indigenous Peoples at the summit, told UN News.

“Indigenous peoples and local communities of the world – connected from our knowledge systems in the care of life and biodiversity – remember the long road we have traveled towards this agreement.”

Efforts to get a seat at the table have spanned three decades.

In Cali, the summit, known officially as the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, concluded following 12 days of robust discussions among 170 delegations, according to the Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

The central objective of the Convention, adopted by 196 countries in 1992, is to promote measures that lead to a sustainable future.

COP16's recognition of Indigenous Peoples as stewards of nature's protection is unprecedented in the history of multilateral environmental agreements.
UN Biodiversity
COP16's recognition of Indigenous Peoples as stewards of nature's protection is unprecedented in the history of multilateral environmental agreements.

‘Benchmark for the world’

Agreement was reached after lengthy debates and discussions at the close of COP16, giving Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent and their communities recognition as protagonists in biodiversity conservation while also deciding to create a subsidiary body for them under article 8J of the convention.

“This new subsidiary body is a benchmark for the rest of the world in which the parties recognise the continued need for our full and effective participation, knowledge, innovations, technologies and traditional practices to meet the objectives of the convention,” Ms. Paz said.

That provision specifically states that each signatory country shall respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

New decision-making powers

The newest subsidiary body translates into a permanent space for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to participate in decision making on biodiversity.

That space will also strengthen dialogue between countries and Indigenous Peoples and local communities as a way to define actions that contribute to protecting nature.

The other two subsidiary bodies attending COP16 were the scientific, technical and technological advisory body, which conducts assessments of the state of biodiversity, and the implementation branch, which makes recommendations on technical and scientific aspects of the convention’s implementation.

Global first for nature’s genetic data

In another first, COP16 delegates decided to create a global fund for collecting economic resources from the use digital sequence information – genetic codes coming from organism samples that are often shared digitally – and its and fair, equitable distribution.

As such, companies using this information to develop products will have to allocate part of their profits to what is being called the Cali Fund from which resources will be allocated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, directly or through governments.

Benefit-sharing will also consider such criteria as national conservation needs and biodiversity richness.

Outstanding issues on the table

However, two issues remained unresolved, both instrumental for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, a global plan that was adopted during COP15 in Canada to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

One was the lack of a definition for a financing model to bring the biodiversity protection plan to reality. Calculations indicate that $700 billion is required to implement the framework.

The other pending issue is a monitoring mechanism to measure the progress of countries in complying with the roadmap to protect biodiversity.

By the close of the summit, discussions on these issues were suspended due to the fact that there were no longer enough negotiators present to reach an agreement.

The People’s COP

On the sidelines of the summit, a “green zone” was established for civil society groups, according to Colombia’s Environment Minister Susana Muhamad, who said some 40,000 people attended related activities and the zone attracted about one million visits.

“In short, this was the people’s COP,” Ms. Muhamad said.

“The ‘peace with nature’ coalition was installed, and it was possible to mobilise perhaps the most important education campaign that Colombia has had in its history and to see so many people excited about biodiversity.”

Read more...

Middle East crisis: Gaza polio vaccine campaign under fire

INTERNATIONAL, 3 November 2024 Peace and Security - Attacks on a clinic and UN staff member were reported during a resumed polio vaccine campaign in besieged northern Gaza, Israeli forces continued airstrikes on Lebanon on Sunday and in Yemen, a new water project launched a “lifeline” for populations fleeing conflict, with updates from Syria.

Gaza: Health teams under attack

The northern Gaza polio vaccine campaign began Saturday and is scheduled to continue through Monday, with UN agencies and partners fanning out across the ravaged north during agreed upon humanitarian pauses to ensure safety for civilians and aid workers.

The goal is to reach more than 100,000 children with the final vaccine dose to ensure that the paralysing virus does not spread across the Strip or the region. Eradicated 25 years ago, polio resurfaced earlier this year as the ongoing war in Gaza devastated health conditions and services.

This weekend, amid unparalleled operational and security challenges, more than 58,600 children received a second polio vaccine dose on Saturday, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) operating in Israeli-occupied Gaza reported.

Those challenges continued Sunday.

“This has already been a deadly weekend of attacks in north Gaza,” UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a statement late Saturday.

‘Beyond time to end this war’

In the past 48 hours alone, Ms. Russell said that over 50 children have reportedly been killed in Jabalia, where strikes leveled two residential buildings sheltering hundreds of people, and a polio vaccine centre in northern Gaza was also hit, injuring six people, including four children.

In addition, she said the “personal vehicle of a UNICEF staff member working on the polio vaccination campaign came under fire by what we believe to be a quadcopter while driving through Jabalia-Elnazla”, damaging the car but leaving the staff member uninjured.

“The attacks on Jabalia, the vaccination clinic and the UNICEF staff member are yet further examples of the grave consequences of the indiscriminate strikes on civilians in the Gaza Strip,” she said, asking Israel for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on a UN agency staff member and that actions are taken to hold accountable those found responsible.

“UNICEF also calls on Member States to use their influence to ensure respect for international law, prioritising the protection of children,” she said. “It is beyond time to end this war.”

UN agencies and partners launched a campaign in September to deliver polio vaccines to 640,000 children throughout Gaza.
© UNRWA/Hussien Jaber
UN agencies and partners launched a campaign in September to deliver polio vaccines to 640,000 children throughout Gaza.

Second year without school

The head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Sunday that children are now losing a second year of schooling due to the ongoing devastating war in Gaza.

The agency, which serves 5.9 million Palestine refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, faces a ban by Israel, whose parliament adopted two laws last week that could end UNRWA’s critical efforts across Palestinian territory occupied by Israel – Gaza and the West Bank.

Mr. Lazzarini recalled that children and their education are not featured in any discussions when “experts” or politicians talk about replacing UNRWA.

“In the absence of a functioning state, there is no alternative [to UNRWA],” he said in a social media post. “Until October last year, UNRWA provided learning to over 300,000 boys and girls in Gaza. In the West Bank, nearly 50,000 children go to our schools.”

‘Millions of lives will hang by a thread’

UNRWA is the only UN agency that directly provides education in UN schools, he said, noting that “our schools are the only education system in the region that includes a human rights programme and that follows United Nations standards and values.”

“Dismantling UNRWA in the absence of a viable alternative will deprive Palestinian children of learning in the foreseeable future, the UN agency chief said, adding that without learning, children “slip into hopelesness, poverty and radicalisation”.

“Without UNRWA, the fate of millions of people will hang by the thread,” he continued. “Instead of focusing on banning UNRWA or finding alternatives, the focus should be on reaching an agreement to end this conflict. This is the only way to prioritise the return to school for hundreds of thousands of children, currently living in the rubble. It’s time to prioritise children and their future.”

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) distributes rations to displaced families from Lebanon.
© WFP

Lebanon: Civilians bear brunt of airstrikes

Continued bombing in Lebanon is being reported by UN agencies on the ground on Sunday.

The UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, said the country is facing “a humanitarian crisis as relentless attacks take a devastating toll”.

Civilians are bearing the brunt of the escalating violence, OCHA said on Sunday, which added that growing needs require more contributions to help partners save lives.

UN agencies have been delivering support to civilians. Since late September, it has distributed, among other things, 4.4 million meals, 121,500 food parcels and 1.4 million litres of bottled water to conflict-affected populations.

Efforts also included the delivery of 447,000 litres of fuel to water pumping stations so they can continue to operate.

Find out more details on the situation in Lebanon and the UN response in OCHA’s latest flash update here.

Yemen: New water ‘lifeline’ launched

The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), has launched a vital water project on Sunday.

The $2.25 million project aims to improve sanitation services for over 185,000 people in Ma’rib, including communities hosting large numbers of internally displaced persons.

The 12-month initiative aims to provide essential sanitation and hygiene support through enhanced facilities and strengthened local waste management capacity, fostering safer, healthier living conditions and building long-term resilience for communities heavily impacted by Yemen’s ongoing conflict, according to Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s chief of mission in the country.

“This project is a lifeline for the people of Ma’rib, who are facing some of Yemen’s most challenging conditions,” he said.

“With hundreds of thousands struggling to access basic sanitation, this initiative provides immediate relief while laying the groundwork for lasting, community-led solutions, he said.

As the area with Yemen’s largest concentration of displaced people, Ma’rib has become Yemen’s largest host of internally displaced persons, sheltering nearly 1.6 million people who have fled conflict, insecurity, and deteriorating living conditions across the country. Once a governorate of 350,000 people, Ma’rib’s population has now surged to over two million, placing an immense strain on its infrastructure and basic services.

“By providing critical support, we are not only meeting urgent needs but also helping communities regain a sense of dignity, safety, and stability,” IOM's Mr. Esoev said.

The site at Al Jufainah alone, Yemen’s largest displacement settlement, hosts more than 73,000 people, many of whom rely on external aid to meet their most basic needs. 

Read more...

Lebanon: UN agencies call for ceasefire as war worsens dire conditions

INTERNATIONAL, 2 November 2024 Peace and Security - The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has surpassed the devastation wrought by the war with Israel in 2006, UN agencies said on Saturday, publishing the latest updates from the ground amid calls for an immediate ceasefire.

A new Israel airstrike hit the border post of Joussieh, where many Lebanese and Syrian people are crossing to escape the violence.

“Humanitarian structures are also struck,” said Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, in a social media post early Saturday.

“Even fleeing (and taking care of those who flee) are becoming difficult and dangerous as the war continues to spreads,” he said.

Daily airstrikes

As daily Israeli airstrikes and bombings continue to ravage parts of the country, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon has reached levels that exceed the severity of the 2006 war, with ongoing hostilities resulting in 2,867 deaths and over 13,000 injuries since 8 October 2023, Lebanese authorities reported in the latest flash update from the UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA.

Here are some highlights from that report:

  • Among the 2,867 people killed and 13,047 injured since 8 October 2023, 178 children were killed and 1,173 injured
  • A total of 842,648 people are internally displaced of whom 52 per cent female and 48 per cent male, according to the UN migration agency, IOM.
  • The UN health agency, WHO, reported 36 attacks on healthcare facilities, with 85 health workers killed and 51 injured while on duty, between 17 September and 31 October 2024

The situation has escalated anew in recent days, according to OCHA, which reported that the Israeli army had issued displacement orders for residents of Baalbek and Nabatieh, shortly before airstrikes targeted these locations, along with the first evacuation order for a refugee camp.

The destruction of critical infrastructure continues as the situation escalates.
United Nations
The destruction of critical infrastructure continues as the situation escalates.

Bombs destroy critical sites

The toll on the population has been exacerbated by the destruction of critical infrastructure including healthcare, with many hospitals overwhelmed and urgently requesting blood donations to address the critical influx of casualties.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect vulnerable populations.

Meanwhile UN agencies and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 10,000 troops in southern Lebanon continue to support conflict-affected vulnerable populations, providing essential services and supplies.

Widespread panic amid evacuation orders

Israel’s consecutive evacuation orders on 30 and 31 October for Baalbek had triggered widespread panic and the displacement of civilians on the roads towards Zahle and Akkar, according to OCHA’s latest report. Many people spent the night in their vehicles, facing harsh weather and security conditions as they searched for safety.

Similar evacuation notices were issued in various localities in Nabatieh, Tyre and Beirut’s southern suburbs, further intensifying the crisis, but such displacement orders are not consistently issued ahead of every strike, leaving civilians uncertain and vulnerable in the face of ongoing hostilities, the UN office said.

On 31 October, the Israeli army issued its first ever displacement order for a refugee camp – Rashidieh Palestinian camp – along with 10 villages in southern Lebanon, forcing residents into difficult decisions amid limited options for safe refuge.

This follows strikes over the past month on two other camps for Palestinian refugees, undertaken without warning nor displacement orders, OCHA reported.

Highly dangerous conditions

Medical first responders continued to operate in highly dangerous situations, the agency said.

In addition, expecting mothers have been seriously affected by the escalating violence in Lebanon, according to the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health, UNFPA.

The intensified conflict in across the country has impacted over 11,000 pregnant women, with 1,300 expected to give birth imminently despite massive infrastructure losses and a health system on the edge, according to UNFPA, which is supporting maternal health across Lebanon and Syria with critical medical, psychological and logistical assistance for displaced and vulnerable women during the ongoing crisis.

A least one child dies every day

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also issued a warning about the devastating physical and emotional impacts of the conflict on children, noting that the war has left children traumatised, exhibiting profound emotional and physical distress, including heightened anxiety, aggression and sleep disruptions.

Since 4 October 2024, at least one child has been killed and 10 injured daily in the country, said the agency, which has been providing psychological support to thousands.

True recovery can only begin with a permanent ceasefire, ensuring safe access to essential services for Lebanon’s children, UNICEF said.

Hunger on the rise

Food insecurity is set to worsen significantly due to intensifying conflict and economic strain, putting Lebanon on the list of hotspots of very high concern, according to the latest hunger hotspots report released by UN food agencies.

From April to September 2024, 1.3 million people, or 23 per cent of Lebanon’s population, faced high levels of acute food insecurity, including 85,000 in emergency conditions.

The report urged expanded food aid, cash support and agricultural assistance to address the needs of communities affected by Lebanon’s escalating crisis.

Read the full hunger hotspots report here.

Parallel economic crisis

The ongoing conflict is also deepening Lebanon’s economic crisis, with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reporting on the potential contraction of the gross domestic production (GDP) of up to 15.6 per cent.

Such key sectors as tourism and agriculture are severely impacted, exacerbating inflation and destabilising supply chains.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that the escalation of the conflict is worsening the hardships facing agriculture-dependent communities, intensifying an already severe food security crisis nationwide.

Israeli airstrikes continue bombing food-producing areas. More than 1,900 hectares of farmland in south and Nabatieh governorates have been damaged or remain unharvested due to the ongoing conflict.

Read more...

World Urban Forum: The search for solutions to the global housing crisis moves to Cairo

INTERNATIONAL, 2 November 2024 Humanitarian Aid - As the world’s population moves inexorably and rapidly to ever larger cities, how can we make sure that urban environments are sustainable and safe for their citizens? These questions and more will be tackled at the twelfth edition of the World Urban Forum.

What is the World Urban Forum?

The World Urban Forum (WUF), a major UN conference on sustainable urban development, was set up in 2001 to address global urbanisation, one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. Since then, a forum has been held every two years and this year, the conference takes place from 4 to 8 November in Cairo, Egypt.

Since it began, the forum has helped the UN agency for sustainable towns and cities, UN-Habitat, to collect information on cases and trends and build partnerships and coalitions in order to support its work and find solutions to the global housing crisis and such major crises as climate change, conflicts and poverty.

Vehicle emissions, diesel generators, the burning of biomass and garbage have all contributed to poor air quality in Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria. (file 2016)
© UNICEF/Bindra
Vehicle emissions, diesel generators, the burning of biomass and garbage have all contributed to poor air quality in Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria. (file 2016)

Why is it important?

Today, around 50 per cent of the global population live in cities, and this is expected to rise to 70 per cent by 2050. The move to urban centres is having a major impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.

Much of the growth will take place in Africa, where the population is projected to nearly double over the next 30 years. Cairo, along with several African cities, is likely to become one of the world’s largest metropolitan hubs, housing more than 10 million people by 2035.

“I see WUF as a big coalition in support of transformative change,” Anacláudia Rossbach, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, told UN News. “Its goal is to promote collaboration and cooperation between those involved in advancing and implementing sustainable urban development.”

A polluted canal flows through a slum on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
© UNICEF/Farhana Satu
A polluted canal flows through a slum on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

What is this year’s theme?

The theme of WUF12 It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities emphasises that solutions must begin where people live, work and build their lives.

There will be a focus on local actions to address the global housing crisis, which is being compounded by climate change and growing inequalities.

“By bringing the discussion closer to home and focusing on local actions, we aim to translate global goals into tangible improvements in people’s lives,” said Ms. Rossbach. “WUF12 will serve as a platform to discuss and learn from successful local initiatives, ensuring that progress made in one city can inspire and inform similar efforts elsewhere.”

Delegates will also learn about the many ways that urban planners and authorities are making cities more sustainable by, for example, developing green spaces, parks and urban forests, which help mitigate the heat island effect, improve air quality and enhance biodiversity.

The Bicentennial Park in Ecatepec, Mexico
Cortesía SEDATU
The Bicentennial Park in Ecatepec, Mexico

What comes next?

One tangible outcome of the conference for Cairo will be the revitalisation of Al Asmarat, a low-income neighbourhood. The initiative, in collaboration with the governor of Cairo, is part of a plan to turn the city into a living exhibition of sustainable urbanism.

“This initiative is a demonstration of our belief that every city, every community and every resident has a role to play in building a better future,” declared Ms. Rossbach.

For UN-Habitat, the successful outcome of WUF12 will involve the establishment of new partnerships and coalitions to advance sustainable urban development, furthering both the agency’s New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, both of which propose a vision of a better and more sustainable future for all.

The agency will also continue working closely with local authorities and inspiring activists on urban projects that are changing lives in cities across the world. For example, in Kibera, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, UN-Habitat is working with a grassroots organization to regenerate the Ngong River and improve the environment for the local community. In Yangon, Myanmar, the agency is working closely with local groups to introduce large rainwater harvesting tanks, providing safe, affordable water to some of the city’s most vulnerable people, and in Bolivia, UN-Habitat has supported the country’s development of a national plan with clear goals to improve the quality of life for city residents.

Where can I find out more?

The full conference programme can be found on the official World Urban Forum website.

Look out for coverage of the WUF highlights from our correspondent in Cairo throughout the week on UN News.

Read more...

Gaza: Final phase of polio vaccine campaign reaches ravaged north

INTERNATIONAL, 2 November 2024 Health - The long-awaited final phase of a UN-supported polio vaccine campaign began early Saturday morning in bombarded and besieged northern Gaza, with the goal of inoculating more than 100,000 children against the paralysing virus, according to UN agencies on the ground.
“To overcome challenges posed by the volatile security situation and constant population movement, robust micro plans have been developed to ensure the campaign is responsive to the significant population shifts and displacement in the north following the first round in September,” the UN agencies for health, WHO, and for children, UNICEF, said in a statement.

UN organizations and partners began phase one in September and have had more than 200 teams on stand-by since 23 October to unroll the campaign’s final round, which had been delayed by constant Israeli airstrikes, clashes on the ground and no assurances of the required humanitarian pauses to stop the fighting during the delivery of the vaccines.

Polio had been eradicated in the Gaza Strip 25 years ago, but the ongoing war triggered multiple health crises, with a 10-month-old being diagnosed with the virus earlier this year, prompting health officials to organize a campaign in the war-torn Israeli-occupied territory.

Restrictions persist

The campaign will be delivered by 216 teams across 106 fixed sites, 22 of which have been added to ensure increased availability of vaccination in areas where recently displaced people are seeking refuge, according to UN agencies. There will also be 209 social “mobilisers” deployed to engage communities and raise awareness around vaccination efforts, they explained.

However, the agencies warned that health workers will not be able to reach all of the children who require a final dose of the vaccine.

“The final phase of the campaign had aimed to reach an estimated 119,000 children under 10 years old in northern Gaza with a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), however, achieving this target is now unlikely due to access constraints,” the agencies warned.

Despite the lack of access to all eligible children in northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza, which includes the Palestinian Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA and partners, decided to resume the campaign.

The plan aims to mitigate the risk of a long delay in reaching as many children as possible with polio vaccines and the opportunity to vaccinate those recently evacuated to Gaza City from other parts of the northern Strip.

Extended humanitarian pauses

The time period for the humanitarian pauses has been extended by two hours and is expected to run from 6am to 4pm daily, WHO and UNICEF said. As in the first two phases, vitamin A will also be co-administered to children between age two and 10 in the north to help boost overall immunity.

The campaign in northern Gaza follows the successful implementation of the first two phases of the second round in central and southern Gaza, which reached 451,216 children – 96 per cent of the target in these areas.

A total of 364,306 children aged between 2 and 10 years have received vitamin A so far in this round.

Regional impact

To interrupt poliovirus transmission, at least 90 per cent of all children in every community and neighbourhood must be vaccinated, which will be challenging to achieve given the situation, the agencies said.

A delay in administering a second dose of nOPV2 within six weeks reduces the impact of two closely spaced rounds, decreasing immunity, according to the UN health agency.

WHO has also cautioned that having a significant number of children miss out on their second vaccine dose seriously jeopardises efforts to stop the transmission of the virus and could also lead to further cases in the Gaza Strip and neighbouring countries.

Donate to the humanitarian response in Gaza

Read more...

85 per cent of journalist killings go unpunished

INTERNATINAL, 2 November 2024 Human Rights - Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,700 journalists have been killed around the world, and around 85 percent of the cases did not make it to court, according to a report by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 
The dangers faced by journalists, including risks to their lives, are highlighted each year on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which falls on 2 November.

This year, the International Day coincides with the biannual UNESCO Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which recorded a 38 per cent increase in the number of journalist killings compared to the previous study.

In his 2024 message for the Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that Gaza has seen the highest number of killings of journalists and media workers in any war in decades and called on governments to take urgent steps to protect journalists, investigate crimes against them and prosecute perpetrators.

TV correspondent Mustafa Al-Bayed, reporting from Gaza.
© UNDP PAPP/Abed Zagout
TV correspondent Mustafa Al-Bayed, reporting from Gaza.

Journalists in Gaza killed ‘at a level unseen in any conflict in modern times’

The war in Gaza inevitably dominated the 2024 UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East on Friday, an event that has taken place annually for the past three decades, with the aim of enhancing dialogue and understanding between media practitioners and fostering their contributions in support of a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a statement to the seminar, read out by UN head of global communications, Melissa Fleming, Mr. Guterres noted that journalists in Gaza have been killed “at a level unseen in any conflict in modern times”, adding that the ongoing ban preventing international journalists from Gaza “suffocates the truth even further”.

Below is an excerpt of the comments made by Cheikh Niang, chair of the UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations; Guilherme Canela, chief of the section on freedom of expression and safety of journalists at UNESCO, and Mohammad Ali Alnsour, chief of the Middle East and north Africa section at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Cheikh Niang: One year has passed since the events of 7 October 2023, when Palestinian militants attacked Israel, followed by a devastating Israeli response in Gaza.

Since then, access to information has been severely curtailed. Journalists have been killed, newsrooms destroyed, foreign press blocked and communications cut. Israeli forces, as the occupying power, have systematically dismantled Palestinian media infrastructure, silencing voices through restrictions, threats, targeted killings and censorship.

In the past 380 days, over 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. These were voices reporting on possible war crimes, silenced before their stories could be fully told.

Journalists in Gaza continue to report on the humanitarian crisis, often at great personal risk, providing the world with an accurate picture of the unfolding tragedy. We honour their courage and recognise that their loss silences their stories and severely limits the public's access to the truth.

Palestinian journalist Mohammad Awad reporting from the field. (file)
© UNESCO
Palestinian journalist Mohammad Awad reporting from the field. (file)

Guilherme Canela: The UNESCO Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity has, for many years, been showing a decrease in the number of journalists killed in conflicts compared with the journalists killed in other situations.

This is not true for this report. Since the report we issued in 2017, it was completely changed because of the situation in Gaza. Journalists were killed because they were telling a story, a story that is relevant for each one of us and of each citizen.

It is very scary to see the level of mistrust that there is against media all over the world and against journalists. This mistrust is happening because of a narrative of political leaders, of religious leaders, of celebrities against journalists and against journalism as a foundational pillar of our democratic values and the protection of human rights.

Mohammad Ali Alnsour: The media has a very important role in starting the accountability process, starting with documenting the crimes and violations and then into investigation and then accountability and eventually to achieve peace. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in the occupied Palestinian territories for four decades now. The issue of access also is not limited to the media and journalists.

Under international humanitarian law, the occupier, Israel, has the obligation to protect civilians, including journalists. We are hearing from very senior politicians and leaders that it is okay to kill civilians in order to achieve insignificant military objectives during that process, which is a violation of proportionality, principle and also military need.

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

Every two years, the awareness-raising campaign for the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists coincides with the findings of the report outlining the current state of global and regional impunity.

UNESCO is concerned that impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious human rights abuses, corruption and crime. To uphold the rule of law, governments, civil society, the media and everyone concerned are being asked to join in the global efforts to end impunity.

Read more...

Sudan crisis escalates as attacks in Al Jazirah spark mass displacement

INTERNATIONAL, 1 November 2024 Peace and Security - UN Secretary General António Guterres has strongly condemned escalating attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, as new reports reveal over 135,000 civilians were displaced in just 10 days. 
“The Secretary General is appalled by the large numbers of civilians being killed, detained and displaced, acts of sexual violence against women and girls, the looting of homes and markets and the burning of farms,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a statement issued on Friday. 

The Secretary-General warned that “such acts may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Perpetrators must be held accountable”. 

Humanitarian crisis intensifies

Speaking to journalists at the noon briefing in New York, Mr. Dujarric reported that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has documented more than 135,000 people displaced from locations across Al Jazirah between 20 and 30 October.

“More than half have fled to Gedaref state, with nearly a third seeking shelter in Kassala state,” he noted. 

The UN aid coordination office OCHA expressed “deep concern” about civilians trapped by the ongoing fighting as well as those forced to flee. 

“As we have repeatedly said, civilians must be protected whether they move or stay, and they must be able to receive the humanitarian assistance they need,” Mr. Dujarric emphasised. 

Supporting displaced people

In response to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis, UN agencies and humanitarian partners – particularly local organizations and volunteers – are providing emergency assistance to new arrivals, including family tracing, reunification services and mental health support. 

However, with hunger and disease spreading and half the population now requiring aid, the UN Secretary-General “demands all parties facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilians in need through all necessary routes,” the statement continued.

Renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire, Mr. Guterres also announced that his Personal Envoy will “continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to de-escalate this conflict and strengthen civilian protection measures.”

Read more...

Hunger and cholera crises escalate in South Sudan, as needs surge

INTERNATIONAL, By Vibhu Mishra 1 November 2024 Humanitarian Aid - South Sudan is facing a spiralling humanitarian crisis with hunger and cholera cases escalating in several parts of the country. UN agencies on Friday called for more international support and interventions to ease the widespread suffering.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have raised the alarm over worsening hunger, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks in the world’s youngest nation.

WFP warned that the food situation in South Sudan has reached critical levels, with more than half of the population already facing “crisis-level” hunger – classified as at least IPC3 on the five point global food insecurity scale.

Exacerbating the situation is that the UN food agency has no funds to preposition supplies for next year, as it also faces challenges accessing communities in need due to seasonal road closures and prohibitive costs associated with airlifting aid.

“WFP currently has no food supplies in South Sudan to preposition for next year’s humanitarian response,” said Shaun Hughes, WFP acting Country Director for South Sudan.

He added that the country’s limited road networks are impassable for much of the year, particularly in regions with the highest levels of food insecurity.

“Airdrops are always last resort for WFP. Every dollar spent on planes is a dollar not spent on food for hungry people. But there is a simple solution: get food to communities by road before they are cut off by heavy rain and flooding.”

Complicating factors

The country’s hunger crisis is compounded by several factors, including high food prices, economic instability, ongoing conflict, and an influx of refugees from neighbouring Sudan, where conflict between Government troops and a powerful rival militia is also escalating.

Severe floods have not only destroyed crops but also displaced entire communities, leaving them dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive.

WFP’s current resources have only managed to reach 38 per cent of those in need during 2024’s lean season, with most recipients receiving half-rations.

Cholera outbreak

In addition to the food crisis, South Sudan is grappling with a cholera outbreak in Renk county, a key entry point for refugees and returnees fleeing conflict in Sudan. As of late October, health authorities have reported 50 suspected cholera cases, with six confirmed, among refugees, returnees, and the local community.

The outbreak is fuelled by overcrowded living conditions and limited access to clean water and sanitation which threatens to spread as the flood-displaced population grows.

In response to the outbreak, South Sudanese health authorities, supported by WHO, have activated a cholera task force to coordinate containment efforts. It also established two treatment units, a 10-bed facility at Renk Civil Hospital and a smaller one at Wunthou, a key entry point.

WHO has also deployed rapid response teams consisting of state coordinators, epidemiologists, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) experts, and infection prevention specialists. It also delivered 12 metric tons of emergency health kits to Renk, sufficient to treat 74,000 people, including cholera-specific supplies.

“WHO is committed to supporting the South Sudanese Ministry of Health in enhancing disease surveillance, improving response coordination, and ensuring the availability of medical supplies,” said Dr. Karamagi.

Boys walk past flooded fields in Bentiu, Unity state, South Sudan.
© UNICEF/Mark Naftalin
Boys walk past flooded fields in Bentiu, Unity state, South Sudan.

Children at risk

Children under five are especially vulnerable in South Sudan’s growing crisis, facing high levels of malnutrition and limited access to basic services.

UNICEF recently screened 1,800 under-fives for malnutrition at entry points in Greater Bahr el Ghazal, finding 485 malnourished, including 150 severely malnourished.

In response, UNICEF has been providing essential clean water services to an estimated 40,000 people in flood-affected areas, helping reduce waterborne disease risks.

Additionally, the agency supported the enrolment of over 3,000 returnee and refugee children into local schools in Renk, Kodok and Malakal, while 216 children attend basic English classes at the Renk Transit Centre, an effort aimed at supporting the integration of displaced children into host communities.

Read more...

‘Historic development’ in Thailand as it moves to end statelessness for nearly 500,000 people

INTERNATIONAL, 1 November 2024 Migrants and Refugees - In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand’s cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region’s most significant citizenship initiatives. 
The decision announced on Friday will benefit 335,000 longtime residents and members of officially recognized minority ethnic groups, along with approximately 142,000 of their children born in Thailand.

‘Historic development’

“This is a historic development,” said Ms. Hai Kyung Jun, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Bureau Director for Asia and the Pacific. The measure is expected to dramatically reduce statelessness, addressing the situation of the majority of nearly 600,000 people currently registered as stateless in the country.

Thailand’s commitment to eradicating statelessness has positioned the Government as a leader in addressing this humanitarian challenge, the agency said.

The country recently pledged at the Global Refugee Forum 2023 to resolve statelessness and was among the founding members of the Global Alliance to End Stateless, an initiative launched by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, in Geneva last month.

The nation has also been actively involved in the Get Every One in the Picture campaign, from UN regional commission ESCAP, which promotes the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade across Asia and the Pacific, due to end this year. 

UNHCR has expressed its commitment to continue working closely with the Royal Thai Government on the implementation of this groundbreaking decision and to ending statelessness overall. 

Read more...
Subscribe to this RSS feed

Soualiga Radio