Quantcast
Channel: ReliefWeb Updates
Viewing all 14548 articles
Browse latest View live

Mali: Les rebelles touareg vont reprendre la guerre contre l'armée malienne

0
0
Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Mali

11/29/2013 15:56 GMT

OUAGADOUGOU, 29 novembre 2013 (AFP) - La rébellion touareg a annoncé vendredi qu'elle reprenait la guerre contre l'armée malienne, après les "exactions" commises par cette dernière jeudi à l'aéroport de Kidal, qui ont fait un mort et cinq blessés civils, selon le MNLA.

"Là où on trouvera l'armée malienne, on lancera l'assaut sur elle. Ce sera automatique. Les mises en garde sont terminées", a déclaré à l'AFP Mahamadou Djeri Maïga, vice-président du MNLA (Mouvement national de libération de l'Azawad), la rébellion touareg.

"Ce qui s'est passée (jeudi) est une déclaration de guerre. Nous allons leur livrer cette guerre", a affirmé M. Maïga.

Jeudi, quelques centaines de manifestants avaient pénétré dans l'aéroport de Kidal (nord-est), poussant le Premier ministre malien Oumar Tatam Ly, qui devait s'y poser, à faire demi-tour. D'après certains protestataires, les militaires maliens ont ouvert le feu sur eux.

Selon le MNLA, les tirs "à balles réelles", "sur des femmes et des enfants qui manifestaient pacifiquement", ont fait un mort et cinq blessés - trois femmes et deux enfants, l'une des femmes se trouvant dans un état critique.

Pour le gouvernement malien, ses troupes, "prises à partie par des éléments incontrôlés", ont procédé à des "tirs de sommation" après avoir essuyé "des jets de pierre et des tirs d'armes".

Les forces de l'Azawad (les territoires nord du Mali, ainsi nommés par les touareg) "feront payer à l'armée malienne son irresponsabilité après son forfait" de jeudi, a lancé Mahamadou Djeri Maïga.

"On ne parle plus de cantonnement. Maintenant que le feu est ouvert, on verra qui est qui. Partout où on a des troupes sur le territoire de l'Azawad, on les appellera à se mobiliser", a-t-il poursuivi, accusant les autorités maliennes de "violer les accords de Ouagadougou (...) malgré les assises et autres cadres de discussion".

Après 18 mois de crise politico-militaire, les mouvements rebelles touareg avaient signé le 18 juin à Ouagadougou un accord de paix avec Bamako visant à permettre l'organisation de la présidentielle du 28 juillet à Kidal, ville sous contrôle des groupes armés touareg, après l'intervention française qui a chassé du nord du Mali les groupes djihadistes alliés à Al-Qaïda au Maghreb islamique (Aqmi).

Les relations entre les deux parties se sont envenimées ces dernières semaines, malgré la tenue le week-end dernier du premier tour des élections législatives, qui se sont convenablement déroulées dans le nord du Mali.

str-jf/mba

© 1994-2013 Agence France-Presse


Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso: CAP 2013 - Suivi des Financements au 29 novembre 2013

0
0
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Burkina Faso
preview


Cameroon: UNICEF Cameroon Monthly Humanitarian Situation Report, 25th November 2013

0
0
Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria
preview


Highlights

· Flash Floods in 2013: In response to the floods in Far North region on 18th and 26th September 2013, UNICEF is supporting 2,344 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) relocated to the two new sites at Begue Palam by establishing a Health Post with essential drugs, including anti-malaria and rapid diagnostic tests. Under the partnership signed with the Cameroon Red Cross, 40 holes have been dug for the construction of latrines.

· Nigerian Refugees: To date, out of the 5,289 refugees verified and pre-registered by UNHCR, a total of 1,762 persons (including 265 new refugees received in October) have been transferred and settled in the Minawao refugee camp. WASH needs - An additional bladder of 10,000 litre capacity was installed in the refugee camp helping distribute 22.5 litres of water/person/day. Education needs –UNHCR & UNICEF expedited a response package of school bags, ECD kits, recreation kits, hygiene kits (for teachers), and schools in a box . Nutrition needs - 5 out of 6 SAM cases of children who were receiving treatment with therapeutic foods and drugs in the Outpatient Centre of Gadala have recovered.

· The second Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Action Week (MCHNAW) was conducted throughout the country from 25th - 27th of October. 1,347,223 children from 6-59 months received supplements in Vitamin A, 1,226,516 children from 12-59 months were dewormed and 1,209,579 were screened for acute malnutrition in the North and Far North regions.

· A malaria outbreak has been reported in Far North region. In children under-five the suspects malaria cases rose from 9395 suspects cases in September 2012 and 9280 in October 2012 to 17,147 cases in September 2013 (+7752 cases, +83 %) and 15,582 (+6302 cases, +68 %) in October 2013. Concerning mortality, the deaths due to malaria rose from 89 deaths in Sep 2012 to 144 deaths in September 2013 (+125 deaths, +140 %) in children under-five.

· Since January 2013, 1,375 malnourished children have been tested for HIV and 107 were found positive. 19 of those benefitted from ARV treatment. Also, 585 women were tested and 41 were found to be HIV positive. Funding is required to be able to establish community support groups in helping mothers’ access treatment and to ensure that children are followed up with the correct ARV regime once they leave the CNTI.

Mali: Afrique de l’ouest : Perspectives de sécurité alimentaire octobre 2013 à mars 2014

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone
preview


Insécurité alimentaire en baisse au Sahel mais risque de dégradation dès janvier 2014

MESSAGES CLÉS

  • Les récoltes seront globalement moyennes à bonnes dans la région. À la faveur des récoltes en cours, la plupart des ménages sont capables d’avoir une consommation alimentaire suffisante et de satisfaire leurs besoins non alimentaires grâce aux revenus tirés de la vente des produits de rente et de la main d’œuvre. L’insécurité alimentaire minimale de type IPC Phase 1 est observée actuellement dans la quasi-totalité des régions.

  • Cependant, il y a des zones localisées de fort déficit de production au Sahel suite à des effets combinés ou non d’installation tardives des pluies, des sécheresses de mi saison ou un arrêt précoce des pluies. Dans les poches déficitaires du Niger et du Tchad, il y’aura un épuisement précoce des stocks des ménages et le Stress (Phase 2 de l’IPC) pourra se généraliser à partir de janvier.

  • La situation au nord-est du Nigeria restera préoccupante avec l’accentuation du conflit de Boko Haram. Ce conflit a perturbé les moyens de subsistance et la production agricole dans ces zones et a interrompu les flux commerciaux entre le Nigeria, le sud-est du Niger, et le centre-ouest du Tchad, surtout pour la commercialisation de bétail. En raison d'une réduction atypique des stocks alimentaires et une baisse des revenus, les ménages pauvres du nord-est du Nigeria connaîtront des déficits alimentaires engendrant des résultats de Crise (Phase 3 de l’IPC) à partir de janvier 2014.

  • En Centrafrique, les régions du nord et du centre connaissent les effets combinés de la crise politico-militaire et des perturbations de la campagne agricole pourraient causer une faible disponibilité et des difficultés d’accès aux denrées pour les ménages pauvres et très pauvres. Dans ces zones, les ménages seront en Stress (Phase 2 de l'IPC) jusqu’au moins en mars 2014.

  • Au Mali, les flux de céréales du sud vers les marchés du nord et des denrées importées de l’Algérie seront réguliers et devraient se maintenir à un niveau supérieur à la moyenne pour combler les déficits de production attendus dans les régions de Gao et Tombouctou. L’amélioration des revenus issus de la vente de bétail et la poursuite de l'assistance humanitaire prévue contribueront à maintenir l’insécurité alimentaire Minimale (Phase 1 de l’IPC) dans tout le pays jusqu’à mars 2014.

Lesotho: Lesotho Remote Monitoring Update November 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Lesotho
preview


Stable incomes and humanitarian support ensure sufficient access to food

KEY MESSAGES

• Stable income opportunities associated with agriculture activities, ongoing poverty reduction and humanitarian programs, and the start of the green harvest are all expected to contribute to continued sufficient food access, resulting in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity outcomes from November-March.

• Expected seasonal food price increases between December and February will increase food insecurity for the estimated poorest households with reduced purchasing power.

• Seasonal rains have been slow to start in the central and western part of the country and this could potentially delay the start of planting, which may impact yields for the Southern lowlands, and parts of the Foothills and Senqu River Valley livelihood zones.

Malawi: Malawi Food Security Outlook Update November 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Malawi
preview


Assistance is off to a slow start in some districts due to logistical challenges

KEY MESSAGES

• Humanitarian assistance started in October in most of the districts recommended by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) food security assessment findings in July. In November the remaining districts began receiving assistance and full funding for assistance has been secured for continued response programming. As a result of this assistance poor households in these areas of concern are facing Minimal (IPC Phase 1!) and Stressed acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 2!) outcomes.

• Overall, national average maize prices have risen minimally within the last month but are in the range of FEWS NET’s earlier price projections for the October-December period. Traders are attributing the slow rise in prices to increase availability of subsidized maize in Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) markets and possibly due to ongoing humanitarian assistance distributions which started in October.

• The MVAC has updated the food security situation and two districts from Thyolo-Mulanje Tea (TMT) and one from Rift Valley Escarpment (RFT) livelihood zone have been added to the list of districts requiring humanitarian assistance during the January to March 2014 period. The total population requiring food security assistance has increased from approximately 1.5 million to 1.8 million.

Mali: Tuaregs declare return to war against Mali army

0
0
Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Mali

11/29/2013 19:25 GMT

OUAGADOUGOU, November 29, 2013 (AFP) - The ethnic Tuareg rebellion announced Friday it would return to war against Mali's army after it said one person was killed and five others injured in clashes with soldiers at an airport.

"What happened (on Thursday) is a declaration of war. We will deliver this war," said Mahamadou Djeri Maiga, vice-president of the MNLA, or the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad.

"Wherever we find the Malian army we will launch the assault against them. It will be automatic. The warnings are over," Maiga said.

On Thursday a few hundred Tuareg demonstrators occupied an airport runway to prevent Mali's Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly from visiting the rebel-controlled northeastern town of Kidal.

Protesters said Malian soldiers shot at "women and children who were demonstrating peacefully."

The Tuareg rebels said one person was killed, while three women and two children were injured. One of the women is in a serious condition.

The Malian government however said its troops, "taken to task by uncontrollable elements," fired warning shots after they had been shot at and hit with stones.

After 18 months of a political and military crisis the rebels and Malian government signed a peace deal in June.

The June accord, signed in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, opened the way for voting in Kidal along with the rest of the turbulent west African country in two rounds of a presidential election in July and August.

Up until the agreement, the MNLA -- whose ultimate goal is the independence of Azawad, the Tuaregs' name for their homeland in northern Mali -- had refused to allow any government soldiers or civil servants into the desert town.

In January 2012, the MNLA launched an insurgency to take control of the north. A subsequent coup in the Malian capital Bamako led to chaos, and armed Islamist extremists linked to Al-Qaeda overpowered the Tuaregs and seized control of north Mali.

A French-led military operation launched in January ousted the extremists, but sporadic attacks have continued and the Tuareg demand for autonomy has not been resolved.

str-jf-emb/boc

© 1994-2013 Agence France-Presse

Mali: UN mission calls for restraint, return to negotiations after clash in Kidal

0
0
Source: UN News Service
Country: Mali

29 November 2013 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali today strongly condemned the latest violence in Kidal, in the northern part of the country, and called for restraint.

The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said that “incidents of a serious nature” took place yesterday despite a security plan coordinated by the Government in cooperation with the UN Mission and support from the French security mission in Mali, known as Serval.

“MINUSMA, in close cooperation with Serval, assisted the evacuation of three of the injured for medical care in Gao,” the Mission said in a statement.

The violence broke out ahead of the planned arrival of Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly and a Government delegation to Kidal.

Since early 2012, the country has witnessed a military coup d’état, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical Islamists.

In April, the Security Council approved a 12,600-strong MINUSMA, authorizing the blue helmets “to use all necessary means” to carry out security-related stabilization tasks, protect civilians, UN staff and cultural artefacts, and create the conditions for provision of humanitarian aid.

Its core task is to support the political process in Mali, in close coordination with the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).


Nigeria: Nigeria Food Security Update November 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Nigeria
preview


Stressed food insecurity related to conflict and unseasonable dryness persists in affected areas

KEY MESSAGES

  • Conflict in the northeast continues to disrupt markets and impact household farming and livelihood activities. This is slightly tempered between November and December by the combined impacts of the ongoing harvest and slight decline in food prices when households will face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity. However, between January and March, households will revert to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity.

  • The main harvest has been impacted by the prolonged dryness in central and southwest zones, where affected areas are taking in below-average harvests. Households that are still recovering from the effects of last year’s floods, particularly in Niger state, will face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity through December.

  • The rest of the country has benefited from a favorable growing season, with national cereal and tuber production forecasts at 24.24 and 91 million tons, respectively. Most households not affected by the aforementioned conflict or dryness will also experience normal livelihood activities through Spring, and will experience Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity through March 2014.

Mauritania: Mauritania Price Bulletin November 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Mauritania
preview


Local rice and sorghum are the most consumed food products by poor households in Mauritania followed by imported wheat which is a substitute that these households turn to the most. Local rice is grown in the river valley (in the southern regions of Trarza, Brakna, Gorgol and Guidimakha). Sorghum is produced in all areas of production (rainfed) and in flood-recession areas. However, a significant portion is imported from Mali and Senegal. Mauritania depends greatly on food imports (70% in a good agricultural year and 85% in a bad year) than on internal production. Nouakchott is the principal collection market for imported products and also the distribution market where traders acquire supplies for the secondary markets referenced below. Cooking oil is consumed mainly in urban areas. The sale of animals is a lifestyle in all areas and an important source of income and food.

Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso: Complex Emergency MDRBF011 Final report

0
0
Source: IFRC
Country: Burkina Faso, Mali
preview


Period covered by this Final Report: 16 December 2011 to 30 July 2013.

Appeal target (current): CHF 2,093,813

Appeal coverage: 90%;

Appeal history:

· Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) of CHF 113,532 was allocated on 16 December 2011 to support Burkina Faso Red Cross (BRCS) to assist 5,500 beneficiaries with two months’ worth of food vouchers in Tin Akoff in the province of Oudalan in the Sahel region.

· An Emergency Appeal was launched on 16 April 2012 and sought CHF 3,952,739 to assist 120,000 agro-pastoral beneficiaries in six regions.

· A Revised Emergency Appeal was issued on 5 December 2012 reducing to budget to CHF 2,093,612 and the number of beneficiaries to 105,000 that include new beneficiaries (17,500 households, including refugees from Mali and host communities) in four regions: Sahel, Centre-Nord, Nord and Boucle du Mouhoun.

· An Operations update n°1 was issued on 18 March 2013 to announce a four months’ operation timeframe extension in order to complete another food voucher distribution and implement some delayed activities such as seeds and tools distributions on time for the planting season of June 2013.

Summary: Due to low donor response, the appeal was revised downwards to focus mainly on food vouchers, seed distribution, and sensitization sessions on food hygiene and food management education. The implementation of the appeal plan of action was delayed until the arrival of the operations manager in mid-July 2012 and despite the appeal revision which included new needs identified by the Burkina Faso Red Cross including support to refugees from Mali and the host community, people affected by floods and an outbreak of cholera, no additional funding was made available to support the implementation of these additional activities. The revised objective was to reach 11,000 agro-pastoralist families plus an additional 1,500 families hosting Malian refugees has been reached with up to 11,522 households receiving food assistance and livelihood assistance as follows:

· 1,100 households (5,500 beneficiaries received emergency assistance through DREF start-up funding of CHF 113,532 for the distribution of the first food vouchers for two months rations in Tin Akoff, in the province Oudalan, in the Sahel region only.

· Between September 2012 and June 2013, three food voucher distributions took place for the same beneficiary households in the four regions:

o In September 2012, 11,522 agro-pastoralist households (76,734 beneficiaries) received 51,634 food vouchers to purchase cereals during the emergency response phase

o In February 2013, 10,449 households (74,340 beneficiaries) received another month’s worth of 47,064 food voucher distributed for the recovery.

o In June 2013, 10,610 households (74,982 beneficiaries) received a final batch of 47,825 food voucher distribution combined with certified seeds to cover the loan season and on time for the main 2013 planting season.

· 50,000 beneficiaries and community members received appropriate sensitization and awareness sessions on good nutritional practices, food management and hygiene promotion on site during the food voucher distributions.

· 23,501 students and teachers from 90 primary schools targeting children have benefited sessions on: disaster risk reduction; on food insecurity sensitization and preparedness; on improved nutritional practices and sanitation and hygiene promotion.

· 120 trained community based volunteers supported the process of beneficiary identification in the six originally targeted regions. In addition the training also benefited the following BRCS’ staff and volunteers: 10 supervisors; 33 team leaders, 10 social action agents.

· 240 volunteers have been involved in the food voucher distributions in the four target regions and received training on food management and hygiene education.

· 9 team leaders have received in February 2013 training and briefing on vulnerability capacity assessments (VCA) and new evaluation tools in order to continue monitoring the vulnerable targeted communities and take part in a food security VCA mission that took place in three districts (9 villages) s during the month of June 2013.

· 175 women-led market-garden associations received 175 donkey driven ploughs on time for use for the coming main 2013 planting season, ultimately benefiting 5,500 households.

Financial situation: A total of CHF 1,881,934 was received out of the CHF 2,093,813 sought by the revised appeal which represents 90 per cent coverage. However since the appeal revision no additional funding was received to fund the cholera or shelter needs. The activities therefore focused solely on the revised plan of action for food security.

Contributions to the appeal have been received from the Finnish Red Cross/ Government , Netherlands Red Cross/ Government/Emergency Silent Fund, Canadian Red Cross/ Government, British, Japanese and Monaco Red Cross Societies for which we are most grateful.

Kenya: Kenya: Complex Emergency Appeal (MDRKE023) Final Report

0
0
Source: IFRC
Country: Kenya
preview


Period covered by this Final Report: June 2012 until June 2013.

Appeal target (current): CHF 20,419,397

Appeal coverage: 5%

Appeal history:

· This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 11 June 2012 for CHF 20,419,397 for 12 months to assist 465,844 beneficiaries.

· A DREF (MDRKE022) of CHF 314,208 was allocated in May 2012 from the IFRC DREF to support provision of immediate support to 20,892 persons displaced by floods in West Kenya, Rift Valley and Coast.

· Operations updates n° 1 and n° 2 and a 6-months summary update of the operation were issued on 3 March, 10 March and 8 April 2013 respectively to highlight the initial response and progress of the response operation.

Summary: The complex Emergency Appeal was launched in response to complex humanitarian conditions to support communities affected and displaced by disasters in Kenya, through a holistic and integrated community based approach. The emergency situations that needed urgent response from Kenya Red Cross National Society (KRCS) involved floods disasters displacing many communities, drought situations which created food insecurity, and conflict related displacement. Floods affected several parts of the country since the beginning of the rains in March 2012. Communities affected by drought during 2011 had not yet recovered and were experiencing food insecurity and high rates of acute malnutrition. The target beneficiaries were likely to slide into full-scale emergency mode by July 2012 due to erratic and unfavorable rainfall in those districts. Several areas were also experiencing armed inter-tribal clashes triggered by competition for natural resources and competing political interests associated with the implementation of the new Constitution of Kenya and upcoming elections.

This complex Emergency Appeal sought to assist these communities affected by disasters and at risks, through responding to the needs of beneficiaries affected by the drought, conflicts, floods, and other emergencies. The funds have also supported preparedness activities in Nairobi, Tana delta and western regions of the country. Escalating conflicts has been one major concern, during the reporting period. The funds contributed towards this appeal, have enabled the society respond to needs arising from inter clan conflicts in Tana Delta, Wajir and Moyale districts, riots in Mombasa, and floods in Western Kenya.

Despite undertaking the emergency response in a highly volatile environment, the KRCS, with the support of IFRC and Partner National Societies (PNS), was able to provide emergency health care through daily medical outreach activities to 33,434 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 327 camps in Rift Valley, West Kenya, Coast region and Lower Eastern region. Further, KRCS provided standard Non-Food Items (NFIs) kits to the 7,956 displaced households in the established camps, and improved the access to safe water to 43,630 persons. Nutrition support was provided to particularly vulnerable children and individuals and special attention was given to persons with disabilities as well as individuals with protection needs.

KRCS also initiated the reconstruction of 430 houses out of the planned 808 houses for conflict affected and vulnerable households.

KRCS supported peace talks between two warring communities that resulted in the signing of a peace agreement, ultimately leading to the cessation of attacks and counter attacks between the two communities. The peace enabled the re-opening of schools and other essential medical facilities for the benefit of the communities.

Mali: An agenda for human rights in Mali

0
0
Source: Amnesty
Country: Mali
preview


Malian authorities must release children detained in prison

The Malian authorities must immediately release five children that have been detained in a military detention centre for over seven months, says Amnesty International today as it releases a Human Rights Agenda for Mali, in the country’s capital.

An Amnesty International delegation, led by the Secretary General, Salil Shetty, met the five children between the ages of 15 and 17 in the military detention centre (Gendarmerie Camp) in Bamako.

One of the five children is a child soldier who joined the Movement for Oneness and Jihad (MUJAO). The other four were arrested because of their suspected links to armed groups.

“We were horrified to see these traumatized young boys detained in poor conditions, along with adults,” says Salil Shetty. “This is a clear violation of national and international law and they must be released immediately”.

“Children should rarely, if ever, be held in detention. In all actions concerning children the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration.”

One boy (16) was arrested in Kidal by Malian security forces more than two months ago when he came out of a shop and a grenade went off across the road. The security officers accused him of throwing the grenade and beat him, blindfolded him, tied his hands and feet together and burnt him with a cigarette all over his arms.

Another boy (15) joined MUJAO as he was desperately poor and heard they were paying people. He left after months of not being paid and was arrested by Malian security forces in his home village of Kadji (near Gao). The Malian soldiers tied him up, beat him in the back and blindfolded him.

“The Malian authorities assured us that they were not detaining any child soldiers but this is clearly not the case,” explains Salil Shetty.

“The government signed a protocol with the UN in July 2013 for the release, transfer and protection of children associated with armed groups and they need to respect this.”

Amnesty International’s Agenda for Human Rights, launched today, is calling for thorough and independent investigations into the grave human rights violations committed over the last two years by all parties to the conflict.

Since the beginning of the crisis, Amnesty International has documented 14 unlawful killings by armed groups in the north of the country and other horrific human rights violations. They include a couple who were stoned for having sex outside of marriage in July 2012, and six people who had their right hand and right food amputated in front of a crowd in Gao in September 2012. The amputated limbs were later displayed in the police station.

The report also documents the reported extra-judicial executions of at least 40 civilians accused of being close to armed groups. Amnesty International researchers spoke to a man who witnessed soldiers throwing bodies into a well in Sevaré in January 2013. The stench from the well was overwhelming.

The Sevaré prosecutor said he had ordered an investigation into these killings but, to date, Amnesty International has received no information about the results of this investigation.

The Amnesty delegation met with the family members of the more than 20 soldiers who disappeared after being abducted from the Kati military camp in May 2012. They were suspected of supporting a counter-coup against General Amadou Haya Sanogo who led the coup in Mali in March 2012. The families of the victims were celebrating the detention of General Sanogo, who was arrested and charged with murder, assassinations and kidnapping on 27 November 2013.

Sagara Binto Maiga, President of the wives and relatives of the disappeared Red Berets (soldiers), said: “Ever since our sons and husbands disappeared we have heard nothing. We want to know where they are, what has happened to them and whether or not they are alive.”

She added: “We finally got a meeting with the Ministry of Defence this week. We told him that we would march naked if he did not tell us what has happened to our loved ones. We gave them a deadline of the arrival of the Amnesty International delegation. He told us to be patient and that they were doing what they can. The very next day Sanogo was arrested and charged.”

“Amnesty International welcomes the efforts the government is making towards restoring justice and rule of law,” says Salil Shetty.

“We urge the government to consistently ensure that all allegations of human rights violations are thoroughly and transparently investigated in line with international law.”

Amnesty International has also documented cases of rape and sexual abuse against women and girls committed by armed groups including the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA).

A 16-year-old girl told Amnesty International researchers how she was repeatedly raped over a period of two days by members of an armed group who had captured her in her home-town of Gao. The organisation is calling for an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse, prosecutions of the perpetrators and aid programmes to provide medical and psychological care for the victims.

“The Malian population is deeply traumatized by the events of the last two years,” said Salil Shetty.

“Ensuring that all those responsible for human rights violations face justice is key to achieving lasting peace in Mali. It is the only way to help the country turn this painful page in its history.”

The International Criminal Court announced in January 2013 that it would open an investigation into war crimes committed over the past year of the conflict. Amnesty International welcomes this decision but calls upon the Office of the Prosecutor to look at the full scope of alleged crimes in the country, including those carried out by Malian security forces.

Cameroon: Isolation fuels radicalisation in Cameroon's arid north

0
0
Source: Reuters - AlertNet
Country: Cameroon

ource: Thomson Reuters Foundation - Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:13 PM
Author: Misha Hussain

DOUGUI, Cameroon (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Nafisa Isa lost her home when a dam broke and flooded her village. Now she and her children live in a refugee camp, threatened by malnutrition and malaria. But Nafisa doesn't want a hospital – she wants a mosque.

Read the full article

Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso Mise à jour sur la sécurité alimentaire Novembre 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Burkina Faso
preview


Meilleur accès aux aliments de base et baisse de la prévalence de la malnutrition

MESSAGES CLÉS

 Les stocks issus des récoltes propres des ménages constituent en cette période la principale source de nourriture leur permettant d’assurer les repas quotidiens sans grande difficulté. De plus, les prix des produits agricoles en baisse à cause d’une offre importante, associés aux assistances en cours, permettent aux ménages de connaitre une insécurité alimentaire aiguë minimale (IPC Phase 1) dans tout le pays jusqu’en mars 2014.

 Les marchés étant bien approvisionnés, et les prix des céréales ont abordé leurs baisses saisonnières comme en année normale. Au plan national, les baisses de plus de 15 pour cent comparativement à 2012 et par rapport à la moyenne quinquennale de 6 pour cent pour le maïs blanc et une hausse de 3 pour cent pour le mil et le sorgho blanc sont observées.

 Les résultats provisoires de l’enquête nutritionnelle SMART réalisée en aout/septembre 2013 indiquent des taux de prévalence de la malnutrition aiguë globale dans le pays inférieurs à 10 pour cent résultant des bonnes campagnes agricoles successives dans le pays ainsi que des interventions du gouvernement et de ses partenaires.


Mali: Mali Mise à jour sur la sécurité alimentaire Novembre 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Mali
preview


Les récoltes vivrières en cours améliorent la situation alimentaire dans le pays

MESSAGES CLÉS

 Les productions agricoles moyennes déjà en cours améliorent la disponibilité céréalière à travers le pays. En plus de cette disponibilité, l’accessibilité des ménages se renforce suite à la baisse entamée par les prix des céréales et les rémunérations en nature reçues par les ménages pauvres. Au sud, cela assurera aux ménages une consommation alimentaire acceptable et les maintiendra au niveau d’insécurité alimentaires minimal (Phase 1 de l’IPC) jusqu’en mars 2014.

 Au nord, les conditions de sécurité s'améliorent et permettent aux ménages de reconstruire leurs moyens de subsistance. Bien qu’ils ne soient encore revenus à la normalité, les ménages bénéficient des améliorations de revenus en cours, de la disponibilité des produits de cueillette, des premières récoltes et des appuis humanitaires qui leurs permettent de satisfaire leurs besoins. Par conséquent, ils seront en phase minimale de l’insécurité alimentaire (Phase 1 de l’IPC) jusqu’en mars 2014.

Mauritania: Mauritanie Mise à jour sur la sécurité alimentaire Novembre 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Mauritania
preview


Une insécurité alimentaire minimale dans la majeure partie des zones rurales du pays

MESSAGES CLÉS

  • Selon les prévisions de la mission conjointe d’évaluation de la campagne agricole, on s’attend à une production nationale de 19 pour cent supérieure à la moyenne des cinq dernières années. La disponibilité alimentaire, en raison des nouvelles récoltes et l’impact positif des conditions pastorales, conduisent à une situation d’insécurité alimentaire minimale (IPC Phase 1) qui va se prolonger jusqu’en décembre dans la plupart des zones rurales du pays.

  • Toutefois la forte baisse des productions céréalières pluviales dans certaines zones du Guidimakha, du Gorgol et du Brakna, a réduit la disponibilité céréalière saisonnière ainsi que les revenus provenant du travail agricole. Entre janvier et mars, les ménages pauvres de ces zones vont se trouver en situation de Stress (IPC Phase 2).

  • Avec la chute des pluies en début novembre au nord du pays, les conditions écologiques se sont nettement améliorées et on a assisté à une recrudescence des infestations acridiennes.
    Malgré le renforcement du dispositif de lutte par le Centre National de Lutte Antiacridienne (CNLA), la pression acridienne pourrait être préoccupante entre novembre et janvier et constituer une sérieuse menace pour les cultures de décrue.

Niger: Niger Mise à jour sur la sécurité alimentaire Novembre 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Niger
preview


Insécurité alimentaire «minimale» favorisée par une disponibilité alimentaire moyenne

MESSAGES CLÉS

  • Malgré une légère baisse de la production nationale estimée à 2,5 pour cent par rapport à la moyenne, la production agricole disponible en novembre 2013 permet de couvrir les besoins alimentaires actuels des ménages. L’insécurité alimentaire aiguë des ménages est Minimale (IPC Phase 1) en novembre 2013 et va se stabiliser à ce niveau jusqu’en décembre 2013 pour tout le pays (Figure 1).

 L’épuisement des stocks céréaliers, les niveaux élevés des prix des céréales et la baisse de la valeur marchande des animaux vont se traduire, en janvier-mars 2014, par des difficultés à protéger les moyens d’existence dans certaines zones de Tillabéri, Tahoua, Zinder et Diffa. L’insécurité alimentaire aiguë dans ces zones va évoluer et se situer en Stress (IPC Phase 2) en janvier-mars 2014 (Figure 2).

 Suite aux effets des inondations sur les moyens d’existence des ménages et sur la situation nutritionnelle des enfants, combinés aux effets des chocs sécuritaires dans certains pays voisins du Niger, le gouvernement du Niger a élaboré un plan de réponse d’urgence et de résilience au profit de 1,133 millions de personnes, soit sensiblement la moyenne des cinq dernières années.

Mali: Afrique de l’Ouest Bulletin Mensuel des Prix Novembre 2013

0
0
Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo
preview


L'Afrique de l’Ouest peut être divisée en trois zones agro-écologiques ou en trois bassins commerciaux (bassins de l’ouest, bassin du centre, bassin de l’est). Les deux sont importants pour l'interprétation du comportement et de la dynamique du marché.

Les trois principales zones agro-écologiques incluent la zone Sahélienne, la zone Soudanaise et la zone Côtière où la production et la consommation peuvent être facilement classifiées. (1) Dans la zone Sahélienne, le mil constitue le principal produit alimentaire cultivé et consommé en particulier dans les zones rurales et de plus en plus par certaines populations qui y ont accès en milieux urbains. Des exceptions sont faites pour le Cap Vert où le maïs et le riz sont les produits les plus importants, la Mauritanie où le blé et le sorgho et le Sénégal où le riz constituent des aliments de base. Les principaux produits de substitution dans le Sahel sont le sorgho, le riz, et la farine de manioc (Gari), avec les deux derniers en période de crise. (2)
Dans la zone Soudanienne (le sud du Tchad, le centre du Nigéria, du Bénin, du Ghana, du Togo, de la Côte d'Ivoire, le sud du Burkina Faso, du Mali, du Sénégal, la Guinée Bissau, la Serra Leone, le Libéria) le maïs et le sorgho constituent les principales céréales consommées par la majorité de la population. Suivent après le riz et les tubercules particulièrement le manioc et l’igname. (3) Dans la zone côtière, avec deux saisons de pluie, l’igname et le maïs constituent les principaux produits alimentaires. Ils sont complétés par le niébé, qui est une source très significative de protéines.

Les trois bassins commerciaux sont simplement connus sous les noms de bassin Ouest, Centre, et Est. En plus du mouvement du sud vers le nord des produits, les flux de certaines céréales se font aussi horizontalement. (1) Le bassin Ouest comprend la Mauritanie, le Sénégal, l’ouest du Mali, la Sierra Leone, la Guinée, le Libéria, et la Gambie où le riz est le plus commercialisé. (2)
Le bassin central se compose de la Côte d'Ivoire, le centre et l’est du Mali, le Burkina Faso, le Ghana, et le Togo où le maïs est généralement commercialisé. (3) Le bassin Est se rapporte au Niger, Nigéria, Tchad, et Bénin où le millet est le plus fréquemment commercialisé. Ces trois bassins commerciaux sont distingués sur la carte ci-dessus.

Mali: Faire une évaluation rétrospéctive des forces et faiblesses de l'intervention de la CEDEAO au Mali

0
0
Source: ECOWAS
Country: Mali

N°: 339/2013

29 novembre 2013 [Lagos-Nigeria]

La commissaire chargée des Affaires politiques, de la Paix et de la Sécurité de la Commission de la CEDEAO, Mme Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, a loué les efforts de l'organisation régionale dans la médiation, la mobilisation et le déploiement en un temps record des troupes ouest-africaines dans le règlement de la récente crise malienne.

S'exprimant au nom du président de la Commission de la CEDEAO ce jeudi 28 novembre 2013 à Lagos, au Nigéria, à l'ouverture d'une réunion de réflexion interne axée sur les leçons tirées de cette crise, Mme Salamatu a toutefois reconnu qu'il restait encore à la CEDEAO d'énormes défis à relever pour des interventions futures de ce genre.

Pour ce faire, elle a exhorté les participants à cette rencontre de trois jours à faire une évaluation critique sur l'implication politique, diplomatique et militaire de la CEDEAO au Mali ainsi que des recommandations pertinentes, réalistes et durables, conformément aux directives des chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement de l'organisation régionale.

Abondant dans le même sens, le directeur des Affaires politiques la Commission de la CEDEAO, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, a insisté pour un examen exhaustif, par les participants, des aspects positifs et négatifs de l'intervention de la CEDEAO avant et pendant la crise malienne, d'en tirer les leçons appropriées et d'envisager les perspectives.

Il a plaidé pour que les participants analysent en profondeur les facteurs historiques, stratégiques et structurels de cette crise et évaluent davantage les différentes actions menées par la CEDEAO dans le cadre de la résolution de ladite crise en collaboration avec le Mali et ses partenaires tels que l'Union africaine et la communauté internationale.

Pour sa part, le représentant spécial du président de la commission de la CEDEAO au Mali, M. Aboudou Cheaka Touré, a exprimé sa satisfaction pour la tenue de cette réunion interne d'évaluation des succès et des échecs de l'intervention de la CEDEAO dans la crise malienne.

Il a salué le rôle considérable joué par l'institution régionale dans la libération du Nord Mali occupé par des terroristes et des jihadistes, d'une part, et le retour du pays à l'ordre constitutionnel à travers la mise en place de nouveaux organes de gouvernance issus d'élections présidentielle et législatives libres et transparentes, d'autre part.

M. Touré a rappelé à l'assistance le caractère unique en son genre de la crise complexe, profonde et multidimensionnelle au Mali. «Dans l'histoire des Etats membres de la CEDEAO, voire des pays africains, c'est l'une des rares fois qu'un pays (le Mali) cumule à la fois une crise politique, institutionnelle, sécuritaire, humanitaire, identitaire, territoriale et socioculturelle», a-t-il indiqué.

M. Touré a invité les participants à cette rencontre à ne pas perdre de vue, dans leurs réflexions, le fait que le Mali était lui-même l'obstacle essentiel dans l'intervention de la CEDEAO dans la gestion de sa propre crise, en ce sens que l'organisation régionale devrait difficilement négocier l'adhésion de Bamako aux initiatives politiques, militaires et stratégiques envisagées par la CEDEAO pour la résolution de la crise malienne.

Outre les Affaires politiques, organisatrice de cette réunion, plusieurs autres directions de la Commission et d'institutions de la CEDEAO telles la Communication, le Genre, les Affaires juridiques, le Maintien de la paix et de la sécurité régionales, les Affaires humanitaires, le Fonds de la paix, l'Alerte précoce, le bureau de liaison de la CEDEAO à l'Union africaine ainsi que la Cour de Justice de la CEDEAO et le Parlement de la Communauté y prennent part.

Cette réunion de réflexion interne sur les enseignements tirés de la crise malienne constitue la première phase d'une série de rencontres dont les résultats seront soumis à l'appréciation des experts des Etats membres de la CEDEAO et à l'approbation du conseil de médiation et de sécurité de l'organisation régionale.

Viewing all 14548 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images