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Malawi: Southern Africa Food Security Outlook Update July to December 2014

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe
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Good regional harvests maintain stable food security outcomes in many parts of the region

KEY MESSAGES

  • Most rural households across the region will maintain Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food insecurity outcomes between July and September. However in localized parts of Lesotho, DRC, Swaziland, Malawi, and Madagascar poor households are projected to face mainly Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and some Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes from October through December due to high prices of food and low incomes in addition to low production.

  • Regional cereal production estimates for 2013/14 show an increased availability by 17 and 19 percent above last year and the past five-year average, and is 2 percent above the regional annual requirements – covering the import needs of deficit countries and leaving a surplus that could be exported outside of the region (Table 1).

  • Prices are expected to be stable and to follow seasonal trends on most reference markets across the region due to increased market supply and reduced demand during the current harvest period. In deficit areas prices are likely to remain above 2013 and five-year average due to relative higher demand while in surplus areas, it is likely that price levels will be similar to respective 2013 levels, while remaining close to the five-year average.

  • The 2014 national vulnerability assessments findings released in July point to decreasing levels of food insecurity across the region. The number of food insecure households has declined significantly from last year and the five-year average by 52 and 45 percent respectively mostly attributed to increased production across the region (Table 2).

  • Seasonal rainfall is expected to start according to climatology and will be near average in terms of amount with variability in the start of the season is expected to follow climatological trends. The start and performance of the 2014/15 agriculture season may be influenced by the forecasted high chances of El Nino conditions which typically is associated with tendency for above average rainfall in north-eastern and south-western parts of the region for December -March. However there are several climatic factors other than El Nino that also affect region’s climate which will be included in the official seasonal forecasts to be issued at SARCOF in late August 2014.


Chad: Mère et Enfant : Bulletin d'information de l'UNICEF Chad - août 2014

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria
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Saison des pluies: sur tous les fronts

Tard dans la nuit, aux environs de 23 heures, Moussa Mahamat arrive avec son fils de 2 ans, Mahamat, au centre de santé d’Atrone, dans la ville de N’Djamena, Capitale du Tchad. Il est directement accueilli aux soins d’urgences. « Mon enfant a eu des convulsions. Tantôt il tremblait, tantôt il avait la fièvre. Il a certainement le paludisme, » nous raconte Moussa, tout paniqué.

Roseline Tallot, infirmière principale qui a assuré la garde cette nuit-là le prend et procède directement au test tout en lui injectant du sérum.

Quelques heures après, l’infirmière confirme le cas. «Votre enfant a le paludisme. Nous devons le garder ici cette nuit et voir si les médicaments vont améliorer son état de santé».

Roseline, nous confirme que le nombre de consultation au niveau du centre de santé a sensiblement augmenté au cours des dernières semaines. « Vous voyez cette courbe, vous pouvez voir comment elle va en croissant. Dès que nous entamons la saison des pluies, c’est toujours la même situation. Ceci est dû aux flaques d’eau, au manque d’assainissement, mais aussi, a la non utilisation des moustiquaires ». «Heureusement que certains centres de santé ouvrent aujourd’hui 24 heures sur 24, pour fournir des soins d’urgences, des consultations et d’autres services, y compris les accouchements», ajoute-t-elle.
En effet, à l’initiative du Ministère de la Santé, plusieurs centres de santé ont été revitalisés et ouvrent 24h/24 au Tchad, afin de fournir des services permanents pour la santé maternelle, néonatale et infantile.

Soutenue par les Agences des Nations Unies, grâce en partie au financement Muskoka, cette initiative gouvernementale de revitalisation des centres de santé a été vivement saluée par la population.

Augmentation des cas de palu

D’après les dernières données de la surveillance épidémiologique, le nombre de cas de paludisme a augmenté à N’Djamena, comparé au nombre de cas à la même période en 2013. Et cette tendance se confirme dans les différentes zones endémiques du pays. Soit une augmentation de 28% au niveau national. Pour faire face à cette augmentation, le Gouvernement, à travers le Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, et l’UNICEF ont directement commandé plus de 325,000 doses de médicaments pour le traitement du Paludisme. 10 hôpitaux et 15 des centres de santé revitalisés ont été renforcés en matière de capacité. L’OMS et l’UNICEF ont également distribué des kits malaria dans les zones endémiques dans le sud du pays.

La deuxième phase pour la distribution de masse de moustiquaires dans cinq régions – y compris N’Djamena, a également été enclenchée. Rappelons que cette campagne s’inscrit dans le cadre de la campagne de distribution de moustiquaires ayant pour objectif une couverture universelle au Tchad.
Financées par le Fonds Mondial, plus de 7.3 millions unités de moustiquaires couvrant plus de 10 millions de personnes ont été distribuées ou sont en cours de distribution. Cette campagne est soutenue par un important effort de communication, pour s’assurer de la bonne utilisation de ces moustiquaires.

Stratégie «bouclier»

A la frontière avec le Cameroun et le Nigeria, la mobilisation est également à son comble. Une forte mobilisation cette fois-ci contre les risques d’épidémies de choléra. En effet, depuis l’annonce de plusieurs cas de choléra au Cameroun et au Nigeria, le Tchad redoute la réémergence de cette maladie.
Adoum, 34 ans, habite dans un village voisin de Kousseri, ville camerounaise à la frontière avec le Tchad, où quelques cas de choléra ont été notifiés. «C’était la panique même dans les villages environnants. Nous sommes juste à côté, et nous avons peur que nos enfants contractent cette maladie.

Regardez ! Nous n’avons même pas accès à l’eau potable et nous utilisons parfois l’eau de la rivière, qui est aussi utilisée de l’autre côté de la frontière», raconte-t-il.

Mali: Why long-term solutions for Malian IDPs hinge on more inclusive peace talks

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Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
Country: Liberia, Mali

Since the violent clashes in 2012, where hundreds of thousands of people were displaced, Mali is now working hard to establish peace in a country which is still suffering almost two years on. IDMC has been following the process, but is concerned that the roadmap for peace as agreed in Algiers at the end of last month risks repeating patterns of exclusion.

Ongoing peace talks, but not everyone is at the table

Marginalisation has historically been a cause of conflict and displacement in Mali. Even before independence in the 1960s, there have been episodes of unrest as marginalised groups have taken up arms against what they have seen as exclusionary practices of the government in power at that time.

2012 bore witness to the most recent of such movements. Here, what started as a rebellion by the Tuareg community, led by the Mouvement National de Libération de l’Azawad (MNLA), soon led to a coup d’état, ousting the president and descending the country into chaos. As a consequence, Islamic militants - taking advantage of the security vacuum following the coup - moved in to take over much of the north.

This led to the most widespread episode of instability in the country in recent years. More than 350,000 people were displaced within Mali’s borders, over 175,000 fled to neighbouring countries and the crisis continues to strain Mali’s social fabric. In addition, the crisis – including a takeover of the north by Islamic forces, who subjected the population to a brutal interpretation of Islamic law - has traumatised the population and drained the resources of host communities in the south, exacerbating north-south tensions.

Despite their obvious stake in rebuilding the country’s future, Mali’s civil society - which includes internally displaced people (IDPs), returning IDPs and others affected by the crisis - have been excluded from the latest peace negotiations which took place in Algiers in July. Women’s groups and other civil society representatives have denounced the peace process, highlighting the lack of inclusiveness and social representation as a core concern.

The exclusion of displaced people and others affected by the crisis from recent negotiations means that real community concerns are at risk of being overlooked. Notwithstanding the humanitarian needs and ongoing insecurity; inter-communal mistrust needs particular attention so as to rebuild social cohesion, a fundamental issue that must be addressed in the peace process.

Furthermore, the exclusion of civil society undermines their leverage, and therefore their ability to support national reconciliation efforts. Without their valuable input in the talks, the viability of any deal brokered during the second round in August and September of this year is at real risk. The population’s confidence in the government may also be further degraded, precisely when national unity is most needed to support reconstruction and building of a sustainable peace, and they only need look to neighbouring Liberia to find out why.

Lessons from Liberia

The pitfalls of holding non-inclusive peace talks were exemplified in Liberia. As in Mali, Liberian civil society groups were excluded from the 1996 Abuja Accords, which sought to negotiate a peace settlement between factional armies. The exclusion of civil society in these talks contributed to their ultimate downfall; in short it was an elite-struck deal rather than one that achieved national buy-in.

The unravelling of the Abuja Accords arguably led to the emergence of Charles Taylor as president and the resumption of civil war across Liberia a few years later. In contrast, the subsequent peace process in 2003 included strong civil society representation and participation, notably through the role of civil society representatives as witnesses to the final agreement. Legitimate elections in 2006 followed bringing Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to power. She has since governed a relatively stable and peaceful country with ongoing and active civil society input.

Excluding armed actors risks proliferating arms and insecurity

It’s not just the exclusion of civil society that threatens the current peace process however, as the numerous armed groups who are partly responsible for the current instability are also worryingly not being represented.

The proliferation and splintering of armed groups pose a clear threat to any peaceful resolution to the conflict, as exemplified by the recent clashes which displaced over 18,500 people in May - just before the negotiations that took place in Algiers. These ongoing clashes, suicide bombings, and increased attacks by Jihadist militants against international targets – including humanitarian actors - continue to cause new displacement, back-and-forth movements and secondary displacements.

If talks in Mali are to lead to durable solutions for displaced populations, it is imperative that all parties to the conflict are invited to the table so as to restore confidence, precipitate the disarmament and demobilisation of armed groups and, crucially, provide an environment conducive to political dialogue with and between these groups, and the government.

Yet while the MNLA, the High Council of the Unity of Azawad (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA) are at the negotiating table, other factions are engaged in separate dialogues, while Islamist groups with ties to al-Qaeda remain entirely excluded. This exclusion of already-discontented actors undermines future demobilisation efforts, and may even go so far as to further exacerbate the proliferation of arms and armed actors in the region.

In short, the likelihood of recurrent conflict and displacement is increased if a “peace” agreement is brokered without a meaningful involvement from opposition groups and Malian society at large. In light of a second round of negotiations that will take place in the next few months, the Malian government and others at the negotiating table should seize the opportunity to break this cycle of marginalisation.

For more information on displacement in Mali, visit our country page

Niger: Niger (Région de Diffa) Rapport de situation No. 05 (au 10 août 2014)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Niger, Nigeria
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FAITS SAILLANTS

  • Le déficit de production dans l’ensemble de la région pourrait être plus important qu’en 2013.

  • Légère baisse des arrivées en provenance du Nigeria par rapport à la semaine précédente.

  • Hausse du prix du carburant sur le marché noir en raison de la rupture de l’approvisionnement dans les États du Nord du Nigeria.

  • Le virus Ebola est au centre des préoccupations des autorités régionales.

  • Découverte d’un cas de polio virus vaccinal chez une fillette de 2 ans venue du Nigeria.

Somalia: Another Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia? Learning from the 2011 Famine

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Source: Tufts University, Rift Valley Institute
Country: Somalia
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Authors: Daniel Maxwell, Nisar Majid

After two reasonably good years of recovery, 2014 appears to be shaping up as a difficult year for Somalia. Donors and agencies are ringing alarm bells about deteriorating conditions. There is some discussion in humanitarian circles in Nairobi of “another 2011”—only this time competing for attention and funding with higher-profile crises in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Syria. Early Warning agencies suggest that the number of people in crisis (IPC Phase 3 or higher) is likely to reach 1 million before the end of the year. The war between Al-Shabaab and the internationally backed government of Somalia continues to dominate security worries. Compounded by deep divisions among humanitarian actors and a currently underfunded response, the current time is one of concern. Although the comparison with 2011 is over-stated, now is perhaps the time for an honest re-assessment of both the 2010–11 period and the present.

This paper quickly summarizes several of the key areas of learning from the 2011-12 famine, growing out of the research of a group at the Feinstein International Center over the past 18 months. The final report will be out by the end of the year; this brief paper highlights just a few of the findings in four areas: causes of the famine, early warning and response, addressing divisions within the humanitarian community, and the on-going role of Al-Shabaab. The paper suggests four policy considerations: First, now is the time to scale up mitigation efforts aimed at protecting the progress made during several years of fragile recovery. Second, humanitarian actors need to build a stronger socio-political analysis related to programs. Third, going forward, means must be found for having an honest discussion about risk and risk-sharing mechanisms. And fourth, preparedness measures need to reconsider means of negotiated access.

Mali: Mali : Rapatriés spontanés enregistrés par cercle (31 juillet 2014)

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Source: UN Human Rights Council
Country: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger
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Guatemala: Central America Food Security Alert - August 12, 2014 [EN/ES]

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
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Food security Crisis likely due to coffee rust and drought

As a result of projected poor harvests in 2014, the reduction in coffee-sector income for day laborers, and a more rapid than usual increase in the prices of some staple foods, extremely poor households across large areas of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador will experience a rapid deterioration in their food security in early 2015. Atypically high levels of humanitarian assistance, possibly the highest since Hurricane Mitch in 1998, will likely be required in order to avoid a food crisis.

The lean season in this region typically ends in September with the Primera harvest. This year, however, departments located in the region’s dry corridor, along with some surplus- production areas in all four countries, have received poor rainfall. The worst-affected areas are in eastern and western Guatemala and El Salvador, southwestern and southeastern Honduras, and northern and central Nicaragua (Figure 1).

In Nicaragua and Honduras, rainfall deficits began in May, preventing some subsistence farmers from planting. In the eastern areas of El Salvador and Guatemala, rainfall deficits began in late June. Throughout the region the canícula (a typical mid-season dry spell) has extended beyond the usual 15 days, negatively impacting crops. Since late June, rainfall accumulation in the affected areas are 50 to 75 percent below average. With the exception of Guatemala, this dryness is the worst in ten years, including the El Niño year of 2009. Losses of Primera crops are estimated at between 14 and 75 percent (Figure 2), while losses incurred by subsistence farmers located in the worst-affected areas are expected to exceed 70 percent. Forecasts by the XLIV Central American Climate Outlook Forum indicate below-average rainfall will continue through November in all four countries, meaning that Postrera harvests are also likely to be below-average.

Income is also expected to be below-average over the coming year. For the third consecutive year, demand for coffee labor and wages received by coffee day laborers are expected to be lower than normal, due to the persistent effects of coffee rust. Other livelihoods in the region, including fishing and livestock breeding, have also been negatively affected by the recent drought and the transition toward an El Niño.

Compounding this situation are above-average and increasing prices of regionally-produced staple foods (maize and beans) in some areas. The countries most affected in this regard are Nicaragua and Honduras, where red bean prices rose by up to 129 percent between January and June 2014. Prices are expected to continue to trend upward through the end of the first harvest, in September, then level off for a brief period, and then increase again until December, primarily as a result of current crop losses and the potential losses to Postrera crops projected for late 2014.

As a result of two consecutive years of losses to staple food harvests due to rainfall irregularities, plus lower levels of coffee labor income, the poorest households in the eastern and western areas of Guatemala are currently classified as Stressed (IPC Phase 2) or in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). In the southern and western portions of Honduras and the western area of El Salvador, households are Stressed (IPC Phase 2). Food insecurity in Nicaragua is currently Minimal (IPC Phase 1).

Between September and December, food security will be Stressed (IPC Phase 2) in most of the region’s affected areas, despite Primera harvests. Some areas of western Guatemala that do not harvest during the Primera season will remain in Phase 3. These levels of acute food insecurity, atypical for the post-harvest period, are driven by 1) the magnitude of crop losses, which will prevent subsistence households from replenishing their food reserves, 2) prices of regionally produced staple foods, which are already above-average in some places, and are expected to increase further, and 3) income obtained from wage labor will not be sufficient to compensate for food shortages. This situation is particularly critical in northern Nicaragua, where the drought has had the greatest impact. These factors will force households in the areas of concern to implement atypical response strategies including atypical migration and sale of household assets.

Some stabilization is expected between December and February with Postrera harvests across the region and harvests in the western highlands of Guatemala. However, these harvests are also likely to be below average and food security is expected to deteriorate to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in many parts of the region by March, particularly in the eastern and western areas of Guatemala and El Salvador, the southwestern and southeastern areas of Honduras, and the central and northern areas of Nicaragua.

The severity of expected food insecurity, the early onset of needs, and the size of the affected population are expected to be atypical for the region. Depending on the performance of rainfall and markets over the coming months, the number of people in need of assistance could be the largest since Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Governments and their partners should begin response planning immediately to protect livelihoods and household consumption over the coming year.

Mali: Sahel Crisis 2014: Funding Status as of 15 August 2014

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal
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Mali: Mali: SRP 2014 Suivi des Financements au 15 août 2014 (montant en million de $US)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Mali
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FONDS REQUIS: $ 568.4

FINANCEMENTS: $ 205.7

NON COUVERT: $ 362.8

World: Global Weather Hazards Summary August 15-21, 2014

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Burkina Faso, Chad, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Mali, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, World, South Sudan
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Severe dryness persists in Latin America and Haiti, with flooding in Sudan and South Sudan

  1. Since early June, seasonal rainfall has been below average and infrequent across northeastern Nigeria, leading to growing moisture deficits. While there is a chance for some relief with increased rainfall forecast during the upcoming outlook period, abnormally dry ground conditions are expected to persist, which still may negatively impact developing crops later into the season.

  2. Although much of western Ethiopia has received favorable amounts of rainfall during the last two months and rainfall has recently increased in eastern Ethiopia, poorly distributed rain in parts of eastern Amhara, eastern Tigray, and northern Oromia have been consistently below average since June.

  3. A poor start to seasonal rainfall across much of Senegal has led to poor ground conditions and increasing early season rainfall deficits since June. Little rain is forecast for the next week, with increasing rainfall deficits potentially hurting cropping activities.

  4. A delayed start of seasonal rains has hurt cropping activities along the Mauritania-Mali border. Light to moderate rains are forecast in southern Mauritania next week, which could maintain moisture deficits over local areas.

  5. Heavy rains during the past two weeks in the Darfur and Kordofan regions of Sudan caused flooding that destroyed shelters and flooded producing areas. Moderate to heavy rain forecast for next week are likely to cause additional flooding.

  6. Heavy rains during the past two weeks have caused flooding that displaced people across Unity State in South Sudan. The moderate rains forecast for next week may worsen the situation.

  7. Heavy downpours during the past two weeks have caused flooding, infrastructure damage, injuries, and have displaced people across the Khartoum, River Nile, and Al Gazeira States of Sudan. Flooding remains likely as heavy rains are forecast to continue

Chad: Bulletin du CICR au Tchad - janvier-juillet 2014

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Source: International Committee of the Red Cross
Country: Central African Republic, Chad, Mali
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Le CICR est présent au Tchad depuis 1978, à la suite du conflit qui avait opposé ce pays à la Libye. Les activités qu’il mène sur le territoire sont gérées à partir de sa délégation de N'Djaména ; elles portent aujourd’hui essentiellement sur les visites aux personnes privées de liberté, l’appui à deux centres orthopédiques et le soutien à la Croix-Rouge du Tchad. Le CICR s'efforce par ailleurs de promouvoir le droit international humanitaire auprès des forces armées et son intégration dans la législation nationale. À la suite de la crise qui a éclaté en République centrafricaine, le CICR a renforcé son dispositif de rétablissement des liens familiaux et soutient les efforts déployés par la Croix-Rouge du Tchad pour venir en aide aux déplacés en provenance de la République centrafricaine

Mali: Nord du Mali : deux soldats burkinabè tués, quatre blessés dans un attentat suicide

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Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Mali

08/16/2014 20:31 GMT

BAMAKO, 16 août 2014 (AFP) - Deux soldats burkinabè de la force de l'ONU au Mali ont été tués samedi et quatre blessés dans un attentat-suicide à Ber, dans le nord du Mali, a-t-on appris de source sécuritaire malienne et auprès de l'ONU.

Un précédant bilan communiqué à l'AFP avait fait état d'un soldat tué et de cinq blessés à la suite de cet attentat à la voiture piégée.

Un des militaires blessés a succombé à ses blessures, ce qui porte le nouveau bilan à deux morts et quatre blessés, ont affirmé à l'AFP une source sécuritaire malienne et une source proche de la mission de l'ONU au Mali (Minusma).

"Les jihadistes ont effectué un attentat à la voiture piégée contre le camp de la Minusma à Ber ce samedi. Il y a un soldat tué et cinq autres blessés, tous des Burkinabè", avait déclaré à l'AFP une source sécuritaire malienne à Tombouctou, une ville du nord-ouest du Mali.

La localité de Ber est distante de 60 km de Tombouctou.

Le camp visé par les jihadistes est tenu par des soldats burkinabè, avait précisé à l'AFP une source proche de la Minusma.

"Un véhicule piégé s'est introduit à vive allure dans le camp de la Minusma à Ber. Il y a eu une grande explosion" , avait expliqué cette source.

Les islamistes, qui ont occupé le nord du Mali pendant plusieurs mois en 2012, ont été en partie chassés des principales villes du Nord par une intervention armée internationale. Des attentats meurtriers ont cependant encore lieu régulièrement dans le vaste nord du Mali, où des groupes jihadistes continuent également à poser des mines.

sd/mrb/gbh

© 1994-2014 Agence France-Presse

Mali: Ban condemns attack on UN Mali base, declares it 'will not deter' peace efforts

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Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Mali

16 August 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the suicide attack on a United Nations base in Mali that killed two UN peacekeepers and injured seven others this morning.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of the peacekeepers from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). He condemned the attack, which took place in Ber in the region of Timbuktu. Any criminal acts against UN personnel will not be tolerated.

“Such attacks will not deter the United Nations from its efforts to support the Malian people in their search for peace in their country,” Mr. Ban declared.

He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers who were killed and wished a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured. Earlier this week, in two separate incidents, three other UN peacekeepers were wounded by mine explosions in Northern Mali.

Despite initial security improvements in 2013, the situation in Northern Mali has deteriorated since the beginning of this year. An increase in incidents involving improvised explosive devices, mostly targeting Malian and international security forces, has impeded the return to normalcy and resumption of economic and development activities.

The first phase of the inter-Malian negotiation process, which was held from 16 to 24 July in Algiers, aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace agreement which would end the crisis. It concluded with the adoption of a roadmap by all parties. The second phase of peace talks is scheduled to be held in Algiers on 17 August.

In July, the Security Council underscored the importance of an “inclusive and credible negotiation process open to all communities of the north of Mali.” The goal must be to secure a durable political resolution to the crisis and long-term peace and stability, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Malian State.

The 15-member body called on all parties to fully respect the ceasefire agreement signed in May, as well as the declaration of the Cessation of Hostilities signed in Algiers.

Meanwhile, UN humanitarian agencies have warned that the food insecurity crisis in Africa's Sahel region could be exacerbated by terrorism, weak governance and recurrent droughts. Funding gaps were delaying interventions that could prevent the food security situation from worsening.

The precarious security situation in the Sahel, and specifically in Mali, is further compounded by the region's extreme poverty and refugees fleeing ongoing conflict in neighbouring Central African Republic and Nigeria. Clashes in northern Mali have also generated new displacements to the south of the country as well as to neighbouring countries.

The Sahel region stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and includes Mali, as well as Chad, Mauritania, Niger, and parts of Sudan, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Malawi: Southern Africa: Weekly Report (12 to 18 August 2014)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Malawi
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Regional Overview

Southern Africa leaders are meeting in Zimbabwe for the 34th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit which begins today, 18 August 2014. The summit is expected to discuss how the region can achieve economic growth. The theme for the summit is 'SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation:
Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition’.

In Focus: Malawi

Currently, most areas in Malawi are generally experiencing favourable food security conditions and nearly all but a few districts are reporting that approximately 1 percent of households do not have staple food from their own production. As of late June and early July, only localized areas in Central Karonga and parts of the Middle Shire were reporting constrained food access among poor households.

Mali: Security Council press statement on terrorist attack in Mali

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Source: UN Security Council
Country: Mali

SC/11523
AFR/2951
PKO/426

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mark Lyall Grant ( United Kingdom):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the suicide attack in Ber, Mali, on 16 August 2014, in which two Burkinabe peacekeepers of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were killed and seven other peacekeepers were injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their condolences to the families of the peacekeepers killed, as well as to the Government and people of Burkina Faso, and to MINUSMA.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to MINUSMA and French forces that support it. The members of the Security Council called on the Government of Mali to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice and stressed that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their support to MINUSMA to assist the Malian authorities and the Malian people in their efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to their country, as mandated by the Security Council in resolution 2164 (2014).


Guatemala: Central America and Caribbean Food Security Outlook Update August 2014

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua
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Below-average Primera harvests expected

Key Messages:

In Central America, Primera harvests are projected to be well below average due to poor seasonal performance to date. As a result of two consecutive years of losses to staple food harvests due to rainfall irregularities, plus lower levels of coffee labor income, the poorest households in the eastern and western areas of Guatemala are currently classified as Stressed (IPC Phase 2) or in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). In the southern and western portions of Honduras and the western area of El Salvador, households are Stressed (IPC Phase 2). Food insecurity in Nicaragua is currently Minimal (IPC Phase 1).

Between September and December, food security will be Stressed (IPC Phase 2) in most of the region’s affected areas, despite Primera harvests. Some areas of western Guatemala that do not harvest during the Primera season will remain in Phase 3. These levels of acute food insecurity, atypical for the post-harvest period, are driven by 1) the magnitude of crop losses, which will prevent subsistence households from replenishing their food reserves, 2) prices of regionally produced staple foods, which are already above-average in some places, and are expected to increase further, and 3) income obtained from wage labor will not be sufficient to compensate for food shortages. This situation is particularly critical in northern Nicaragua, where the drought has had the greatest impact.

Extremely poor households across large areas of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador will experience a rapid deterioration in their food security in early 2015. Atypically high levels of humanitarian assistance, possibly the highest since Hurricane Mitch in 1998, will likely be required in order to avoid a food crisis.

In Haiti, food security has improved throughout the country due to ongoing harvests since June. Food availability will increase until August. Some areas in Artibonite, North-West, South-East, and Nippes Departments that were in a Crisis (IPC Phase 3) have gradually improved to Stress (IPC Phase 2). For July to December, food security is expected to deteriorate in the South and Central Plateau areas due to the dryness currently affecting the performance of the second agriculture season

Niger: Diffa / Niger: Besoins et Réponse Humanitaire (période du 27 juillet au 10 août 2014)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Niger, Nigeria
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Le nombre des arrivées en provenance du Nigéria est en légère baisse comparée à la semaine précédente mais les prix du carburant sont à la hausse sur le marché noir en raison de la rupture de l’approvisionnement dans les États du Nord du Nigeria. Les autorités locales restent préoccupées par les questions de santé et les perspectives alimentaires.

Un cas de polio virus vaccinal a été découvert chez une fillette de 2 ans venue du Nigeria. Elles craignent par ailleurs que le déficit de production agricole dans l’ensemble de la région soit plus important qu’en 2013 à cause du retard des pluies et des semailles

World: Global Emergency Overview Snapshot 13 - 19 August

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Source: Assessment Capacities Project
Country: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Ukraine, World, Yemen, South Sudan
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Snapshot 13-19 August

Yemen: The 9 August Al Jawf ceasefire has been broken. Access to people affected by the conflict in Al Jawf is extremely limited due to persistent insecurity, and it is very difficult to obtain information. Almost 3,000 people have died in violence since the National Dialogue Conference took place on 25 January.

Syria: Government air strikes hit Islamic State positions in Ar-Raqqa, as well as Deir-ez-Zor and Aleppo, while IS advanced west towards the Turkish border, taking several villages from rival opposition groups. IS killed some 700 Sunni Sheitat tribe members, while an estimated 15,000 Yazidis fleeing IS in Iraq are seeking refuge in Al Hasakeh governorate.

Iraq: A Level 3 emergency was declared by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. 17 million people, more than half the population, are affected by the ongoing violence, and 1.5 million need assistance. 200,000 people were displaced in the week of 4–11 August.

Updated: 19/08/2014. Next update: 26/08/2014

Global Emergency Overview Web Interface

Central African Republic: Central African Republic: Refugee Situation UNHCR Regional Update 28, 9-15 August 2014

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Highlights

  • On 10 August, Mr. Mahamat Kamoun was appointed as the first Muslim Prime Minister of the CAR. Mr. Kamoun stated that his government’s priorities remain grounded in restoring security, facilitating humanitarian assistance, encouraging national reconciliation, as well as resuming public sector activity including economic recovery and the preparation of elections. Mr. Kamoun previously served as Minister of State under President Panza. The new PM also occupied the position of Chief of Staff for Ex-Seleka leader Michel Djotodia but his nomination was rejected by the Ex-Seleka.

  • According to local media, a series of meetings between the Anti-Balaka and Ex-Seleka were held on 11, 12 and 13 August in Bambari in order to examine the possibilities of further dialogue. The two parties have reportedly told the population to consider the acts of violence committed by their members as isolated incidents. On 8 August, the head of the military wing of the Ex-Seleka participated in a meeting with the SRSG and Head of MINUSCA Gaye; the SRSG for the CAR region and head of UNOCA, Abdoulaye Bathily, and the AU Deputy-Mediator in the CAR crisis, Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga.

Mali: Saving lives and making a difference

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Source: DanChurchAid
Country: Mali, World

41 year old James Roland Carew, medical coordinator in DanChurchAid's mine action in Mali, is profiled as a humanitarian hero on UN's World Humanitarian Day on August 19th.

James became an aid worker to make a difference and save lives. This is what he does in Mali through his mine action work with DanChurchAid.

He trains UN staff in incident management and life-saving techniques, and provides medical advice, training and programme support.

Remnants of war limits recovery

Recent and ongoing armed conflict in Mali has resulted in dangerous explosive remnants of war (ERW).

In addition to ERW, improvised explosive devices and landmines also affect livelihoods, freedom of movement, the safe return of internally displaced people and economic recovery.

Contamination also limits the safe deployment of national and international forces in northern Mali, who are tasked with stabilizing the region and consolidating security.

Sense of accomplishment in spite of set backs

“I enjoy knowing that what I teach people will help them save other people’s lives,” says James.

He explains that it is difficult to see first-hand how conflict destroys communities, and how people are forced to leave their homes due to fear.

“The worst part is feeling helpless as conflict undoes achievements in clearing areas of ERW,” he says.

Despite this, James gets a real sense of accomplishment in seeing people working and planting crops on land that could not be used for many years because of war and ERW, and helping mine victims to recover and have a dignified life.

World humanitarian day

UN's World Humanitarian Day is a day to commemorate all people who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the world.

Read more about James Roland Carew and many other humanitarian heroes at World Humanitarian Day

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