Le marché de la ville de Ségou, dans le centre du Mali, regorge de céréales, fruits et légumes. Ici, la population vit principalement de l’agriculture. Pourtant, Ségou est une des régions avec le plus haut taux de malnutrition dans le pays : près d’un enfant sur six y souffre de malnutrition aigüe – une condition qui nuit à la croissance et augmente sérieusement le risque de mortalité.
El Organismo Ejecutivo de Guatemala publicó hoy en el Diario de Centro América (oficial) un nuevo Estado de Calamidad Pública que regirá por un mes en 16 de los 22 departamentos de este país, por los efectos de la canícula prolongada.
De acuerdo con el Decreto Gubernativo 10-2014, tras las evaluaciones del Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional (Conasan) se constató que existieron daños a las plantaciones de subsistencia como consecuencia de la sequía lo cual “agrava conforme la situación se prolonga”.
El documento agrega que los sistemas más afectados son los “agropecuarios; asimismo, se incrementa la vulnerabilidad ante desastres de la población, con la probabilidad de disminución de agua de la producción, ingresos y acceso a los alimentos alcanzando valores críticos”, precisa.
La variabilidad climática provocado por el fenómeno de “El Niño” han provocado daños en las plantaciones de los departamentos de Jutiapa, Chiquimula, Santa Rosa, Quiché, El Progreso, Huehuetenango, Baja Verapaz, Zacapa, Retalhuleu, Sololá, Totonicapán, Chimaltenango, San Marcos, Guatemala, Suchitepéquez y Jalapa.
El 1 de octubre pasado, el Gobierno de Guatemala inició la entrega de alimentos a más de 266.000 familias afectadas por la sequía prolongada en todo el país. Para ello se destinarán unos 120 millones de quetzales (15,3 millones de dólares) mensuales. La ayuda alimentaria se realizará durante un semestre, según el plan del Ejecutivo.
La actual disposición de Estado de Excepción es la tercera. El primer Estado de Calamidad por la canícula prolongada se inició el 25 de agosto y luego se prorrogó un mes.
(Madrid) – El Partido Popular debería renunciar inmediatamente a sus planes de dotar de base legal a las devoluciones sumarias desde los enclaves españoles del norte de África, según han dicho hoy 13 organizaciones de derechos humanos.
Las organizaciones españolas e internacionales han escrito cartas al Relator Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los migrantes, François Crépeau, y al Comisario de Derechos Humanos del Consejo de Europa, Nils Muižnieks, instándoles a presionar al gobierno español para que retire una modificación propuesta a la Ley de Extranjería española.
“Las devoluciones “sumarias” impiden a los solicitantes de asilo solicitar la protección que necesitan y niegan a todas las personas migrantes una serie de derechos”, han manifestado dichas organizaciones. “Devolver a las personas automáticamente a Marruecos, sin salvaguarda procesal alguna, constituye un claro incumplimiento del Derecho europeo e internacional de los derechos humanos”.
Las cartas se han hecho públicas el 30 de octubre de 2014, el mismo día que Anne Brasseur, presidenta de la Asamblea Parlamentaria del Consejo de Europa, inicia su visita de dos días a España. Brasseur debería instar a las autoridades españolas a renunciar a este esfuerzo deplorable de formalizar una práctica abusiva, y a asegurar en su lugar el pleno respeto de los derechos de los migrantes y solicitantes de asilo en sus fronteras.
El Partido Popular está intentando usar una enmienda a la Ley de Seguridad Ciudadana para introducir una disposición en la Ley de Extranjería que permitiría los rechazos en frontera en Ceuta y Melilla. Introducir la enmienda en esta fase implica que no habrá una valoración real acerca del impacto en materia de derechos humanos de la nueva disposición.
La modificación propuesta establecería una excepción para los agentes de fronteras de los enclaves de Ceuta y Melilla para denegar a los migrantes y solicitantes de asilo las salvaguardas que garantiza la ley vigente. Si se aprueba, la enmienda formalizaría la práctica que se está llevando a cabo actualmente de manera ilegal de devolver sumariamente a migrantes y solicitantes de asilo a Marruecos, a pesar de encontrarse en territorio español. En algunos casos, los agentes de la Guardia Civil han usado un uso excesivo de la fuerza para devolver a las personas.
Las devoluciones automáticas violan el Derecho comunitario, así como las obligaciones de España bajo el Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos y el Derecho de los refugiados. En concreto, podría dar lugar a violaciones al derecho al asilo, la prohibición de la tortura, la obligación de non-refoulement (no devolución), el derecho a un recurso efectivo y la reparación de las víctimas de violaciones de derechos humanos, así como la prohibición de expulsiones colectivas. El Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos dictaminó recientemente que las prácticas de devoluciones sumarias que se practican de Italia a Grecia privaron a las personas de acceder al procedimiento de asilo y les expusieron al riesgo de ser objeto de un trato inhumano o degradante, violando sus derechos a un recurso efectivo y a la protección frente a la expulsiones colectivas.
El Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados ha expresado sus preocupaciones por los planes del gobierno, señalando que muchas de las personas que llegan a estos enclaves huyen de la guerra, la violencia y la persecución en países como Siria, la República Centroafricana o Mali.
Las siguientes organizaciones han firmado las cartas: Alianza por la Solidaridad, Amnistía Internacional, Andalucía Acoge, Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía, Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado, European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Federación de Asociaciones de S.O.S Racismo del Estado español, Fundación Abogacía Española, Human Rights Watch, Jueces para la Democracia, Prodein, Red Acoge, y Rights International Spain.
1. Corredor Seco Centroamericano y la carencia de lluvias en 2014
El Corredor Seco es una eco-región de bosque tropical seco muy alterada por la actividad humana. Se extiende desde Chiapas, al sur de México hasta Costa Rica, y abarca una franja entre los 0 a 800 msnm de las cuencas que vierten al Pacífico, a lo largo de Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras y Nicaragua.
En este territorio se suceden sequías cíclicas, muchas de las cuales se relacionan estrechamente con el fenómeno de “El Niño”.
La reducción periódica de precipitaciones, y/o su irregularidad, impactan de forma directa en la economía de 1,9 millones de hogares centroamericanos (9,5 millones de habitantes), que tienen como principal medio de vida el cultivo de granos básicos (maíz y frijol), y el trabajo temporal en plantaciones de café y azúcar.
En 2014, entre el mes de mayo y agosto se han registrado en el Corredor Seco lluvias que han sido inferiores en un 40 o 60 % a los promedios de la región en años anteriores. La carencia de lluvia ha conllevado la pérdida de cosechas para cientos de miles de familias campesinas. De acuerdo a las cifras oficiales de gobiernos, Naciones Unidas y ONGs, el número de familias afectadas de forma severa por la sequía de 2014 son:
Crisis Overview
In Maiduguri, Borno’s state capital, there are 4,536 cases of cholera, including 70 deaths, as of 30 October. The highest number of cases was reported during week 41 (5-11 October), when around 1,500 were reported. Around 260 cases were reported during week 39 (20-27 September) when the outbreak started. The number of cases reported per week has been decreasing since week 41, but there is an increasing number of severe cases.
IDP numbers are increasing in Maiduguri. They are living in overcrowded shelters with very poor WASH conditions and limited access to services. End of September, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) registered 58,000 IDPs in official camps, while the total number of IDPs is estimated at approximately 350,000 as of end October.
Poor WASH infrastructure and hygiene practices in IDP camps and local population heightens the risk of exposure to Vibrio cholera bacteria, making a rapid increase in the number of cases very likely.
Access of response organizations to locations beyond Maiduguri is severely constrained, making containment of the epidemic even more important. Several cases have already been reported from the periphery of Maiduguri and north of the city, and the high mobility of the population means the disease may spread further.
The cholera outbreak is affecting the Lake Chad basin, affecting Niger (1,356 cases, 51 deaths), Chad (35 cases), and Cameroon (2,294 cases, 119 deaths).
Cholera has been endemic in Nigeria since 2009 and there have been regular outbreaks. In 2014, 33,229 cases of cholera had been reported in the country by 27 September, including 635 deaths.
HIGHLIGHTS
Attacks in northern Nigeria force 1,000 refugees into the inaccessible Lake region.
Floods in Salamat region affect around 8,000 people.
In Chad’s Sahel belt, over 670,000 people receive food assistance during the lean season.
Government financing for national NGOs managing temporary camps for CAR returnees will be required past December 2014.
Relocations of CAR returnees from Sido and Doyaba transit sites to Maingama are suspended.
Repaired and improved runway makes Tissi accessible year-round.
FIGURES
Population 11.2 m
Literacy rate 33.6%
GDP per capita US$1,330
Life expectancy 49.6 yrs
Mortality rate under 5 years 209/1,000
Maternal mortality rate 1,000 /100,000
Access to potable water 48.2%
FUNDING
623 million requested (US$)
29.3% funded
Drought. A state of public calamity has been declared for 30 days, in 16 departments, due to prolonged drought. The weather phenomenon has caused crop failures and a scarcity of food supplies in the communities. In the coming days two of the country’s food security agencies should ensure the availability and supply of food needed for the population affected through the production and marketing and importation of foods.Nationalresponse.(m.:PrensaLibre).
Key Messages
In West Africa, staple food markets were well-supplied in September with carryover stocks and early grain, tuber, and legume harvests. Staple food prices were stable or declining, except in deficit areas of Niger, Chad, and Mauritania and conflict-affected areas of northeastern Nigeria. The Ebola outbreak has led to both official and voluntary restrictions on the movement of goods and people in affected countries, resulting in atypical market trends in some areas.
In East Africa, maize prices continued to decline in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and surplus-producing areas of Ethiopia and Somalia as supplies from harvests and regional trade flows improved market availability. Sorghum prices remained stable in eastern Ethiopia and conflict-affected areas of eastern and northern South Sudan ahead of upcoming harvests, but declined in parts of Somalia and Sudan where early grain harvests were underway. Civil conflict, insecurity and seasonal road condition deterioration continued to disrupt markets parts of South Sudan, Somalia, Darfur and South Kordofan States in Sudan. Livestock prices increased in Ethiopia and Somalia ahead of the Hajj.
In Southern Africa, regional staple food availability is higher than in previous years. Harvests from the 2013/14 production year were well-above average in the region’s surplus-producing countries. Staple food prices remained stable or began increasing in September. Maize prices were generally below their respective 2013 levels.
In Central America, staple food prices followed seasonal trends in September, remaining stable or decreasing with the conclusion of recent harvests. After increasing atypically between December and August, red bean prices declined in Central America in September. Imports helped to offset production losses from the prolonged drought that occurred throughout the region from June to August. Local and imported rice prices remained stable throughout the region.
In Central Asia, wheat availability remained good region-wide in September. Prices were stable, but above their respective five-year average levels.
International rice and wheat prices were stable in September while global maize and soybean prices decreased. Global production for most key commodities reached record or near record levels this year, making for very well supplied global markets. Crude oil prices decreased gradually between July and September.
After a rainy season lull, South Sudan’s warring parties are preparing for major offensives with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) this week launching attacks on Bentiu, capital of oil-producing Unity state (see our recent Conflict Alert). Hardliners in the government and the SPLA-IO appear determined to settle the conflict through war. Despite some signs of progress, nine months of peace talks have seen few results; instead, militias and self-defence forces are proliferating as their interests splinter, with many not effectively under the command and control of either main faction. Renewed conflict risks exacerbating widespread displacement and famine, as well as precipitating more atrocity crimes.
Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaoré resigned following intense pressure and violent protests against a possible extension to his 27-year rule. On 30 October, after several days of protests that left thirty dead, demonstrators against a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the presidential two-term limit stormed the parliament, setting it ablaze. The army stepped in but appears divided over who has taken the reins of power – army chief General Honoré Traoré and the Presidential Guard’s second-in-command, Colonel Isaac Zida, have both claimed to be head of state. It also remains unclear whether street protestors and political parties alike are ready to accept the 12-month military transition the army has announced.
Escalating violence in Bangui and deepening political animosities once again shook the Central African Republic’s fragile transition. The mobilisation of anti-balaka militias following a 7 October grenade attack resulted in violent clashes with Muslim residents that left several dead. Outside the capital violence continues to plague the central and western regions where French “Sangaris” forces clashed with ex-Seleka fighters and where banditry is on the rise. President Catherine Samba-Panza appears increasingly isolated amid persistent doubts over her appointment of Mahamat Kamoun as prime minister and an outcry following the disappearance of a significant tranche of Angolan financial aid.
Yemen’s Huthis continued their advance, bringing the country’s political transition to the brink of collapse. A late September UN-brokered peace and power-sharing agreement, aimed at preserving a nominal political process, appears to have little real impact. The Huthis consolidated their control in the north following their mid-September seizure of the capital, Sanaa, and expanded into central Yemen where hundreds were killed in clashes with their rivals. On 31 October the Huthis and their tribal supporters issued an ultimatum to the president to form a new government in 10 days or face further escalation. Southern separatists have seized the opportunity to renew their call for independence, holding large-scale rallies and giving the government until 30 November to remove all employees and security forces from the south.
In eastern Lebanon, Syria-based jihadi group Jabhat al-Nusra expanded its war of attrition with Hizbollah by attacking several of the group’s strongholds and leaving dozens dead. Meanwhile, scores were killed in and around Tripoli in late October when the army clashed with Sunni militants. Army raids in northern Lebanon, Saida and Beirut followed, with tens of alleged “terrorists” arrested.
Clashes between police and pro-government militias, otherwise known as “colectivos”, in Venezuela’s capital left five militiamen including their leader José Odreman dead and raised concerns over the government’s ability to exert its control. The subsequent dismissal of the Interior and Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres, accused by the colectivos of assassinating Odreman, and ongoing calls for the dismissal of the National Assembly president have only deepened the regime’s instability. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s economy continued to deteriorate, with a rapid fall in oil prices raising the spectre of a default on the country’s external debt. (See our latest briefing on Venezuela’s political crisis.)
In Mexico the disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero, apparently at the hands of local police with links to organised crime, triggered massive, sometimes violent, protests. The federal government has arrested a number of suspects and uncovered several mass graves, but so far failed to find the students or identify their remains. The case appears to expose yet again local and perhaps state-level complicity with criminal groups, as well as the failure of the federal government to control violence and widespread impunity.
Hostilities between India and Pakistan continued along Kashmir’s Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary dividing Pakistan and India-administered Kashmir, with each side accusing the other of unprovoked firing. The clashes were accompanied by unusually aggressive rhetoric from the Indian government, causing concern that the Pakistani government, currently engaged in a power struggle with the military over the country’s India policy, will see its political options narrow further.
Summary: Despite a ceasefire announced by the Nigerian authorities, fighting has continued in North-East Nigeria between Nigerian Army Forces and Islamist insurgents, leading to an increase in the number of displaced people fleeing to find refuge in Niger. According to OCHA and the authorities, more than 105,000 people have crossed the border to Niger. The displaced populations are hosted in the communities; no camps have been set up so far. Due to unfavourable climate change (rainfall irregularities, agricultural and pastoral deficit) that led to food and nutritional insecurity to the majority of communities, some of the displaced people prefer to move to Lake Chad islands where there are more economic opportunities through fishing rather than staying in already exhausted host communities. The Niger Government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) have been in discussion regarding the establishment of refugees’ camps in order to reduce logistics’ costs, provide more security and allow more efficient humanitarian assistance. If this happens, there will be a need to revise this Emergency Appeal.to integrate with the new strategy.
On 19 September 2014, the Red Cross Society of Niger (RCSN) was supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) to launch an Emergency Appeal to assist 80,000 people with interventions in the areas of emergency health, water and sanitation; food security, nutrition, livelihoods and social cohesion. The IFRC also allocated CHF 130,000 from the Disaster Relief and Emergency Fund (DREF) to enable immediate emergency assistance (in health, water and sanitation and National Society capacity building) to be carried out.
The DREF allocation has enabled a water and sanitation (WatSan) field focal person to be recruited to support the WatSan needs of the affected population. The RCSN has deployed its communication officer and health coordinator in the field for a week to support the regional committee in planning activities. In collaboration with the health and nutrition field officer, branch committee, a three months plan of action has been developed and is being implemented. Since 18 September 2014, an IFRC operations manager has been deployed to Diffa to coordinate the implementation and engage further in coordination mechanisms.
An operations update n° 1 was issued on 3 October to inform partners of the progress of the operation since the launch as well as call on donors to support the operation with funding in order to enable the National Society implement the planned activities.
The total number of displaced people is radically increasing and the planned target of this Emergency Appeal currently remains unchanged. However the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly critical and support to this operation is urgently needed to provide emergency assistance.
The operation is only 10 percent funded to date. So far, contributions have been gratefully received from Canadian Red Cross and Canadian Government, American Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross and Red Cross of Monaco .Other partners are encouraged to support this appeal.
A pesar de Postrera normal persiste necesidad de asistencia adicional durante 2015
MENSAJES CLAVE
A nivel nacional, se espera una cosecha de Postrera normal. Los hogares más pobres tendrán mayores ingresos debido a una mejor cosecha de café respecto al año pasado, de octubre a febrero. Consecuentemente, se prevé que en los siguientes seis meses la seguridad alimentaria mejore en la mayoría del país, excepto en áreas del oriente y el altiplano, donde la inseguridad alimentaria persisitirá durante este período.
En el altiplano templado, los jornales compensarán parcialmente las pérdidas de cosechas mayores al 70 por ciento por la canícula prolongada, mejorando la seguridad alimentaria de los hogares más pobres, que serán en Estrés (Fase 2, CIF) hasta diciembre. El agotamiento de reservas y menores ingresos ocasionarán deterioro a Crisis (Fase 3, CIF) de enero a marzo 2015.
En oriente, se prevé una Postrera normal que mejorará la disponibilidad de alimentos, además mayores ingresos en el sector cafetalero y asistencia alimentaria permitirán que los hogares más pobres estén en Mínima inseguridad alimentaria (Fase 1!, CIF) hasta diciembre. Durante enero a marzo, pasarán a Estrés (Fase 2, CIF) al finalizar la cosecha de café y acabar tempranamente las reservas de maíz, dadas las pérdidas en la cosecha de Primera.
