The Support Project for Capacity Building of Teacher Training Institutes and Girls’ Education in Mali, initiated in 2008 with the financial support of the Japanese government, intends to contribute to the achievement of Education for All (EFA) in Mali. It specifically aims to improve girls’ access to Teacher Training Institutes in order to increase their level of education. Indeed, results of multiple research studies in the field of girls’ education have indicated that parents are more favorable to their daughters’ education when they’re being supervised by women.

Coordinated by the UNESCO office in Bamako, the project intends to stimulate the interest and garner the support of local communities within the programme’s intervention areas, for the themes of girls’ education and Teacher Training Institutes (TTI) trainers’ awareness to the issue of gender. Since its launch, the project has reached the following goals:

• TTIs teachers have received training in the topics of gender and disciplinary didactics. They master various teaching techniques and provide quality lessons that promote gender.

• TTIs directors were trained in school management as well as leadership. They are now better equipped to manage the facilities and are comfortable in their roles.

• In Kati, the Teacher Training Institute has benefited from the installation of a high-speed internet connection, which "improves the quality of teacher course preparation and provides the opportunity for student teachers to do research in different fields" as noted by the management of the establishment.

According to Mr. Mamary Traoré, Director General of the IFM in Kati, “the establishment opened in 2011 and has 12 classrooms today, all built thanks to the support of Japan. It has 632 student teachers supervised by 32 professors, including 2 women”. Today, the greatest wish of the Director of the Institute is to increase the number of women professors in the structure.

Voici 10 choses à savoir pour comprendre la situation alimentaire en Mauritanie. Aidez le PAM à faire passer le message en les partageant sur Twitter.

1) La Mauritanie est un pays en déficit alimentaire: le pays ne produit pas assez de nourriture pour subvenir aux besoins de sa population. Ainsi, environ 70% des besoins céréaliers du pays sont couverts grâce aux importations.

2) Bien que la Mauritanie soit un grand pays (d’une superficie de plus de 1, 000,000km2 ), plus de 80% de la surface du pays est déserte. Moins de 4% des terres sont cultivables.

3) Près de 10% des enfants de moins de cinq ans souffrent de malnutrition aigüe.

4) De nombreux chocs climatiques ont fragilisé la résilience des communautés dans le pays. Près de 15% de la population est constamment en situation d’insécurité alimentaire et a du mal à se procurer quotidiennement assez de nourriture.

5) Près de 25% des Mauritaniens vivent avec moins de 1.25$US par jour.

6) La moitié de la population n’a pas accès à de l’eau propre, saine et potable.

7) En 2015, le PAM prévoit d’assister plus de 683,120 personnes en situation d’insécurité alimentaire, dont 143,015 enfants de moins de cinq ans, et plus de 22,495 femmes enceintes ou allaitantes souffrant de malnutrition aigüe.

8) La Mauritanie accueille la plus importante communauté de réfugiés maliens. Au 31 mars 2015, plus de 52,000 personnes vivaient dans le camp de réfugiés de Mbera. Le PAM fournit une assistance alimentaire vitale aux réfugiés, qui dépendent d’un soutien extérieur pour répondre à leurs besoins les plus élémentaires.

9) Les taux de rétention scolaire à l’école primaire sont très bas en Mauritanie. Seuls 42% des garçons et 34 % des filles achèvent leur éducation de base.

10) Le PAM fournit des repas scolaires à plus de 156,000 écoliers issus de familles vulnérables en situation d’insécurité alimentaire. Grâce aux repas scolaires, le PAM soutient leur accès à l’éducation de base.

BAMAKO – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food assistance to some 29,000 people displaced by recent violence in northern Mali. WFP provided 13 metric tons of high energy cereal bars on Saturday and has now begun distributing a one-month food ration.

Around 31,000 people have been forced to flee over the past two weeks, mostly from the Timbuktu region, following an escalation of attacks by armed groups. More than 500 people have crossed the border into neighbouring Niger, Mauritania and Burkina Faso over the past few days.

The newly displaced in the Timbuktu region are finding refuge in the towns of Tonka, Goundam and Gourma Rharous in the north of Mali, staying in temporary shelters, camping, or with host families. They are in urgent need of water, food, other relief items and shelter.

“The fighting in the north of Mali is greatly reducing an already limited humanitarian space and hampers vital humanitarian assistance to people who are very vulnerable. Both river and road transport are being severely affected by fighting, disrupting deliveries of food assistance by WFP and our partners,” said Sally Haydock, WFP Mali Country Director.

“The current state of affairs is only adding to an already difficult situation as over 3 million people struggle to have enough food to eat, and host communities brace themselves to face a harsh lean season,” she added.

A national food security and nutrition survey earlier this year found that 410,000 people were in need of immediate food assistance. The number is likely to get higher as food stocks decrease during the lean season before the new harvest comes in. WFP plans to assist at least 350,000 people from June through September.

“If the situation continues to deteriorate, we expect more people to be in need of life-saving food assistance,” said Haydock. “To date, less than half of WFP’s funding needs are met. WFP urgently requires an additional US$64 million to continue meeting growing needs.”

In 2015, WFP overall aims to support 1.2 million people in Mali—providing emergency relief and additional support for communities emerging from crisis.

In Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, WFP also plans to provide food assistance to the newly arriving Malian refugees.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 75 countries.

Follow us on Twitter: @WFP_WAfrica; @wfp_media

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Maude Berset, WFP/Mali, Mob. +223 76 71 26 29 Adel Sarkozi, WFP West Africa/Dakar: +221 776375964 Elisabeth Byrs, WFP/Geneva: +41 79 473 4570 Frances Kennedy, WFP/Rome: +39 0665133725 Bettina Luescher, WFP/New York, Tel. +1-646-5566909, Mob. +1-646-8241112 Gregory Barrow, WFP/London, Tel. +44 20 72409001, Mob. +44 7968 008474

Mali: Gao and Timbutku regions have been the scene of multiple clashes between the Azawad Movement Coalition and Malian forces, as well as the pro-government Gatia militia. At least 12 people have been killed, including nine civilians. About 31,500 people have been displaced from three districts in Timbuktu region. They are in urgent needs of water, food, NFIs, and shelter support, but access is limited.

Yemen: Violence increased after the ceasefire ended 17 May, and surged again after the postponement of peace talks on 25 May. Casualty numbers since the escalation of conflict in March have reached 1,870 dead and 7,580 injured. 490,000 people in Sa’ada can no longer be reached, and food items are no longer available in a number of governorates. The fuel crisis is making it even more difficult to meet basic needs.

DRC: A surge in ADF attacks in Beni territory, North Kivu, has displaced more than 15,000 people. In Orientale, 4,000 people have been displaced by an FARDC offensive. In Katanga, 400 cases of measles are being recorded per week in Malemba Nkulu territory.

Updated: 27/05/2015. Next update: 02/06/2015

Global Emergency Overview Web Interface

Ce rapport est le résultat de la compilation d’informations recueillies sur terrain par les points focaux qui travaillent directement avec l’équipe IRC en collaboration avec l’équipe ANDDH et des CAC. Il donne également un aperçu sur les activités hebdomadaires en cours dans la région de Diffa.

Les points généraux

La situation sécuritaire dans la région de Diffa après avoir connu une légère accalmie ces derniers jours, s’est à nouveau détériorée avec de nouvelles attaques et pillages dans plusieurs localités. L’on note également, dans la ville de Diffa la reprise d’un contrôle rigoureux des véhicules au delà des heures décrétées, c’est à dire après 20h.

Flash info

Ces derniers temps, il y’a eu un rapatriement d’un nombre important des déplacés des Iles du Lac Tchad installés à la MJC de Diffa dans leurs régions et pays respectifs dont entre autres Maradi, Zinder Tahoua, Tillabéry, Niamey, Mali et Benin. A l’heure actuelle il ne reste que quelques ménages que IRC continuent d’assister en ration alimentaires.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
4,400 DISPLACED BY ATTACKS

Around 1,900 IDPs and 2,500 residents in Bissingalé locality have been forced to flee to the nearby Kaga-Bandoro town in the north of the country following armed attacks by unknown gunmen on Site-Nana, Bissingalé and Ndémayo villages in Kaga-Bandoro on the night of 15 May. Ten people were killed in the raid which happened five days after the signing of an agreement between armed groups and the government to end hostilities and begin a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process.

MALI
27,000 FLEE ARMED RAIDS

As of 21 May, armed attacks had forced a total of 26,983 people from their homes in Timbuktu region. The attackers looted homes and business and stole livestock. The displaced have sought refuge in more populated areas in the south of Niger river, where they are staying in temporary shelters, camping or with host families and are in urgent need of water, food, non- food items and shelter. Humanitarian actors in the region are positioning relief items to deliver. A needs assessment and food distribution are ongoing.

NIGER
238 ARRIVE FROM MALI FLEEING VIOLENCE

A total of 238 displaced people have arrived in Niger’s Tillabery region since 21 May from Tin Hama in the Gao region of Mali due to fighting and alleged executions. On the Malian side, a food and NFI response is underway led by the Ministry of Solidarity Affairs and supported by humanitarian actors. UNHCR facilitated the reception of the displaced through its partners at the border-crossing to the Tillabéry region in Niger, the transport of 51 displaced to a camp and the temporary lodging of 187 in Ayorou as of 24 May.

NIGERIA
‘ALARMING’ RISE IN USE OF FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBERS

In the first five months of 2015, more women and children have been used in suicide attacks than the whole of last year, UNICEF announced on 26 May. In 2014, 26 suicide attacks were recorded, compared to 27 attacks as of May 2015. In at least three-quarters of these incidents, women and children were reportedly used to carry out the attacks. The agency expressed concern that the increasing use of children as suicide bombers could lead to children being perceived as potential threats, which would put all children associated with armed groups at risk of retaliation and would impede their rehabilitation and reintegration in their communities.

SIERRA LEONE
0 EVD CASES IN THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS

Sierra Leone has reported no new confirmed cases in three days between 22 - 24 May, a new window of no infections after an eight-day lull earlier this month (6 - 13 May) was broken by eight confirmed cases in the week to 17 May.

GUINEA
COMMUNITY RESISTANCE IN NEW HOTSPOTS

Guinea reported five new cases between 22 - 24 May. Community resistance has hampered response in the two new EVD hotspots of Boké and Dubréka prefectures that were recently identified. A team from Guinea’s National Coordination (on Ebola) has been sent to Tanéné sub-prefecture in Dubréka to identify the cause of the outbreak and establish response strategies. Response measures are also being stepped up in Boké.

REGIONAL / EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE
5 CASES IN THREE DAYS, AFTER 35 LAST WEEK

Between 22 - 24 May, five new cases were reported in Guinea, and no new case in Sierra Leone. The week that ended on 17 May however, saw the highest weekly total of confirmed cases of Ebola for over a month, with 35 cases reported from Guinea and Sierra Leone compared to only nine cases the previous week. The geographical area of transmission also expanded, with six districts reporting cases - twice as many in the previous weeks.

Niamey, Niger | AFP | Wednesday 5/27/2015 - 14:10 GMT

Niger has extended for three months the state of emergency in its southeastern Diffa region where the army has been battling Boko Haram militants since February, authorities announced Wednesday.

"Boko Haram elements are there," Daouda Malam Marthe, first vice president of parliament, said on state radio. "The prolongation of the state of emergency is a necessity."

The emergency declaration, which parliament voted in favour of on Tuesday, also gives security forces additional powers including the ability to order searches of homes day or night.

Niger, Chad and Cameroon have since February helped Nigerian troops push Boko Haram out of towns and territories the militants had captured in an effort to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

Niger's Interior Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou told the National Assembly that Boko Haram militants are still present in Diffa, which borders Nigeria.

"They are in the bush and on Lake Chad," Massaoudou said. "They only come out night."

Authorities declared the state of emergency and have extended it following the Islamists' attacks against Niger.

Though the regional offensive against Boko Haram has weakened the group, it has still mounted bloody assaults in recent months.

On April 25 the insurgents attacked a Niger military position on Lake Chad, which left 74 dead, including 32 civilians, and resulted in the disappearance of 32 other people.

The six-year conflict against Boko Haram has claimed at least 15,000 lives and made more than 1.5 million people homeless.

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Niamey, Niger | AFP | mercredi 27/05/2015 - 09:32 GMT

L'Assemblée nationale du Niger a prolongé pour trois mois l'état d'urgence dans la région de Diffa (sud-est), à la frontière avec le Nigeria, où l'armée combat Boko Haram depuis février, a annoncé mercredi le vice-président du parlement.

"La prolongation de trois mois de l'état d'urgence a été adoptée à l'unanimité des députés présents", a affirmé à la radio d'Etat Daouda Malam Marthé, premier vice-président du Parlement.

"Des éléments de Boko Haram sont là" et "la prolongation de l'Etat d'urgence est une nécessité", a estimé cet élu du parti au pouvoir.

Le ministre nigérien de l'Intérieur Hassoumi Massaoudou a confirmé mardi devant les députés, la présence des combattants de Boko Haram dans la zone de Diffa, frontalière avec le nord-est du Nigeria, considéré comme le fief des islamistes.

"Ils existent. Ils sont en brousse et sur le lac Tchad" et "ils ne sortent que la nuit" de peur "d'être bombardés", a assuré le ministre.

L'état d'urgence avait été décrété à partir du 11 février pour un délai de quinze jours et renouvelé pour trois mois, à la suite des toutes premières attaques des islamistes contre le Niger.

Il accorde des pouvoirs supplémentaires aux forces de sécurité, dont celui "d'ordonner des perquisitions à domicile de jour et de nuit".

Selon M. Massaoudou, au total 841 membres présumés de Boko Haram ont été interpellés par les services de sécurité, dont 695 ont été déférés, 52 libérés et 643 inculpés.

Début mai, les autorités nigériennes ont fait évacuer quelque 25.000 habitants des îles du lac Tchad, par crainte de nouvelles attaques des islamistes nigérians de Boko Haram après un assaut meurtrier fin avril.

Le 25 avril, une attaque de Boko Haram contre une position militaire nigérienne située sur une île du lac Tchad avait fait au moins 74 morts, dont 28 civils, et 32 disparus.

Ces pertes sont les plus lourdes subies par le Niger depuis que le pays est entré en guerre contre le groupe islamiste nigérian début février.

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Diffa, Niger | AFP | mercredi 27/05/2015 - 10:53 GMT

par Joris FIORITI

"J'ai peur des réfugiés. Je ne sais pas qui est qui": Amadou, chauffeur à Diffa, résume le malaise des habitants de cette ville du sud-est du Niger face aux réfugiés nigérians, victimes de Boko Haram mais suspectés d'être des "infiltrés" ou des complices du groupe islamiste.

Pour les réfugiés nigérians, c'est une double peine.

"Il y a des gens qui nous disent : +vous avez détruit votre pays, maintenant vous venez détruire le nôtre+. Ça nous fait mal", soupire Ali Mamadou, Nigérian présent à Diffa depuis sept mois, sans emploi depuis lors.

Ce quinquagénaire affirme pourtant avoir quitté le nord-est du Nigeria - considéré comme le fief de Boko Haram - à la hâte, talonné par les islamistes, pour se réfugier au Niger voisin, accompagné de ses trois femmes et de ses treize enfants.

"Nous sommes partis à pied, avec juste nos vêtements sur le dos. Ils ont tout brûlé, nos maisons, nos véhicules", se lamente-t-il.

Assis à ses côtés sur une grande natte, à l'ombre du lourd soleil nigérien, une vingtaine de compagnons d'infortune acquiescent silencieusement. Comme Ali Mamadou, ils assurent qu'ils étaient commerçants, agriculteurs ou encore chauffeurs au Nigeria, mais nullement combattants.

Tous soulignent le "bon accueil" des habitants de Diffa, mais ressentent pourtant leur méfiance. Leur tort : être de l'ethnie béri-béri, qui a fourni d'importants contingents de guerriers à Boko Haram. Le groupe armé nigérian, en recul depuis deux mois, a fait plus de 13.000 morts en six ans.

"Depuis le 6 février", jour des premières attaques d'envergure des islamistes en territoire nigérien, "la population ne fait plus confiance aux réfugiés", affirme Yacouba Soumana Gaoh, le gouverneur de la province de Diffa.

A Bosso, petite bourgade frontalière du Nigeria, certains d'entre eux, "qui avaient caché des armes sous leurs boubous", tuent alors un commandant et une demi-douzaine de ses hommes dans les locaux de la gendarmerie, narre-t-il.

"C'était le signal. Des tirs sont ensuite partis du camp de réfugiés", d'où sont sortis des hordes de combattants, rapporte le colonel Moussa Salaou Barmou, le commandant des forces nigériennes à Diffa.

Faiblement armés, les assaillants sont balayés. Environ 500 périront, selon un bilan officiel jugé crédible par un travailleur humanitaire qui s'est rendu sur place.

Le 6 février toujours, Boko Haram cherche à conquérir Diffa, la capitale provinciale, où ses hommes essuient également de lourdes pertes. Là encore, des réfugiés font partie des assaillants. D'autres attaques suivront.

• 'Ethnicisation' -

Les tirs d'armes lourdes et les rafales de mitraillettes marquent la population de Diffa, qui quitte un temps cette ville aux rues couvertes de sable, avant d'y revenir progressivement. Longtemps, des photos de victimes s'échangeront par téléphone portable.

"La perception de tout le monde, c'est que les réfugiés constituent un problème sécuritaire réel. Car parmi eux, certains sont des combattants de Boko Haram repentis, que les autres ne dénoncent pas", estime un cadre humanitaire, sous couvert d'anonymat.

Un problème de taille quand plus de 150.000 réfugiés nigérians, "retournés" nigériens qui vivaient au Nigeria ou déplacés internes au Niger vivent désormais dans la province de Diffa.

Deux mois et demi plus tard, le 25 avril, Boko Haram remporte son plus grand succès face au Niger. Ses combattants, en surnombre, encerclent une position militaire nigérienne sur une île du lac Tchad, tuant 74 personnes, dont 28 civils. 32 soldats sont encore portés disparus.

"Ce jour-là, on sait que des habitants de l'île ont aussi retourné leurs armes contre l'armée", peste le colonel Barmou.

Quand les autorités ordonnent l'évacuation des îles en vue d'une future opération militaire, forçant plus de 30.000 personnes à un interminable exode à pied - durant lequel des déplacés meurent de faim et de soif, selon une ONG nigérienne -, l'accueil n'est ainsi pas des meilleurs.

"Les gens du cru disaient : +boudouma (une autre ethnie fortement représentée chez les insurgés) = Boko Haram+", se souvient un travailleur humanitaire, présent lors de leur arrivée, qui craint "une ethnicisation du conflit".

Des réfugiés peul, mieux acceptés car moins étiquetés "rebelles", racontent à l'AFP leur "angoisse" vis-à-vis des béri-béri, des boudouma, ou encore des kanori, une troisième ethnie, qui au Nigeria "ont tué (leurs) femmes et enfants".

Neuf chefs traditionnels nigériens, tous kanori, ont été récemment arrêtés pour "complicité avec Boko Haram", selon le gouverneur.

"Le problème ethnique est fondamental, mais on fait semblant de ne pas le voir", se désole l'humanitaire. Mais quand on en prendra conscience, il sera trop tard".

jf/jhd

Le Colonel Sami Cherif, commandant régional de la Police onusienne-MINUSMA, et M. Alassane Diallo, chef de cabinet du Gouverneur de la région de Gao, ont posé mardi 26 mai une première brique marquant le lancement officiel de la réhabilitation du bâtiment de la Garde Nationale de la ville de Gao.

Le coût total du projet s’évalue à plus de 23.5 millions de FCFA. Ce montant aidera à la remise en état du bâtiment de la Garde Nationale vandalisé pendant la crise qui a secoué la région du nord en 2012. Le projet consistera également à équiper cette direction régionale en matériels informatiques.

Décidé en février 2014 par la MINUSMA à travers son projet à impact rapide, le chantier de réhabilitation du bâtiment de la Garde Nationale a été lancé par le Représentant du Gouverneur de la région de Gao en présence de chefs de services régionaux et celui de la sécurité. « Ma joie est immense cet après-midi en participant avec vous au lancement de ce projet financé par la MINUSMA. J’avoue que c’est une belle initiative qui vient d’ailleurs compléter d’autres déjà réalisées par la même Mission onusienne dans la ville, dont la réhabilitation des bâtiments de la Gendarmerie Nationale et celui de la Police, » a dit M. Alassane Diallo lors de son allocution.

Située à côté de la Maison d’arrêt et de correction de Gao, la Garde Nationale possède un grand complexe comprenant un bâtiment d’un étage et plusieurs annexes abritant divers services administratifs qui, malheureusement ont été sérieusement endommagés pendant l’occupation.

Prenant la parole à son tour, le commandant régional de la Police onusienne à Gao a déclaré que « cette réhabilitation tant attendue depuis plusieurs mois est devenue aujourd’hui une réalité. Je demanderai à l’entrepreneur de faire diligence et preuve de professionnalisme pour que les travaux puissent se réaliser dans le délai afin d’offrir un bon cadre de travail à la Garde Nationale. J’invite donc les services compétents de la direction à se joindre à nous pour le suivi rigoureux de ces travaux qui vont démarrer dans quelques minutes ».

La remise en place des services de sécurité constitue une importante étape du retour de l’administration dans le nord du Mali, dans l’esprit de la Résolution du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies et de l’accord de Ouagadougou. La MINUSMA ne ménage aucun effort pour accompagner les autorités régionales en vue d’assurer la sécurité des représentants de l’Etat et des populations civiles de la région de Gao.

« C’est une occasion manifeste pour encore une fois de plus démontrer l’excellence de nos relations de collaboration que nous avons avec la MINUSMA qui a dans son mandat la stabilisation et la participation à la construction de la paix dans notre pays, » a ajouté le Représentant du Gouverneur. Il a enchaîné en disant que « cette importante infrastructure qui va être réhabilitée offrira aux camarades de la Garde Nationale un meilleur cadre de vie qui va leur permettre de ‘booster’ leur mission première : sécuriser les personnes et leurs biens, mais aussi celle relative à la pacification de notre région ».

Le capitaine Amadou Koné, commandant par intérim de la Garde Nationale, apprécie les efforts de la MINUSMA, « avec cette réhabilitation par la MINUSMA qui, je vous rappelle n’a jamais cessé de venir en aide aux forces de sécurité du Mali. J’en suis très sûr que cela va contribuer non seulement à rehausser le moral de la troupe, mais aussi à rendre le système de sécurité plus performant ».

Haiti - Drought

• Due to below-average rainfall, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) "Crisis" level has been reached in parts of Haiti, severely affecting 180 000 people. Between 60% and 80% loss of the main local crops and vegetables in these areas has been confirmed. • Difficulties in accessing water results in the reduction of daily meals or leads to community conflicts. • Livestock has been severely affected and pressure has been put on alternative food resources (fishery).

27 May 2015 – The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict has condemned Boko Haram militias in Nigeria for “waging war on women’s physical, sexual and reproductive autonomy and rights” by repeatedly raping their female captors and treating them as vessels for producing children for fighters.

“In this context, sexual violence is not merely incidental, but integral, to their strategy of domination and self-perpetuation,” Zainab Hawa Bangura said in a statement.

“In the stories of those recently released from Boko Haram captivity, I hear poignant echoes of the words of the women and girls I met last month in the Middle East, who had been freed from sexual slavery by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant),” she said. “In both cases, they describe being treated as chattels to be ‘owned’ and traded, and as vessels for producing children for fighters.”

Her statement was issued a little over a year after the extremist group Boko Haram abducted 276 teenage girls in Chibok, Borno State, in Nigeria. Many of them remain in captivity, along with hundreds of others who have been abducted both before and since.

“I am appalled by reports that hundreds of the recently released female captives were repeatedly raped by Boko Haram militias and compelled to ‘marry’ their captors, pursuant to a campaign of forced imprisonment and forced impregnation,” she said.

“These latest revelations suggest that Boko Haram is not only destroying existing family and community structures, but is bent on controlling their future composition,” she underscored. “In order to give rise to a new generation raised in their own image, they are waging war on women’s physical, sexual and reproductive autonomy and rights.”

Saying “these are not isolated atrocities,” Ms. Bangura said, they are part of a wider pattern of women and girls being deliberately targeted by interlinked extremist groups, who share an ideological opposition to the education, rights and freedoms of women.

She reiterated her calls for all abducted women and girls to be immediately released from captivity and returned safely to their families.

Ms. Bangura also called on the Nigerian Government, with support from the international community and local organizations, to provide medical and psychosocial care, including antenatal care to those who have become pregnant, and treatment for those infected with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.

She also urged the international community to adopt a coordinated response that addresses the root causes of violent extremism.

“Supporting the survivors to raise and educate their children in an environment of tolerance, respect and dignity is our best hope of preventing extremists from shattering social cohesion and dictating the future,” she declared.

Since Flash Update#2 (21 May) armed clashes and attacks against villages by armed individuals continued to be reported in the Timbuktu region in the North of Mali pushing more civilians to flee their villages. The total of displaced people has now reached 47,300 (up from 27,000 in Flash Update#2 on 21 May) according to regional authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground. Most of these new internally displaced persons (IDPs) sought refuge in nearby urban hubs where they are with host families or in temporary shelters set up in public buildings, while others are camping in precarious conditions along the Niger River.

According to the latest reports, there are 29,214 new IDPs in the Cercle (district) of Gourma Rharous, 9,840 in the district of Timbuktu and 8,259 in the district of Goundam.　IDPs urgently need assistance to access water, food, shelter, non-food items and health care. Through OCHA, humanitarian organizations are coordinating their efforts to assess the most urgent needs and provide the necessary emergency relief. Distributions of food and non-food items have started in the district of Goundam by WFP, other food security partners, as well as by the UNHCR and its partners. Relief items are being conveyed towards the districts of Gourma Rharous and Timbuktu - where the prevailing insecurity has delayed the response. 　　

In the regions of Gao and Mopti, also following recent attacks and armed clashes some 2,350 and 1,622 IDPs respectively have been recorded according to local authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground. Needs evaluations are ongoing in preparation for aid delivery.

Another Flash Update will be published has soon as more information is available.

Depuis le Flash Update # 2 (21 mai) des affrontements armés et des attaques contre des villages par des individus armés continuent d’être rapportés dans la région de Tombouctou dans le Nord du Mali, poussant les populations civiles à fuir leurs villages. Le total des personnes déplacées a maintenant atteint 47 300 (contre 27 000 dans le Flash Update # 2 du 21 mai), selon les autorités régionales et les partenaires humanitaires sur le terrain. La plupart de ces nouvelles personnes déplacées internes (PDIs) ont cherché refuge à proximité dans les centres urbains où ils sont dans des familles d'accueil ou dans des abris temporaires mis en place dans les bâtiments publics, tandis que d'autres campent dans des conditions précaires le long du fleuve Niger.

Selon les derniers rapports, il y a 29 214 nouvelles personnes déplacées dans le Cercle de Gourma Rharous, 9840 dans le cercle de Tombouctou et 8259 dans le cercle de Goundam. Les personnes déplacées ont un besoin urgent d'assistance pour accéder à l'eau, la nourriture, des abris, des articles non alimentaires et des soins de santé. Avec l’appui d’OCHA, les organisations humanitaires coordonnent leurs efforts pour évaluer les besoins les plus urgents et fournir l'aide d'urgence nécessaire. Des distributions de produits alimentaires et non alimentaires ont commencé dans le Cercle de Goundam par le PAM et d'autres partenaires du secteur de la sécurité alimentaire, ainsi que par l’UNHCR et ses partenaires. L’aide d’urgence est actuellement acheminée vers les Cercles de Gourma Rharous et Tombouctou - où l'insécurité a retardé la réponse.

Par ailleurs, à la suite d’attaques et affrontements armés récents quelques 2350 personnes déplacées ont été rapportées dans la région de Gao et 1622 dans la région de Mopti, selon les autorités locales et les partenaires humanitaires sur le terrain. Les évaluations des besoins sont en cours pour préparer les distributions d’aide. .

Un autre flash update sera émis dès que de nouvelles informations seront disponibles

Project to help boost regional cooperation in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal where pastoral activities are the main source of income

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2015. The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors approved today a total of US$248 million IDA to boost regional integration and improve access to essential services, increase the income and strengthen markets for over 2 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists across six Sahelian countries.

Pastoralism is the main source of income for about 50 million pastoralists in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the Sahel, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) represent 75% of the land area and support an estimated 20 million pastoralists.

The Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (in French: “Projet Régional d’Appui au Pastoralisme au Sahel –PRAPS”) is a six-year undertaking in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. The new project is an important step to building a solid alliance to support pastoralism by pooling the expertise and resources of various actors, including bilateral and multilateral technical and financial partners, governments, the private sector, and pastoral civil society organizations.

“Pastoralism is crucially important to the Sahel, yet it is under threat and faces many challenges including rapid population growth, conflict, animal diseases, shrinking grazing areas and water resources,” said Makhtar Diop, the World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region. “Major investments are required to improve the productivity and resilience of pastoral production systems and ensure that the economic opportunities generated by the growing demand for livestock products translate into widespread benefits for communities that depend on pastoralism for their livelihood.”

This new project will help improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience of pastoral livelihoods, as prioritized in the Nouakchott Declaration on Pastoralism, adopted on October 29, 2013 by the Governments of the six beneficiary countries, in collaboration with international and regional institutions including the World Bank, FAO, World Organization for Animal Health, Africa Union, ECOWAS, CILSS and WAEMU. The Nouakchott Declaration aims to secure the lifestyle and means of production of pastoral populations in order to increase the incomes of pastoralists.

The new project is designed to support poverty reduction and to promote shared prosperity, including for women and the youth. As stated by Christian Berger, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the PRAPS: “The proposed investments are targeting historically under-resourced marginal areas with a large share of poor households that are locked into low-asset poverty traps and vulnerable to drought. These investments are expected to promote shared prosperity by enabling households to withstand future shocks with fewer losses and to invest in human capital development.”

Specifically today’s project will focus on key areas that are hindering the ability of pastoralists to reap benefits. The financing will go towards improving access to key services such as veterinary services, water, weather data, herd and rangeland management practices, animal nutrition, market information and advisory services adapted to mobile communities to boost productivity . It will promote national and regional cooperation, particularly for disease control, natural resource management, trans-boundary movements of herds, and the facilitation of trade. Finally, it will enhance resilience to climate change, animal diseases, economic hazards, conflicts, and insecurity.

“The prospects for income growth increase as pastoralists become integrated into West Africa’s increasingly dynamic regional and national livestock markets. By building on the collective action of the countries in the region, the new project will deliver a set of public goods that address the challenges and build on the opportunities created by this changing environment, including zoonotic animal diseases, shared rangelands and water resources, cross-border trade, market information, and pastoral risks, including shocks. All of these challenges and opportunities cut across national borders and have key regional dimensions that are important to address”, says Simeon Ehui, Practice Manager of the Agriculture Global Practice at the World Bank.

The PRAPS’s implementation will be coordinated at the regional level by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) under the political leadership of ECOWAS, WAEMU, Chad and Mauritania, and alongside with the ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Center.

“One positive achievement is the fact that PRAPS makes the Nouakchott Declaration operational and was prepared in a record time. Moreover, the inclusiveness during the preparatory phase and its very strong ownership by the beneficiary countries and the CILSS, and the capacity of PRAPS to leverage additional funding for pastoral development in the Sahel are key assets that are determinant for its good implementation. We remain very committed to the success of this new project”, says H.E. Djime Adoum, Executive Secretary of the CILSS.

The PRAPS is part of the Sahel Initiative, launched by the World Bank Group President --following a historic trip to the Sahel region in November 2013 by leaders of five organizations: the World Bank, the United Nations, the African Union, the African Development Bank and the European Union— to address the regional drivers of vulnerability, conflict and underdevelopment.

Financed by IDA, the WBG’s fund for the poorest countries*, Burkina Faso will receive a US$30 million credit; Mali will receive a US$45 million credit; Niger will receive a US$45 million credit; Senegal will receive a US$30 million credit; Chad will receive a US$45 million grant; Mauritania will receive a US$45 million grant; and the CILSS will receive a U$8 million grant. About IDA

• The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.8 billion people, the majority of whom live on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent going to Africa.
  

MEDIA CONTACTS
Sylvie Nenonene
Tel : +228 22 23 33 00
snenonene@worldbank.org

In Washington
Aby Toure
Tel : (202) 473-8302
akonate@worldbank.org

Les conditions sécuritaires se détériorent davantage dans la région de Diffa

MESSAGES CLÉS

• Les récentes attaques de Boko Haram dans les iles du Lac Tchad et les mesures sécuritaires ont provoqué une nouvelle vague de populations en déplacement interne. Ce flux de populations vient augmenter le nombre de personnes en Stress alimentaire (Phase 2 de l’IPC) dans le sud de la région de Diffa où cette Phase d’insécurité va persister jusqu’en septembre 2015 suite aux assistances alimentaires.

• Dans les zones pastorales de Zinder, Tahoua, Tillabéri, les animaux ont pu garder l’embonpoint et leur valeur marchande grâce aux appuis en aliments bétail et les ménages ont pu se maintenir en Stress (Phase 2 de l’IPC). Pour la zone pastorale de Diffa, la Crise (Phase 3 de l’IPC) persiste à cause des impacts de l’instabilité en Libye et dans la zone du Lac Tchad sur les moyens d’existence et les marchés.

• Dans les zones agricoles et agropastorales du pays, globalement les ménages arrivent couvrir les besoins alimentaires et non alimentaires. Cependant dans quelques zones agropastorales et agricoles de Zinder et Tillabéri, des il y aura les ménages pauvres en situation de Stress (Phase 2 IPC) entre mai et septembre à cause des stocks épuisés et des prix élevés.

Summary:

The Niger Red Cross Society supported by IFRC launched an appeal to assist 80,000 people in emergency health, water and sanitation; food security, nutrition, livelihoods and social cohesion; CHF 130,000 was allocated from DREF to allow emergency assistance in health, water and sanitation and NS capacity building. Through the contribution from American Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross Society, Red Cross of Monaco, Canada Red Cross Society and the Netherlands Red Cross, the DREF has been replenished and the plan of action has been initiated. The National Society and IFRC country representation are very grateful for this support that allowed the start of humanitarian assistance. However, due to low funding, (currently 35% of appeal covered) some activities have not been undertaken, and additional support is needed to achieve the entire project outcomes related to food and nutritional security, livelihood and social cohesion.

Key achievements of the operation include training and equipping of 66 volunteers in: CBHFA, use of water purification tablets, hygiene promotion and awareness of STDs and HIV/Aids, as well as training in nutritional screening for children. Approximately 5,558 people have been reached through awareness sessions. The NS has also partnered with WHO to deliver medicines to the Baroua health center on a monthly basis. The NS has also signed an MoU with WFP for distribution of food parcels to over 25,000 people monthly. In terms of water provision, one drill in Gagamari camp provides water to 16,000 people/day. Aquatabs(6.000) have been distributed to 500 communities.
In addition, implementation has been hampered because activities were suspended in February 2014 due to security deterioration in the zones of intervention. Activities not completed include screening of children, house to house visits for childhood nutrition, hygiene promotion, monthly community sanitization activities, community demonstrations for food preparation for children, nor any food security and livelihoods activities.

From the time this appeal was launched, population movements continue to be recorded and the context continues to change. Given this situation, and the delays due to security reasons, the operation will soon be revised and extended until Dec 2015.

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

In Nigeria, the presidential and governorship elections were held successfully despite the postponements. The National Electoral Commission had confirmed that the elections, which had been scheduled for 14 February 2015; would be postponed by six weeks until 28 March 2015 for the Presidential elections, and 11 April 2015 for the Governorship elections. Despite the government’s assurances that the elections will be held on the rescheduled date, there were indications from some quarters that they (elections) be shifted ahead again, however this was resisted by the opposition and civil society groups. Many international organizations including the United Nations (UN) had predicted violence related to the elections; the situation remained tense, and continued to evolve as the major political parties carried on with their campaigns to canvass for vote. It is important to report that though there was violence in some states, generally, the elections were conducted in a peaceful manner and this was confirmed by international bodies that monitored the elections. The new government will be inaugurated on 29 May 2015 to take over from the current government.

According to reports, as of 3 March 2015, more than 100 people had been killed, and 300 injured in the north eastern, north central and north western areas of the country following the detonation by suicide bombers of improvised explosive devices (IED) in markets and motor parks - with a minimum of three of these incidents occurring per week.

The leader of the Boko Haram had uploaded a video on YouTube indicating that the militant group would impede the upcoming elections and though the joint military forces has seen progress in their fight against them, communities in the north east have continued to be invaded by insurgents. In the Niger Delta, militant groups that had been relatively inactive following the issue of an amnesty and the election of the current President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) had warned of violence if he was not re-elected. It was also reported that there had been movements of residents between the North and South with some going to their states of origin to vote while others were fleeing for fear of election violence in states other than theirs. The idea of the ruling party and other pressure groups to deploy the military during the elections was opposed by the main opposition party and the Federal Legislators. It has been based on information Emergency Plan of Action operation update Nigeria: Civil Unrest (Election Preparedness) contained in an audio tape released on Ekiti state elections held l in 2014 where the rigging of the governorship elections was linked to the deployment of the military.

On 24 December 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released CHF 239,946 from the Disaster Relief and Emergency Fund (DREF) to ensure that the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) was prepared to meet the immediate needs of populations affected by election related violence if and when it should occur, with activities planned for a period of three months. On 10 March 2015, an Operations Update was issued to extend the timeframe by two months (New end date: 23 May 2015), following the decision of the National Electoral Commission to postpone the elections until 28 March 2015. An additional allocation of CHF 55,211 was also made to expand the activities planned into five (5) additional states (Benue, Gombe, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Niger).

This Operations Update is requesting an extension of timeframe of another one month; in order to carry out a DREF operational review/lessons learnt exercise. This has had to be postponed until the week commencing 14 June 2015 as the previous dates discussed coincided with the induction of new governance. The IFRC zone office and Nigeria country representation have developed a Terms of Reference; and team members have been identified from the IFRC zone emergency health, International Committee of Red Cross and potentially a representative from another West Coast National Society (Ghana Red Cross Society). The DREF operation will end on 23 June 2015, and a final report will be made available on 23 September 2015 (Three months after the end of the operation).

The major donors and partners of the DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the USA, as well as DG ECHO, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) the Medtronic, Zurich and Coca Cola Foundations and other corporate and private donors. Please refer to Operations Update n° 1 for progress on the activities carried out within this DREF operation.