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Cameroon: UNICEF Cameroon Humanitarian Situation Report, July 2016

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

Highlights

  • The number of internally displaced persons fleeing Nigeria crisis has doubled compared to the same period last year.

  • Since the beginning of 2016, 27,898 children under 5 (including 1,040 refugee children) have been admitted for therapeutic care for severe acute malnutrition (SAM)

  • 1,010 children unaccompanied and separated as a result of the CAR refugee crisis and the Nigeria crisis have been either placed in interim care and/or are receiving appropriate follow-up through UNICEF support.

  • The funding situation remains worrisome, placing constraints on delivering lifesaving activities. WASH, child protection, education, HIV and health remain the most underfunded sectors. Globally, only 23% of UNICEF’s 2016 appeal has been funded.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Cameroon continues to face three concurrent and often overlapping humanitarian emergencies. These include an ongoing nutrition crisis in the North and Far North, internal displacement and continued influx of refugees from Central African Republic in the East and Adamawa regions and from Nigeria in the Far North.

In the Far North region, 190,591 people, 61% of whom are children, have been internally displaced, 83% of whom have been displaced by the ongoing conflict with Boko Haram. More than 65,000 refugees from Nigeria have come across the border as a result of the conflict, with 4,063 new arrivals so far in 2016. 56,921 (87%) of the refugees live in Minawao camp.

As of April 2016, 259,145 refugees from CAR are living in sites and host communities throughout the East and Adamawa regions.

The refugees and displaced are coming into host communities with very limited resources and regions that are already facing an ongoing nutrition crisis as part of the Sahel. An estimated 61,262 children under 5 in Cameroon are expected to suffer from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2016 as a result of this ongoing crisis.


South Sudan: UNHCR South Sudan Factsheet - July 2016

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan

HIGHLIGHTS

65,421
Refugees received second hand clothes in Maban

17,040
Exercise books handedover to schools in Maban

1,000
IDP families received assistance at Don Bosco compound in Juba

140
Refugees and key actors received protection training from UNHCR

  • In the last week of July, UNHCR and partners resumed operations for asylum seekers and refugees in Juba after nearly 15 days of paralyzed services that followed July 8 violence, including the reopening of the reception centre at UNHCR office and a community centre in Gudele. During the crisis, UNHCR maintained close contact with refugees through a dedicated hotline.

  • On 19 August, UNHCR partner ACROSS regained access to Gorom settlement, 10 days after insecurity in Juba rendered it cut-­‐off. General food distribution took place on 28 July, after UNHCR’s negotiations with authorities to ensure safe passage for the food convoy dispatched from Juba.

  • In Juba, UNHCR continued to work with ACTED and Nonviolent Peace Force to receive IDPs relocating from UMISS Tomping to UN House. By the end of July, 115 out of 4,500 people were relocated. UNHCR in coordination with UNFPA began expanding SGBV programming for IDPs.

Population of concern

A total of 1.61 million IDPs
A total of 259,796 refugees

Funding

USD 275,668,213
Requested for comprehensive needs in 2016

USD 121,749,542
Needed for top priority activities in 2016

Nigeria: Polio this week as of 10 August 2016

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Source: Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Country: Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan

In Nigeria, wild poliovirus type one (WPV1) has been detected from Borno state. Virus was isolated from two local government areas (LGA) of Borno; in Gwoza LGAs, in a child with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP – onset of paralysis on 13 July) and close healthy contacts of that child; and in Jere from a close healthy contact of a child who had developed AFP symptoms on 6 July. Both cases are reported by ‘advanced notification’ this week and will be reflected in the official data next week.

It is the first WPV1 detected in Nigeria since July 2014. Genetic sequencing of the isolated viruses suggest they are most closely linked to WPV1 last detected in Borno in 2011, indicating the strain has been circulating without detection since that time.

An outbreak response plan is currently being finalized, consisting of three large-scale supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) with bivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV), the first one beginning within two weeks and subsequent rounds being conducted at short intervals (of between two to three weeks).

Nigeria: New polio cases in northeastern Nigeria underline risks for children in conflict - UNICEF

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: Nigeria

NEW YORK, 11 August 2016– The sobering news that two children have been paralyzed by wild poliovirus in northeastern Nigeria underscores the urgency of eradicating the disease in conflict-affected areas, UNICEF said today.

The Government of Nigeria and the World Health Organization have confirmed an outbreak of wild poliovirus in conflict-ridden Borno state, where children are already facing dangerously high levels of malnutrition. The two cases were discovered in parts of Borno that have recently become accessible, but large areas of the state remain unreachable.

Nigeria – and the continent – had its last confirmed polio case two years ago and was within a year of being certified polio-free, thanks to a massive mobilization by the government, partners and local health providers.

“We cannot deny the connection between conflict and the continued threat of polio. The two new cases mean children across the Lake Chad region are now at particular risk. With our partners, we will not stop until we reach every child with polio vaccination,” said UNICEF Polio Eradication Director Reza Hossaini.

The Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria, supported by WHO, UNICEF and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, are rolling out an emergency immunization campaign, starting in the accessible parts of Borno state.

Note to editors:

UNICEF is a partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, together with WHO, Rotary International, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. UNICEF supports community engagement and vaccine management and procurement.

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

For further information, please contact:

Doune Porter, UNICEF Abuja, Mobile: +234 803 525 0273 Email: dporter@unicef.org

Rita Ann Wallace, UNICEF New York, Tel: +1 212 326-7586; Mobile: +1 917 213-4034; rwallace@unicef.org

Mali: Clashes Stall Aid in Northern Mali

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Source: Voice of America
Country: Mali

By Katarina Hoije

BAMAKO — Recent clashes in northern and central Mali are hampering the deployment of humanitarian assistance, leaving vulnerable populations with limited or no access to health care, food, water and shelter.

While non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, can access most areas, banditry and continued attacks on roads slow down operations while posing a threat to humanitarian staff, says Badjougue Dambele, humanitarian coordinator for Oxfam.

“The security situation remains extremely volatile,” he said. “Following the signing of the peace agreement last year, we were hoping for an improvement. Instead, we saw the situation deteriorate with clashes erupting not only in Kidal, but in other regions as well."

The conflict between the northern separatist and pro-government militias has fractured into inter-communal violence.

Last year, the number of hostile incidents targeting aid organizations increased threefold compared to the previous year, according to the U.N. humanitarian office OCHA.

Radical groups use improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, to mine roads, and while they are mainly targeting Malian and international troops, they limit access for NGOs as well.

Food is also regularly stolen, mostly by bandits. Criminality is the biggest risk for humanitarian agencies operating in the region, says Muriel Tschopp, country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

"We are targeted very regularly for car theft and so on,” Tschopp said. “It's usually non-violent, but it makes operations difficult."

Violence

Since July 21 in the far northern town of Kidal, fighting between groups loyal to the Bamako government and separatists killed more than 30 people and injured 82 others.

A week earlier, violent protests in the northern city of Gao killed at least two civilians. The protests mirrored some of the population's disappointment with authorities over the lack of improvement since 2013, when the north was retaken from occupying Islamist militants.

These are also the regions with the most vulnerable populations, says Côme Niyongabo of Doctors Without Borders, or MSF.

Food insecurity is chronic. And as this lean season wraps up ahead of the next harvest, close to one-third of the population in northern Mali is struggling to have enough to eat.

"When the fighting broke out in Kidal, we had just started a malaria prophylaxsis campaign for children under five years,” Niyongabo said. “The violence forced us to stop our operations and focus on treating injured."

Interference

While MSF has resumed operations, NGOs working in the Kidal and Menaka regions that are largely controlled by armed groups say they are constantly forced to negotiate access to villages and vulnerable communities, slowing down operations.

"Imagine you have an injured person in a village that needs to be evacuated and you have to negotiate access before going into that village,” said Barthélémy Brou Saouré of the International Committee of the Red Cross. “In that case, the insecurity does not only affect us, but also the people we are here to help."

In urban centers, such as Gao and Timbuktu, the situation has improved.

However, continued insecurity outside the cities prevents NGOs from addressing poverty and other long-term issues, such as unemployment.

And funding for emergency response in Mali has continued to fall since 2013. Current funding covers only one-third of the activities in the humanitarian response plan for Mali in 2016, according to OCHA.

South Sudan: South Sudan: Drifting far away from its own children, is there any hope for its young people?

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Source: Save the Children
Country: South Sudan

By Emmanuel Kenyi

Today the world celebrates International Youth Day but South Sudan is on the brink of losing its entire young population. Engulfed by violent conflict, South Sudanese children are now forced to make desperate journeys to find safety instead of attending school. Since 2013, 1.61 million people have been internally displaced over 720,000 refugees in neighbouring countries.

The country has surely turned its back to its children, more than 900,000 children, have been displaced in the country, with 1.8 million children, or 51 per cent of school-age children out of school, making South Sudan a country with the highest proportion of out-of-school children in the world.

Reports suggest an estimated 16,000 children had been recruited by armed groups between 2013 and 2015. With the recent outbreak of fighting in Juba and other areas this number could be much more. South Sudan has great potential to grow owing to its large youth population but this depends on how it treats its children. Mandela was also known for his deep love of children. In his speech at a ‘National Men’s March’ in 1997, Late Nelson Mandela said, “…our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation.” Mandela’s words speak directly to the plight of vulnerable children in war-ravaged South Sudan today, where UNICEF described the violence against children by armed groups as “unspeakable”.

I had a chance to visit the UN Protection of Civilian (POC) sites housing over 38,000 internally displaced people in Juba after the recent violent conflict and a father came to us and showed us an empty plate saying in a loud voice repeatedly “we want food and medicines, our children are dying.” Around the camp children are not going to school and the only thing they can do is to gather in one tent and pretend they are in class and sing and play for hours before returning to their tents.

Finally what killed my spirit was to see a group of children between 3-6 years old molding different types of guns, helicopter gunships, Land Cruisers mounted with machineguns tanks and soldiers shooting their guns, made out of mud. I asked myself where is the future of my country? If my young brothers and sisters are molding guns instead of going to school.

Kuany* 20 years told me “I have not seen life out of the POC since I came in this camp in 2013. I don’t know what is going on out there; I don’t know how long I am going to stay here. I cannot go to school and interact with my friends out there.”

Peace must be found, guns must go silent. The world must come to our rescue otherwise there will be no one to fly the flag of South Sudan in the future. The children of South Sudan are battling many fronts, violence, forced displacement, hunger, diseases and a lack of education.

The children of South Sudan are bearing the heavy burden created by their own parents and this should not be a death sentence for what is not their own making, the world must act now.

Call to action

  • Guns must go silent and the country must immediately implement the peace agreement to allow children to return to school and begin their childhood
  • Increased funding to allow humanitarian assistance to the affected population
  • An end to all forms of violence against children, including forced recruitment into armed groups, and the occupation and closure of schools

World: Food Assistance Outlook Brief August 2016

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, World, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

PROJECTED FOOD ASSISTANCE NEEDS FOR FEBRUARY 2017

This brief summarizes FEWS NET’s most forward-looking analysis of projected emergency food assistance needs in FEWS NET coverage countries. The projected size of each country’s acutely food insecure population (IPC Phase 3 and higher) is compared to last year and the recent five-year average and categorized as Higher, Similar, or Lower. Countries where external emergency food assistance needs are anticipated are identified. Projected lean season months highlighted in red indicate either an early start or an extension to the typical lean season. Additional information is provided for countries with large food insecure populations, an expectation of high severity, or where other key issues warrant additional discussion. Analytical confidence is lower in remote monitoring countries, denoted by “RM”. Visit www.fews.net for detailed country reports.

Niger: Niger HRP 2016: Funding Status as of 12 August 2016

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Niger


Nigeria: Nigeria: 2016 Humanitarian assistance overview (as of 29 July 2016)

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Nigeria

Since 2009, the North-East Nigeria continues to face attacks on civilians by Boko Haram that cause death, displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and violation of civilians’ rights. The crisis is directly affecting more than 14.8 million people in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe States. Out of affected population, 7 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 2.2 million displaced people, 1.8 million people in host community and 3 million people living in areas that have been inaccessible for most of 2015 have unknown needs. The humanitarian community targets 3.9 million people for humanitarian assistance in 2016.

HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

  • 7 million people are suffering from the extreme consequences of armed conflict including abuse and violation of civilians’ rights, displacement, deprivation and disease.

  • With poor rains, lack of access to agricultural land and limited market access, food insecurity and malnutrition are on the rise. Over 8 million people are estimated food insecure. Of them 3.9 million people require urgent food assistance.

  • 2.2 million IDPs are living in makeshift shelters in overcrowded and poorly resourced camps or with friends and relatives. Over 80% of these IDPs live in host communities where space and resources are overstretched and belongings worn out from protracted displacement.

  • Reaching the most vulnerable communities with humanitarian assistance remains severely constrained in 26 LGAs, where the needs of approximately 3 million people can only be speculated.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

  • Deliver coordinated and integrated life-saving assistance to people affected by emergencies.

  • Track and analyse risk and vulnerability,integrating findings into humanitarian and development programming.

  • Support vulnerable populations to better cope with shocks by responding earlier to warning signals, by reducing post-crisis recovery times and by building capacity of national actors.

South Sudan: Funding lags as more flee South Sudan

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda

Relief operations in countries hosting South Sudanese refugees are overstretched, and critically underfunded, as refugee population edges toward 1 million.

ADJUMANI, Uganda – When gunmen stormed her village in South Sudan, shooting at random and harassing residents, Regina and her disabled son ran for their lives.

“They came to my house and told me they would shoot me if I didn’t give them what we had,” said Regina. “It took us four days to come to Uganda through the bush without food.”

The 58-year-old is among more than 100,000 South Sudanese who have fled to neighbouring countries, including Uganda and Sudan, since fighting erupted in the capital, Juba, in early July. Sporadic violence and worsening food insecurity has been reported in other parts of the country which were previously calm.

The recent unrest appears to have tipped the scales against an imminent political solution to the South Sudan conflict and exacerbated the refugee crisis, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has warned.

“It was widely reported that that the situation in the country is now characterized by sporadic armed clashes, human rights violations including increasing trends of sexual and gender-based violence by uniformed actors, and worsening food insecurity all of which are inflicting untold human suffering on civilians,” UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told a news briefing in Geneva today.

Edwards stressed that general security conditions inside South Sudan remain unpredictable, with renewed clashes reported in Central and Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and parts of Unity. He noted that the situation is compounded by a deteriorating economy, with inflation rising to an unprecedented 600 per cent over the past year.

The deepening crisis raises the prospect that the South Sudanese refugee population will reach 1 million in the coming months. If current displacement trends continue, countries hosting them will be increasingly strained, as operations are critically underfunded.

“The situation in the country is now characterized by sporadic armed clashes and human rights violations.”

Uganda and Sudan have received an estimated 110,000 and 100,000 new arrivals respectively in 2016, together accounting for more than 90 per cent of the 229,000 new arrivals recorded this year.

Most of the 100,000 who fled to Sudan arrived in the first half of the year, driven away by fighting in previously stable areas in Western Bahr al Ghazal state, as well as the worsening food insecurity situation. Another 1.61 million people remain displaced within South Sudan.

Uganda has received more than 75,000 refugees since the outbreak of conflict in July, when the arrival rate peaked at more than 8,000 in one day. Ninety per cent of those fleeing are women and children, mostly from Juba and other parts of Central Equatoria.

Accounts from new arrivals point to a breakdown in law and order in their home areas. Refugees cite clashes between government forces and armed groups as well as killings, abductions of children and sexual assault against women. Some reaching Uganda also report that armed groups are robbing civilians and extorting money from them, preventing those who are unable to pay from leaving.

“We tried to go to Uganda, but people were on the road robbing people’s money. We gave them our money and they let us cross,” said Jokino, 50, a refugee from Juba who recently reached Adjumani, a town in northern Uganda. “I am worried that… peace will not return to [South] Sudan for a long time.”

Funding Critical

With the South Sudanese refugee population now at 930,000 and rising daily, UNHCR is facing critical funding shortages.

“UNHCR is extremely worried that even as the number of South Sudanese refugees rises, funds to meet basic needs are becoming exhausted,” Edwards told reporters at the Palais des Nations.

The UN Refugee Agency has only received 20 per cent of the US$ 608.8 million needed for refugees in South Sudan and the six countries of asylum this year. Many activities have been suspended in favour of providing critical life-saving support to new arrivals.

Worst affected are remote regions within Uganda, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic where UNHCR had no previous presence. Ethiopia and Sudan, which have experienced mass influxes, are also badly affected.

UNHCR is appealing to the international community to support countries of asylum to protect and assist South Sudanese refugees in their greatest time of need.

“Continuing funding shortages will further disadvantage women, children and men who need urgent sustained support to overcome the trauma of forced displacement and get on the path to recovery, self-reliance and human dignity,” Edwards said.

“Funding shortages will further disadvantage (those) who need urgent sustained support to overcome trauma.”

“The inability to provide food, shelter, basic services, psycho-social assistance, education and livelihood opportunities will condemn refugees to a prolonged vulnerable existence,” he added.

To meet urgent needs of newly arrived refugees, the Government of Uganda has opened a new settlement in Yumbe, in the north-west of the country, with capacity for more than 100,000 people. Funds are urgently needed to expedite the relocation of more than 45,000 refugees from overstretched and severely congested reception and transit centres.

Edwards stressed that with so many people now living in such close proximity, the potential for an outbreak of disease is high. UNHCR teams are monitoring the situation closely, but are in need of further resources to respond effectively.

High numbers of refugees are also creating a disproportionate burden on local health and education services. The development of Maaji III settlement, which opened earlier this year, has been put on hold, leaving the new settlement without key basic infrastructure and services. Medical services are being provided in tents.

In Adjumani, clean water is being trucked in at great expensive until resources become available to drill more boreholes and extend water systems to reach new settlement areas.

At the same time, the development of newly opened settlement areas in Adjumani and Yumbe districts will require significant additional investment. Torrential rains are hampering relief efforts, slowing down relocation efforts and requiring immediate road repairs.

World: Sahel Crisis 2016: Funding Status as of 12 August 2016

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Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, World

South Sudan: South Sudan situation: Regional Emergency update 1 – 7 August 2016

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda

KEY FIGURES

83,714 * South Sudanese arrivals since 8 July 2016, based on field reports

933,506* Total South Sudanese refugees as of 31 July (both pre Dec 2013 caseload and new arrivals)

973,000 Total South Sudanese expected by 31 December 2016 (RRP Planning Figure)

264,204 Refugees in South Sudan

1.61 M Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in South Sudan

FUNDING (as of 02 August)

USD 608.8 M Requested by UNHCR for the situation

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The political and security situation inside South Sudan remains fluid and unpredictable. UNHCR continues to provide assistance in Juba as the situation allows, and other areas of operation remain functional.

  • A total of 83,714 refugees have fled South Sudan since 8 July, including 69,215 into Uganda.

UPDATE ON THE SITUATION

SOUTH SUDAN

  • The general security situation remains fluid and unpredictable across the country. On 5 August, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) announced that South Sudan has agreed to a new international protection force, though details regarding the timeline, size and mandate remain unclear.

  • UNHCR joined the Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Stephen O’Brien, on his visit to Wau and Aweil. The ERC concluded his three day mission to South Sudan on 3 August, calling on all parties to uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians, as well as highlighting the acute food insecurity and malnutrition crisis facing the country, the ongoing commitment of humanitarian works to provide life-saving assistance and protection, and the need for further support from donors.

  • In Juba, humanitarian partners, including the UNHCR IDP team, continue with the humanitarian relocations of IDPs from UNMISS Tomping to UN House, with 203 transferred so far. UNHCR continues its daily protection monitoring activities at both sites.

  • In Juba, UNHCR continues to assist asylum seekers and refugees at the reception centre and through the hotline. Of those approaching UNHCR for help, the vast majority are requesting documentation.

  • In Yambio, Western Equatoria, UNHCR transported 24.1 tons of WFP food to Makpandu settlement, in order to preposition food supplies for some 3,700 refugees for the period August to December 2016.

  • In Wau, Western Bahr al Ghazal, the government announced the imminent reopening of primary and secondary schools, including John Paul School, which is currently hosting thousands of IDPs. UNHCR together with NRC, ACTED and representatives of the church met with the school administration to advocate for peaceful co-existence between IDPs and students and to look for alternative accommodation space within the comp

Niger: 14 killed, 46,000 left homeless in Niger floods

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Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Niger

Niamey, Niger | AFP | Friday 8/12/2016 - 16:53 GMT

At least 14 people have died in flooding in Niger since June with more than 46,000 left homeless after heavy rains, especially in arid desert regions, the government said Friday.

The figures update a previous toll given by the United Nations at the end of July, of 11 dead and 30,000 homeless.

Most of the victims and damage has been in the desert areas of Tahoua, in the west, and Agadez in the north.

"The floods in several locations of the country have led to 14 deaths, five injured and 46,296 disaster victims," according to a government statement read on official television.

Local authorities said several children, who had drowned or been crushed by collapsing buildings, were among the victims.

Niger authorities say they have sent food aid to those in need and that non-food aid is on its way.

More than 19,500 cows, goats, sheep and camels have also perished in the two worst-hit areas, as well as hundreds of acres of land devastated, the UN said at the end last month, citing local authority figures.

Niger is in the midst of its annual rainy season, having struggled to overcome a severe food crisis caused by drought.

In early June, the UN warned that flooding could affect 100,000 people in the poor desert country by the end of the year.

In 2015, as many as 103,000 people were left homeless by floods that claimed the lives of tens of victims.

bh/kjm/har

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

World: Global Weather Hazards Summary, August 12-18, 2016

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, World

Flooding risks remain over East and West Africa, while Central America remains drier than normal

Africa Weather Hazards

  1. Following a week of more seasonable rainfall, above-average rainfall since July has led to very high rainfall surpluses throughout much of Sudan, South Sudan, and western Ethiopia. Above-average rainfall is forecast to continue over western Ethiopia, which is likely to further increase water levels in the Nile and Al Gash Rivers and worsen the potential for flooding over many downstream areas of eastern Sudan during the next week.

  2. Torrential, heavy rainfall during the last week has triggered multiple floods that have displaced populations and damaged infrastructure and food stocks in the Darfur States of Sudan.

  3. Increased locust populations in Yemen are forecast to migrate across the Red Sea into parts of Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Djibouti during August.

  4. Heavy and frequent rain over the past several weeks has led to substantial rainfall surpluses and flooding over over many local areas of West Africa. During the next week, above-average rainfall is forecast, which will further increase the risk of flooding.

  5. Heavy rainfall in July over parts of Senegal, Mali, and southern Mauritania has led to the potential for increased numbers of locusts, which may negatively impact cropping activities.

Central Asia Weather Hazards No hazards posted.

Central America and the Caribbean Weather Hazards

  1. Very poor rainfall performance over the past several weeks has resulted in rapidly growing rainfall deficits in eastern provinces of the Dominican Republic. Declining vegetation index values indicate a recent negative response of ground conditions due to the lack of rain.

  2. Poorly distributed rainfall over the past several weeks has strengthened moisture deficits and led to abnormal dryness throughout portions of Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Damaged crops have already been reported over many local areas, including the Huehuetenango, Quiché, Sololá, Totonicapán, and El Progreso Departments of Guatemala.

South Sudan: South Sudan Access Constraints Map (as of 12 August 2016)

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Source: World Food Programme, Logistics Cluster
Country: South Sudan


Nigeria: Nigeria: Food Security Outlook - August 2016

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Source: Famine Early Warning System Network
Country: Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria

Boko Haram conflict continues to drive Emergency food insecurity in Lake Chad Region

Key Messages

  • In northern and central Borno as well as south-eastern Yobe, households in newly liberated areas as well as in areas with active military operations face severely limited access to food. Levels of malnutrition are critical and populations face a substantially increased risk of mortality. These areas are classified as Emergency (IPC Phase 4). Outcomes are likely worse in conflict-affected areas that are inaccessible to humanitarians. Information from these areas is limited but suggests that Famine (IPC Phase 5) is possible. In the absence of significant assistance delivery, these conditions are unlikely to improve in the scenario period.

  • Violence and fatalities in the Lake Chad region have declined since early 2016, improving access to trade routes, facilitating increased humanitarian access, and allowing some IDPs to return to their homesteads. However, despite these improvements an estimated 3.1 million people across the northeast still lack access to adequate food given limited livelihood opportunities, little to no harvests during the past three cropping seasons, and atypically high food prices. As a result, even outside of areas of active conflict, most households in Borno and Yobe states will be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) through at least September.

  • The depreciation of the Nigerian Naira continues to drive increasing food and fuel prices across the country, with the inflation rate increasing from 15.6 percent in May to 16.5 percent in June. The floating of the Naira in late June is not expected to slow the depreciation of the currency through the scenario period. These high prices are restricting purchasing power of many poor households across the country, particularly during the lean season when they are reliant on markets.

  • Widespread flooding has been reported by Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHAS) along the Benue and Niger rivers, the confluence at Lokoja, and at convergence areas into the Atlantic Ocean in the Niger Delta area. Peak rainfall occurs during July and August across the country with rains continuing through October. The incidence of flooding is expected to be above average this year and is expected to lead to population displacement, infrastructure damage, loss of crop land, and likely below average main season harvests in affected areas.

South Sudan: UNICEF South Sudan Juba Humanitarian Crisis SitRep #13 – 12 August 2016

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Source: UN Children's Fund
Country: South Sudan

Highlights

• The cumulative number of cholera cases has now passed the thousand mark, with 1,036 cases. Approximately 100,000 people have now been reached by public announcements of key cholera messages.

• So far 1,345 individuals have benefited from house-to-house visits including psychological first aid, information about gender-based violence response services, and referrals for survivors.

Humanitarian Overview

Cholera remains a critical concern in Juba. A total of 1,036 cholera cases have been reported as of 11 August. However, no additional deaths have been reported since 4 August, with a total of 22 deaths to date. As a result, the case fatality rate is decreasing, at approximately 2.1%. In Juba, the average case fatality rate has considerably decreased and is now at to 0.97%, reflecting better case management and prompt referral of cases for treatment.

Summary Analysis of Programme Response

CHOLERA RESPONSE: UNICEF continues to work with partners to respond to the cholera outbreak. On 12 August, a UNICEF team, with support from partner Health Link South Sudan, undertook a targeted cholera intervention in Gumbo, which has been particularly affected by the outbreak. As part of the intervention in Gumbo, 403 households were reached by hygiene promotion messages, and provided with supplies including soap for handwashing, water purification tablets, and oral rehydration salts.

Awareness raising continues in an effort to prevent the further spread of cholera. Sixteen radio channels, including three with nationwide coverage, continue to broadcast daily cholera messages, reaching up to 2 million people per day. Public announcements are taking place four hours per day in different hotspots around Juba town; as of 9 August, approximately 100,000 people have been reached. In parallel, posters and banners have been set up in hotspots areas. A health education booklet has been developed to brief out-going patients on preventive and life-saving measures of cholera.

Kenya: UNHCR Kenya Kakuma Operational Update, 01 - 31 July 2016

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Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Kenya, South Sudan

KEY FIGURES

48,868
South Sudanese refugees received since December 2013.

10,691
New arrivals that have been registered since January 2016

1,025
Unaccompanied children in Kakuma Camp.

92
Number of refugees that have voluntarily returned to Somalia

21
Litres of water provided per person

3,191
Number of refugees and asylum seekers settled at Kalobeyei

FUNDING

USD 226.7M
Requested for the Kenya operation

USD 60M
Requested for Kakuma operation

PRIORITIES

  • Movement of new arrivals from Nadapal transit centre to Kakuma

  • Monitoring of new arrivals trend

  • Development of Kalobeyei settlement

  • Monitoring of malaria & watery diarrhea

  • Maintenance of roads and water network

HIGHLIGHTS

  • As at 31 July 2016, Kakuma had received 48,868* refugees from South Sudan since the start of the influx in December 2013. The South Sudanese account for 54% of the overall camp population consisting of 152,253* registered refugees and asylum seekers.

  • Since the break-out of violence on 7 July 2016, UNHCR SO Kakuma has received and registered 409 refugees as of 31 July, bringing the total number of registered new South Sudanese arrivals in July to 524. However, as of 31 July, an additional 596 were pending registration due to an electrical problem which prevented their registration in July. This brings the total number of new arrivals from South Sudan for the month, including both registered and unregistered, to 1,120 individuals.

  • In July, UNHCR organized two Voluntary Repatriation (VolRep) return flights of 64 Somalis returning to Somalia from Kakuma. The first flight was on 19 July which facilitated the return of 30 individuals to Mogadishu, and the second was on 21 July with 34 individuals returning to Baidoa. Thus far, 92 refugees have returned to Somalia by air through the VolRep programme from Kakuma. To date, some 300 Somalis have expressed interest in returning this year. There are twelve areas in Southern central Somalia that are deemed safe for return as well as districts in Somalia.

  • On 4 July, the Somali Ambassador to Kenya visited Kakuma accompanied by UNHCR Deputy Representative, Wella Kouyou. The Ambassador met with Somali refugee leaders and visited Mogadishu Secondary School.

  • The American National Broadcasting Company (NBC) crew visited Kakuma on the 11th and 12th of July for follow-up and filming of five refugees selected for 2016 Rio Olympics. UNHCR in collaboration with Film Aid International will screen the RIO Olympics in the camp for the refugees and asylum-seekers from 5-25 August 2016.

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Nigeria: New Boko Haram video of alleged Chibok girls

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Source: Agence France-Presse
Country: Nigeria

Kano, Nigeria | AFP | Sunday 8/14/2016 - 12:53 GMT

by Aminu ABUBAKAR with Stephanie FINDLAY in Lagos

Boko Haram on Sunday released a new video purportedly showing some of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by the jihadist group from Chibok more than two years ago.

The film was issued just days after embattled Boko Haram head Abubakar Shekau denied claims that he had been replaced as the leader of the Nigeria-based group.

The kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014 provoked global outrage and brought unprecedented attention to Boko Haram and its bloody quest to create a fundamentalist state in northeastern Nigeria.

A man whose face was covered by a turban in the video called on the Nigerian government to release Boko Haram prisoners in exchange for the girls.

"They should know that their children are still in our hands," he said in the film posted on YouTube.

While President Muhammadu Buhari has said the group is "technically defeated", his government has struggled to find the girls, an enduring political embarrassment that highlights Boko Haram's continued presence in the region.

The video was attributed to the original Boko Haram name, not the new Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), suggesting it was released by Shekau's faction, although it is not known when it was filmed.

"There are a number of the girls, about 40 of them, that have been married," said the man in the 11-minute video, which shows girls with veils sitting on the ground and standing in the background.

"Some of them have died as a result of aerial bombardment."

A girl speaking in the Chibok dialect chokes back tears as she describes an aerial attack by Nigerian armed forces.

In the background, several girls look visibly distressed and dab their eyes as she recounts the raids. One is holding a small baby.

"They should immediately release our brethren in their custody," the man said, threatening that if the prisoners are not released that the Nigerian government will never be able to rescue the girls.

'Sense of desperation'

"This focuses on using the girls as a bargaining chip," Ryan Cummings, director at intelligence firm Signal Risk, told AFP.

"The video shows that the war effort is hurting the operations of the group," he said. "It does have a sense of almost desperation from Boko Haram."

In the hours that followed the April 2014 mass kidnap, dozens of girls managed to escape.

Of the 219 still missing, just one was found, Amina Ali, in May this year near the Sambisa Forest area of Borno, a known Boko Haram hideout.

Last week, Boko Haram's leader Shekau appeared in a video vowing to fight on, amid a leadership scuffle between him and new Islamic State-backed rival Abu Musab al-Barnawi.

Barnawi has criticised Shekau's indiscriminate and brutal leadership in Nigeria that has seen Boko Haram fighters kill thousands of people in mosques and markets and raze entire cities to the ground.

In March 2015, Shekau pledged allegience to the Islamic State and changed Boko Haram's name to ISWAP, prompting fears that the Nigerian insurgency would be bolstered by its connection to the international jihadist organisation.

Yet despite the official link, there have been few signs since the announcement that Boko Haram has benefited from the alliance, as the Nigerian military recaptures territory once controlled by the insurgents.

'Heartbreaking'

Over the past year, the Nigerian military announced the rescue of hundreds of people, most of them women and children, who have been kidnapped by Boko Haram.

But the missing Chibok schoolgirls were not among them, despite several unconfirmed sightings.

Abubakar Abdullahi, a spokesman for the Bring Back Our Girls movement, told AFP he had seen the video and that one of the girls has been identified.

"One of our members has recognised a girl. We are still in the process of confirming a few of the girls," Abdullahi said from Nigeria's capital Abuja.

Abdullahi said it was "heartbreaking" to see the video.

"We've always believed they will be back, but it's also painful," he said, criticising the Nigerian government for being unable to rescue the girls.

"The frustration will always be there. We failed them on so many instances," Abdullahi said.

"It's unbelievable that this can happen, that we haven't been able to make progress after 853 days."

Boko Haram has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths and displacing more than 2.6 million people since it launched a brutal insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 that has since spread into several neighbouring countries.

abu-sf/txw

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

Mali: Une ferme agricole pour accroitre la résilience des jeunes à Gao

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Source: UN Radio
Country: Mali

Écouter / Télécharger

Dans le but d'accroître les capacités de résilience de la jeunesse de Gao et réduire leur enrôlement par les mouvements armés, le bureau régional de la Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation au Mali (MINUSMA) à Gao vient de financer, à hauteur de plus de 25 millions de FCA, une ferme agricole, en faveur de l'Association « Jeunes pour le développement de l'agriculture, pêche et élevage » .

Cette ferme intégrée realisera des activités de maraîchage, de pisciculture et d’aviculture.

Les jeunes bénéficiaires se réjouissent de ce projet qui va, non seulement les occuper utilement, mais va aussi augmenter et diversifier des produits alimentaires sur le marché de Gao. Ces jeunes pourront ainsi contribuer à la production locale.

Un reportage de Odette Kwizera; avec des extraits sonores de Kalifa Oumar, vice-président de l'Association des jeunes pour le développement de l'agriculture, la pêche et l'élevage; Aboubacrine Bouheinata, Président du conseil régional de la jeunesse de Gao. Narcisse Dongar, Officier des Affaires Civiles du bureau régional de la MINUSMA

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