Category: APO-OPA

DUBLIN, Ireland, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, has announced that Ireland is dispatching tents, blankets, and other vital supplies to assist refugees in Cameroon who have fled the violence in the Central African Republic. The stocks will be distributed by Plan Ireland.

The airlift, worth almost €200,000, is being sent from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Accra, Ghana, where Irish Aid pre-positions supplies for use in global emergencies.

The supplies are in addition to more than €3 million in funding so far in 2014 to support UN agencies and NGO partners to provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and education to the most vulnerable people in the Central African Republic.

Minister Costello said:

“I continue to be gravely concerned about the impact that the violence is having on the civilian population, in particular the plight of refugees who have fled to Cameroon. This situation demands a determined response from the international community. This contribution of stocks will help alleviate the suffering of those forced to flee their home country.

“The World Food Programme and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have said up to 2,000 people a week have been crossing into neighboring Cameroon, many of them wounded in sectarian clashes and suffering from malnutrition after weeks hiding in the bush. Last Wednesday, the United Nations food aid and refugee agencies appealed for funds to cope with a growing humanitarian crisis in Cameroon caused by thousands of refugees fleeing the Central African Republic.”

The UN estimates that there are almost 557,000 people displaced within Central African Republic. Some 2.5 million people are in immediate need of humanitarian assistance and the entire population of 4.6 million has been affected by the ongoing crisis.

The Minister also condemned the recent attacks on humanitarian agencies in the Central African Republic:

“Ireland condemns in the strongest possible terms recent attacks on humanitarian personnel as they seek to deliver lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable populations. It is vital that all parties respect International humanitarian law; that civilians are protected; and that humanitarian access is provided for UN agencies and NGOs working in CAR and neighbouring countries.”

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Some African Heads of State and Government, and high level private sector leaders are meeting in Dakar, Senegal from 14 to15 June 2014 in what has been dubbed the “Dakar Financing Summit.”The summit is aimed at accelerating the implementation of priority regional infrastructural development projects.

Meeting under the aegis of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the summit is being hosted and officially presided over by H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC).

President MackySallwill be joined by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Dr. Carlos Lopes; the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Donald Kaberuka and others who will deliver statements and make presentations.

To press the integration agenda, Dr. Dlamini Zuma is expected to call for more domestic resource mobilization and increased private-sector support for the 16 identified projects in transport, rail, ports, energy, and ICT, to be show-cased in Dakar, being key to leveraging regional integration.

Among other presentations, Dr. Donald Kaberuka of the African Development Bank will present the Africa50 Investment vehicle to accelerate infrastructural development financing, amongst others.

The Dakar Financing Summit will issue the Dakar Declaration on “Financing for Africa’s Infrastructure Development”.

NEW YORK, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the situation in Libya and stresses the imp…

DAKAR, Sénégal, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, attended the ministerial meeting on security in Nigeria convened today by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Mr. William Hague.

Mr. Djinnit deplored that while efforts are made to seek the safe release of the abducted school girls from Chibok, more innocent civilians are being killed and many more others are being displaced as a result of Boko Haram acts.

He stressed that while urging the Nigerian Government to redouble efforts for the safe release of these girls and to address insecurity in North-eastern Nigeria, the United Nations is committed to supporting its efforts in this regard. He further noted that the UN is ready to support the efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Human Rights Commission as part of their Integrated Support Package (ISP) to Nigeria. This package includes also short, medium and long term support primarily for the abducted girls when they will be released and for the families, as well as the communities in general. The ISP also touches on areas such as education, health, water supply and livelihoods in general.

SRSG Djinnit noted that Nigeria ha! s been playing a pivotal role in promoting regional peace and security, and the United Nations is committed to its stability and the consolidation of its democratic achievements. He welcomed the support provided by partner countries, including on strengthening regional response against the activities of Boko Haram in the entire Lake Chad area.

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Mashood Adebayo Baderin, will visit the Sudan from 15 to 24 June 2014 to follow-up on his previous recommendations*, and identify areas of technical assistance and capacity building which will help the country fulfil its human rights obligations.

“Since my last visit in February 2014, there have been some notable human rights issues in the country that have attracted considerable international concerns,” Mr. Baderin said, announcing his fifth mission to Sudan.

“I will use the opportunity of this visit to engage with the government and other stakeholders on those human rights issues and also evaluate the progress made so far by the government to improve its human rights practices generally,” he added.

During his ten-day mission, the human rights expert will travel to Khartoum, South Darfur, as well as Blue Nile and Kassala states, where he will meet with Government officials, civil society actors, humanitarian organisations and UN agencies. Mr. Baderin has also requested to visit several prisons.

At the conclusion of his visit on Tuesday 24 June, the Independent Expert will hold a press conference at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Office in Khartoum at 1:00 pm

Mr. Baderin will present his findings and recommendations in a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2014.

(*) Check the latest reports by the Independent Expert: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=95&m=172

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Journalists are invited to participate in a joint Press Conference on Monday 16th June, 2014, at 09:50 in the Briefing Room 1 of the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Joint Press Conference is jointly organized by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) and partners on children rights.

The Press Conference will be adressed by:

1. Pr. Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Chairperson ACERWC

2. Mr. Nigel Chapman , Plan International Chief Executive Officer

3. Mr. Mathias Weyessa, Head of Education in Save the Children Ethiopia

4. Miriam Mwaykonde, child from Tanzania

BACKGROUND: On 16 June every year, the African Union celebrates the Day of the African Child (DAC), in commemoration of the 1976 protests by school children in Soweto, South Africa. The students protested against an education designed to further the purposes of the apartheid regime. In 1991, the African Union Assembly passed a resolution designating 16 June as a Day for the celebration of the African child. Since 2008, the African Committee of Experts (ACERWC) has been vested with the mandate of identifying themes for commemoration of the DAC. During its 21st Session, the Committee of Experts deliberated upon and adopted the theme “A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa” as the DAC theme for 2014. Significantly, the theme of 2014 DAC was drawn from consultations with children in the region which were conducted with the help of partners to the Committee.

Media representatives are invited to cover the Opening ceremony at 09:00 on Monday 16 June. A Press Conference will take place immediately after the Opening.

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An international contractor working at UNAMID, Mr. Irfan Jaffery, abducted in El Fasher, North Darfur, on 11 March, was freed yesterday in Kabkabiya, after 94 days in captivity.

The contractor, a national of India, was immediately taken to the Mission’s hospital in Elfasher for medical checks. Mr. Jaffery appears to be unharmed and in good health. He will be flown to Khartoum and back to his home country as soon as possible.

The African Union – United Nations Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed the Mission’s gratitude to the Government of Sudan, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services, the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur, and the Government of India for their valuable assistance in the safe release of Mr. Jaffery.

On 11 March, at approximately 20:00 hours local time, Mr. Jaffery was walking with a colleague in a residential area in El Fasher when he was taken by a group of armed men.

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM this week organized a regional dialogue in Jordan, hosted by the Jordanian government, entitled: “Creating a Middle East and North Africa Protection Framework for Trafficked Persons and Exploited Migrants: A Regional Dialogue on Sharing Promising Practices on Protection”.

The three-day meeting, which ended yesterday at a Dead Sea resort, brought together senior government counter trafficking officials from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Kuwait to share their experiences of protecting trafficked persons and exploited migrants.

The objective of the dialogue – the first of two such events – was to initiate discussions on the development of a regional framework for protecting victims in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It took stock of best practices, challenges and lessons learned.

Recommendations included enhanced protection measures for victims of trafficking and exploited labor migrants and the need for collaborative efforts across the region through targeted and coordinated actions. Governments recognized the need for a regional approach to ensure an efficient and effective victim-centered response.

The dialogue is part of an IOM regional project: “Action to Protect and Assist Vulnerable and Exploited Migrant Workers in the Middle East and North Africa (PAVE),” funded by the European Union. It aims to contribute to the broadest protection of migrant workers against exploitation and human trafficking in the five countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

The PAVE project includes six main activities: capacity building for frontline actors; regional dialogues; study visits; targeted victim assistance; awareness-raising on migrant rights and abuses; and research and analysis. Activities are implemented through engaging with civil society actors, government officials, migrants and the general public. The European Union contributes 80 per cent of the total EUR 1.7 million project budget.

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM in coordination with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is supporting the relocation of 2,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the existing protection of civilians (PoC) site at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Malakal, Upper Nile State, to a new adjacent site that can accommodate up to 10,000 people in 1,065 tents.

There are currently over 18,000 IDPs sheltering at the Malakal PoC – the third largest PoC in South Sudan. IOM is responsible for planning and development work at the new site. It is also the camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) state coordinator for Upper Nile.

Relocation started on 31 May, and to date, 4,542 individuals have been safely transferred to the new PoC with the support of UNMISS, IDP community leaders, and CCCM partners. The relocation of families to the new site was prioritized based on vulnerability, special needs and current living conditions – 529 tents are currently occupied at the site.

The relocation exercise is part of the CCCM cluster strategy to decongest PoCs and improve the provision of basic services including protection, sanitation and health access for thousands of IDPs. The strategy also takes into account scenario planning of IDP living spaces that mitigate the threat of endemic waterborne diseases during the rainy season.

Meanwhile IOM is appealing for USD 97.2 million from the international community to continue providing a range of life-saving emergency humanitarian interventions across South Sudan for the duration of 2014.

The revised funding appeal reflects the reality on the ground, where over one million IDPs are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Over 94,000 people are currently sheltering in protection of PoC sites, the largest of which are located in Central Equatoria State (Juba, 31,886), Unity State (Bentiu, 38,034) and Upper Nile State (Malakal).

The crisis continues to unravel in a context of chronic poverty, mass displacement and overstretched coping strategies. Tens of thousands face inadequate access to basic services including water, sanitation and hygiene, health care and shelter. The deteriorating situation has already triggered communicable disease outbreaks including cholera, hepatitis E and measles, and forecasts suggest that millions of South Sudanese will face acute food insecurity in the coming months.

Mindful of the complexities of the ongoing crisis, IOM has adopted an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to ensure a holistic response, focusing on priority sectors where IOM has in-country and institutional expertise.

Operating within the framework of the IASC cluster system, IOM’s interventions are focused in the camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), shelter and non-food item (NFI), health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), protection and logistics clusters.

“Additional funding is needed to strengthen IOM’s ongoing emergency operations to meet the growing needs of displaced persons and vulnerable communities. This is why the continued support of the international community is vital,” said IOM South Sudan Head of Operations, John McCue.

“Our appeal is based on IOM’s capacity to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance in order to effectively address the needs of the affected populations,” he noted.

IOM’s appeal is in line with the inter-agency Crisis Response Plan and within the framework of the cluster system. It highlights emergency humanitarian assistance that IOM, as lead agency for the shelter/NFI and CCCM clusters, and as a major actor in the WASH, health, protection and logistics clusters, proposes to deliver in response to the ongoing crisis.

As of May 2014, IOM has received funding worth USD 43.8 million (44 per cent), which has enabled it to register over 300,000 IDPs; distribute essential relief supplies to over 200,000 people; serve more than 27,000 people with adequate WASH services; and conduct nearly 65,000 health consultations.

To download the IOM South Sudan Crisis Appeal please go to:

http://southsudan.iom.int/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IOM-South-Sudan-Funding-Appeal-Jan-Dec-2014-FINAL.pdf

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations independent expert Chaloka Beyani will visit Côte d’Ivoire from 16 to 20 June 2014 to undertake a follow up mission to his last visit in July 2012, when he examined the overall situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.

“During my visit, I will follow up on the recommendations made in my previous reports to the UN Human Rights Council, and gather first-hand information from all parties, including displaced persons and affected communities themselves,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons.

“I will also look at current challenges and opportunities for durable solutions for IDPs in Côte d’Ivoire, and discuss the progress made with regard to their protection and assistance,” Mr. Beyani added.

The Special Rapporteur will also attend the World Humanitarian Summit regional consultation in Abidjan on 19-20 June.

During his five-day visit, Mr. Beyani will meet with representatives from the Government, UN partners, and civil society, among others.