Latest news with #CERF
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UK Cedes Sovereignty Over Chagos Islands, Suffering In Sudan Deepens, UN Releases New Emergency Relief Funds
22 May 2025 Before granting Mauritius independence in 1968, Britain unlawfully separated the Chagos archipelago to create the British Indian Ocean Territory. In doing so, it expelled 1,500–2,000 islanders to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island, to the United States for joint military use. Under the agreement, the UK will lease the island of Diego Garcia for the next 99 years to continue operating its joint military base with the United States. Value of diplomacy The agreement signed on Thursday between the UK and Mauritius is 'a significant step towards resolving a long-standing dispute in the Indian Ocean region' and 'demonstrates the value of diplomacy in addressing historical grievances', said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in Thursday's briefing. Welcoming the signature of the agreement, the UN Secretary-General, urged both the UK and Mauritius to 'continue engaging in constructive discussion', in order to ensure that 'the rights and aspirations of the Chagossians people are fully respected,' said Mr. Dujarric. Sudan: Civilian Suffering Deepens Amid Drone Strikes The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed over 18,000 people and displaced 13 million, triggering a regional migration crisis. Even before the war, humanitarian conditions and human rights protections were fragile, but in the past two years, they have become dire. Of the 30.4 million Sudanese in need of assistance, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is currently reaching 2.3 million with emergency food and nutrition support, as ongoing violence and infrastructure destruction compound the crisis. Urgent ceasefire needed Recent drone attacks on Port Sudan, once a vital entry point for aid, have further deepened the crisis. UN-designated expert Radhouane Nouicer warned Monday that these strikes on critical infrastructure 'are putting lives at risk, worsening the humanitarian crisis, and violating basic human rights.' On Thursday, Mr. Dujarric reported that attacks in Khartoum state have triggered a total electricity blackout, disrupting access to clean water and healthcare amid rising food prices and cholera outbreaks. The blackout has exacerbated the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Mr. Dujarric also noted that ongoing insecurity displaced 47,000 people from Khiwai and Nuhud in West Kordofan this month, while another 1,000 were displaced this week from Abu Shouk camp and El Fasher in North Darfur. At the Arab League Summit in Iraq over the weekend, UN Secretary-General António Guterrescalled for urgent multilateral action to end 'appalling violence, famine and mass displacement,' and met with African Union leaders to encourage a push for a ceasefire. Emergency relief funds released for DR Congo The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated new funds to crisis situations, from Afghanistan to Zambia. On Wednesday, CERF made $750,000 available to support cholera response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. The emergency funds will enable the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and partners to deliver critical aid, including timely cholera detection and response, medical treatment, risk communication, and community engagement. In addition, CERF allocated $10 million to help more than 270,0000 people in vulnerable communities across South Sudan, where the threat of renewed civil war looms. Ahead of the rainy season, CERF's life-saving aid will notably target communities who have been impacted by overlapping crises, especially conflict and displacement in the states of Jonglei and Upper Nile. CERF also allocated $9.5 million to support climate action initiatives in eight countries: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Venezuela, and Zambia.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Reducing measles outbreak risk in 38 drought-affected districts in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia's drought-affected districts, measles outbreaks pose a significant threat to vulnerable populations, particularly children. To mitigate this risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) supported a comprehensive and integrated measles vaccination campaign across 38 woredas (16 woredas in Somali, 19 in Oromia, and 3 in South Ethiopia), reaching over 5,308 children who were either under or unvaccinated. This intervention was crucial in reducing the risk of a measles outbreak, as it targets areas with high vulnerability due to frequent droughts and population mobility. The integrated measles vaccination campaign, which ran between January and March focused on children under five years old, integrated catch-up vaccination with essential nutrition services to address both immediate and long-term health needs. WHO worked in close collaboration with UNICEF to provide technical support for the successful implementation of the campaign, with financial support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Integrating zero dose vaccination with campaigns like this is one of the strategies outlined in the country's BCU operational guide. This guide was developed following the broader Big Catch-Up initiative, a global effort aimed at accelerating vaccination coverage for children who missed routine immunizations due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, and other emergencies. A total of 441,794 children out of the target 444,557 (99%) received the measles vaccine. Notably, the campaign identified and vaccinated 2,574 children who had never received any immunizations and 2,734 who were under-vaccinated. Additionally, over 259,286 children were screened for nutritional status, further integrating essential health services to strengthen overall child health in these vulnerable areas. The integrated measles vaccination campaign, part of the CERF supported project, aimed to enhance measles vaccination coverage across 38 selected drought-affected and drought-prone woredas. Through this initiative, WHO supported the Government of Ethiopia to bolster the capacity of health workers and the overall health system. This included training frontline health workers, expanding outreach to hard-to-reach communities impacted by both drought and service interruptions, raising community awareness, and strengthening the overall monitoring and supervision of health services. Prior to the implementation, a woreda-level microplanning workshop was conducted to capacitate health workers for the implementation of the vaccination program. These workshops were instrumental in enabling the health workers to deliver essential services effectively, playing a key role in improving immunization coverage and reducing the risk of measles outbreaks in these areas. Daily team supervision and on spot checks were conducted by WHO, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Regional Health Bureau (RHB), and partners. The supervision was facilitated using a mobile based open data kit (ODK) checklist, which allowed for real-time monitoring and quick responses to challenges. Monitoring data from the Somali region revealed strong community awareness, with 98.54% of caregivers understanding the target age group for vaccination, 99.12% being aware of the vaccination dates, 87% receiving information about potential adverse events following immunization (AEFI), and 99% of mothers knowing the location of the vaccination post. WHO has been instrumental in supporting immunization activities in Ethiopia through providing technical assistance, training health workers, and strengthening vaccination delivery systems. In collaboration with the government and partners, WHO has helped implement large-scale campaigns, including the Big Catch-Up initiative, to address vaccination gaps, especially in areas affected by emergencies. Additionally, WHO supports the procurement of vaccines, enhances disease surveillance, and improves monitoring systems to ensure timely responses to outbreaks. These efforts have over the years contributed to increasing immunization coverage and protecting children from preventable diseases across Ethiopia. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Ethiopia.
Al-Ahram Weekly
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UN releases $110 mn after 'brutal' global aid cuts - International
The UN said Thursday it was allocating $110 million from its emergency fund for life-saving assistance in several countries after "brutal" cuts in global humanitarian aid. The announcement came after US President Donald Trump decided shortly after returning to office to freeze virtually all foreign aid spending. "For countries battered by conflict, climate change and economic turmoil, brutal funding cuts don't mean that humanitarian needs disappear," United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement. The money will come from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund. Rights groups say the sweeping cuts by the United States, traditionally the world's largest humanitarian donor, have already hurt millions. The UN did not mention the US by name, but cautioned that "more than 300 million people around the world urgently need humanitarian aid, but funding has been dwindling annually, with this year's levels projected to drop to a record low". It said the released emergency funds would help boost life-saving assistance in 10 of the world's most underfunded and neglected crises across Africa, Asia and Latin America. A third of the money would go to war-ravaged Sudan and neighbouring Chad, which is hosting large numbers of Sudanese refugees. "The funds will also bolster the humanitarian response in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Honduras, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Venezuela and Zambia", the statement said. Life-saving initiatives to protect vulnerable people from climate shocks would also be supported, it added. "Today's emergency fund allocation channels resources swiftly to where they're needed most," Fletcher said. The UN's CERF fund typically allocates resources twice a year for underfunded emergencies as a way to spotlight the need for additional funding from member states and others. Overall this year, the humanitarian community has said it will need $45 billion to reach 185 million vulnerable people caught up in crises around the globe. To date, just five percent of that amount has been received, the UN said. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Zawya
31-01-2025
- Health
- Zawya
World Health Organization (WHO) delivers critical support to Bugna Woreda and surroundings amid humanitarian needs
Bugna woreda, Amhara region, located in Ethiopia's North Zone, has faced significant challenges due to prolonged conflict, drought, and food insecurity. Home to over 100,000 residents, endured over a year without access to essential commodities, medical supplies, and support, leaving its population in a dire state. The conflict's impact was devastating, with farmers unable to access fertilizer for the 2024 farming season, exacerbating food insecurity in an area already grappling with drought. Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, WHO mobilized resources and personnel to support Bugna Woreda and provided PED SAM kits, IEHK kits and Trauma kits support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Union (ECHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The efforts focused on improving access to essential health and nutrition services, providing critical medical supplies, and supporting vaccination campaigns. WHO worked closely with local health authorities to strengthen the capacity of health centers and health posts, ensuring that they can better serve the community despite the challenging conditions. WHO donated medical supplies Items Sum of Total (IEHK 2017, BASIC) MODULE, MALARIA 36 (IEHK 2017, BASIC) MODULE, MEDICINES 36 (IEHK 2017, BASIC) MODULE, RENEWABLE AND EQUIPMENT 12 (IEHK 2017, SUPPLEMENTARY) MODULE, MALARIA 5 (IEHK 2017, SUPPLEMENTARY) MODULE, RENEWABLE 7 (IEHK 2021, SUPPLEMENTARY) MODULE, PEP, treatments for 50 adults + 10 children 5 (Kit PED-SAM 2020) MODULE 2, MEDICINES PED ORAL 12 (Kit PED-SAM 2020) MODULE 3, MEDICINES PED INJECTABLES 12 (Kit PED-SAM 2020) MODULE 6, RENEWABLES 6 (TESK 2019 mod 1A) SET 1A5, DRUGS, DANGEROUS GOODS 4 (TESK 2019 mod 1A) SET 1A6, DRUGS, INFUSIONS 2 (TESK 2019 mod 1A) SET 1A7, DRUGS, DISINFECTANTS 6 (TESK 2019 mod 1B) SET 1B3, RENEWABLES, INJECTION MATERIAL 6 Despite operational hardships, healthcare workers remained at their posts, showing immense resilience and dedication to their community. WHO's support was crucial in mitigating the impacts of the access challenge. It provided much-needed medical, allowing health facilities to procure essential items and pay their workers. WHO also advocated for sustained humanitarian access to Bugna Woreda, ensuring that the flow of supplies continued uninterrupted. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Ethiopia.
