Global Fund Launches Human Rights Complaints Procedure
27 April 2015
GENEVA – The Global Fund partnership has launched a human rights complaints procedure as part of its commitment to protect and promote human rights in the context of fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The complaints mechanism allows individuals to submit a complaint to the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector General if any of five minimum human rights standards is believed to have been violated by an implementer of Global Fund grants, in line with the partnership’s commitment to the highest standards of accountability.

Any individual can contact the Office of the Inspector General by email, by telephone or through the Global Fund’s website. All information will remain confidential, and anyone making a complaint can also choose to remain anonymous.

All Global Fund-supported programs are required to meet minimum human rights standards aimed at guaranteeing that Global Fund investments do not infringe upon human rights, that they increase access to quality services and maximize the potential impact of health interventions.

The information in the complaint will be carefully assessed to identify the seriousness of the allegations, and whether to conduct an investigation. The Global Fund welcomes information that will enable action to improve services.

“The Global Fund needs to know about any human rights infringements in the programs we support,” said Inspector General Mouhamadou Diagne. “We encourage all to speak up using our whistle-blowing channels which are free, safe and confidential.”

The five minimum human rights standards are:
:: non-discriminatory access to services for all, including people in detention;
:: employing only scientifically sound and approved medicines or medical practices;
:: not employing methods that constitute torture or that are cruel, inhuman or degrading;
:: respecting and protecting informed consent, confidentiality and the right to privacy concerning medical testing, treatment or health services rendered; and
:: avoiding medical detention and involuntary isolation, to be used only as a last resort.

Principal Recipients are required to identify the risk that any of these standards may be violated. Where a risk is identified, they may need to develop a mitigation plan to ensure violations do not occur. Principal Recipients must also reflect these five standards in agreements with sub-recipients and suppliers and disclose to the Global Fund any cases of non-compliance with the standards.

The Global Fund partnership is committed to removing human rights barriers that reduce access to health programs, and undermine efforts to end HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics.

EBOLA/EVD [to 2 May 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); “Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council)

WHO: Ebola Situation Report – 29 April 2015
[Excerpts]
SUMMARY
:: A total of 33 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) was reported in the week to 26 April. Two areas, Forecariah in Guinea and Kambia in Sierra Leone, accounted for 25 (76%) of all confirmed cases reported. Improved community engagement in these areas is required to ensure that all remaining chains of transmission can be tracked and ultimately brought to an end…

COUNTRIES WITH WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION
:: There have been a total of 26,277 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (figure 1, table 1), with 10,884 reported deaths (outcomes for many cases are unknown). A total of 22 new confirmed cases were reported in Guinea, 0 in Liberia, and 11 in Sierra Leone in the 7 days to 26 April…

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true

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USA: Transparency and accountability essential in use of drones – UN human rights experts
4/29/2015
Press Releases
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
Sp. Rapporteur on summary executions
Sp. Rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers
Sp. Rapporteur on torture
GENEVA (29 April 2015) – A group of UN independent human rights experts* today welcomed the US Government’s announcement of a review into two counter-terrorism operations involving the use of drones, but they stressed the need to ensure transparency and accountability.
The US Government acknowledged the accidental killing of four individuals in counter-terrorism operations conducted in January in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan involving the use of drones, following declassification of information related to the operations and disclosure to the public.
“We welcome President Obama’s apology to the families. All innocent victims of drone attacks deserve such an apology, regardless of their nationality,” the experts stated…

UN Working Group adopts “Basic Principles and Guidelines on Remedies and Procedures on the Right of Anyone Deprived of His or Her Liberty by Arrest or Detention to Bring Proceedings Before Court”.
4/29/2015
Press Releases

UNICEF [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html

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Selected press release and news notes
One week after Nepal earthquake UNICEF warns of disease risk for children
KATHMANDU, 2 May 2015 – One week on from the earthquake in Nepal, UNICEF says the health and wellbeing of children affected by the disaster are hanging in the balance – as many have been left homeless, in deep shock and with no access to basic care. With the monsoon season only a few weeks away, children will be at heightened risk of diseases like cholera and diarrhoeal infections, as well as being more vulnerable to the threat of landslides and floods.

BURUNDI: UNICEF calls for protection of children amid protests in the capital
BUJUMBURA, Burundi, 30 April 2015 – “Children are at risk of bearing the brunt of the confrontations in and around Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.

Children in 15 out of 26 industrialised countries lack easy access to child rights education
GENEVA, 30 April 2015 – Education curricula in 15 industrialised countries fail to meet children’s entitlements to learn about their rights, a new UNICEF report shows. The report, Teaching and learning about child rights: A study of implementation in 26 countries, also finds that none of the countries studied ensure that all teachers are trained in child rights and are familiar with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Life-saving UNICEF supplies reach Nepal to help 1.7 million children severely affected by earthquake
KATHMANDU, Nepal / NEW YORK, 30 April 2015 – Over the past 48 hours, UNICEF has delivered 29 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Nepal including tents and tarpaulins, water purification tablets, first aid and hygiene kits, as part of ongoing efforts to reach at least 1.7 million children living in areas hardest hit by the earthquake. Over the coming days, UNICEF is planning additional aid items to arrive in Kathmandu.

Racing against time for children and families in Nepal: IKEA Foundation gives €3 million to UNICEF emergency relief efforts
GENEVA, 29 April 2015 – In the aftermath of the violent earthquake that hit Nepal with devastating force on 25 April, IKEA Foundation has contributed €3 million to UNICEF to support emergency relief efforts.

UNICEF delivers lifesaving supplies to Aden as Yemen runs out of medicine, equipment
SANA’A, Yemen/AMMAN, Jordan, 28 April 2015 – A UNICEF shipment of urgent medical supplies reached Yemen today and will benefit more than 500,000 people, mostly women and children, for the next three months.

UN Women [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.unwomen.org/
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Selected Press Releases
UN Women to address gender-based violence in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal
UN flash appeal says USD 415 million is required to reach affected populations with life-saving assistance and protection in the next three months.
Date : 01 May 2015
…UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA and national women’s groups will be working to support protection systems, to prevent and respond to violence and gender-based violence against children and women, particularly among displaced populations, and lead learning activities for school-aged children in safe spaces and providing psychosocial counselling services. UN Women and partners will also be providing multipurpose safe spaces for vulnerable women. In addition, UN Women will also be providing dignity kits for female-headed households and women with disabilities. Community outreach and information will be promoted in order to inform the communities of their rights and services available.

The Government of Nepal has identified 16 open spaces in the Kathmandu Valley as sites for displacement camps. The flash appeal says cramped situations and a lack of law and order may exacerbate the existing risks and vulnerabilities faced in particular by women and girls. Among the over 8 million affected people are approximately 126,000 pregnant women, 21,000 of whom will need obstetric care in the coming three months. Additionally, the appeal cautions that approximately 40,000 women are at immediate risk of sexual and gender-based violence.

UN Women will specifically work to strengthen or establish survivor-centred multi-sectorial services and referral systems to respond to gender-based violence. It will also establish women’s groups for the prevention of gender-based violence in the 16 camps, including training of facilitators, safety audits and regular meetings and monitoring. This work will also mobilize communities through gender-based violence prevention and awareness activities at the village level in 18 districts…

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Press release: New report from UN Women unveils far-reaching alternative policy agenda to transform economies and make gender equality a reality
Date : April 27, 2015
A major report from UN Women, released today in seven locations globally, brings together human rights and economic policymaking to call for far-reaching changes to the global policy agenda that will transform economies and make women’s rights, and equality, a reality. It takes an in-depth look at what the economy would look like if it truly worked for women, for the benefit of all.

WHO & Regionals [to 2 May 2015]
Nepal
:: Nepal’s Ministry of Health puts a hold on foreign medical teams
The Nepalese Ministry of Health has asked that any foreign medical teams ready to deploy to Nepal should please refrain from doing so. While the Ministry has expressed gratitude for all offers of assistance, they have advised that the need for foreign medical teams has already been met. Teams en route without a designated duty station will due to this be asked to turn away. All foreign medical teams on stand-by to assist Nepal’s earthquake response should register with WHO and keep updated on the situation through WHO’s homepage and the virtual On-site Operations Coordination Centre (OSSOC) website.

:: WHO mobilizes funds for long-term spinal cord treatment after Nepal earthquake
2 May 2015 — Among the estimated 14,000 injuries incurred as a result of the April 25 earthquake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and has so far resulted in 6200 recorded fatalities, approximately 1 in 3 (or around 4700) will require follow-up rehabilitation treatment. Of this number, approximately 12% have damage to their spinal cord.

:: Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly – 18–26 May 2015

:: Sierra Leone wraps up four-day health and vaccination campaign 1 May 2015
…WHO worked in close collaboration with the Sierra Leone government and partners, to plan and supervise the recent Maternal and Child Health Week national campaign. The campaign aimed to reach more than 1.5 million children under the age of 5, with life-saving immunizations. In addition, children’s nutritional levels were measured, deworming tablets were administered and HIV testing was available for pregnant women and their partners…

:: Americas region is declared the world’s first to eliminate rubella
April 2015– The Americas region has become the first in the world to be declared free of endemic transmission of rubella, a contagious viral disease that can cause multiple birth defects as well as fetal death when contracted by women during pregnancy.

:: Global Alert and Response (GAR) – Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia 29 April 2015
Meningococcal disease – Niger 29 April 2015

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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: A new entity to accelerate the elimination of neglected tropical diseases in Africa
Johannesburg, 30 April 2015 – The World Health Organization is stepping up efforts to accelerate the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) in the African Region. Health experts, donors, development partners and affected countries have reached a consensus on the main components of the framework for establishing a new NTD entity. This entity will support and guide affected countries in the African region to accelerate the implementation of actions required to eliminate NTDs by 2020.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti in her opening remarks underscored the need for a strong entity that will provide high quality technical support, and strengthen capacity of Member States to eliminate NTDs. Dr Moeti said, “The new NTD entity needs to be cost efficient, cross-cutting with other NTD interventions and with a stronger link with stakeholders and actors in order to achieve the set targets in 2020.”
The WHO African Region faces a huge burden of neglected tropical diseases which affects millions of people who are impoverished. The region carries half of the global burden of NTDs. The move to establish a new entity arises from the current global and regional commitment from donors, pharmaceutical companies, countries and other partners to accelerate the elimination of NTDs.
The new NTD entity will also facilitate the smooth transition of technical support to affected countries as the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) closes on 31 December, 2015. APOC was established in 1995 to tackle river blindness. Over the past 20 years, the work of APOC has made commendable progress in tackling river blindness (Onchocerciasis) in most affected communities. The new entity focuses on the five diseases (elephantiasis, river blindness, trachoma, bilharzia and intestinal worms) that can be treated with mass drug administration. Its operations will build on the experience gained in recent years in tackling NTDs.
In her concluding comments, Dr Moeti thanked APOC for its contribution to tackling river blindness and expressed profound gratitude to Member States, donors, communities, non-governmental development organizations and the many WHO staff that contributed significantly to this achievement. The Regional Director promised to “follow up the NTD agenda and ensure that the new entity achieves the expected results by 2020.”

:: 1 in 5 children in Africa do not have access to life-saving vaccines – 28 April 2015
:: Humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic: lack of funding threatens the free-access to healthcare –

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: Americas region is declared the world’s first to eliminate rubella (04/29/2015)
:: La Fundación Chespirito se unió a la OPS/OMS para celebrar la Semana de Vacunación en las Américas (04/28/2015)
:: 13th annual Vaccination Week in the Americas kicks off in Ecuador (04/26/2015)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: WHO works with partners to prevent diarrhoeal diseases SEAR/PR/1597 30 April 2015
:: WHO, health partners striving to treat quake survivors in Nepal’s remote regions SEAR/PR/1596 29 April 2015
:: WHO coordinating the health response to Nepal earthquake; working to prevent spread of disease 29 April 2015
:: WHO sending in more medical supplies and assisting the arrival of foreign medical team support for earthquake-ravaged Nepal 27 April 2015

WHO European Region EURO
:: At least one in three Europeans can be exposed to asbestos at work and in the environment 30-04-2015
:: Air pollution costs European economies US$ 1.6 trillion a year in diseases and deaths, new WHO study says 28-04-2015
:: From the migration front line: interview with Lampedusa doctor 27-04-2015

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: WHO report finds systems to combat antibiotic resistance lacking 29 April 2015
:: The future of nursing and midwifery in the Region 29 April 2015
:: Closing the immunization gap in Afghanistan 26 April 2015

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: Protect your community: Get vaccinated
2015 – An estimated 1.5 million children worldwide die each year of diseases that can be readily prevented by vaccines. On World Immunization Week (24 April – 3 May), the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific Region underscores the importance of immunization as a shared responsibility and a vital component in protecting communities.

UNFPA United Nations Population Fund [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.unfpa.org/public/

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Press Release
Tens of thousands of pregnant women affected by Nepal quake
27 April 2015
…Responding to urgent needs
UNFPA is coordinating with the Government and humanitarian partners to respond to these needs. Emergency staff members are being deployed, and dignity kits and reproductive health kits are en route to Nepal.
“The Fund is particularly concerned about the fate of pregnant women who have been affected by this tragedy, including those who might face potentially life-threatening complications,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, in a statement on the disaster. “All efforts will be exerted to support their safety and the safety of their babies.”

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 2 May 2015]
30 Apr 2015
UN and Government of Nepal launch 415 million dollar appeal for relief following earthquake
The UN including the UN Development Programme and the Nepali Government made an appeal today for financial aid to provide urgent relief for people affected by the earthquake that struck Nepal Saturday morning.

Regional cooperation, working with demand countries key to ending wildlife crime, say African nations
Better coordinated intelligence and law enforcement, involving communities in Africa and working with transit and destination markets outside of the continent must be at the heart of all efforts to tackle the alarming illegal trade in wild flora and fauna, African States said at the closing of the International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa.

29 Apr 2015
Congo Republic burns its entire stockpile of seized ivory
The Government of Congo today incinerated nearly five tons of poached ivory, fuelled by seized timber, in a strong demonstration of Africa’s opposition to wildlife crime

African leaders to develop common plan for stopping wildlife crime
African Heads of State, government representatives and experts are gathering at the International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa where they will develop a common roadmap to end wildlife trafficking on the continent.

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1
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Selected Press Releases
Regional Cooperation, Working with Demand Countries Key to Ending Wildlife Crime, Say African Nations
At the closing of the International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa.
30/04/2015

Zambia’s Forest Ecosystems Contribute $1.3 Billion to the National Economy, Higher than Previously Thought
Economic Study Boosts Zambia’s Efforts under its National REDD+ Process
28/04/2015

New Handbook Explores How Trade Can Drive the Transition to a Green Economy
Global Trade Reached US$23.4 Trillion in 2013, Highlighting Financial Power that Could be Harnessed for Sustainable Development.
28/04/2015

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African Leaders to Develop Common Plan for Stopping Wildlife Crime
Conference to seek advancement of Africa-wide strategy to tackle illegal trade in wild fauna and flora.
Brazzaville, 27 April 2015 – African Heads of State, government representatives and experts are gathering at the International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa where they will develop a common roadmap to end wildlife trafficking on the continent.

Conference website
The Conference will seek to advance the first-ever Africa-wide strategy and action plan to tackle the illegal trade in wild fauna and flora, to be further considered at the next African Union Heads of State Summit later this year.

The four-day event is organised under the leadership of the Republic of Congo, in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), and with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the African Development Bank, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force and the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), among others.

“Forests and wildlife are part of our common African heritage but are disappearing at an alarming pace,” said His Excellency Denis Sassou Nguesso, the President of the Republic of Congo. “We have a duty to work together, as a continent, to safeguard our unique biodiversity for present and future generations and to craft strong collective solutions to address this calamity.”

The value of wildlife crime, comprising fauna and flora, and including logging, poaching and trafficking of a wide range of animals, amounts to many hundreds of billions of US dollars a year, according to estimates of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNEP and INTERPOL…

ILO International Labour Organization [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm

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School to work transition
Youth in Eastern Europe and Central Asia face multiple barriers in finding decent jobs
28 April 2015
A new ILO report on the transition of young people from school to work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia shows a missed opportunity in absorbing a well-educated youth workforce.

IMO International Maritime Organization [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/Pages/Home.aspx

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Plastic particles in the ocean may be as harmful as plastic bags, report says
27/04/2015 Micro-plastics are increasingly being found in the oceans and may prove to be as harmful to marine life as more obvious, larger debris.

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/

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Notifications
SCBD/SAM/DC/CS/BT/84611 (2015-048)
Notification to: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, and relevant international, regional and national organizations
Submission of information related to sustainable use of biodiversity: bushmeat and sustainable wildlife management
Action required by 2015-06-15

SCBD/TSI/RS/YX/LZ/84650 (2015-047)
Notification to: All National Focal Points under the Convention and its Protocols and relevant stakeholder organizations
Online Forum on the Contribution of Collective Action of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to Biodiversity Conservation and Resource Mobilization, 1-15 May 2015

USAID [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

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Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) – 2015
The 2015 QDDR builds on the foundation established by the 2010 QDDR to ensure that our civilian leadership pursues a process of persistent improvement. Secretary Kerry has asked for the 2015 QDDR to “be a blueprint for America’s success in this new world,” and “a product that guides a modern State Department and USAID and empowers our frontline diplomats and development professionals to get the job done.”
Drawing on input from a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, the 2015 QDDR lays out a plan for fully applying American civilian power to advance U.S. national interests as articulated in the 2015 National Security Strategy, and improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of our work.
:: Message from the Secretary of State
:: Executive Summary of the 2015 QDDR
:: FULL 2015 QDDR report

DFID [to 2 May 2015]
https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development

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Declaration: London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade
Updated 27 April 2015
Policy paper
Defra, DFID, FCO and Home Office

The African Development Bank Group [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/
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Fund for African Private Sector Assistance provides equity to Africlear Global to improve Securities Market Infrastructure in Africa
27/04/2015 – The Fund for Africa Private Sector Assistance (FAPA) hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed on March 5, 2015 in Abidjan a seed equity investment of US $400,000 to Africlear Global. The goal of the investment is to enhance the efficiency of capital markets by supporting the modernisation of central securities depository infrastructure in African securities markets.

European Union [to 2 May 2015]
http://europa.eu/newsroom/index_en.htm
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Press release – Migration: Parliament calls for urgent measures to save lives
Justice and citizens rights | 29/04/2015 15:02 | European Parliament
The EU should do everything possible to prevent further loss of life at sea, e.g. by expanding the mandate of “Triton” operation in the Mediterranean to include “search and rescue operations at EU level”, says a resolution voted by Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs also call for a binding quota for distributing asylum seekers among all EU countries, bigger contributions to resettlement programmes, better cooperation with third countries and tougher measures against people smugglers.
[see more extensive treatment in Week in Review above]

Press release – €1 billion for Youth Employment Initiative in 2015
Employment and social rights | 29/04/2015 12:33 | European Parliament

EU proposes new Joint Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy
European Commission – Press release
Brussels, 29 April 2015
Human rights will remain the compass in the EU’s foreign policy and its relations with other institutions and civil society.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/news/

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OIC and AU Sign MOU on Countering Terrorism in Africa
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Commission of the African Union (AU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support and strengthen their partnership on countering terrorism and violent extremism in Africa. 30/04/2015

OIC and China Stress Development of Strategic Relations
The Organization of International Cooperation and the Peoples’ Republic of China agreed on the importance of developing strategic relations between the two sides in various political, economic and cultural fields. This came up during an official visit to China by a high-level Delegation of the Organization, General Secretariat headed by the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ambassador Abdullah Ibn Abdul Rahman Alim from 18 to 26 April 2015…
29/04/2015

Tenth Session of COMIAC Begins in Dakar Addressing Stereotyping of Islam and Muslims Top its Agenda
The tenth session of the OIC Standing Committee on Information and Cultural Affairs under the theme “Role of the Youth and Media for Peace and Stability in the Muslim World” was inaugurated on Tuesday 28 April 2015 in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, by the President of Senegal and Chairman of COMIAC with the attendance of Ministers and senior officials of information and culture of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States…
29/04/2015

World Bank [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Increasing Food Security in Eurasia and Beyond through Shared Knowledge and Expertise
At the request of the Russian Government, the World Bank is providing technical assistance – through its Reimbursable Advisory Services – to help enhance the institutional capacity of the Eurasian Center for Food Security. This support includes helping the Center to articulate its vision, strategic development and overall mission – building primarily upon the needs of its four focus countries: Armenia, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.In addition, the World Bank is helping the Center to target partnerships and communities – through the development of a “knowledge center”, enhancement of research capabilities, support for collaborative research and educational programs, facilitation of international and regional workshops and conferences, and the establishment and expansion of food security networks of academics, technical experts and policy makers…
Date: April 30, 2015

World Bank Boosts Energy Supply to Support Regional Trade and Integration in West African Countries
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 − The World Bank Group’s Board of Directors today approved support for a regional transmission network to enable electricity trade among the western African countries of The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. The US$200 million IDA* credit will finance the construction of transmission lines to connect the electrical networks of the four countries and ground wires equipped with fiber optic cables to improve public communications. The cost of electricity generation in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal is very high as a result of the region’s high dependence on expensive oil-based thermal generation. The Bank’s support of the OMVG Interconnection Project will help countries in West Africa to change the energy mix away from thermal generation by connecting them to more sustainable and cost-effective energy resources such as Guinea’s 6,000 MW of hydropower potential….
Date: April 29, 2015

Arab World Citizens Practicing Social Accountability for Improved Service Delivery
AMMAN, April 29, 2015 – Representatives from civil society organizations, governments, private sector and the media from the Arab world shared experiences about utilizing various tools to promote citizen engagement in their countries and discussed the role of citizens in holding governments accountable. The two-day regional conference, Social Accountability in the Arab World: From Theory to Practice, was sponsored by the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability – Arab World (ANSA-AW) and CARE International – Egypt with funding from the World Bank.“ The World Bank is keen on promoting a healthier citizen-state relationship and complimenting its support of service delivery by state actors with support for citizens to have a greater voice in defining their needs and in monitoring and providing feedback on the quality of services they are getting”, said Sima Kanaan, World Bank Lead Social Development Specialist.
Date: April 29, 2015

Africa: Benefits of Adapting Africa’s Infrastructure to Climate Change Outweigh the Costs
New report quantifies impacts of climate change on energy and water infrastructure, suggests adaptation options for investment plans, and provides suggestions to increase resilience now
WASHINGTON, DC, April 27, 2015—The impact of climate change on Africa’s water and energy infrastructure will be costly, according to a new World Bank report, prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and immediate action is needed to reduce these risks. Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Africa’s Infrastructure quantifies the impacts of climate change on hydropower and irrigation infrastructure and identifies adaptation options as well as recommendations for increasing climate resilience.Understanding the causes, addressing the effects of climate change and building climate-resilient infrastructure are central to our efforts to end poverty in Africa,” said Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President of the Africa Region.
Date: April 27, 2015

World Bank Group Offers Help to Nepal After Devastating Earthquake
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 26, 2015—The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim today offered Nepal the Bank Group’s immediate support to overcome the damage and loss of life after a devastating earthquake on Saturday. The Bank Group’s support could address Nepal’s financing needs or any other assistance required, including a loss and damage assessment, assistance for reconstruction efforts as well as mobilizing projects already on the ground to deal with the earthquake’s effects. The Bank Group is also offering assistance to the Governments of India and Bangladesh where there are also some fatalities….
Date: April 26, 2015

International Rescue Committee [to 2 May 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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Press Releases
The IRC Launches Crowd-Sourced Reviews and Ratings Site For Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Site Designed to Help Refugees Locate and Rate Basic and Commercial Service Providers
27 Apr 2015 – NEW YORK and BEIRUT, April 28, 2015 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC)… announced the launch of IRC Service Info, an online platform that will enable the more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon to search and rate aid and commercial services – ranging from healthcare to financial services and retail – online or over the phone.

Developed by the IRC and funded by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, the IRC’s Service Info project aims to provide a solution to an information gap for transient refugees looking for local services. The site URL is https://serviceinfo.rescue.org/app/.

“Too often, access to what can be life-saving services available to Syrian refugees in Lebanon is not understood, or even known about,” said IRC president and CEO David Miliband. “That’s why we have built IRC Service Info, to help inform refugees about the services available to them, and to improve those services by creating a feedback loop to service providers. This simple but powerful use of technology is a small building block in helping to create a semblance of normality for people whose lives have been shattered by the defining humanitarian crisis of this century.”…

ICRC [to 2 May 2015]
https://www.icrc.org/en

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Yemen: Health system crippled, fuel shortage alarming
News release
30 April 2015
After a month of airstrikes and fighting, Yemen’s health system is struggling to cope and there are severe shortages of essential items especially food and fuel. Import restrictions have made the situation worse. The surgical team from the ICRC and all local staff and patients were forced to evacuate Aden’s Al Jamhouria hospital when the building itself became a front line in the fighting.

Central African Republic: Shortage of health centres and drinking water in Birao
News release
30 April 2015
The town of Birao, with 10,000 residents, is suffering from its remote location in the north of the Central African Republic and receives little aid. In addition to experiencing long gaps in the provision of public services, residents face an influx of people displaced by the conflict.

Afghanistan: Concern over growing number of civilian casualties
News release
30 April 2015
The Director of Operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Dominik Stillhart, has expressed concern at the growing number of civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. He said this was especially troubling at a time when funding commitments to support humanitarian work in the country were decreasing.

Philippines: Health facilities for Typhoon Haiyan survivors in Samar
News release
28 April 2015
Manila (ICRC) – Eight health facilities damaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan in Eastern Samar and Samar provinces have been fully restored and handed over today to local health authorities. As many as 60,000 people from seven municipalities will have access to health services at these facilities.

Detention: States discuss legal safeguards for detainees in non-international conflicts
News release
27 April 2015
Geneva (ICRC) – With more and more of the world’s conflicts taking place within countries rather than between them, representatives from more than 100 governments are meeting in Geneva from April 27-29 to try to discuss steps toward stronger legal protections for those detained during such conflicts

ICRC says nuclear weapons are ‘unacceptable risk’ and must be scrapped
News release
27 April 2015
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling on governments to take urgent action to scrap all nuclear weapons. The call comes ahead of a crucial UN-hosted conference in New York at the end of this month, which will review progress on curbing the spread of nuclear weapons and eliminating them from current arsenals.