Haiti

6 years after the earthquake, OCHA highlights progress but alerts the plight of thousands of displaced still living in camps
Report from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Published on 14 Jan 2016 — Ref. : PIO/PR/1/2016
Report: Download PDF (34.18 KB)
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Port-au-Prince, January 14 2016 – Six years after the devastating earthquake of 2010 that killed more than 200,000 people and left at least 1.5 million homeless, the humanitarian action has achieved significant results. For example, about 96% of the 1.5 million displaced people have left the camps thanks to relocation programs. “Despite the progress achieved to date, there are still nearly 60,000 people living in IDP camps in vulnerable situation and in need of humanitarian assistance and durable solutions”, said Enzo di Taranto, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Haiti.

Over the past six years, other humanitarian challenges have been tackled, including the fight against food insecurity and cholera. Until late 2014, the severe food insecurity decreased considerably. Also, the number of suspected cholera cases reduced, from 352,033 cases in 2011 to 27,800 in 2014. In addition, national capacities for emergency preparedness and response have been strengthened.

However, since June 2015, OCHA has noticed a deterioration of the humanitarian situation. The cholera epidemic has seen a resurgence in the number of cases (over 33 000 in 2015), challenging certain gains obtained in 2014. Also, due to the drought and the effects of El Niῆ o, the Food insecurity has increased, affecting about 3 million of Haitians. The vulnerability to disasters and migration issues between Haiti and the Dominican Republic has also contributed to degradate the humanitarian context. More than 55,000 people, identified by IOM (International Organisation for Migration) and the border network partners, were deported or have entered in different ways in Haiti. This number constitutes only a part of the populations deported or returned from the Dominican Republic to Haiti since June 2015.

Unfortunately, these humanitarian dynamics come at a time when funding for humanitarian action has decreased significantly, endangering the important progress made to date and leading to a gradual withdrawal of humanitarian actors. “Haiti cannot afford to become a forgotten crisis. Therefore, we call for a sustained commitment to ensure that urgent humanitarian needs are addressed while sustainable actions continue. In 2015, OCHA has mobilized about $13 million as part of the Central Emergency Responses Funds (CERF) and Emergency Relief and Response Funds (ERRF). However, this is not enough to adress the urgent needs of the Haitian population in 2016, “added Mr. di Taranto.

Due to the deterioration of the living conditions of IDPs, OCHA encourages the humanitarian community, civil society and the private sector to support the efforts to improve access to safe water, sanitation and medical treatment to displaced families, waiting for the definitive closure of the camps…

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Organization of American States (OAS) [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_releases.asp
January 12, 2016 E-361
Electoral Observation Mission welcomes adoption of recommendations ahead of presidential run-off in Haiti
The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS) in Haiti welcomes that the Electoral Provisional Council (CEP) is working to adopt most recommendations issued by the Independent Electoral Evaluation Commission and by national and international observers to provide all parties better guarantees ahead of the presidential run-off, announced for January 24.

The Mission takes note that, amongst other measures, the number of party representatives (mandataires) will be reduced from the 900,000 accredited for the October 25 election to 38,000 and these will only be able to vote at the polling station where they are registered. In addition, some polling station members will be replaced and presidential candidates will be allowed to appoint two representatives to supervise the work at the tabulation center. The training of electoral staff will be improved and lists and accreditation criteria for observation groups will be published before Election Day.

The EOM/OAS reiterates the importance of addressing these and other matters to prevent the repetition of the irregularities presented in the August 9 and October 25 elections, urging the CEP to take all necessary measures to timely put them in place…

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Statement by President Clinton on the Sixth Anniversary of the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti
Clinton Foundation
Statement
January 12, 2016
Six years ago, over 200,000 Haitians were killed in the devastating earthquake, and countless more were displaced from their homes, loved ones, and support systems. I am deeply grateful to the many partners within Haiti and around the world—including through the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative—who have remained steadfast in their dedication to the rebuilding effort, often in the face of considerable challenges. Together, Haitians and their partners are working today to create jobs, grow small businesses, revitalize Haiti’s once-vibrant agricultural sector, and protect the environment. Much remains to be done, but I continue to believe that Haiti has a bright future, and will continue to do what I can to support the resilient Haitian people as they build the country they envision.

EBOLA/EVD [to 16 January 2016]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); “Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council)

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Latest Ebola outbreak over in Liberia; West Africa is at zero, but new flare-ups are likely to occur
WHO News release
14 January 2016 | Liberia – Today, WHO declares the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia and says all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa. But the Organization says the job is not over, more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come….

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New Ebola case in Sierra Leone. WHO continues to stress risk of more flare-ups
WHO statement
15 January 2016
A new case of Ebola has been confirmed in Sierra Leone, reflecting the ongoing risk of new flare-ups of the virus in the Ebola-affected countries.

The Sierra Leone government acted rapidly to respond to this new case. Through the country’s new emergency operations centre, a joint team of local authorities, WHO and partners are investigating the origin of the case, identifying contacts and initiating control measures to prevent further transmission.

WHO stressed in a statement yesterday (14 January), that Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone remain at high risk of additional small outbreaks of Ebola in the coming months due to the virus persisting in survivors after recovery.

“We are now at a critical period in the Ebola epidemic as we move from managing cases and patients to managing the residual risk of new infections,” said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO’s Special Representative for the Ebola Response, yesterday. “We still anticipate more flare-ups and must be prepared for them.”

Sierra Leone is still in a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance following the declaration on 7 November 2015 of the end of Ebola transmission in the country. This period is designed to ensure no hidden chains of transmission have been missed and to detect any new flare-ups of the disease.

£3bn a year needed to prepare the world for future pandemics
13 January 2016
An investment of less than 50p per year for every person on the planet (£3bn/$4.5bn total) would make the world significantly more resilient to the threat of infectious disease, according to a group of international experts convened in the wake of the Ebola crisis.

The report of the Commission on Creating a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future, published today, highlights infectious diseases as one of the biggest risks facing humankind. It estimates that pandemics cost the world more than £40bn ($60bn) each year, and match wars and natural disasters in their capacity to endanger human life and health and disrupt societies.

Yet compared with other high-profile threats to human and economic security – such as war, terrorism, nuclear disasters, natural catastrophes and financial crises – preparation for pandemics has received chronic under-investment.

The Commission recommends that urgent action be taken during 2016 to increase private, philanthropic and government spending on pandemic preparedness. It lays out comprehensive recommendations for bolstering the world’s ability to prevent and prepare for future disease outbreaks, including:
:: Reinforcing national public health capabilities and infrastructure as the first line of defence against potential pandemics, especially in low-income countries.

:: Establishing a permanent WHO Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, with sustainable funding and operational independence, which would lead and co-ordinate defences and action against pandemic threats.

:: Accelerating research and development in the infectious disease arena, through annual global investment of at least £686m ($1bn) a year in prevention and treatment of threats, and a co-ordinating body to prioritise and oversee this.

The Wellcome Trust sponsored the creation of the Commission and the report, in partnership with seven other philanthropic and government organisations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, in response to the Ebola outbreak that began in 2014. It was coordinated by the US National Academy of Medicine.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust and a member of the Commission’s International Oversight Group, said: “Few global events match epidemics and pandemics in potential to disrupt human security and inflict loss of life and economic and social damage. Yet for many decades, the world has invested far less in preventing, preparing for and responding to these threats than in comparable risks to international and financial security.

“Today’s report shows that by spending the equivalent of around 40p a year for every person on the planet, we could make our world much safer against the threat of infectious disease outbreaks.

“The cornerstones of the proposed framework must be the creation of a strong, independent WHO Center to lead outbreak preparedness and response, and an expert body to galvanise the research and development of vaccines, therapies, diagnostics and other tools.

“While the WHO has already taken welcome steps to improve co-ordination of health emergency preparedness and response, the report rightly recommends further change, with a central body that is a permanent part of the WHO system and that has considerable operational independence and a sustainable budget.

“The report is also right to recommend the creation of a WHO expert committee to inspire, support and oversee research and development into vaccines, drugs and other countermeasures. This would allow this essential field to benefit from the legitimacy and authority of the WHO, while ensuring that investment decisions are made by people with the expertise to judge health need and scientific merit. This panel could act as a convening and co-ordinating body that linked parallel efforts to finance and prioritise research and development in specialised fields such as vaccines, drug-resistant infections and personal protective equipment.

“The Commission should be congratulated on an excellent report, with recommendations that are clear, necessary and achievable. What we need to see now is action. The WHO’s leadership and its member states must make 2016 the year in which we learn the lessons of past epidemics and pandemics and implement these valuable measures, to build a more resilient global health system.”

The World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends
World Bank Group ; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank
2016 :: 102725 :: 359 pages
e-ISBN: 978-1-4648-0672-8
DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0671-1
Full Report:
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2016/01/13/090224b08405ea05/2_0/Rendered/PDF/World0developm0000digital0dividends.pdf
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Overview
Digital technologies have spread rapidly in much of the world. Digital dividends—that is, the broader development benefits from using these technologies—have lagged behind. In many instances, digital technologies have boosted growth, expanded opportunities, and improved service delivery. Yet their aggregate impact has fallen short and is unevenly distributed. For digital technologies to benefit everyone everywhere requires closing the remaining digital divide, especially in internet access. But greater digital adoption will not be enough. To get the most out of the digital revolution, countries also need to work on the “analog complements”—by strengthening regulations that ensure competition among businesses, by adapting workers’ skills to the demands of the new economy, and by ensuring that institutions are accountable.

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[Excerpts from Foreward]
We find ourselves in the midst of the greatest information and communications revolution in human history. More than 40 percent of the world’s population has access to the internet, with new users coming online every day. Among the poorest 20 percent of households, nearly 7 out of 10 have a mobile phone. The poorest households are more likely to have access to mobile phones than to toilets or clean water.

We must take advantage of this rapid technological change to make the world more prosperous and inclusive. This Report finds that traditional development challenges are preventing the digital revolution from fulfilling its transformative potential.

For many people, today’s increase in access to digital technologies brings more choice and greater convenience. Through inclusion, efficiency, and innovation, access provides opportunities that were previously out of reach to the poor and disadvantaged.

In Kenya, for example, the cost of sending remittances dropped by up to 90 percent after the introduction of M-Pesa, a digital payment system. New technologies allow women to participate more easily in the labor market—as e-commerce entrepreneurs, in online work, or in business-process outsourcing. The world’s 1 billion persons with disabilities—80 percent of whom live in developing countries—can lead more productive lives with the help of text, voice, and video communication. And digital ID systems can provide better access to public and private services for the 2.4 billion people who lack formal identification records,
such as a birth certificate.

While this is great progress, many are still left out because they do not have access to digital technologies. Those in extreme poverty have the most to gain from better communication and access to information. Nearly 6 billion people do not have high-speed internet, making them unable to fully participate in the digital economy. To deliver universal digital access, we must invest in infrastructure and pursue reforms that bring greater competition to telecommunications markets, promote public-private partnerships, and yield effective regulation.

The Report concludes that the full benefits of the information and communications transformation will not be realized unless countries continue to improve their business climate, invest in people’s education and health, and promote good governance.

In countries where these fundamentals are weak, digital technologies have not boosted productivity or reduced inequality. Countries that complement technology investments with broader economic reforms reap digital dividends in the form of faster growth, more jobs, and better services.

The World Bank Group stands ready to help countries pursue these priorities. We are already working with clients to promote competitive business environments, increase accountability, and upgrade education and skills-development systems to prepare people for the jobs of the future.

While people around the world make more than 4 billion Google searches every day, 4 billion people still lack access to the internet. The findings of this Report should be used by all who are working to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. The greatest rise of information and communications in history will not be truly revolutionary until it benefits everyone in every part of the world.
Jim Yong Kim
President
The World Bank Group

INVESTING FOR SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL FISHERIES
Encourage Capital
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Vibrant Oceans Initiative and The Rockefeller Foundation
2016 Executive Summary :: [42 pages]: http://encouragecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Executive_Summary_FINAL_1-11-16.pdf

[Excerpts from Introduction and Conclusion]
INTRODUCTION
The earth’s oceans have been a source of sustenance and wonder to humankind since the dawn of time, supporting coastal populations for millennia and perhaps even playing a role in human evolutionary development.1,2 To this day, our reliance on marine resources remains profound. Seafood currently provides 17% of daily animal protein consumed globally, yet fish stocks worldwide are imperiled, threatening marine ecosystems, global food security, and the economic livelihoods of millions of fishers. In fact, only 8.5% of global landings are in fisheries certified as sustainable,3 while 40% of fisheries are considered to be overexploited or collapsed.4 Impact investors can play a role in saving these fisheries.

Research suggests that impact-focused investors have approximately $5.6 billion5 in capital to deploy over the next five years and have the means to dramatically reshape the world’s “blue economy.” To better channel the flow of this capital to the need and opportunity of restoring global fisheries, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Vibrant Oceans Initiative and The Rockefeller Foundation supported Encourage Capital (Encourage) to undertake research and publish this report, Investing for Sustainable Global Fisheries, which includes six Investment Blueprints, each intended to serve as a roadmap for the growing number of investors, entrepreneurs, and fishery stakeholders seeking to attract and deploy private capital to scale and accelerate fisheries reform. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Vibrant Oceans Initiative simultaneously funded Oceana and Rare to implement policy and community stewardship programs, respectively, in Chile, Brazil, and the Philippines as part of a strategy to simultaneously reform industrial and small-scale fisheries and attract capital to catalyze and sustain these efforts. Encourage Capital’s Investment Blueprints are designed to create a roadmap for private capital to further accelerate and scale success in each Vibrant Oceans country…

CONCLUSION
As the world’s population grows and becomes more prosperous, the demand for animal protein will continue to increase exponentially. Wild-caught seafood can — and should — continue to play an important role in meeting this demand, particularly since its production requires no land, needs minimal fresh water, and results in the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any major animal protein.

Unfortunately, in the absence of sustainable management, commercial-scale wild seafood production could largely disappear. This outcome has the potential to meaningfully alter our relationship with the ocean, with massive ramifications for marine ecosystems, for the 30 million fishers and the 90 million people overall who rely on wild fisheries for employment and for global food security.

To date, philanthropic and government resources alone have proven insufficient to curtail overfishing on a global scale. As such, Encourage Capital’s Investment Blueprints seek to engage the interest of impact investors in funding companies and projects that generate financial returns from the protection and restoration of marine fisheries. Although the Investment Blueprints examine opportunities in only a small subset of the world’s fisheries, the strategies presented have the potential to be replicable across many, perhaps even most, species and geographies.

If these new approaches to seafood production prove successful in delivering durable financial and impact returns, we believe they could unlock much larger pools of private capital for marine conservation to catalyze and scale fishery improvement efforts. This outcome could fundamentally change the landscape of the seafood industry — protecting our oceans and providing an ongoing source of food and income for generations to come…

World Economic Forum [to 16 January 2016]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/
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News
46th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum to Focus on Fourth Industrial Revolution
Geneva, Switzerland, 13 January 2016 – Over 40 heads of state and government, as well as 2,500 leaders from business and society will convene at the 46th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, from 20 to 23 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, under the theme, Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Critical current challenges, such as security, climate change and “new normal” global growth and commodity prices, are among the issues on the agenda…

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the fusion of technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds which is creating entirely new capabilities and dramatic impacts on political, social and economic systems. The speed, scale and systemic nature of this transformation has the potential to disrupt all sectors and call into question the essence of human nature and identity. The purpose of our Meeting this year is to build a shared understanding of this change, which is essential if we are to shape our collective future in a way that reflects ultimately that the human being should be at the centre,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum…

:: Open Forum programme: http://wef.ch/openforum
:: Live webcasts: http://wef.ch/live; on demand http://wef.ch/youtube

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly   [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage

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15 January 2016
SG/SM/17463-GA/11754
Forging Global Partnerships Vital towards Preventing Violent Extremism, Says Secretary-General, Presenting Plan to General Assembly

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15 January 2016
SC/12203
Starvation by Siege Now ‘Systematic’ in Syria, Assistant Secretary-General Tells Security Council, amid Warnings that Tactic Could Be War Crime
Siege and starvation had become systematic in Syria, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs told the Security Council today during a meeting that heard calls for immediate, unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to besieged and hard-to-reach areas of the country, as well as warnings that using starvation as a weapon amounted to a war crime.

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15 January 2016
SG/A/1626-BIO/4806-ICEF/1887
Secretary-General Appoints Justin Forsyth of United Kingdom Deputy Executive Director of United Nations Children’s Fund
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Justin Forsyth, a British national, as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

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14 January 2016
SG/SM/17460-GA/11753
Secretary-General, in Briefing to General Assembly, States New Strategies for Preventing Violent Extremism, Addresses Large-Scale Refugee Movements

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14 January 2016
SC/12201
Terrorism, Organized Crime Still Plague West Africa despite Peaceful Elections throughout Region, Special Representative Tells Security Council
Briefing the Security Council today, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa painted a mixed picture of the situation in the region, noting the completion of peaceful elections in several nations, as well as the continuing threats of terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

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14 January 2016
SG/SM/17456-AFR/3302
Welcoming End of Ebola Flare-Up in Liberia, Secretary-General Calls upon Global Community to Continue Supporting Affected Countries

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13 January 2016
DSG/SM/928-GA/11751
Helping Hardest to Reach People Must Be Top Priority in Implementing New Global Development Agenda, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Ethics Event

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 16 January 2016]
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15 January 2016
Alarming new patterns of violations emerging in Burundi – Zeid
GENEVA– UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned Friday that deeply worrying new trends are emerging in Burundi, including cases of sexual violence by security forces and a sharp increase in enforced disappearances and torture cases. He also called for an urgent investigation into the events that took place in Bujumbura on 11-12 December, including the reported existence of at least nine mass graves.

“The 11 December attacks against three military camps and the large-scale human rights violations that occurred in their immediate aftermath appear to have triggered new and extremely disturbing patterns of violations,” the High Commissioner said…

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Nigeria: UN experts to assess rehabilitation and reintegration of women and children freed from Boko Haram
1/13/2016 Press Release
Sp. Rapporteur on the sale of children; Sp. Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery; Special Rapporteur on the right to health

Committee on the Rights of the Child [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx

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CMW-CRC
Call for submissions on its Joint General Comment on the Human Rights of Children in the Context of International Migration
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have decided to develop a Joint General Comment (JGC) on the human rights of children in the context of international migration. The Committees are seeking submissions from all interested stakeholders in all regions in order to obtain a wide range of perspectives to inform the drafting process.

The submissions should relate to the situation of human rights of the following categories of children (people under the age of 18) in the context of migration:
:: Children that migrate with their parents who are migrant workers;
:: Children that are born to parents who are migrant workers in transit and destination countries;
:: Migrant children that return to their country of origin, either voluntarily or by force, alone or with their parents;
:: Children left behind by their parents (or one of them) who have migrated to another country; and
:: Children that migrate unaccompanied and separated from their parents (for reasons such as seeking employment, family reunification or as victims of trafficking, labour exploitation and child labour).

Written contributions on the theme of the Joint General Comment should be sent electronically in Word format to the email: cmw@ohchr.org indicating “Submission for general comment on the rights of the child in the context of migration” in the subject heading.

Submissions should not exceed 10 pages and should be received by 29 February 2016, at the latest. Written contributions will not be translated and should therefore be submitted in English, French or Spanish only. More information about the Joint General Comment, including its scope, can be found here.

UN OCHA [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases

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15 Jan 2016
Syrian Arab Republic: Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kyung-Wha Kang Security Council Briefing on Syria, New York, 15 January 2016

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14 Jan 2016
Haiti: 6 years after the earthquake, OCHA highlights progress but alerts the plight of thousands of displaced still living in camps

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12 Jan 2016
Syrian Arab Republic: UN Agencies warn humanitarian needs growing in Syria and region: Nearly US$8 billion urgently needed in 2016 [EN/AR]

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11 Jan 2016
Chad: UN Global Emergency Fund releases US$31 million to help vulnerable people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in Lake Chad Basin region

UNICEF [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html

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15 January 2016
Statement attributable to Hanaa Singer, UNICEF Representative in Syria on the besieged area of Madaya
DAMASCUS, Syria,– “UNICEF welcomes the access granted to trapped children this week and can confirm that cases of severe malnutrition were found among children in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya following our participation in the second joint UN/Syrian Arab Red Crescent/ICRC humanitarian mission to the area on Thursday.

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Over 12 million children have better educational opportunities through IKEA Foundation, Save the Children and UNICEF partnership
NEW YORK, 15 January, 2016 – More than 12 million children in over 46 countries have better schools, teachers and learning materials, thanks to a 13-year partnership between the IKEA Foundation, Save the Children and UNICEF.

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UNICEF and WHO appeal for the lifting of siege on communities in Syria
AMMAN/CAIRO, 14 January 2016 – “This week’s delivery of urgently-needed humanitarian supplies* to the besieged communities of Madaya, Foua’a and Kafraya is a welcome step for a population in desperate need.

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Thousands of children still need care and support in wake of Ebola epidemic
CONAKRY/MONROVIA/FREETOWN/DAKAR, 14 January 2016 – Nearly 23,000 children who lost one or both parents or their primary caregivers to Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will continue to need care and support, UNICEF said as it welcomed the declaration that there are no more cases of the disease in West Africa.

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=&comid=4a0950336&cid=49aea93a7d&scid=49aea93a40

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Press Releases, 14 January 2016
10,000th Syrian refugee arrives in Canada to rebuild life

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Press Releases, 14 January 2016
U.S. announcement on Central America refugees highlights seriousness of situation, UNHCR
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan 14, 2016 (UNHCR) – The recent U.S. announcement that it will expand the refugee resettlement program to help vulnerable people fleeing deadly violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, underscores the urgent need for coordinated regional action to address the humanitarian situation, UNHCR said today.

“The U.S. initiative to resettle Central American refugees is a welcome step to help address the growing refugee crisis,” said UNHCR Regional Representative in the United States, Shelly Pitterman.
The UN refugee agency reiterated its serious concern for the welfare of large numbers of people who continue to flee deadly violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – the Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA)…

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Press Releases, 12 January 2016
Joint press release from UNOCHA, UNHCR and UNDP
NEW YORK (12 January 2016) – With Syria’s war heading towards a 6th year and with no end to the conflict in sight, UN humanitarian and development agencies today appealed to member states for US$7.73 billion in vital new funding for 2016 to help 22.5 million people in Syria and across the region.

The appeal comprises two main elements: help for an anticipated 4.7 million refugees in neighbouring countries by the end of 2016 as well as 4 million people in communities hosting them, and support for 13.5 million displaced and conflict-affected people inside Syria itself.

The first of these elements, the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2016 covers the activities of some 200 partners including UN agencies, inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Amounting to $4.55 billion, the appeal aims to support people forced to flee Syria into the surrounding region and the communities in which they are being hosted.

“While the influx to Europe has finally focused the attention of the world on the Syria crisis and the epic levels of human suffering it produces, the biggest burden by far is shouldered by communities and governments in the region,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “We must stop Syrian refugees sliding deeper into abject poverty, boost their hope in their own future and that of their country, and do more to help those hosting them,” Grandi added.

Key strategic directions in the 3RP this year include greater investment in education and increased opportunities for vocational training and livelihoods for refugees and host communities. The partners behind the programme are also calling for more support to the most vulnerable refugees to meet their food and other basic needs, alongside increased support to national capacities and systems for the delivery of health, education, water and other services…

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

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01/15/16
IOM Welcomes Turkey’s New Regulation to Grant Work Permits to Syrians under Temporary Protection
Ankara – The Turkish government today (15/01) announced the new Regulation on Provision of Work Permits for People under Temporary Protection which will grant work permits to Syrians registered with the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) and others under temporary protection in Turkey.
“This is excellent news for both Turkey and the Syrians living in Turkey. It provides vulnerable people with a legal avenue to be able to financially support their families – something that is a priority for most of us. There is still work to be done, but this is a welcome step towards integrating Syrians into the labour market,” said Lado Gvilava, IOM Turkey Chief of Mission.

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IOM: Migrant Arrivals in Europe by Sea Reached 23,664 in First 14 Days of 2016
01/15/16
Greece – Migrant arrivals in Europe by sea averaged over 1,700 per day during the first 14 days of 2016, according to IOM.

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IOM Helps 10,000 Syrian Refugees to Resettle in Canada
01/15/16
Syria – IOM assisted in the safe and orderly resettlement of 10,000 Syrian refugees from Lebanon and Jordan to Canada between December 11th and January 12th.

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IOM, UN Launch Arab Region Migration Trends Report
01/15/16
Lebanon – The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) and IOM launch a report on migration trends and patterns in migration governance in the Arab region.

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IOM Assists School Enrolment of Displaced Children in Central African Republic
01/15/16
Central African Republic – IOM is facilitating the primary school enrolment of displaced children as part of its site management activities at the Lutheran Church displacement site in Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR).

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Egypt Ramps Up Efforts to Combat Irregular Migration
01/15/16
Egypt – Egypt’s inter-ministerial National Coordinating Committee to Combat and Prevent Illegal Migration (NCCPIM) has launched its first Annual Report.

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IOM Strongly Supports UN Calls for Relocation of Medical Cases from Madaya, Syria
01/13/16
Syria – IOM has voiced its strong support for the United Nations’ call to relocate 400 Syrians from the besieged Damascus suburb of Madaya.

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IOM Advises Central American States on Management of Cuban Migration
01/12/16
Costa Rica – A pilot group of 180 Cuban economic migrants stranded in Costa Rica since 14 November 2015, will leave the country as regular migrants.

UN Women [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.unwomen.org/news/stories

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Date: 13 January 2016
UN Women assesses the needs of women migrants and refugees in Serbia and fYR Macedonia
Despite gender-sensitive good practices, a UN Women assessment found that response-planning, services, protection capacity and information are not yet sufficient to meet the needs of migrant women and girls in Serbia and fYR Macedonia.

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Date: 12 January 2016
New UN Women Executive Board Bureau 2016 elected
Member States of the UN Women Executive Board opened the year by electing their new Bureau for the year 2016 in elections on 11 January.

WHO & Regionals [to 16 January 2016]

Syrian Arab Republic: Crossing borders with life-saving support
12 January 2016 — Almost 6.5 million Syrians remain displaced within the country and more than 4 million are living in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. WHO’s Emergency Support Team, based in Amman, coordinates the distribution of medical supplies and equipment to Syrian Arab Republic and neighbouring countries dealing with the crisis…

Appeal for communities under siege in Syria
January 2016 — WHO and UNICEF delivered urgently-needed humanitarian supplies to the besieged communities of Madaya, Foua’a and Kafraya in Syria. Much of the community in Madaya is severely malnourished with only 2 doctors for a town of 40,000.

Zika virus infection: Frequently asked questions
January 2016 — Zika fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by Zika virus, consisting of mild fever, rash, headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, and non-purulent conjunctivitis, occurring about 3 to 12 days after the mosquito bite.
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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: New Ebola Case in Sierra Leone; WHO continues to stress risk of more flare-ups
WHO statement – 15 January 2016

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO helps countries in the Americas prepare for spread of Zika (01/16/2016)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Five polio-free years; efforts must continue
By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
On 13 January, WHO South-East Asia Region completes five years without any case of wild poliovirus. This is a remarkable achievement in view of the continued threat of poliovirus importation from the remaining polio-endemic countries.
Countries in the Region have been making commendable efforts, stepping up vigilance against polio and continuing to protect children against the crippling virus. WHO South-East Asia Region reported its last case of wild poliovirus in West Bengal, India, in 2011, which facilitated polio-free certification of the Region on 27 March 2014…

WHO European Region EURO
:: What can countries expect during this year’s influenza season? 13-01-2016

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: WHO Regional Director’s statement on urgent and immediate access into Taiz City for delivery of health supplies
14 January 2016
:: WHO’s Regional Director and Minister of Health of Yemen discuss Yemen’s critical health needs
13 January 2016

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified.

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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Jan 15, 2016
UNDP welcomes the launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) congratulates the People’s Republic of China and all other Founding Members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on the successful launch of the Bank in Beijing today

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Helen Clark: Speech at the Briefing to the UN General Assembly on Progress of Ebola Outbreak Response and the Road Towards Recovery
Jan 13, 2016United Nations – New York

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Helen Clark: Statement at the Briefing on the Syria Response [Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), and Neighboring Countries]
Jan 12, 2016United Nations – New York

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1

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14/01/2016
UK Global Hub for Green Finance, New UNEP Report Says
Report Profiles UK’s Efforts to Build Sustainable Financial System

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12/01/2016
World’s Wildlife Trade Regulator Meets to Strengthen Measures to Prevent Extinctions and Tackle Illicit Trafficking
CITES Standing Committee will review progress made in preparing and implementing National Ivory Action Plans, domestic legislation, and additional measures to protect Asian big cats, cheetahs, African grey parrots, pangolins, rhinos, sharks and timber.

UN DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news.html

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12 January 2016, New York
244 million international migrants living abroad worldwide
The number of international migrants — persons living in a country other than where they were born — reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole, a 41 per cent increase compared to 2000, according to new data presented by the United Nations today. This figure includes almost 20 million refugees.

UNESCO [to 16 January 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases/News

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International Symposium on Education Policies 2030
15 January 2016
Governments need to maximize the use of existing policy levers for change in their efforts implement the 2030 education agenda. An International Symposium on Education Policies at UNESCO Headquarters from 18-20 January 2016 will look at three key policy levers; namely School Leadership, Education Governance, and Monitoring and Evaluation.

“The 2030 education agenda places a strong emphasis on quality, inclusiveness and equity, and the symposium is an opportunity to discuss which public policies can best help governments to reach the suggested goals,” says Francesc Pedró, head of UNESCO’s Section of Education Policy and organizer of the symposium.

Presentations, panels and debates will be informed by three UNESCO reports featuring the main findings of the comparative analysis of public policies in these domains carried out over the past two years…

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Online platform to improve learning worldwide is now live
13 January 2016
UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) has launched the IIEP Learning Portal, an interactive platform designed to help decision-makers worldwide plan for quality education and improved learning outcomes. Bringing together more than 1,000 resources in a searchable database, the IIEP Learning Portal offers—at no cost to users—comprehensive, up-to-date, relevant information on learning issues, from primary through secondary education.

“There is a global learning crisis today preventing millions of children from reaching their full potential. Only by improving learning outcomes can societies truly unlock the power of education and enhance the capacities of all citizens,” said IIEP director Suzanne Grant Lewis. “The new Portal is an important tool for countries working towards the Education 2030 agenda and will provide a range of education actors with the resources they need to improve learning outcomes.”…

UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme [to 16 January 2016]
http://unhabitat.org/media-centre/news/

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15 January, 2016
Season 3 of the Global Urban Lectures launched
– The Global Urban Lecture Series is an initiative by UN-Habitat’s partnership with universities worldwide – UNI – to bring the knowledge and experiences of urban experts associated with the agency’s work to a…

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UN-Habitat launches international urban design student competition
Kenya, 14 January 2016 – UN-Habitat is launching a competition to promote collaboration between Kenya’s students and their peers elsewhere and to promote the importance of urban design. The competition is being organized in collaboration with Kenya’s…
Posted January 14, 2016

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Urban Policy Makers convene for the National Urban Policy Week
South Korea, 13 January, 2016 – More than 250 urban policy makers, government officials, development partners and non-governmental actors from more than 25 countries met in South Korea for a week of activities around National Urban Policies…
Posted January 13, 2016