UN OCHA [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases

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29 Jan 2016
World: UN emergency fund releases US$100 million to assist millions of displaced and vulnerable people in nine underfunded crises [EN/AR]
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: World, Burundi, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania (Addis Ababa/New York, 29 January 2016) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today released US$100 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for severely underfunded aid operations in nine neglected emergencies.

27 Jan 2016
Eritrea: Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Kyung-wha Kang, concludes visit to Eritrea, urging greater support for vulnerable communities

27 Jan 2016
Syrian Arab Republic: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien Statement to the Security Council on Syria, New York, 27 January 2016

27 Jan 2016
Sudan: Statement attributable to the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Ms. Marta Ruedas, on the recent conflict in Darfur [EN/AR]

27 Jan 2016
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Community Appeals for US$393 Million in 2016 to Target 3.5 Million Afghans in Need [EN/Dari/Pashto]

25 Jan 2016
Cameroon: Launch of response plans to help people in Cameroon & refugees across the region

UNICEF [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_89711.html

Series from “The Lancet” provides more evidence that breastfeeding is lifesaving – UNICEF
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, 29 January 2016 – A new series of papers just published by The Lancet provides evidence that improving breastfeeding practices could save the lives of over 820,000 children a year, 9 out of 10 of them infants under 6 months.

UNICEF launches US$2.8 billion humanitarian appeal for children
GENEVA, 26 January 2016 – UNICEF is launching a US$2.8 billion appeal to reach 43 million children in humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=&comid=4a0950336&cid=49aea93a7d&scid=49aea93a40

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Press Releases
28 January 2016
UNHCR alarmed at the plight of refugees and migrants at Bulgaria borders
The UN Refugee Agency is extremely alarmed at reports of two dead bodies being found on the Bulgarian border with Serbia, last week. UNHCR is seeking further details after being alerted about the deaths by the Bulgarian Border Police. The two men, apparently, have died of cold while trying to cross into Serbia from Western Bulgaria.

25 January 2016
OECD and UNHCR call for scaling up integration policies in favour of refugees

25 January 2016
UNHCR and partners seek over US$500mill for Nigeria and CAR refugee crises

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

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01/29/16
Migrant Arrivals in Europe in 2016 Top 55,000, Over 200 Deaths
Greece – IOM estimates that 55,528 migrants and refugees crossed the Mediterranean to enter Europe during the first 28 days of 2016 – a rate of nearly 2,000 per day.

IOM to Cooperate with Business Advisory Firm on Migrant Labour Standards
01/29/16
Thailand – IOM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global accounting firm Grant Thornton, focussing on bringing together the best of both organisations to assist migrant labourers across Southeast Asia.

IOM Holds Policy Dialogue in South Korea on Nepali Remittances
01/29/16
Republic of Korea – A policy dialogue and capacity building workshop on how to better use remittances for sustainable development in Nepal brought together Nepali and South Korean government officials, academics and civil society in Seoul on 26-28 January.

IOM, UNHCR, Partners Seek USD 550 Million for Europe’s Refugees and Migrants
01/26/16
Switzerland – IOM, UNHCR and some 65 other organizations appealed in Geneva to donors for USD 550 million to support the ongoing humanitarian response.

Migrant Arrivals in Greece Top 45,000 through January 25: IOM
01/26/16
Greece – Since the beginning of 2016, IOM estimates that 45,361 migrants and refugees have arrived in Greece by sea.

Irregular Migration in Horn of Africa Increases in 2015
01/26/16
Kenya – In 2015 five countries in the Horn of Africa experienced a marked increase in irregular migration by land and sea from a year earlier.

IOM Aids Most Vulnerable Displaced Families from Yemen’s Taizz City
01/26/16
Yemen – IOM Yemen reports that the security situation in Yemen’s Taizz governorate continues to deteriorate, with continuous armed clashes through residential areas, especially in an enclave comprising three districts in Taizz City.

IOM Provides Cash Aid to Flood-Displaced Households in Malawi
01/26/16
Malawi – IOM Malawi, with funding from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO), is distributing cash grants this week to complement Malawi Government efforts to support families affected by the 2015 floods.

UN Women [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unwomen.org/news/stories

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Date: 29 January 2016
Landless women farmers receive land tenancy for the first time in Pakistan
UN Women Pakistan, in collaboration with local partners Baanhn Beli and Gorakh Foundation, is working with 1,214 vulnerable rural women farmers to acquire land tenancy rights from their feudal and tribal landholders.

Women mediators promote peace in Burundi
Date: 25 January 2016
As political turmoil intensifies, over 500 Burundian women are working as community peace mediators, actively helping to avert over 5,000 conflicts.

Statement by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, on the establishment of a High-Level Panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment
Date: 25 January 2016
UN Women welcomes this strong commitment to work together to provide thought leadership and mobilize action on the critical issues of improving economic outcomes for women, and promoting women’s leadership in driving sustainable, inclusive and environmentally sensitive economic growth.

WHO & Regionals [to 30 January 2016]

Increased breastfeeding could save 800,000 children and US$ 300 billion
29 January 2016 — New studies find that despite strong health and economic benefits from breastfeeding, few children are exclusively breastfed until 6 months, as recommended by WHO. Globally, an estimated 1 in 3 infants under 6 months are exclusively breastfed – a rate that has not improved in 2 decades.

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Libya conflict leaves nearly 2 million in need of health care
January 2016 — Peace talks have stalled in Libya, leaving millions of people in urgent need of health care. A total of US$ 50 million is required to meet critical health needs.

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Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) 29 January 2016, vol. 91, 4 (pp. 33–52) –
Contents:
33 Malaria vaccine: WHO position paper – January 2016

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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 29 January 2016 – Zika virus infection – United States of America – United States Virgin Islands
:: 29 January 2016 – Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus – Lao People’s Democratic Republic
:: 29 January 2016 – Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Thailand
:: 27 January 2016 – Lassa Fever – Nigeria
:: 27 January 2016 – Zika virus infection – Dominican Republic
:: 26 January 2016 – Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
:: 26 January 2016 – Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates
:: 26 January 2016 – Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus – China

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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Workshop on Exchange of Best Practices to Reaching Every District/Community, equity and integration of child survival interventions in ESA commences
Cape Town, 25 January 2016 – A historic five-day workshop organized jointly by WHO, UNICEF and JSI, MCSP/USAID on Exchange of Best Practices to Reaching Every District/Community (REC), equity and integration of child survival interventions in East and Southern African (ESA) kicked off on Monday 25 January, 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: New evidence in The Lancet shows more benefits of breastfeeding (01/30/2016)
:: PAHO urges governments to implement public policies that can prevent more than one-third of cancers (01/29/2016)
:: PAHO Director briefs global health authorities on Zika virus in the Americas (01/28/2016)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Thailand confirms MERS CoV in traveler, WHO cautions against continued risk of importation 24 January 2016:

WHO European Region EURO
:: Zika virus: risk of importation increases, but risk of spread in Europe remains extremely low during winter 29-01-2016
:: Food marketing, children’s rights and Professor Cyrus Cooper on the life-course approach in the latest Public Health Panorama 28-01-2016
:: Statement – After causing the 2009 pandemic, A(H1N1) circulates as a seasonal human influenza virus. The influenza vaccine will protect against it 26-01-2016
:: Global recommendations to stop childhood obesity launched 25-01-2016

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Optimism on Pakistan’s progress on polio 30 January 2016
:: WHO acknowledges Saudi progress in control of Middle East respiratory syndrome 26 January 2016

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified.

UNFPA United Nations Population Fund [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unfpa.org/press/press-release

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Press Release
25 January 2016
Global leaders call for greater access to family planning
UNITED NATIONS, New York – President Joko Widodo, of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and numerous global leaders at the International Conference on Family Planning in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, called for urgent action to increase access to family planning services worldwide, which will support the implementation of the new development agenda.

“I wish that at this conference we can discuss the main foundations necessary to build the planet that we want by 2030,” said President Widodo. “A future that ensures all women and girls are empowered to choose whether and when they want to have children and space their births, so that mothers and their babies have better opportunities for better lives.”

“Family planning is about women’s right and their capacity to take decisions about their health and well-being, contributing to the objectives of FP2020,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “It is a most significant investment to promote human capital development, combat poverty and harness a demographic dividend, thus contributing to equitable and sustainable economic development within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.”…

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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Jan 29, 2016
UNDP outlines 2016 plans for Syria crisis response
UNDP is planning a continued focus on resilience and livelihoods in its work on behalf of the most vulnerable in Syria and in neighboring countries struggling to cope with the impacts of the Syria crisis.

Search for a New Beginning: Perceptions of Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Healing in South Sudan
Jan 28, 2016
A groundbreaking survey in South Sudan seeking views on how to deal with the country’s violent past has found significant support for perpetrators of violence to face trial, and for those missing or killed to be honoured publicly.

Japan and UNDP kick start US$15 million Caribbean Climate Change Project
Jan 28, 2016
The Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a US$15 million Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) today.

Helen Clark: Speech on 2015 UNDP Human Development Report on Work
Jan 27, 2016Cadieux Auditorium – Ottawa, Canada

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1

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27/01/2016
UNEP Deputy Chief Calls for Measures to Protect Africa’s Natural Resources
At a retreat of the AU Executive Council Ibrahim Thiaw discussed fighting illegal trade in wildlife with African Foreign Ministers

UNISDR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unisdr.org/archive

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29 Jan 2016
A new science partnership to confront disaster risk
The first UNISDR Science and Technology Conference closed today with agreement among 700 scientists and disaster risk experts to launch a new Science and Technology Partnership comprising over 65 agencies, networks and organizations.

UN DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news.html

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29 January 2016
Secretary-General appoints group to support technology facilitation mechanism
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of a group of 10 experts to support the Technology Facilitation Mechanism launched at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015…

UNESCO [to 30 January 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases/News
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28.01.2016
UNESCO and Iran Stress Urgency of Protecting Cultural Heritage

25.01.2016
UNESCO Director-General and Heads of agencies discuss means to strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking
The UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, convened a videoconference call at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, with the respective Heads of INTERPOL, International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Customs Organization (WCO), to measure progress and identity future collaborative actions, in close coordination with the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Monitoring Team (UNSMT ), for the effective implementation of the United Security Council Resolution 2199 and 2253 (2015) on the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural objects.

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/index.htm

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29 January 2016 –
Cameroon receives US$1 million grant from United Nations agency to promote aquaculture entrepreneurship

28 January 2016 –
United Nations agency provides US$33.8 million to boost agriculture sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo

28 January 2016 –
Independent evaluation shows IFAD-supported investment improves the quality of life of rural poor in Turkey

ILO International Labour Organization [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/lang–en/index.htm

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Refugee crisis
International community must help host countries meet challenge of Syria refugee crisis, says ILO Director-General
29 January 2016
As jobs and employment take centre stage in the global response to the Syria refugee crisis, ILO chief Guy Ryder visits Jordan to examine first-hand the effects of the massive refugee influx on the labour market, and to discuss employment options for refugees and the communities that host them.

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Interview with Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of ITUC
What are the challenges and opportunities for Unions in 2016?
27 January 2016
The trade union movement faces significant challenges in 2016, in particular the respect of workers’ rights in many countries. Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) talks about the challenges and opportunities for unions in 2016.

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Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Labour and Employment
Labour and Employment Ministers of the BRICS countries adopted a joint declaration
26 January 2016
On 25–26 January, at the initiative of the Russian Federation, the first ever meeting of BRICS Ministers of Labour and Employment was held in the city of Ufa, in order to discuss the areas of cooperation in the field of labour relations and employment, social security and social integration in the group’s member states.

WMO World Meteorological Organization [to 30 January 2016]
https://www.wmo.int/media/news

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27 January 2016
WHO-WMO Brief on Health and ENSO
The joint World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Climate and Health Office has issued a briefing paper about health and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as part of a wider WHO effort to review the current health risks and responses of the El Nino event in high risk countries.

The ongoing El Niño event is one of the three strongest since 1950 and is the strongest since 1997-1998, according to WMO. It is contributing to extreme weather patterns around the world and combined with long-term climate change to fuel record global surface temperatures in 2015.

UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.unido.org/news-centre/news.html
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Japan contributes JPY 300 million to further strengthen UNIDO’s low carbon technology transfer programme for Africa
VIENNA – The Government of Japan is expanding its contribution to the Low Carbon Low Emission Clean Energy Technology (LCET) Programme implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), specifically in Africa.

The programme aims to promote the rapid deployment and dissemination of new low carbon technologies across the world.

The second replenishment of JPY 300 million (around USD 2.5 million) will help further strengthen activities in Ethiopia and Kenya…

…The LCET programme focuses on fostering inclusive and sustainable industrial development through enhancing productivity, creating new jobs, boosting the use of clean and affordable energy, and providing training to the local communities. It offers new opportunities for introducing innovative financing mechanisms such as the Government of Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), which aims to facilitate the global diffusion of low-carbon technologies and products in developing countries…

UNWTO World Tourism Organization [to 30 January 2016]
http://media.unwto.org/news
28 January 2016
UNWTO Statement on the Zika Virus
UNWTO is closely monitoring the situation and in close contact with WHO and the relevant tourism authorities.

25 January 2016
Tourism Ministers discuss collaboration between tourism and security
Ministers of Tourism and High Level officials from 86 countries gathered in Madrid to discuss the development of closer collaboration mechanisms between tourism and security administrations to ensure a safe, secure and seamless travel framework (Madrid, 22 January 2016)

25 January 2016
Accessible tourism: a right and a business opportunity
With the objective of highlighting the best accessibility practices that the private sector has implemented, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) organized, in cooperation with the ONCE Foundation, an event on “Accessible Tourism as an Effective Business Strategy” held in the context of FITUR (Madrid, 22 January 2016).

ITU International Telecommunications Union [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/index.aspx?lang=en#.VF8FYcl4WF8

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28 January 2016
ITU’s 2nd Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications adopts ICT strategies to reduce impact of natural disasters
Forum recognizes the key role of information & communication technologies in preventing and mitigating disaster impact
Kuwait City, 28 January 2016 – Over 500 participants from 70 countries attending ITU’s 2nd Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications: Saving Lives (GET2016, Kuwait City, 26-28 January), underscored the importance of ICTs in disaster early warning and response through the launch of two important new global initiatives, the ITU Network of Volunteers for Emergency Telecommunications and the Global Emergency Fund for Rapid Response.

Held at Kuwait City’s Regency Hotel, the GET2016 forum discussed trends and emerging technological innovations, financing mechanisms, country case studies, challenges in deploying ICTs in disaster zones, climate change issues and the role of the private sector and other non-state stakeholders. It also featured a series of exhibits featuring solutions for the most effective use of ICT in emergencies.

ICTs play a critical role in disaster risk reduction. Paragraph 33 of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasizes the importance of investing in, developing, maintaining and strengthening early warning systems, disaster risk and emergency communications, social technologies and hazard-monitoring telecommunication systems. It also stresses the importance of promoting the resilience of new ICT infrastructure…

USAID [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

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January 28, 2016
Power Africa Launches Roadmap to 60 Million Connections and 30,000 MW by 2030
Today at the Powering Africa Summit, Power Africa partners launched a roadmap to meet President Obama’s goals of adding 30,000 megawatts and 60 million connections across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

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USAID, Partners Announce Winners of Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge, Sourcing Science and Technology Solutions to Halt Illegal Wildlife Trade
January 27, 2016
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners have announced 16 prize winners under the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge. USAID will award $10,000 to each winner and provide technical support to help them advance their solutions to stamp out illegal trade in wildlife. Winners are eligible to compete for one of four Grand Prizes worth as much as $500,000. USAID will use Grand Prizes to target and invest in the most promising solutions.

African Union [to 30 January 2016]
http://www.au.int/en/

January 30, 2016 Press Releases
President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad has Been Elected New Chairperson of the African Union

January 30, 2016 Press Releases
26th African Union Assembly meeting opens with calls for human rights, particularly women’s rights under Agenda 2063, peace, and development

January 30, 2016 | Press Releases
Summit Recognises Winners of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards 2015 Edition

January 29, 2016 | Press Releases
AU Commissioner Moustapha Sidiki Kaloko for Social Affairs brief the press on Migration, Campaign on Ending Child Marriage in Africa and ASEOWA

January 27, 2016 | Press Releases
5th Intergenerational Dialogue: voices of the youth and particularly young women need to be heard and their views incorporated in policy priorities