Human Rights :: Colonial Rule/Reparations

Belgium Apologizes for Kidnapping Children From African Colonies
By Milan Schreuer
The New York Times, April 4, 2019
BRUSSELS — Belgium apologized on Thursday for the kidnapping, segregation, deportation and forced adoption of thousands of children born to mixed-race couples during its colonial rule of Burundi, Congo and Rwanda.

The apology is the first time that Belgium has recognized any responsibility for what historians say was the immense harm the country inflicted on the Central African nations, which it colonized for eight decades. Prime Minister Charles Michel offered the apology on Thursday afternoon in front of a plenary session of Parliament, which was attended by dozens of people of mixed race in the visitors gallery.

“Throughout Belgian colonial Africa, a system of targeted segregation of métis and their families was maintained by the Belgian state and acts were committed that violated the fundamental rights of peoples,” he said, using the term for mixed-race people.
“This is why, in the name of the federal government, I recognize the targeted segregation of which métis people were victims” under Belgian colonial rule in Africa, and “the ensuing policy of forced kidnapping” after independence, he added.
“In the name of the federal government,” Mr. Michel said, “I present our apologies to the métis stemming from the Belgian colonial era and to their families for the injustices and the suffering inflicted upon them.”

“I also wish to express our compassion for the African mothers, from whom the children were taken,” he said.

The prime minister said that the Belgian government would make resources available to finance additional research on the issue, open up its colonial archives to métis people and offer administrative help to those seeking to gain access to their official records and seeking Belgian nationality…

[Official transcript of PM’s address to Belgian Parliament not yet posted]

ODA

More Than 70 Organizations Oppose Proposed Cut-Off in Foreign Assistance to Central America
Cutting off poverty-alleviating and violence-reducing assistance in Central America runs counter to American values and interests.
Apr 1, 2019
InterAction and over 70 member organizations issued the below statement in response to announcements by the Trump Administration that it is ending foreign assistance programs in the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras:

“By cutting off poverty-alleviating and violence-reducing assistance to the people and civil society organizations of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, the Trump Administration is taking a step that undermines its own policy goals and runs counter to American values and interests. For years, leaders from both parties have supported U.S. development and humanitarian aid to Central America. That is because these relatively small investments address the grinding poverty, instability and human rights concerns at the root of displacement. The current levels of violence and suffering in the Northern Triangle of Central America risk severe further deterioration if development and humanitarian assistance is withdrawn.

“Sadly, the unpredictability and volatility that stem from such chaotic policy decisions can erode the effectiveness of foreign assistance. The Administration frequently views U.S. foreign assistance only in transactional terms and not as part of a long-term strategy.

“In response to this short-sighted and irresponsible decision, we urge Congress to demonstrate strong bipartisan support for aid to Central America.”

Reactions from partner organizations:
Alliance for Peacebuilding
CARE USA
Catholic Relief Services
Mercy Corps
Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN)
PLAN International USA
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC)
World Vision

Myanmar

Statement of INGOs in Myanmar on the situation in Rakhine
Published 01. Apr 2019
As international NGOs supporting communities throughout Rakhine State, we express our deep concern with the continued fighting between the Myanmar Security and the Arakan Army Forces. This conflict is causing civilian casualties, displacing communities, and worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation in central and northern Rakhine State. Echoing our previous statement from January 2019, we urge all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians in compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law

Compounding the impact of conflict and displacement on communities, since January 10, 2019, the Government of Myanmar has imposed restrictions on the access of humanitarian and development agencies in five key townships (Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung in Rakhine State). Newly imposed restrictions are also affecting access to rural areas in Mrauk U township.

At least 95,000 people living in these conflict affected areas, are no longer able to access a number of basic and essential services. Health care services, education and access to clean water have all been jeopardized. Livelihood programmes, agricultural support and other development efforts have also been suspended, impacting the food security and wellbeing of these communities. While some relief activities targeting newly displaced populations have been permitted to proceed, significant gaps remain.

We acknowledge the Government’s primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of humanitarian and development actors. However, the differences in the security situation across Rakhine State necessitates a differentiated approach – one that ensures access to locations not directly impacted by fighting and recent security incidents. A blanket security approach for entire townships deprives populations in need of assistance and basic services.

Local and international organizations should be granted rapid, unfettered and sustained access to all affected populations to independently assess needs and provide comprehensive assistance and protection to all communities in accordance with international humanitarian principles.

ACTED
Action Contre la Faim
CARE
Consortium of Dutch NGOs
Danish Refugee Council
Lutheran World Federation
Mercy Corps
Norwegian Refugee Council
Oxfam
Peace Winds Japan
People in Need
Plan International
Relief International
Save the Children
Solidarites International
World Vision

Featured Journal Content

JAMA
April 2, 2019, Vol 321, No. 13, Pages 1229-1320
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx
Viewpoint
Current and Future Challenges for Children Across the World
Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, MBBS, FRCPCH, PhD; Robert E. Black, MD, MPH
free access
JAMA. 2019;321(13):1251-1252. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.1840
There have been substantial gains in global health in the past decade. Access to energy, communications, and clean water has increased and extreme poverty has continued to decline (from >40% in 1990 to <10% in 2018).1 Child mortality has declined substantially, with approximately 10 million children younger than 5 years dying in 2000 compared with 5.4 million in 2017.2 Gains in the health of children worldwide accelerated in part because of the global compacts made in the Millennium Development Goals. The goals were developed by the United Nations system and signed by 189 countries in September 2000 to reduce maternal and child mortality by 75% and 66%, respectively, from an estimated 0.5 million maternal deaths and 12.4 million child deaths annually in 1990. These global gains were possible because of alignment among development agencies, academia, national governments, and community-based organizations for introducing globally evidence-based and effective interventions, such as vaccines, effective care of sick infants, and other interventions.

Notwithstanding these gains, many challenges remain. The daily toll of nearly 15 000 deaths of children before their fifth birthday, with many of these deaths preventable, is unacceptably high, and progress in reducing newborn deaths and stillbirths is especially inadequate. In addition, the 0.9 million annual deaths among older children (5-9 years) and young adolescents (10-14 years) have received relatively little attention.2 Although ample preventive and curative interventions addressing newborn, child, and adolescent health exist, there is no strategy to integrate planning and health care for children in health systems and their linkage to sectors outside of health, such as education, social safety nets, housing, and environmental health. Inequalities persist and are often associated with poverty, conflict, migration, ethnicity, and urbanization. These challenges are insufficiently highlighted in current global strategies or in action plans for child health and development.

In addition, global child health efforts still mainly focus on survival. The importance of early child development and the effects of poor nutrition on children for long-term outcomes were absent in the Millennium Development Goals. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by 193 countries in September 20153 are ambitious, advocate for more holistic definitions of health, and include aspirational targets addressing social determinants of health across diverse sectors. The increased recognition that cognitive abilities, health, and productivity in adults are the consequence of exposures and opportunities in childhood has led to calls for investments in improving maternal and child nutrition, nurturing care of children, and involvement of other sectors, such as education, leading to enhanced human capital, defined as the stock of knowledge, skills, attitudes, health, and other personal characteristics that enable individuals to realize their potential as productive and responsible members of society.4

Early exposures of children to violence, stress, and displacement could have serious long-term consequences. These include children and families living in the midst of conflict, in neighborhoods of high crime, as well as refugees and migrants. Such considerations for improving the health of women and children using the basic principles of human rights5 should not be restricted to low- and middle-income countries. The recent episodes of forced separation of children from migrant families seeking asylum at the US-Mexican border and preventable child deaths highlight the importance of these concepts even in the best-developed democracies.

The prioritization of noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes, in the Sustainable Development Goals is welcome but also presents challenges. The prevention of many noncommunicable diseases needs to begin in childhood with healthful diets and exercise and avoidance of risks, such as smoking. Current programs for child health and nutrition are poorly linked to noncommunicable disease prevention but offer an opportunity to address these emerging public health priorities in childhood with benefits for current and future generations. These approaches are integral to optimizing child health and not additional or optional strategies for action.

The current global focus on universal health coverage and primary health care by the World Health Organization should be a cornerstone for accelerating child health and development, yet there are strong signals that attention may be shifting. Concentrating on such issues may lead to a disproportionate allocation of public resources to tertiary health facilities serving urban adult populations, especially in countries with limited national allocations for health and diminishing donor assistance. It is notable that the most recent World Health Organization executive board resolution on universal health coverage adopted for discussion at the World Health Assembly in May 2019 does not mention children or child health—even once.6 Neither do the long-awaited restructuring and new initiatives of the World Health Organization mention mothers and children or child health explicitly.7 One challenge is ensuring a focus on child health without distraction by the large number of strategies involving health issues such as programs to treat noncommunicable diseases affecting older populations.

What is needed to improve child global health in the future?

First, to promote global child health and accelerate progress to eliminate preventable child deaths by 2030 and improve child development, it is imperative to continue to focus on quality and coverage of primary care and preventive programs8 and on reaching marginalized and at-risk populations, especially those living in insecure environments or conflict zones. This will require additional resources and different approaches to delivery of services, including engagement of communities, especially women, and working with a range of lay health workers in community settings.

Second, the move beyond survival to enhance or improve early child development is welcome. Such efforts require developing strategies for implementing nurturing care of children, including health, nutrition, and social protection, and ensuring that interventions linking early child health with the care of school-aged children and adolescents are prioritized.9 Community and outreach programs designed to reach marginalized populations must be prioritized and interventions beyond health services expanded, such as living conditions, environmental exposures, food security, and education.

Third, a revolution in information systems is needed to improve the monitoring, evaluation and population effects of health services. For example, registration of births and deaths, with information on the medical and social causes of death, along with illness surveillance, would enable targeting resources and responses to health threats. Granular information is critical to identify and reach the most vulnerable populations; child mortality is increasingly concentrated in certain hot spots that require focused attention.10 Better data and feedback are critical to optimize coverage and quality of services in both the public and private health sectors and to determine the most cost-effective integrated interventions from birth through adolescence.

The next global challenge is to develop a unifying plan for reducing the gap in child health and development between resource-limited and resource-rich countries as well as gaps within countries. Addressing the social determinants of health in all settings, tackling the needs of children living in adverse conditions, and getting governments to recognize that optimizing child health is a fundamental human right are central to the mission and future of the Sustainable Development Goals.
[Citations available at title link above]

Philanthropy – “Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund for Children”

Islamic Development Bank and UNICEF to establish a Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund for Children
MARRAKECH, 3 April 2019 – The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and UNICEF today signed a communique to announce their intent to develop a Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund for Children.

Discussed on the margins of IsDB’s 44th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors, the fund would aim to mobilise Islamic giving, including philanthropic and Zakat resources, towards humanitarian and resilience development programmes that ensure the well-being of children in IsDB member countries.

IsDB and UNICEF are now developing the fund, alongside key partners and potential supporters, in anticipation of a formal launch during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019 in New York.

IsDB and UNICEF have collaborated since 1976. The two organizations signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding in 1989. This was followed in 2017 by a Strategic Partnership Framework Agreement related to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Leveraging our respective strengths has always been at the heart of our partnership with UNICEF. Now we are set to take our collaboration to new heights through an innovative and timely mechanism that sits at the nexus of Islamic finance and global humanitarian and resilience efforts,” said IsDB President Dr Bandar Hajjar.

“Global humanitarian needs are at critical levels and children are especially vulnerable – they face the highest risk of violence, exploitation, disease and neglect. Establishing a Muslim Philanthropy Fund with IsDB will enable us to provide many more of these children with access to safe water, nutrition, education, health and protection,” UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Charlotte Petri Gornitzka…

Philanthropy – China

New Report Shows Chinese Philanthropy Sector Has Quadrupled to USD 23.4 Billion Since 2009
Landmark study unpacks key trends in Chinese philanthropy, identifies unique strengths and untapped opportunities for strategic engagement with international organisations
5 April 2019, New York – Total giving in China has grown to a remarkable USD 23.4 billion in 2017, with registered foundations increasing by 17% over the last decade and corporate giving dominating philanthropic efforts by contributing more than 65% of total giving in 2016. These indicators reflect the sector’s growth into a powerhouse for development. Published by AVPN and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, Philanthropy in China is a first-of-its-kind report that looks beyond indices and rich-lists, and details the unique evolution and characteristics of Chinese giving, highlighting key trends, opportunities, and challenges that philanthropists – both Chinese and international – can leverage to maximize their impact.

“With the new regulatory environment and rapid growth of philanthropic capital in China, we see a need to marshal resources more effectively towards the delivery of scalable, high-impact solutions,” says Naina Subberwal Batra, Chairperson and CEO at AVPN, which authored the report. “The Philanthropy in China report not only seeks to carve new pathways for philanthropists to adopt more sophisticated social investing practices in China but also enhance our collective ability to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Primed for Innovation
The report finds that while Chinese philanthropy is relatively nascent, the sector quadrupled between 2009 and 2017 – pumping USD 23.4 billion into social causes in 2017 – and is highly innovative. Traditionally focused on education, poverty alleviation, and healthcare, giving in China has shown growing interest in under-funded areas, such as youth development and environmental protection. Foundations are also looking at more financially sustainable models that can deliver impact at scale. Some foundations – such as Narada Foundation and Yifang Foundations – are experimenting with new social investment tools while there have been more social enterprises that are incorporating positive social impact in their business models.

According to the report, Chinese philanthropists are also ahead of the curve in leveraging cutting-edge technology and the country’s thriving digital services sector to spark greater public interest in charity to solve global development challenges. These innovative approaches have the potential to enhance transparency and accountability, thereby building trust and productivity within the philanthropic sector…

Health

1 in 4 health care facilities lacks basic water services – UNICEF, WHO
WHO-UNICEF Press release
GENEVA/NEW YORK 03 April 2019
One in four health care facilities around the world lacks basic water services, impacting over 2 billion people, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP).

The WHO/UNICEF JMP report, WASH in Health Care Facilities, is the first comprehensive global assessment of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities. It also finds that 1 in 5 health care facilities has no sanitation service*, impacting 1.5 billion people. The report further reveals that many health centres lack basic facilities for hand hygiene and safe segregation and disposal of health care waste.

These services are crucial to preventing infections, reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and providing quality care, particularly for safe childbirth.

“Water, sanitation and hygiene services in health facilities are the most basic requirements of infection prevention and control, and of quality care. They are fundamental to respecting the dignity and human rights of every person who seeks health care and of health workers themselves,” said António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General. “I call on people everywhere to support action for WASH in all health care facilities. This is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The WHO/UNICEF JMP report found that just half – 55 per cent – of health care facilities in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) had basic water services. It is estimated that 1 in 5 births globally takes place in LDCs, and that, each year, 17 million women in these countries give birth in health centres with inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene.

“When a baby is born in a health facility without adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, the risk of infection and death for both the mother and the baby is high,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Every birth should be supported by a safe pair of hands, washed with soap and water, using sterile equipment, in a clean environment.”

In an accompanying report, Water, sanitation, and hygiene in health care facilities: Practical steps to achieve universal access for quality care, WHO and UNICEF researchers note that more than 1 million deaths each year are associated with unclean births. Infections account for 26% of neonatal deaths and 11% of maternal mortality…

Both reports can be downloaded from www.washdata.org.

Science Journal Publishing :: Integrity

Court Rules in FTC’s Favor Against Predatory Academic Publisher OMICS Group; Imposes $50.1 Million Judgment against Defendants That Made False Claims and Hid Publishing Fees
For Release April 3, 2019
A federal judge has ordered journal publisher and conference organizer Srinubabu Gedela and his companies to pay more than $50.1 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that they made deceptive claims to academics and researchers about the nature of their conferences and publications, and hid steep publication fees.

“These publishing companies lied about their academic journals and took millions of dollars from aspiring researchers and writers,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “We’re pleased with the court’s strong order holding these companies and its owner responsible for the damage they caused.”

In its 2016 complaint, the FTC alleged that OMICS Group Inc., iMedPub LLC, Conference Series LLC, and the owner of these companies, Gedela, advertised hundreds of online academic journals and international conferences for scientists and medical professionals, and deceptively claimed that their journals provided authors with rigorous peer review and had editorial boards made up of prominent academics. In reality, many articles were published with little to no peer review, and many individuals represented to be editors had not agreed to be affiliated with the journals.

The FTC further alleged that the defendants represented that their journals had been accepted by prominent academic indexing services such as the National Institute of Health’s “PubMed Central.” In fact, NIH had refused to index the defendants’ journals and demanded that they cease representing that the defendants’ journals were associated with PubMed.

The FTC also alleged that the defendants failed to properly tell authors who submitted papers for consideration that the defendants would charge the authors significant publishing fees. The defendants also failed to allow authors to withdraw their articles from submission, making their research ineligible for publication in other journals.

Finally, the complaint alleged that, to promote their scientific conferences, the defendants deceptively used the names of prominent researchers as conference presenters, when in fact many of those researchers had not agreed to participate in the events.

In November 2017, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction requested by the FTC, temporarily halting the deceptive practices of these academic journal publishers.

In a recent summary judgment decision, the court found that the defendants violated the FTC Act by making deceptive claims regarding their academic journals and scientific conferences, and by failing to adequately disclose their publishing fees. The resulting final order prohibits the defendants from making misrepresentations regarding their academic journals and conferences, including that specific persons are editors of their journals or have agreed to participate in their conferences, that their journals engage in peer review, that their journals are included in any academic journal indexing service, or the extent to which their journals are cited. It also requires that the defendants clearly and conspicuously disclose all costs associated with submitting or publishing articles in their journals. The order also requires the defendants to obtain express written consent from any person the defendants represent to be associated with their academic journals or scientific conferences. The order enters a judgment against the defendants in the amount of $50.1 million.

The FTC would like to thank the U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health for its invaluable assistance in this case.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada issued the summary judgment order on March 29, 2019.

Sustainable Development

Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2019
United Nations – Report of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development
April 2019 :: 208 pages
PDF: https://developmentfinance.un.org/sites/developmentfinance.un.org/files/FSDR2019.pdf
Abstract
The 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR) of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development warns that mobilizing sufficient financing remains a major challenge in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite signs of progress, investments that are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain underfunded and parts of the multilateral system are under strain.

The FSDR recommends that the international community should use this opportunity to reshape both national and international financial systems in line with sustainable development. If we fail to do so, we will fail to deliver the 2030 Agenda.

The 2019 FSDR begins with the global macroeconomic context (chapter I). The thematic chapter (chapter II) presents four building blocks to operationalize implementation of the Addis Agenda at the country level though integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs). The remainder of the report (Chapters III.A to III.G and IV) discusses progress in the seven action areas of the Addis Agenda. Each chapter begins with a summary that highlights key messages and presents policy options. Each chapter gives updates on implementation, and lays out challenges and policy options on both the national and international levels.

The 2019 FSDR is the fourth report on implementing the Financing for Development outcomes and the means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. The assessment draws on the expertise, analysis and data from more than 60 agencies and international institutions that make up the Task Force, which is led by UN DESA and includes the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation, as well as UN agencies such as UNCTAD and UNDP.

.

Press Release
Major New UN Report Calls for Overhaul of Global Financial System
Posted on April 5, 2019
NEW YORK – Sixty-plus international organizations, led by the United Nations and including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group and World Trade Organization, jointly sounded the alarm Thursday in a new report, warning that unless national and international financial systems are revamped, the world’s governments will fail to keep their promises on such critical issues as combatting climate change and eradicating poverty by 2030.

In their 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, the international organizations find some good news: investment has gained strength in some countries and interest in sustainable investing is growing, with 75 per cent of individual investors showing interest in how their investments affect the world.

And yet, greenhouse gas emissions grew 1.3 per cent in 2017; investment in many countries is falling; and 30 developing countries are now at high risk or already in debt distress. At the same time, global growth is expected to have peaked at around 3 per cent.

Changing the current trajectory in financing sustainable development is not just about raising additional investment, says the report. Achieving global goals depends on supportive financial systems, and conducive global and national policy environments.

Yet the report warns that creating favorable conditions is becoming more challenging. Rapid changes in technology, geopolitics, and climate are remaking our economies and societies, and existing national and multilateral institutions — which had helped lift billions out of poverty — are now struggling to adapt. Confidence in the multilateral system has been undermined, in part because it has failed to deliver returns equitably, with most people in the world living in countries with increasing inequality.

“Trust in the multilateral system itself is eroding, in part because we are not delivering inclusive and sustainable growth for all,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his foreword to the report. “Our shared challenge is to make the international trading and financial systems fit for purpose to advance sustainable development and promote fair globalization.”

The international agencies recommend concrete steps to overhaul the global institutional architecture and make the global economy and global finance more sustainable, including:
• supporting a shift towards long-term investment horizons with sustainability risks central to investment decisions;
• revisiting mechanisms for sovereign debt restructuring to respond to more complex debt instruments and a more diverse creditor landscape;
• revamping the multilateral trading system;
• addressing challenges to tax systems that inhibit countries from mobilizing adequate resources in an increasingly digitalized world economy; and
• addressing growing market concentration that extends across borders, with impacts on inequality.

At the national level, the report puts forward a roadmap for countries to revamp their public and private financial systems to mobilize resources for sustainable investment. It introduces tools for countries to align financing policies with national sustainable development strategies and priorities…

DRC – Ebola

35: Situation report on the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu
2 April 2019
[Excerpts]
Situation update
This past week saw a notable increase in the number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases, with 72 newly confirmed cases and one new probable case reported in the last seven days; the largest proportion of which were from Katwa and Vuhovi health zones…

…Despite these setbacks, it should be noted that the recent shift in strategy of increasing community outreach from earlier weeks, is gradually yielding tangible results on the ground. In Katwa, the Ebola Treatment Centre was reopened after frank and open dialogue with the community. Previously reluctant communities are now permitting access to healthcare providers once again, with residents actively participating in the renewed response efforts at times. Incidents in the community are now also rigorously followed up to minimize any potential misunderstanding, which may inadvertently contribute to community reluctance, refusal, or resistance to response efforts. In the outbreak hotspots of Katwa, Butembo and Vuhovi, persistent efforts aimed at encouraging community dialogues saw the establishment of Ebola community committees across 16 health areas. Although these community engagement interventions take time to win over the trust and cooperation of the local population, they are an integral tool in aiding the acceptance of WHO response efforts to curtail the spread of EVD in these challenging social/geographic settings. Successes observed this past week are positive indicators that these measures should be maintained whilst continually adapting to the evolving context.

Implementation of ring vaccination protocol
There are 19 vaccination teams made up of 226 Congolese vaccinators with basic GCP training, 50 Congolese formally trained in GCP and 43 GCP trained and experienced Guinean/African researchers.

As of 31 March, 93 686 contacts and contacts of contacts have been vaccinated.

The 2016 SAGE guidelines recommend that all HCWS and FLWS at risk of Ebola in the affected areas and in the areas where the outbreak is likely to spread are offered rVSV ZEBOV GP vaccine.

Since the start of the outbreak, healthcare workers and front-line workers at risk of Ebola are also being offered preventive vaccination. Almost 27 000 have been vaccinated in the health areas affected by the outbreak. In addition, over 15 000 HCWs and FLWs have been vaccinated in neighbouring areas where the risk of spread is significant (i.e Goma, South Sudan, Uganda, and soon Rwanda and Burundi)…

Risk communication, social mobilization and community engagement
Community dialogues taking place in hotspots of Butembo, Katwa and Vuhovi health zones have led to the establishment of Ebola community committees in four health areas in Katwa, six health areas in Butembo, and six health areas in Vuhovi.

House to house visits and discussions in public forums, including in market places, schools and churches to raise awareness on the evolving Ebola outbreak and clarify related community concerns are ongoing in Beni, Bunia, Butembo, Katwa, Mabalako, Oicha, Lubero, and Goma.

A strategic meeting with key operational partners, including NGOs was held in Goma on 25-26 March with a clear objective for stronger collaboration and alignment of work at the health area level to strengthening risk communication and community engagement, informed by social science evidence. These include addressing community needs beyond the immediate Ebola response interventions.

Community related incidents are systematically being followed up to ensure that any misunderstanding leading to reluctance, refusal or resistance of the Ebola response is followed up and resolved as quickly as possible…

Emergencies

POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
Polio this week as of 3 April 2019
:: The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) met on 2-4 April 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other immunization topics, SAGE was provided an update on the latest global epidemiology on polio eradication efforts and an overview of the GPEI Endgame Strategy 2019-2023. In addition, SAGE endorsed the guidelines for surveillance of vaccine-derived polioviruses in persons with primary immunodeficiency diseases.
:: The Pakistan Regional Polio Laboratory is nearing completion with funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency. Read more here.
:: Read about the smart interactive visualization being used for disease surveillance and routine immunization assessments for polio eradication efforts in South Sudan.

Summary of new viruses this week:
:: Afghanistan— one wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case;
:: Pakistan –six WPV1-positive environmental samples;
:: Nigeria— two circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2)-positive environmental isolates.

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Around 9.3 million children to be vaccinated in first round of polio campaign in 2019
[WHO EMRO website]

Kabul, 1 April, 2019 – The first round of polio national immunization days began on 1 April 2019 in Afghanistan. The 5-day campaign will target over 9.3 million children under-5 years of age in all of Afghanistan’s provinces, except Bamiyan, Daikundi and Ghor provinces due to bad weather.

During the campaign about 8.4 million children aged between 6 months to 5 years will also be given vitamin A capsules.  Vitamin A helps to build a child’s immunity and reduces the risk of diarrhoea, respiratory infections and measles.

The most recent case of polio was reported from the Shahid-e-Hassas district of Uruzgan province, which permanently paralysed a 26-month-old male child. This is third case in Afghanistan in 2019; 2 other cases were reported from Kandahar province.

Dr Feroz emphasized the importance of the campaign and called on all people to work together to eradicate polio. “This is the first national campaign this year and we couldn’t stress this enough, but please open your doors when the vaccinators come knocking, bring out your children, protect them against this incurable disease.”

Dr Peeperkorn highlighted the effort to eradicate polio globally, calling on all partners to “keep the eyes on the prize, as humanity is on the verge of one of the greatest public health achievement in history – eradicating polio. Afghanistan can end polio for the world, so let us work together, keep our neutrality, work with all layers of society and achieve our goal together.”

Polio is incurable and can paralyse children for life. The only way to prevent polio is to vaccinate all children with 2 drops of polio vaccine, every time it is offered, until they are 5 years of age. Children are protected more with every additional dose of oral polio vaccine. Repeated vaccines help to build strong immunity of the child and the whole community.

In addition to highlighting the importance of eradicating polio, all parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen routine immunization, stressing that expanding access to immunization is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, poverty reduction and universal health coverage.

The polio vaccine is safe and effective and has no side-effects. It has been strongly endorsed by prominent local and international Islamic scholars. It is critical to vaccinate all children under 5 across the country to stop the virus, including all sick children and newborns, whose immunity is weak against this disease.

[Editor’s Note: We recognize serious inaccuracies about OPV in this WHO EMRO announcement].

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Editor’s Note:
WHO has posted a refreshed emergencies page which presents an updated listing of Grade 3,2,1 emergencies as below.

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies  [to 6 Apr 2019]
Cyclone Idai
:: Cholera vaccination campaign begins in Mozambique 3 April 2019

Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: Youth speaking to youth about dodging bullets and Ebola in Democratic Republic of the Congo  April 2019
:: 35: Situation report on the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu  2 April 2019
:: DONs – Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo   4 April 2019

Syrian Arab Republic
::  Al-Hol Camp, Al-Hasakeh Governorate health situation report  1 April 2019

Bangladesh – Rohingya crisis – No new digest announcements identified
Myanmar  – No new digest announcements identified
Nigeria – No new digest announcements identified
Somalia – No new digest announcements identified
South Sudan – No new digest announcements identified
Yemen  – No new digest announcements identified

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WHO Grade 2 Emergencies  [to 6 Apr 2019]
Iraq
:: Vaccination campaign against measles, mumps and rubella concludes in Iraq 1 April 2019

occupied Palestinian territory 
:: ·  Mobile clinic brings mammography services to remote communities in the West Bank
April 2019

Libya
:: Workshop reviews community health workers’ training modules for adaption for Libya
3 April 2019

Zimbabwe
:: Zimbabwe Launches Mental Health Strategy   1 April 2019

Brazil (in Portugese) – No new digest announcements identified
Cameroon  – No new digest announcements identified
Central African Republic  – No new digest announcements identified
Ethiopia – No new digest announcements identified
Hurricane Irma and Maria in the Caribbean – No new digest announcements identified
MERS-CoV – No new digest announcements identified
Niger – No new digest announcements identified
Sao Tome and Principe Necrotizing Cellulitis (2017) – No new digest announcements identified
Sudan – No new digest announcements identified
Ukraine – No new digest announcements identified

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WHO Grade 1 Emergencies  [to 6 Apr 2019]
Afghanistan
:: Around 9.3 million children to be vaccinated in first round of polio campaign in 2019
1 April 2019

Chad  – No new digest announcements identified
Indonesia – Sulawesi earthquake 2018  – No new digest announcements identified
Kenya   – No new digest announcements identified
Lao People’s Democratic Republic  – No new digest announcements identified
Mali  – No new digest announcements identified
Namibia – viral hepatitis  – No new digest announcements identified
Peru  – No new digest announcements identified
Philippines – Tyhpoon Mangkhut  – No new digest announcements identified
Tanzania  – No new digest announcements identified

::::::

WHO AFRO – Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin
Week 13: 25 – 31 March 2019
The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 65 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:
:: Response to the tropical cyclone in southern Africa
:: Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: Meningitis outbreak in Togo
:: Lassa fever outbreak in Liberia.

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::::::

UN OCHA – L3 Emergencies
The UN and its humanitarian partners are currently responding to three ‘L3’ emergencies. This is the global humanitarian system’s classification for the response to the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises. 
Syrian Arab Republic   
:: Humanitarian Update Syrian Arab Republic – Issue 02 | 4 April 2019

FIGURES
People in need of humanitarian assistance 13M
People in acute need of humanitarian assistance 5.2M
Internally displaced people (as of August) 6.2M
Returnees (January – December 2018) 1.4 M
People in need in UN-declared hardto-reach areas 1.1M

Yemen – No new digest announcements identified

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UN OCHA – Corporate Emergencies
When the USG/ERC declares a Corporate Emergency Response, all OCHA offices, branches and sections provide their full support to response activities both at HQ and in the field.
Ethiopia 
:: Ethiopia Humanitarian Bulletin Issue #6 | 18 – 31 March 2019

Somalia 
:: Somalia Humanitarian Bulletin, 1 March – 3 April 2019

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health :: Education :: Heritage Stewardship ::
Sustainable Development
__________________________________________________
Week ending 30 March 2019

This weekly digest is intended to aggregate and distill key content from a broad spectrum of practice domains and organization types including key agencies/IGOs, NGOs, governments, academic and research institutions, consortia and collaborations, foundations, and commercial organizations. We also monitor a spectrum of peer-reviewed journals and general media channels. The Sentinel’s geographic scope is global/regional but selected country-level content is included. We recognize that this spectrum/scope yields an indicative and not an exhaustive product. Comments and suggestions should be directed to:

David R. Curry
Editor
GE2P2 Global Foundation – Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net

PDF: The Sentinel_ period ending 30 Mar 2019

Contents
:: Week in Review  [See selected posts just below]
:: Key Agency/IGO/Governments Watch – Selected Updates from 30+ entities   [see PDF]
:: INGO/Consortia/Joint Initiatives Watch – Media Releases, Major Initiatives, Research:: Foundation/Major Donor Watch -Selected Updates
:: Journal Watch – Key articles and abstracts from 100+ peer-reviewed journals  [see PDF]

Terrorism – Financing

Security Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution Calling upon Member States to Combat, Criminalize Financing of Terrorists, Their Activities
New Technologies Must Not Stifle Financial Inclusion, Cautions Expert, Citing $1.7 Billion ‘Unbanked’ People in Terrorism-Prone Regions
28 March 2019 SC/13754
The Security Council called upon Member States today to step up efforts to combat and criminalize the financing of terrorists and their activities, adopting a resolution on the issue before holding a day-long open debate that placed the spotlight on international cooperation, capacity-building and respect for international law.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2462 (2019) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council reaffirmed its resolution 1373 (2001) — adopted in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States — which requires all States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and to refrain from providing support to those involved in them.

By other terms of the resolution, all States shall — in a manner consistent with their obligations under international law — ensure that their laws and regulations make it possible to prosecute and penalize, as serious criminal offences, the provision or collection of funds, resources and services intended to be used for the benefit of terrorist organizations or individual terrorists.

It demands that Member States ensure that their counter-terrorism measures are in compliance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law. The resolution also calls upon Member States to conduct financial investigations into terrorism-related cases and to more effectively investigate and prosecute cases of terrorist financing, applying criminal sanctions as appropriate.

Briefing the Council, Marshall Billingslea, President of the Financial Action Task Force — an inter-governmental body that sets standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, said all States must understand the ways in which they may be vulnerable to terrorist financing. With risks extending beyond the banking and financial sectors, States must identify all potentially vulnerable sectors, he added. More broadly, Mr. Billingslea, who is also Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing in the United States Department of the Treasury, said Member States must also address fundamental issues that create environments conducive to terrorism and terrorist financing, such as corruption, weak governance and lack of respect for the rule of law…

Venezuela

OAS Permanent Council Adopts Resolution on Humanitarian Assistance in Venezuela
March 27, 2019
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today approved the resolution “Humanitarian Assistance in Venezuela” in which it encourages member states, permanent observers, and the competent international organizations “to continue providing support and implementing measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.” The document also urges Venezuelan public institutions especially the military and police establishments, “to refrain from blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into Venezuela, duly respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and operational independence of humanitarian assistance, as well as respect for human rights.”

.

Statement from the OAS General Secretariat
March 25, 2019
The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) rejects the recent Russian military incursion into Venezuelan territory, which was not authorized by the National Assembly, as required by the Venezuelan Constitution, and which was done in support of a government that has been declared illegitimate.
The presence of military personnel and military transport constitutes a harmful act to Venezuelan sovereignty. The foreign military personnel are an instrument of repressive intimidation in the context of a democratic transition led by the interim President Juan Guaidó.
As previously stated in a declaration (E-080/18) and verbal note (OSG-555/18) of the General Secretariat, this military mission violates the Venezuelan Constitution by not having been authorized by the National Assembly, as required by Article 187 paragraph 11.
It is unacceptable that a foreign government engages in military cooperation programs with a usurping regime that has been declared illegitimate by resolutions and Inter-American law, which also threatens hemispheric peace and security.

Property Rights

Women in Half the World Still Denied Land, Property Rights Despite Laws
Global campaign “Stand For Her Land” aims to bridge gap between law and practice so that women can realize their equal rights to land

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2019 – Women in half of the countries in the world are unable to assert equal land and property rights despite legal protections, warned members of a new global campaign that formally launches today. The campaign, Stand For Her Land, aims to close this persistent gap between law and practice worldwide so that millions of women can realize these rights in their daily lives.

“For men and women alike, land is the foundation for security, shelter, and livelihood, supports women’s dignity and creates pathways to empowerment and economic opportunity,” said Karol Boudreaux, Chief Program Officer with the land rights group, Landesa, a founding partner of the Stand For Her Land campaign. “For women, land truly is a gateway right – without it, efforts to improve the basic rights and well-being of all women will continue to be hampered.”

Stand For Her Land founding partners include: Habitat for Humanity, Huairou Commission, Landesa, Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) Partners, and the World Bank.

“Secure land rights are essential for women’s economic empowerment and creating incentives for investment, providing an asset that can be leveraged for agriculture or business development, and offering a solid foundation for financial stability,” said Anna Wellenstein, Director, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice, World Bank. “Improving women’s access to – and control over – economic resources also has a positive effect on a range of development goals, including poverty reduction and economic growth. We are committed to working with partners to close the gap and make land rights for women a reality globally.”

Persistent discriminatory social norms and practices are among the strongest barriers standing between women and their land and property rights. Weak implementation of policies, insufficient capacity to enforce laws, and a lack of political will further compound the problem. And poor access to legal services and a lack of understanding of laws within communities and households – and by women themselves – build an invisible but near impenetrable wall to women realizing land and property rights in rural and urban areas alike.

“Insecure land rights create obstacles for women engaging in farming and other agricultural activities, in starting and running a home-based enterprise, and, as we’ve observed, in accessing safe and decent housing,” said Jane Katz, Director of International Affairs and Programs, of Habitat for Humanity International. “As urbanization continues to increase, land rights are an issue for all those living in cities as well as in rural areas.”…

The main objective of the campaign is to drive real change on the ground – consolidating local and national efforts by civil society groups, grassroots organizations, advocates and allies across sectors…

Development

Accelerating Progress: An Empowered, Inclusive, and Equal Asia and the Pacific
United Nations, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme
2019 :: 72 pages
Conclusions
Empowerment of vulnerable groups and their greater inclusion in social, economic and political realms can accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, but requires a comprehensive policy agenda that cuts across sectors, development actors and thematic areas. Creating an equal society in all its different dimensions requires whole-of-society and whole-of government approaches anchored in coordinated action.

There are three cross-cutting enablers to be tapped in moving forward.
:: First, partnering for innovative contextual research, social dialogues and disaggregated data is essential to expand understanding of vulnerabilities and vulnerable groups, and to explain ‘outliers’ in existing datasets.
:: Second, tapping into next-generation development solutions, especially involving technology and innovation, can significantly expand the options Governments have at their disposal for empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.
:: Finally, there is a need to inject new vigour in civic-engagement efforts, by institutionalizing engagement mechanisms and building capacity of civil society organizations and increasing access to high-quality civic education.

Greater regional collaboration to promote mutual learning, exchange best-practices and establish regional initiatives on empowerment and inclusion, such as institutionalized efforts to engage with civil society at the regional level, can also play a critical role in supporting progress…

Press Release
Empowering People and Promoting Inclusion and Equality for All Leads to Greater Sustainable Development
BANGKOK, THAILAND (27 March 2019) — Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality is critical to realizing sustainable development, said a joint report released today by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The report, Accelerating Progress: An Empowered, Inclusive, and Equal Asia and the Pacific, explores how empowering people and ensuring their inclusion in social, economic, and political activities can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“This report provides practical advice to translate concepts into action in important areas such as climate change, resource mobilization, and civic engagement,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Ms. Armida Alisjahbana. “I hope that the report, including its policy recommendations, are useful to stakeholders in the region to demystify the concepts of empowerment and inclusion.”

The report proposes a framework of four mutually reinforcing elements that can promote greater empowerment and inclusion, namely: rights and justice, norms and institutions, participation and voice, and resources and capabilities…

Featured Journal Content

PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
[Accessed 30 Mar 2019]

Toward understanding the impact of artificial intelligence on labor
Morgan R. Frank, David Autor, James E. Bessen, Erik Brynjolfsson, Manuel Cebrian, David J. Deming, Maryann Feldman, Matthew Groh, José Lobo, Esteban Moro, Dashun Wang, Hyejin Youn, and Iyad Rahwan
PNAS published ahead of print March 25, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1900949116
Abstract
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies have the potential to significantly disrupt labor markets. While AI and automation can augment the productivity of some workers, they can replace the work done by others and will likely transform almost all occupations at least to some degree. Rising automation is happening in a period of growing economic inequality, raising fears of mass technological unemployment and a renewed call for policy efforts to address the consequences of technological change. In this paper we discuss the barriers that inhibit scientists from measuring the effects of AI and automation on the future of work. These barriers include the lack of high-quality data about the nature of work (e.g., the dynamic requirements of occupations), lack of empirically informed models of key microlevel processes (e.g., skill substitution and human–machine complementarity), and insufficient understanding of how cognitive technologies interact with broader economic dynamics and institutional mechanisms (e.g., urban migration and international trade policy). Overcoming these barriers requires improvements in the longitudinal and spatial resolution of data, as well as refinements to data on workplace skills. These improvements will enable multidisciplinary research to quantitatively monitor and predict the complex evolution of work in tandem with technological progress. Finally, given the fundamental uncertainty in predicting technological change, we recommend developing a decision framework that focuses on resilience to unexpected scenarios in addition to general equilibrium behavior.

Featured Journal Content

PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
[Accessed 30 Mar 2019]

Ancient trash mounds unravel urban collapse a century before the end of Byzantine hegemony in the southern Levant
Guy Bar-Oz, Lior Weissbrod, Tali Erickson-Gini, Yotam Tepper, Dan Malkinson, Mordechay Benzaquen, Dafna Langgut, Zachary C. Dunseth, Don H. Butler, Ruth Shahack-Gross, Joel Roskin, Daniel Fuks, Ehud Weiss, Nimrod Marom, Inbar Ktalav, Rachel Blevis, Irit Zohar, Yoav Farhi, Anya Filatova, Yael Gorin-Rosen, Xin Yan, and Elisabetta Boaretto
PNAS published ahead of print March 25, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1900233116
Significance
Historians have long debated the role of climate in the rise and fall of empires of the 1st millennium CE. Drastic territorial contraction of the Byzantine Empire, societal decline, and beginning of the European Middle Ages have generally been linked to the Islamic conquests of the seventh century. This multidisciplinary archaeological investigation of trash mounds in the Negev Desert establishes the end date of organized trash management in the Byzantine-period city of Elusa and demonstrates urban collapse a century before the Islamic transition. Our findings, taken together with other evidence for Byzantine urban dysfunction, the Justinianic Plague, and recent research on the Late Antique Little Ice Age, flesh out the impact of the sixth century on broad historical trajectories.

DRC – Ebola

WHO reaffirms commitment to Democratic Republic of the Congo as Ebola outbreak nears 1000 cases amid increased violence
WHO calls on international community to join urgent push to end outbreak
Statement
23 March 2019 Geneva/Brazzaville/Goma
As the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) approaches 1000 cases amid increased violence, WHO reaffirmed its commitment both to ending the outbreak and working with the government and communities to build resilient health systems.

Since the outbreak was declared in August 2018 there have been 993 confirmed and probable cases and 621 deaths in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

“We use words like ‘cases’ and ‘containment’ to be scientific, but behind every number is a person, a family and a community that is suffering,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This outbreak has gone on far too long. We owe it to the people of North Kivu to work with them in solidarity not only to end this outbreak as soon as possible, but to build the health systems that address the many other health threats they face on a daily basis.”

More than 96,000 people have been vaccinated against Ebola in DRC, along with health workers in Uganda and South Sudan. As of 21 March, 38 of 130 affected health areas have active transmission. More than 44 million border screenings have helped to slow the spread of Ebola in this highly mobile population. No cases have spread beyond North Kivu and Ituri provinces, and no cases have crossed international borders.

However, the risk of national and regional spread remains very high, especially when episodes of violence and instability impact the response.

“As we mourn the lives lost, we must also recognize that thousands of people have been protected from this terrifying disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We are working in exceptionally challenging circumstances, but thanks to support from donors and the efforts of the Ministry of Health, WHO and partners, we have saved thousands of lives.”

WHO has more than 700 people in DRC and is working hard with partners to listen to the affected communities and address their concerns and give them greater ownership of the response, particularly in the current outbreak hotspots of Katwa and Butembo.

“The communities affected by this outbreak are already traumatized by conflict,” said Dr Tedros. ”Their fear of violence is now compounded by fear of Ebola. Community engagement takes time. There are no quick fixes. But we are learning and adapting to the evolving context every day.”

Despite the challenges, most communities accept response interventions. More than 90% of those eligible for vaccination accept it and agree to post-vaccination follow-up visits. Independent analysis of vaccination data indicate that the vaccine is protecting at least 95% of those who receive it in a timely manner. More than 80% of people also accept safe and dignified burials, a key to preventing onward transmission.

“Despite the increased frequency of attacks by armed groups, WHO will stay the course and will work with communities to end this outbreak together with the Ministry of Health and partners,” said Dr Tedros. “We need redoubled support from the international community, and a commitment to push together to bring this outbreak to an end.”

For the next 6 months, the combined financial need for all response partners is at least US$148 million. As of 19 March, US$ 74 million had been received.

“We count on donors to help close the funding gap so we can end this outbreak as soon as possible,” said Dr Tedros. “We will still be in DRC long after this outbreak has finished, working with the government and communities on the road to universal health coverage. We are committed to improving the health of the people of DRC now and in years to come.”

:: 34: Situation report on the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu 26 March 2019
:: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo 28 March 2019

Emergencies

POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
Polio this week as of 20 March 2019
:: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and Chair of the Polio Oversight Board, has issued a personal response to the extraordinary joint statement published in January by the Chairs of the main, independent, advisory and oversight committees of the GPEI.  The joint statement is an impassioned plea by the Chairs of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE), the Independent Monitoring Board, the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Regarding International Spread of Poliovirus and the Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis (GCC) – the Chairs urged everyone involved in the GPEI to ensure polio will finally be assigned to the history books by 2023. [see above]
:: On 27 March 2019, the WHO’s Southeast Asia Region marked five years since being declared wild polio-free, with the last case in the Region detected in India on 13 January 2011. The five-year anniversary of SEARO certification celebrated success in India and across countries of the region, showcasing how countries have used the skills, knowledge and infrastructure built up by the polio programme after eradication and highlight lessons learned from the Region that are now being applied in other parts of the world.

 Summary of new viruses this week:
:: Pakistan – two wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV-1) cases and 15 WPV1-positive environmental samples;
:: Nigeria— two circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases, one cVDPV2-positive environmental.

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::::::

 Editor’s Note:
WHO has posted a refreshed emergencies page which presents an updated listing of Grade 3,2,1 emergencies as below.

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies  [to 30 Mar 2019]
Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: 34: Situation report on the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu  26 March 2019
:: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo   28 March 2019

Syrian Arab Republic
:: Health situation – Al-Hol camp  16 March 2019

South Sudan
::  Kawthar defeats tuberculosis: improving access to diagnosis and treatment in rural areas in Syria  27 March 2019

Myanmar
:: WHO appeals for international community support; warns of grave health risks to Rohingya refugees in rainy season
Dhaka, 29 March 2018 – With a grossly underfunded health sector grappling to meet the needs of 1.3 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, the World Health Organization has appealed to the international community to contribute generously to enable appropriate and timely health services to this highly vulnerable population, now facing grave risks to their lives and health in view of the coming rainy season…

Yemen
:: Two years since world’s largest outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera, Yemen witnessing another sharp increase in reported cases with number of deaths continuing to increase
Muscat/Amman/Cairo, 26 March 2019 – “In Yemen, since the beginning of the year until 17 March, nearly 109 000 cases of severe acute watery diarrhoea and suspected cholera were reported with 190 total associated deaths since January. Nearly one third of the reported cases are children under the age of 5. This comes 2 years since Yemen witnessed the world’s largest outbreak when more than 1 million cases were reported.
“We fear that the number of suspected cholera cases will continue to increase with the early arrival of the rainy season and as basic services, including lifesaving water systems and networks, have collapsed. The situation is exacerbated by the poor status of sewage disposal systems, the use of contaminated water for agriculture, unreliable electricity to store food and    the displacement of families as they flee escalating violence, especially in Hudaydah and Tai’z.
“Our teams in Yemen are working day and night with a wide network of local partners to respond and stop the further spread and transmission of disease. Focusing on 147 priority districts, additional health, water, hygiene and sanitation supplies are being mobilized. Rapid response teams have been deployed. A total of 413 diarrhoea treatment centres and oral rehydration centres are operational in all 147 priority districts. Partners are repairing water and sanitation systems. In the past weeks, we scaled up chlorination activities to disinfect water in 95 priority districts and provided fuel and spare parts to keep going water supply and sanitation networks. A round of oral cholera vaccine campaign reached over 400 000 people in several districts. Meanwhile, community-based awareness-raising efforts reached 600 000 people in house-to-house campaigns since early 2019 to provide families with information on hygiene practices and improve the reporting of symptoms and seeking of treatment…

Bangladesh – Rohingya crisis – No new digest announcements identified  
Nigeria – No new digest announcements identified  
Somalia – No new digest announcements identified

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 WHO Grade 2 Emergencies  [to 30 Mar 2019]
occupied Palestinian territory 
:: WHO strongly condemns killing of health worker in the West Bank, March 2019
The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly condemns the killing of Sajed Mazher, a first responder working with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society in the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory…

Brazil (in Portugese) – No new digest announcements identified
Cameroon  – No new digest announcements identified
Central African Republic  – No new digest announcements identified
Ethiopia – No new digest announcements identified
Hurricane Irma and Maria in the Caribbean – No new digest announcements identified
Iraq – No new digest announcements identified  
Libya – No new digest announcements identified
MERS-CoV – No new digest announcements identified
Niger – No new digest announcements identified
Sao Tome and Principe Necrotizing Cellulitis (2017) – No new digest announcements identified
Sudan – No new digest announcements identified
Ukraine – No new digest announcements identified
Zimbabwe – No new digest announcements identified

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WHO Grade 1 Emergencies  [to 30 Mar 2019]
Afghanistan
Chad
Indonesia – Sulawesi earthquake 2018
Kenya
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Mali
Namibia – viral hepatitis
Peru
Philippines – Tyhpoon Mangkhut
Tanzania

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WHO AFRO – Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin – Week 12/2019
Week 12: 18- 24 March 2019
The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 65 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:
:: Cyclone in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
:: Ebola virus disease in Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: Humanitarian crisis in Mali
:: Humanitarian crisis in Central African Republic 

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::::::

UN OCHA – L3 Emergencies
The UN and its humanitarian partners are currently responding to three ‘L3’ emergencies. This is the global humanitarian system’s classification for the response to the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises. 
Yemen
:: Yemen Humanitarian Update Covering 7 – 21 March 2019 | Issue …

Syrian Arab Republic   – No new digest announcements identified

::::::

UN OCHA – Corporate Emergencies
When the USG/ERC declares a Corporate Emergency Response, all OCHA offices, branches and sections provide their full support to response activities both at HQ and in the field.
Ethiopia 
:: Ethiopia Humanitarian Bulletin Issue #5 | 4-17 March 2019

Somalia  – No new digest announcements identified