ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.asean.org/news
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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February 17th, 2016|ASEAN Secretariat News, Statement & Communiques
Joint Statement of the ASEAN-U.S. Special Leaders’ Summit: Sunnylands Declaration
We the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States of America gathered in Sunnylands, California, on February 15-16, 2016, for a Special Leaders Summit. This Special ASEAN – U.S. Leaders Summit was the first ever to be held in the United States and […]
Download the full statement here.

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February 15th, 2016|ASEAN Secretariat News, Press Release
ASEAN to Promote Biodiversity Conservation for Sustainable Development
BANGKOK, 15 February 2016 – More than 500 biodiversity stakeholders gathered today in Bangkok for the ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity 2016 (ACB2016). The Conference, with the theme “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development,” is held for the second time after the first Conference in 2009 in Singapore.

European Union [to 20 February 2016]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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Keynote Speech by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the 2016 Harvard European Conference: Europe at the Crossroads of the Migration and Security Crises
Date: 20/02/2016
European Commission – Speech – [Check Against Delivery] Cambridge, MA, 20 February 2016 Ladies and gentlemen, It is an honour to be with you here today, to speak at this historic institution of learning and excellence. The Harvard-Fletcher European Conference is testament to the bonds between our two continents.

EU-Turkey Cooperation: First meeting of the Steering Committee of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey
Date: 18/02/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 18 February 2016 The first Steering Committee meeting of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey was held in Brussels on 17 February, chaired by the Commission The first Steering Committee meeting of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey was held in Brussels on 17…

EU approves additional €10 million to help the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia deal with the refugee crisis
Date: 15/02/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 15 February 2016 Today, an additional €10 million programme in EU assistance was adopted by the European Commission to help the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia improve its border and migration management systems in the context of the refugee crisis.

EU launches new European Medical Corps to respond faster to emergencies
Date: 15/02/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 15 February 2016 The European Union today launches the European Medical Corps to help mobilise medical and public health teams and equipment for emergencies inside and outside the EU Through the European Medical Corps, EU Member States and other European countries participating in the…

Joint statement by HR/VP Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on deadly attacks on hospitals and schools in Syria
Date: 15/02/2016
European Commission – Statement Brussels, 15 February 2016 Joint statement by HR/VP Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on deadly attacks on hospitals and schools in Syria Today’s deadly attacks against medical facilities and schools in Aleppo and Idlib in Northern Syria are…

OECD [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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18-February-2016
Elusive global growth outlook requires urgent policy response
Achieving strong growth in the global economy remains elusive, with only a modest recovery in advanced economies and slower activity in emerging markets, according to the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Outlook.

Organization of American States (OAS) [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_releases.asp

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February 20,
OAS Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) to be Presented on Monday in Tegucigalpa
The Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) of the Organization of American States (OAS) will be presented on Monday in Tegucigalpa and will immediately begin its work to help address and tackle corruption in a concrete and decisive manner.

The presentation will detail the characteristics of the MACCIH, an unprecedented initiative designed to bring about a structural reform in the administration of justice in Honduras. The presentation will include an explanation of what will be the first steps of the MACCIH and an introduction to the coordinators of the various units that make up the Mission…

International Criminal Court (ICC) [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx

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16/02/2016
International Criminal Court and Inter-American Court of Human Rights sign Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation
The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, and the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), Judge Roberto F. Caldas, signed yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding in order to strengthen cooperation between the two judicial institutions. The signature ceremony took place within the framework of the opening of the Inter-American Judicial Year 2016 in San José (Costa Rica).

16/02/2016
ICC-Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, participated in the 52nd Munich Security Conference to discuss the contribution of international criminal justice to international security and conflict prevention
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”), Mrs Fatou Bensouda, participated in the 52nd Munich Security Conference (“MSC”) held in Munich, Germany from the 12th to the 14th of February. The Conference, chaired by Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, assembled leaders from around the world to debate the state of international security and related challenges. The MSC, the largest independent high-level forum of its kind, is attended by Heads of States, Governments and international organisations; Ministers; high-ranking members of the Armed Forces and representatives of business, science, civil society and the media.

World Bank [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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World Bank Provides $150 Million to Combat Zika Virus In Latin America and the Caribbean
Initial regional economic impact projected to be moderate but requires urgent action to halt virus spread
Date: February 18, 2016 Type: Press Release

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Forging a Shared Vision for Digital Transformation in Central and South Asia
ALMATY, February 17, 2016 – The World Bank’s new ‘World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends’ was launched today at the Kazakh-Britain Technical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Discussion…
Date: February 17, 2016 Type: Press Release

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Indigenous Peoples Benefited to a Lesser Extent from Latin American Boom
Half of region’s indigenous people live in urban areas
PANAMA CITY, February 15, 2016 – Indigenous peoples made significant social progress, experienced a reduction in poverty levels in several countries and gained improved access to basic services during the boom of the first decade of the century, but they did not benefit to the same extent as the rest of Latin Americans, according to a new World Bank study.

The study Indigenous Latin America in the Twenty-First Century, notes that thanks to a combination of economic growth and good social policies, over 70 million people were lifted out of poverty. Poverty of indigenous households decreased in countries like Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador, while in others, such as Ecuador, Mexico and Nicaragua, the educational gap that for decades excluded indigenous children was closed.

However, the report presented here today indicates that while indigenous peoples make up 8 percent of the population in the region, they represent approximately 14 percent of the poor and 17 percent of the extremely poor in Latin America. Also, they still face challenges to gain access to basic services and the adoption of new technologies, a key aspect of increasingly globalized societies…

Report: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/02/24863854/indigenous-latin-america-twenty-first-century-first-decade

IMF [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.imf.org/external/news/default.aspx
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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February 19, 2016
Statement by Christine Lagarde on her Second Term as IMF Managing Director
Press Release No.16/64
Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today:
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the IMF as Managing Director for a second term of five years, and I greatly appreciate the continued trust and support of the Fund’s Executive Board and our 188 member countries.

“Over the past five years, the IMF has adapted and strengthened its capacity to respond to its members’ needs and is well-prepared to help them meet the challenges of the future. The global economy is undergoing a number of important transitions and we are focused on helping our membership navigate these successfully—with our excellent staff delivering policy advice, capacity building and, where needed, financial support. The Fund remains committed to its fundamental goal of helping to ensure global economic and financial stability through international cooperation.

“I look forward to serving our membership and carrying out our critical mission in the period ahead.”

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February 19, 2016
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Selects Christine Lagarde to Serve a Second Term as Managing Director

African Development Bank Group [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/

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19/02/2016
Boosting Affordable Housing in Africa: AfDB approves US $8.2-million equity participation in Shelter Afrique
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved on Thursday, February 18, 2016 a US $8.2-million equity investment in Africa’s housing and habitat company, Shelter Afrique, to strengthen its balance sheet and help it achieve its objective of providing quality affordable housing in Africa. This marks an important step towards addressing the acute shortage of housing in most African countries, while creating jobs and enhancing income in Africa.

AfDB champions effective management of natural resources to attract investment
16/02/2016 – The African Development Bank, under the leadership of its African Natural Resources Center (ANRC), hosted a series of events at Mining Indaba 2016 in a concerted campaign to support African Governments in their efforts to attract sustainable and environmentally friendly investment. One of the world’s largest mining conferences in the world, Mining Indaba took place from February 8-11 in Cape Town, South Africa.

New report urges Africa to address fragility through natural resources management
16/02/2016 – The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Washington-based Environmental Law Institute (ELI) have produced a new report on natural resources management in fragile and conflict-affected countries. This flagship report examines how African countries in fragile situations can work towards addressing the causes and drivers of fragility by better managing natural resources across sectors.

Kevin Urama and Maria Mulindi appointed Senior Advisors to AfDB President
15/02/2016 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced the appointments of Kevin Chika Urama and Maria Mulindi as advisors to the Bank’s President, Akinwumi Adesina.
In announcements released on Sunday, February 14, 2016, the Bank’s Human Resources Department said that Urama has been Appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the President on Inclusive and Green Growth, while Mulindi will serve as Senior Advisor, Civil Society and Community Based Organizations.

Asian Development Bank [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.adb.org/news

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16 February 2016
News Releases
ADB to Deepen Partnership With PRC Under New 5-Year Strategy
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has endorsed a new country partnership strategy (CPS) with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for 2016-2020.

Based on an agreement between ADB President Takehiko Nakao and PRC Premier Li Keqiang in March 2015, the new CPS envisages broadening and deepening various aspects of the ADB-PRC partnership, including the lender-borrower relationship for the public and private sectors, knowledge partnership, collaboration in promoting regional and South-South cooperation, and the PRC’s role as a financial contributor to ADB operations…

Amref Health Africa [to 20 February 2016]
http://amref.org/news/news/

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18 February 2016
Press Statement
Amref Health Africa and the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) have signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership to address the health of women and children in Africa.

Ghanaian First Lady Madame Lordina Mahama, who is the current OAFLA President, signed the MOU with Amref Heatlh Africa CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa on January 31. The partnership seeks to use advocacy, resource mobilisation and collaboration with stakeholders at all levels to promote policy level consideration of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health as a major development concern…

BRAC [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.brac.net/#news

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February 17, 2016
Rebuilding Livelihood of the Ebola Affected Petty Traders project
BRAC Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry launched the Rebuilding Livelihood of the Ebola Affected Petty Traders project at Njala Venue, Freetown on 8 January. As part of the project, sensitisation sessions were rolled out in different parts of the country where the project will be implemented; briefing key stakeholders on the different components of the project and creating awareness.

The project is funded by DFID and executed by a consortium consisting of BRAC, World Vision, World Hope International and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). BRAC Sierra Leone will cover 12, 036 beneficiaries in 4 districts; CRS will cover 6,110 beneficiaries in 3 districts and World Hope International will cover 3,441 beneficiaries in 2 districts. The main objective of this project is to support 29,400 petty traders affected by Ebola through soft loan, start-up business capital and capacity building training. It also aims to recapitalise micro finance institutions to ensure access to finance by petty traders and also long term sustainability.

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14 February 2016
Primary education in Bangladesh goes digital
Prime Minister officially launches new interactive digital multimedia content to cover entire primary school curriculum

Clubhouse International [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.clubhouse-intl.org/news.html

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[Undated]
Michigan Clubhouses: Explosive and Exciting Growth!
In 2008, Michigan had one, lone Accredited Clubhouse. By this spring, we expect that number to jump to 15 Accredited Clubhouses. And this is just the beginning!

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has taken notice of the dramatic improvements they have witnessed in Clubhouse outcomes in those Clubhouses that have achieved Clubhouse International Accreditation. As a result, they have made Accreditation a requirement for all Clubhouse programs in Michigan.

Clubhouse International, MDHHS and Clubhouse Michigan are partnering to ensure success. Our expectation is that the number of Accredited Clubhouses in Michigan will double to 30 in two years, and grow to 40 by December 2018, which is the MDHHS deadline for full Accreditation of all Michigan Clubhouses! We sincerely thank MDHHS for their support.

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Latest Press Releases
19 Feb 2016
IRC Reaction to attack on Malakal, South Sudan UN base protecting civilians

19 Feb 2016
IRC: Austria decision to limit border entry is irresponsible, will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis

16 Feb 2016
The International Rescue Committee condemns the attacks on health facilities in Syria

ICRC [to 20 February 2016]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases and Articles

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Syria: ICRC alarmed by deteriorating situation in Aleppo region
Damascus/Geneva – The International Committee of the Red Cross is deeply alarmed by the situation in the Aleppo region, where fighting is intensifying, hospitals and health workers have been targeted, people have no water or electricity and more than
19-02-2016 | News release

Afghanistan: ICRC staff members released in Ghazni
Geneva/Kabul (ICRC) – All five staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who were being held since 16 February 2016 in the province of Ghazni were released unharmed today.
19-02-2016 | News release

Tackling Torture: Who are the torturers?
On 3 December 2015, the ICRC held a public conference in the Humanitarium to try to answer the following question: How can decoding the mechanisms at work in torturers help tackle the phenomenon of torture? This was the third such event as part of the Conference Cycle on Generating Respect for the Law…[overview of conference results]
15-02-2016 | Article

IRCT [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.irct.org/

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Statements & declarations
Egypt must stop obstructing the work of IRCT member El Nadeem
18 February 2016
The IRCT calls on the Government of Egypt to immediately stop the actions to obstruct the work of our Egyptian member centre, the Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, and desist in its attempt to close it.

On 17th February 2016, Egyptian authorities notified the Nadeem Centre of a closure order, without any substantive justification for the decision. While Nadeem was able to negotiate a delay in the execution of the order until a meeting between the Nadeem Center and the Ministry of Health, the IRCT remains deeply concerned by this action…

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News
IRCT issues second criticism of national investigation in Ali Aarrass case
18 February 2016

Islamic Relief [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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[Undated]
Thousands displaced as hospitals and schools targeted
Thousands more people in Syria have been displaced in the last week after attacks on hospitals, schools, markets and bakeries.

In one week, the number of people living in camps at the Turkish border has increased by 30,000 to around 100,000 people. Many families were displaced from Azaz city, in the far north of the country, where hospitals and schools were the targets of airstrikes.

A further 40,000 people lost their home on Monday when Tell Rifaat, a city in the north, was targeted.
“Monday was a dark day for women and children in Syria,” said Ahmed Mahmoud, an Islamic Relief staff member working in Syria. “The people killed included pregnant women and new-born babies in incubators. This is simply unacceptable…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases.

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Press Releases
South Sudan: At Least 18 Killed, Including 2 MSF Staff, in Malakal
February 18, 2016
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN — At least 18 people were killed in armed conflict that erupted last night in the Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan, including two South Sudanese staff members of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) who were attacked in their homes, the organization said today.
Teams worked through the night to treat 36 wounded people at the MSF hospital in Malakal, including an MSF staff member. At least 25 patients had suffered gunshot wounds and eight required surgery. More casualties are continuing to arrive today.

Press release
Syria: Statement by Dr. Joanne Liu, International President of MSF
February 18, 2016
Statement delivered by Dr. Joanne Liu, International President of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, February 18, 2016.
Today in Syria, the abnormal is now normal. The unacceptable is accepted.
Relentless, brutal, and targeted attacks on civilians are the dominant feature of this war. In addition to the countless numbers of dead, hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing for their lives. Many of them are trapped, denied the fundamental right to flee…

Press release
Syria: Civilians Under Relentless Attack
February 18, 2016
MSF reports more than one in three wounded and dead are women and children.

Press release
At Least 25 Killed in Attack on MSF-Supported Hospital in Northern Syria (Updated)
February 15, 2016
Gaziantep/Paris—At least seven people were killed and eight are missing and presumed dead following a Monday morning attack in northern Syria that destroyed a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) the international medical humanitarian organization said today. (As of February 17, 2016, these numbers now stand at nine hospital staff members and 16 patients/caretakers killed in the attack).

Field news
South Sudan: MSF Treats 73 Wounded in Malakal Fighting
February 19, 2016
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Malakal, South Sudan, worked through the night to treat patients injured on February 18 when fighting erupted in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in the town.

Field news
Malawi: Dire Living Conditions for Mozambican Refugees
February 17, 2016
Whitney Ward, a Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) field coordinator in Malawi, explains the need for increased humanitarian assistance for over 5,000 Mozambicans who fled to Malawi’s Kapise village to escape violence.

Field news
Darfur: Thousands Flee Fighting in Jebel Marra
February 16, 2016
Fighting that began in mid-January in the Jebel Marra and Jebel Si areas of North Darfur, Sudan, has forced some 58,000 people—mostly women and children—to flee in search of protection. Many have abandoned their homes, farms and livestock for the relative safety of camps near the towns of Tawilla and Sortony. This part of Darfur is a tough semi-desert environment where little grows and temperatures regularly climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Field news
Burundi: MSF Treats More Than 60 Wounded in Grenade Explosions
February 16, 2016
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated more than 60 people on the morning of Monday, February 15, after a series of grenade explosions in several locations across Burundi’s capital city of Bujumbura. This influx of wounded patients occurred just five days after two other grenade attacks wounded dozens of people, 55 of whom were treated at l’Arche, MSF’s trauma center in Bujumbura.

Field news
Syria: Additional Information on Latest Hospital Bombing
February 16, 2016
An addendum to our earlier update about the February 15 bombing of a hospital in Idlib province supported by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF):

OXFAM [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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16 February 2016
The world’s poorest should not pay for the security and defense of Europe
Governments are considering diverting limited aid funds to security and defense, and may also increase the amount they use to cover refugee costs in rich countries
A large coalition of NGOs is calling for European leaders to protect refugees while ensuring aid budgets are only used for poverty eradication and sustainable development

Governments across Europe are planning to divert scarce development aid budgets to cover security and defense costs, anti-poverty campaigners understand.

Proposals that aid money can be used for ‘preventing violent extremism’, police training and financing security costs are being mooted behind closed doors, and will be formally discussed at the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in Paris on February 18th and 19th. At the same time, European leaders will be meeting in Brussels to discuss their migration response.

During the OECD DAC meeting, Ministers will also discuss increasing the amount of aid money that they can spend on receiving refugees in their own countries, a move criticised by development charities across Europe.

A coalition of organizations including BOND, Dochas, Global Citizen, Eurodad, ONE, Oxfam and Save the Children are calling on leaders to make sure the choices they make on aid in the coming months do not mean the poorest people lose out on vital public services like education or healthcare.

The coalition strongly urges European leaders to:
:: Ensure that the definition of what can be counted as Official Development Assistance (ODA), does not include any defense and security costs or in-country refugee costs.
:: Include developing countries and non-governmental organizations in the process of modernizing ODA.
:: Ensure that refugees are afforded the protection they need…

Norwegian Refugee Council [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.nrc.no/

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Colombia
Education creates strength
Oda Lykke Mortensen (18.02.2016)
The indigenous peoples of Colombia have fought a long and tough battle for their rights. By giving their children an education, they stand stronger.

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Press Release
Closed borders could result in large refugee camps on European soil
(17.02.2016)
The Norwegian Refugee Council warns against the closing of European national borders, as this could result in large and unsustainable refugee camps elsewhere on European soil.

Ahead of the European Summit on 18 and 19 February where European leaders will discuss the migration and refugee crisis, NRC is calling on the European Union and its member states to resist the imposition of new border controls and instead agree a credible collective strategy to respond to the current migration challenge. If not, long-term and large scale refugee camps in Greece, the Balkans and elsewhere may be the end result.

“A European fortress approach, with closed borders, will only serve to dilute EU laws and values and send an appalling signal to the rest of the world regarding our commitment to uphold international refugee law”, said Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland…

Partners In Health [to 20 February 2016]
http://www.pih.org/blog

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Feb 19, 2016
The Zika Virus in Haiti
Partners In Health serves 32,000 pregnant women in Haiti every year, which puts it front and center in the debate over how to deal with the Zika virus and its carrier mosquitoes, the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. After seeing thousands of cases, experts are investigating a link between babies born with small heads, a condition called microcephaly, and Zika contracted during the mothers’ pregnancies.

Many questions remain about Zika and its current impact on the Haitian population. Until more answers surface, PIH staff strive to find the best solutions for women, men, and children who may be adversely affected by the virus.

We spoke with Dr. Louise Ivers, PIH’s senior health and policy advisor and an infectious disease expert, about the mosquito’s resiliency, efforts to control it in Haiti, and how PIH is working to prevent Zika infections and treat those who might be suffering from complications…