Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Volume 5 Issue 3 2015
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/toc/jhlscm/5/3

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Borrowing theories in humanitarian supply chain management
Tunca Tabaklar , Árni Halldórsson , Gyöngyi Kovács , Karen Spens (pp. 281 – 299)

Measuring humanitarian supply chain performance in a multi-goal context
Ira Haavisto , Jarrod Goentzel (pp. 300 – 324)

Hybrid simulation modeling for humanitarian relief chain coordination
Caroline C Krejci (pp. 325 – 347)

How standards and modularity can improve humanitarian supply chain responsiveness: The case of emergency response units
Marianne Jahre , Nathalie Fabbe-Costes (pp. 348 – 386)

Centralized vehicle leasing in humanitarian fleet management: the UNHCR case
Nathan Kunz , Luk N. Van Wassenhove , Rob McConnell , Ketil Hov (pp. 387 – 404)

The Lancet
Dec 19, 2015 Volume 386 Number 10012 p2445-2540 e61
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

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Editorial
Health security: the defining challenge of 2016
The Lancet
Summary
This end-of-year double issue of The Lancet is a moment to pause, reflect on the passing year, and consider how the journey through 2015, with its planned milestones and unforeseen global events, might shape the path ahead in 2016. This Year in Medicine crystallises the key moments of 2015: a year that continued to be dominated by the Ebola outbreak; adoption by nations of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, setting the health agenda for the next 15 years; and appalling acts of war and terrorism, which have seen murderous violence in, for example, Syria, Paris, and California.

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Editorial
Time to eliminate rabies
The Lancet
Summary
On Dec 10, WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health, in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Alliance for the Control of Rabies, launched a global framework to eliminate rabies by 2030. This initiative marks the first time that the human and animal health sectors have come together to adopt a common strategy to tackle this devastating, but massively neglected, disease.

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This Year in Medicine
2015: review of the year
Farhat Yaqub
The year, progress was made for Ebola virus disease, genetic disorders, and the health of the planet and its population, with two new global agendas agreed. Farhat Yaqub reports

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Viewpoint
The medical response to multisite terrorist attacks in Paris
Martin Hirsch, Pierre Carli, Rémy Nizard, Bruno Riou, Barouyr Baroudjian, Thierry Baubet, Vibol Chhor, Charlotte Chollet-Xemard, Nicolas Dantchev, Nadia Fleury, Jean-Paul Fontaine, Youri Yordanov, Maurice Raphael, Catherine Paugam Burtz, Antoine Lafont, health professionals of Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP)

Medical Decision Making (MDM)
January 2016; 36 (1)
http://mdm.sagepub.com/content/current

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Mind the Gap! A Multilevel Analysis of Factors Related to Variation in Published Cost-Effectiveness Estimates within and between Countries
Christian E. H. Boehler, PhD, Joanne Lord, PhD
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Joint Research Centre–European Commission, Seville, Spain (CEHB)
Health Economics Research Group, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK (JL)
Abstract
Background. Published cost-effectiveness estimates can vary considerably, both within and between countries. Despite extensive discussion, little is known empirically about factors relating to these variations.
Objectives. To use multilevel statistical modeling to integrate cost-effectiveness estimates from published economic evaluations to investigate potential causes of variation.
Methods. Cost-effectiveness studies of statins for cardiovascular disease prevention were identified by systematic review. Estimates of incremental costs and effects were extracted from reported base case, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses, with estimates grouped in studies and in countries. Three bivariate models were developed: a cross-classified model to accommodate data from multinational studies, a hierarchical model with multinational data allocated to a single category at country level, and a hierarchical model excluding multinational data. Covariates at different levels were drawn from a long list of factors suggested in the literature.
Results. We found 67 studies reporting 2094 cost-effectiveness estimates relating to 23 countries (6 studies reporting for more than 1 country). Data and study-level covariates included patient characteristics, intervention and comparator cost, and some study methods (e.g., discount rates and time horizon). After adjusting for these factors, the proportion of variation attributable to countries was negligible in the cross-classified model but moderate in the hierarchical models (14%−19% of total variance). Country-level variables that improved the fit of the hierarchical models included measures of income and health care finance, health care resources, and population risks.
Conclusions. Our analysis suggested that variability in published cost-effectiveness estimates is related more to differences in study methods than to differences in national context. Multinational studies were associated with much lower country-level variation than single-country studies. These findings are for a single clinical question and may be atypical.

Nature
Volume 528 Number 7582 pp307-430 17 December 2015
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

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Review
Rarity in mass extinctions and the future of ecosystems
Pincelli M. Hull, Simon A. F. Darroch & Douglas H. Erwin
The fossil record provides a nuanced view of ecosystem collapse over intervals of mass extinction, with abundant, biomineralizing and widespread species preferentially preserved; here the authors collate evidence for ‘mass rarity’ during these intervals, and suggest that the increasing rarity of modern species, rather than their outright extinction, may be a better metric for comparing the current biodiversity crisis to the ‘Big Five’ mass extinctions in the Earth’s history.

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 19 December 2015)

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Review
Earth Observation, Spatial Data Quality, and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Nicholas A. S. Hamm, Ricardo J. Soares Magalhães, Archie C. A. Clements
Published: December 17, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004164
Abstract
Earth observation (EO) is the use of remote sensing and in situ observations to gather data on the environment. It finds increasing application in the study of environmentally modulated neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Obtaining and assuring the quality of the relevant spatially and temporally indexed EO data remain challenges. Our objective was to review the Earth observation products currently used in studies of NTD epidemiology and to discuss fundamental issues relating to spatial data quality (SDQ), which limit the utilization of EO and pose challenges for its more effective use. We searched Web of Science and PubMed for studies related to EO and echinococossis, leptospirosis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminth infections. Relevant literature was also identified from the bibliographies of those papers. We found that extensive use is made of EO products in the study of NTD epidemiology; however, the quality of these products is usually given little explicit attention. We review key issues in SDQ concerning spatial and temporal scale, uncertainty, and the documentation and use of quality information. We give examples of how these issues may interact with uncertainty in NTD data to affect the output of an epidemiological analysis. We conclude that researchers should give careful attention to SDQ when designing NTD spatial-epidemiological studies. This should be used to inform uncertainty analysis in the epidemiological study. SDQ should be documented and made available to other researchers.

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 19 December 2015]

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Research Article
Global Update and Trends of Hidden Hunger, 1995-2011: The Hidden Hunger Index
Julie C. Ruel-Bergeron, Gretchen A. Stevens, Jonathan D. Sugimoto, Franz F. Roos, Majid Ezzati,
Robert E. Black, Klaus Kraemer
Published: December 16, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143497
Abstract
Background
Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals–also termed hidden hunger–are pervasive and hold negative consequences for the cognitive and physical development of children.
Methods
This analysis evaluates the change in hidden hunger over time in the form of one composite indicator–the Hidden Hunger Index (HHI)–using an unweighted average of prevalence estimates from the Nutrition Impact Model Study for anemia due to iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency, and stunting (used as a proxy indicator for zinc deficiency). Net changes from 1995–2011 and population weighted regional means for various time periods are measured.
Findings
Globally, hidden hunger improved (-6.7 net change in HHI) from 1995–2011. Africa was the only region to see a deterioration in hidden hunger (+1.9) over the studied time period; East Asia and the Pacific performed exceptionally well (-13.0), while other regions improved only slightly. Improvements in HHI were mostly due to reductions in zinc and vitamin A deficiencies, while anemia due to iron deficiency persisted and even increased.
Interpretation
This analysis is critical for informing and tracking the impact of policy and programmatic efforts to reduce micronutrient deficiencies, to advance the global nutrition agenda, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, there remains an unmet need to invest in gathering frequent, nationally representative, high-quality micronutrient data as we renew our efforts to scale up nutrition, and as we enter the post-2015 development agenda.
Funding
Preparation of this manuscript was funded by Sight and Life. There was no funding involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, or decision to publish.

PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
(Accessed 19 December 2015)

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Changing recruitment capacity in global fish stocks
Gregory L. Brittena,b,1, Michael Dowdc, and Boris Worma
Author Affiliations
Significance
Marine fish stocks play an important role in marine ecosystems and provide a source of protein for billions of people worldwide. Recent environmental changes have affected the distribution of many stocks, but it is yet unclear whether their productivity is affected as well. We show that recruitment capacity (the ability of stocks to produce surviving offspring) has been significantly altered by both environmental changes and biological changes brought about by overfishing. In total, these effects have reduced recruitment capacity by 3% of the historical maximum per decade, on average. This paper helps us to understand and track previously unrecognized changes in fish stock productivity during the early stages of their life cycle.
Abstract
Marine fish and invertebrates are shifting their regional and global distributions in response to climate change, but it is unclear whether their productivity is being affected as well. Here we tested for time-varying trends in biological productivity parameters across 262 fish stocks of 127 species in 39 large marine ecosystems and high-seas areas (hereafter LMEs). This global meta-analysis revealed widespread changes in the relationship between spawning stock size and the production of juvenile offspring (recruitment), suggesting fundamental biological change in fish stock productivity at early life stages. Across regions, we estimate that average recruitment capacity has declined at a rate approximately equal to 3% of the historical maximum per decade. However, we observed large variability among stocks and regions; for example, highly negative trends in the North Atlantic contrast with more neutral patterns in the North Pacific. The extent of biological change in each LME was significantly related to observed changes in phytoplankton chlorophyll concentration and the intensity of historical overfishing in that ecosystem. We conclude that both environmental changes and chronic overfishing have already affected the productive capacity of many stocks at the recruitment stage of the life cycle. These results provide a baseline for ecosystem-based fisheries management and may help adjust expectations for future food production from the oceans.

Science
18 December 2015 vol 350, issue 6267, pages 1437-1580
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

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Policy Forum
Science Governance
A more systematic approach to biological risk
Megan J. Palmer1, Francis Fukuyama2,3, David A. Relman1,3,4,*
Author Affiliations
1Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
2Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law, and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
3Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
4Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Management of emerging risks in life science and technology requires new leadership and a sober assessment of the legacy of Asilomar

Social Science & Medicine
Volume 146, Pages 1-348 (December 2015)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02779536/146
Special issue section Violence, Health and South-North Collaboration: Furthering an Interdisciplinary Agenda

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Children’s exposure to community and war violence and mental health in four African countries
Original Research Article
Pages 292-299
Holly Foster, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
Abstract
In this article we review the mental health consequences of children’s exposure to community and war violence (ETV) in four African countries: South Africa, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Rwanda. A focus on Africa is particularly pressing because of children’s high levels of community and war ETV in countries therein. Regions of Africa present important macro-contexts for understanding children’s various types of violence exposure amidst war and economic disadvantage. Findings of the review across 20 quantitative studies from 2004 to 2015 indicate consistent associations between exposure to war and community violence and children’s symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and aggression. School climate and family support mitigate these ETV influences upon children: however, more research is needed on the buffering effects of such resources. The effects of war violence are mediated by perceived discrimination in communities post-conflict. We integrate findings across studies to synthesize knowledge on children’s ETV in Africa around a model of its correlates, mediators, and moderators in relation to mental health. Emerging research points to avenues for prevention and future inquiry.

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Stock-outs, uncertainty and improvisation in access to healthcare in war-torn Northern Uganda
Original Research Article
Pages 316-323
Herbert Muyinda, James Mugisha
Abstract
Stock-outs, also known as shortages or complete absence of a particular inventory, in public health facilities have become a hallmark in Uganda’s health system making the notions of persistent doubt in access to healthcare – uncertainty, and doing more with less – ‘improvisation’, very pronounced. The situation becomes more critical in post-conflict areas with an over whelming burden of preexisting and conflict-related ailments amidst weak health systems. Particularly in the war-torn Northern Uganda, the intersection between the effects of violent conflict and shortage of medications is striking. There are problems getting the right type of medications to the right people at the right time, causing persistent shortages and uncertainty in access to healthcare. With reference to patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), we present temporal trends in access to healthcare in the context of medication shortages in conflict-affected areas. We examine uncertainties in access to care, and how patients, medical practitioners, and the state – the key actors in the domain of supplying and utilizing medicines, respond. Our observation is that, while improvisation is a feature of biomedicine and facilitates problem solving in daily life, it is largely contextual. Given the rapidly evolving contexts and social and professional sensitivities that characterize war affected areas, there is a need for deliberate healthcare programs tailored to the unique needs of people and to the shaping of appropriate policies in post-conflict settings, which call for more North-South collaboration on equal terms.

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Preventing gender-based violence engendered by conflict: The case of Côte d’Ivoire
Original Research Article
Pages 341-347
Morkeh Blay-Tofey, Bandy X. Lee
Abstract
Despite a growing awareness of the increased prevalence of intimate partner violence and sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict settings, much less is known about the dynamics, as well as the interventions that would be effective at individual, relational, and structural levels. In addition to the human capital lost by conflict violence, gender-based violence (GBV) poses a grave threat to the post-conflict rehabilitation process. With regard to violence that occurs during and post conflict, research must take into consideration the different types of violence that share similar causes as the larger conflict as well as become widespread as a result of the conflict and use existing frameworks to build future interventions. Researchers are trying to understand the interplay of personal, situational, and socio-cultural factors in conflict settings that combine to cause GBV and lead to guidelines for program planning to address the health and social needs of survivors as well as to prevent further GBV. These actions result from a growing recognition that violence represents a serious public health problem, is an important cause of many physical and psychological illnesses, and can cause social disruptions that impede reconstruction efforts for generations. This review studies the manifestations of GBV during and following the Ivoirian Civil War, juxtaposes them against narratives, as well as lists relevant interventions at the individual, relational, community, and institutional levels. Part of a growing literature that aims to better understand the nature of violence during and after conflict and to plan effective responses to it, this study hopes to suggest solutions for the situation of Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere.

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‘He always thinks he is nothing’: The psychosocial impact of discrimination on adolescent refugees in urban Uganda
Original Research Article
Pages 173-181
Lindsay Stark, Willyanne DeCormier Plosky, Rebecca Horn, Mark Canavera
Abstract
Armed conflict causes massive displacement, erodes the social fabric of communities, and threatens the healthy development of a nation’s future – its youth. Although more than half of the world’s registered refugees under the age of eighteen currently reside in urban areas, research on the unique needs of and realities experienced by this population remain limited. In Uganda, as in many refugee-receiving countries, most regulated refugee protections and entitlements fail to extend beyond the confines of official settlements or camps. This dearth of support, in combination with few material resources, uncertain local connections, and little knowledge of the language, leaves refugee families vulnerable to the added burden of an unwelcome reception in cities. Drawing on qualitative data from a study conducted in March and April 2013 with Congolese and Somali adolescents, caregivers, and service providers in refugee settlements in Kampala, this manuscript explores the pervasive nature of discrimination against urban refugees and its effects upon adolescent well-being. Findings suggest that discrimination not only negatively impacts acculturation as youth pursue social recognition in the classroom and among neighborhood peers, but it also impedes help-seeking behavior by caregivers and restricts their ability to ameliorate protection concerns, thereby lowering adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Youth reported low self-worth, withdrawal from school, and an adverse turn toward street connections. Targeted and innovative strategies along with reformed policies that address the unique challenges facing urban refugees are paramount to ensuring that young people in this population experience greater protection, well-being, and future success.

Tropical Medicine and Health
Vol. 43(2015) No. 4
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/tmh/43/0/_contents

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Original Papers
Occupational Stress among Textile Workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Panda Lukongo Kitronza, Philippe Mairiaux
Released: December 12, 2015
[Advance Publication] Released: August 20, 2015

Field Reports
“Ten Minimum Requirement”: A Management Tool to Improve Quality of Healthcare Services in Lao People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)
Koji Wada, Sommana Rattana, Chanphomma Vongsamphanh
Released: December 12, 2015
[Advance Publication] Released: October 03, 2015]

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 12 December 2015

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 &
Founding Managing Director
GE2P2 – Center for Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net

pdf version: The Sentinel_ week ending 12 December 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries  posted below on 15 December 2015

COP21

Editor’s Note:
COP21 concluded this evening with the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Analysis of the details is just emerging but we include the press release and a link to the text of the agreement below.

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Historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change
195 Nations Set Path to Keep Temperature Rise Well Below 2 Degrees Celsius
Paris, 12 December 2015 – An historic agreement to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low carbon, resilient and sustainable future was agreed by 195 nations in Paris today.

The Paris Agreement for the first time brings all nations into a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.

The universal agreement’s main aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The 1.5 degree Celsius limit is a significantly safer defense line against the worst impacts of a changing climate.

Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability to deal with the impacts of climate change.

To reach these ambitious and important goals, appropriate financial flows will be put in place, thus making stronger action by developing countries and the most vulnerable possible, in line with their own national objectives.

“The Paris Agreement allows each delegation and group of countries to go back home with their heads held high. Our collective effort is worth more than the sum of our individual effort. Our responsibility to history is immense” said Laurent Fabius, President of the COP 21 UN Climate change conference and French Foreign Minister.

The minister, his emotion showing as delegates started to rise to their feet, brought the final gavel down on the agreement to open and sustained acclamation across the plenary hall.

French President Francois Hollande told the assembled delegates: “You’ve done it, reached an ambitious agreement, a binding agreement, a universal agreement. Never will I be able to express more gratitude to a conference. You can be proud to stand before your children and grandchildren.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: “We have entered a new era of global cooperation on one of the most complex issues ever to confront humanity. For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb emissions, strengthen resilience and join in common cause to take common climate action. This is a resounding success for multilateralism.”…

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Adoption of the Paris Agreement. Proposal by the President.
FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1
UNFCCC. Conference of the Parties (COP)
Pdf: EN

Climate Change and Human Rights
UNEP [in cooperation with Columbia Law School]
December 2015 :: 56 pages
Pdf: Download Full Report

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Introduction
The natural environment provides human beings and the communities in which we live with the resources we need to achieve lives of dignity and well-being – clean air to breathe; clean water to drink; food to eat; fuels for energy; protection from storms, floods, fires and drought; climate regulation and disease control; and places to congregate for aesthetic, recreational and spiritual enjoyment. These environmental endowments—often referred to as ecosystem services—are at once essential to core survival and vital to human flourishing. As the nations of the world declared in The Future We Want, the outcome document of the 2012 Rio+20 conference, sustainable development requires that we angle toward “harmony with nature.”1 To achieve this idea, we must balance economic, social and human development with “ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges.”2

The nature of the linkages between the environment and human rights has been debated for years. However, it has long been recognized that a clean, healthy and functional environment is integral to the enjoyment of human rights, such as the rights to life, health, food and an adequate standard of living. This recognition offers one reason the international community has banded together through multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to prohibit illegal trade in wildlife, to preserve biodiversity and marine and terrestrial habitats, to reduce transboundary pollution, and to prevent other behaviors that harm the planet and its residents. In short: Environmental protection protects human rights. At the same time, adherence to human rights—such as those that ensure public access to information and participation in decision making—contributes to more just decisions about the utilization and protection of environmental resources, and protects against the potential for abuse under the auspices of environmental action. Thus, domestic environmental laws and MEAs can both be strengthened through the incorporation of human rights principles, even as they contribute to the ongoing realization of human rights.

Anthropogenic climate change is the largest, most pervasive threat to the natural environment and human rights of our time. Climate change has already begun to have far-reaching environmental impacts, including many adverse effects on wildlife, natural resources and the ecological processes that support access to clean water, food, and other basic human needs. These impacts, combined with direct harms to people, property, and physical infrastructure, pose a serious threat to the enjoyment and exercise of human rights across the world.3 The mandate to take immediate action to both reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change and enact measures that reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to climate change impacts is clear. Yet, certain responses to climate change—including both mitigation and adaptation activities—can also interfere with human rights, as has been the case for a number of hydroelectric and biofuel projects undertaken, in part, to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. It is critical that as the world endeavors to address the “super wicked” problem of climate change it do so with full respect for human rights.

Over the course of the last decade the international community has arrived at a clear consensus on all of these issues. Yet, while United Nations agencies and national governments have explicitly acknowledged that climate change and responses to climate change can impair human rights, there has been less agreement on the corresponding obligations of governments and private actors to address this problem. The purpose of this report is to inform the decisions undertaken by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP-21, as well as other activities undertaken by governments and private actors, by providing an up-to-date assessment of the relationship between climate change and human rights law and by making recommendations for incorporating a human rights lens into international and domestic climate action. Part I describes the latest projections and observations of how climate change impacts and responses can affect the environment, individuals and communities and the exercise of human rights. Part II summarizes the obligations of governments and private actors to respond to these impacts. Part III discusses the implementation of these obligations, focusing primarily on activities undertaken by national governments either within or outside of the UNFCCC context. Part IV provides recommendations on how the COP, national governments, and other actors can better integrate human rights considerations into their mitigation and adaptation activities.
1 UN GA Res. 66/288, The Future We Want, p. 40, UN Doc. A/RES/66/288 (July 7, 2012).
2 Id. p. 4.
3 See, e.g., UNHRC Resolutions 10/4 (March 25, 2009), 18/22 (Oct. 17, 2011), and 26/27 (June 27, 2014).

Global Humanitarian Overview for 2016 – A Consolidated Appeal to Support People Affected by Disaster and Conflict
UN OCHA
December 2015:: 36 pages
PDF: http://bit.ly/1OMQMQy

Executive Summary [Excerpts]
The outlook for 2016 is grim. Millions of civilians, uprooted from their homes by violent and prolonged conflict, will remain in desperate need of protection and humanitarian assistance.
About 60 million people are displaced around the world, and more than a quarter of these displacements are due to the conflicts in Iraq, South Sudan and Syria. Conflict has scarred people’s lives, robbed them of dignity, and shattered economies, livelihoods and vital infrastructure, including health facilities and schools. Humanitarian partners require $20.1 billion to meet the needs of over 87.6 million people in 37 countries around the world….

…Despite the extreme challenges and severe access restrictions, humanitarian organizations continue to reach more people than ever. During 2015, humanitarian partners in Sudan assisted more than 2 million people with health services and some 3.1 million people with food and agricultural inputs. Over 25,000 newly displaced households and 120,000 South Sudanese refugees received shelter materials and essential household supplies. Some 83,000 children under age 5 were treated for severe acute malnutrition, and 1.6 million people were given access to improved drinking water. But despite donors’ generosity, the gap between needs and funding has continued to grow, and there is no quick fix. The funding gap means that 1.2 million sick and injured people in Libya will not be able to access health care. Nearly 100,000 children will miss out on an education, and millions will continue to be exposed to threats to their safety and dignity. In Afghanistan, the funding gap means a further reduction in reach to the estimated 1 million malnourished children (current treatment reaches fewer than 30 per cent of children in need).

Underfunding also means that more children die before their fifth birthday and suffer stunting due to malnutrition. More women die in childbirth; more people suffer from preventable diseases; more children lose the opportunity to build a future through education; and less protection is given to the most vulnerable displaced people, increasing the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, especially for girls and women. It also means that more farmers are forced to
use their seeds for food instead of crops, starting another cycle of poverty and deprivation.

Addressing underfunding requires a range of measures. It will mean adjusting the approach to protracted crises and disasters, including those in middle-income countries. Potential solutions include leveraging diverse funding sources; using the right mix of financial instruments for each situation and investing more in preparedness. Funding mechanisms, such as the Central Emergency Response Fund and the country-based pooled funds, can effectively support a rapid humanitarian response and underfunded emergencies. The use of cash programming will ensure an efficient, cost-effective response that gives people dignity and choice.

Faced with ever-growing needs, we rely on the international community, Governments and the public to give their support and resources — financially and in kind — to allow us to continue humanitarian action. Our shared aims are to end suffering, meet the immediate needs of
crisis-affected people, keep them safe.

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OCHA Press Conference – Launch of the Global Humanitarian Appeal 2016 (Geneva, 7 December 2015)
7 Dec 2015
Video: 00:41:43
Launch of the Global Humanitarian Appeal 2016 to support people affected by disasters and conflicts. The appeal combines response plans and urgent humanitarian requirements spanning 37 countries.

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Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien Remarks at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2016
Geneva 7 December 2015

“As the Covenants turn 50, it is time to turn norms into action” – UN experts
Human Rights Day – Thursday 10 December 2015

GENEVA (9 December 2015) – Speaking ahead of Human Rights Day 2015, the largest body of independent experts of the United Nations Human Rights system renews its commitment with the implementation of the Covenants, the two key human rights treaties which, together with the Universal Declaration on Human rights, form the International Bill of Human Rights.

On Human Rights Day, the 55 independent mechanisms of the Human Rights Council –‘Special Procedures’– join a year-long campaign* to promote full ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966.

“The Covenants have spurred considerable normative developments and institutional building at international level, which have been matched by developments at national and local levels. Around the world, courts and tribunals, national human rights institutions, civil society activism and increasing public awareness have all contributed to making human rights a major legitimacy test for public and private policies and practices. We call for their universal ratification.

Despite these positive developments, human rights remain under severe threat, including from conflict, poverty and inequality, the adverse impact of climate change, the backlash against women’s human rights, abuses by non-state actors and attacks against the universality of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Faced with these multiple challenges, determination to redress these violations as well as address their root causes should be even stronger. All must play their part in ensuring that each and every human right codified in these Covenants is guaranteed and implemented in practice for all human beings without discrimination. The interrelatedness and interdependence between all rights must be recognized; no human right can be fully enjoyed in isolation.

As independent experts covering 55 human rights mandates, we help transform norms into reality. We strive for positive change in people’s lives by undertaking critical analysis of State practice in compliance with their obligations and of the impact of private actors on human rights. By reaching out equally to all parts of society, from senior government officials to grassroots communities we identify early signs of human rights violations and call for timely action.

We urge all States to live-up to their duty to respect human rights and to fully cooperate with all of us as mandate holders appointed according to the rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council. States should honour their standing invitations and accept requests for country visits and provide timely and substantive responses to alleged human rights violations that we bring to their attention.

Civil society is a key partner in improving the situation of human rights worldwide and in the fulfilment of our mandates. We strongly encourage civil society to continue to engage with us. Victims of human rights violations, their family members, witnesses, human rights defenders and members of civil society must be able to cooperate with us freely without fear of intimidation, reprisals or censorship. We call all States to ensure that all such acts are halted immediately and break the cycle of impunity by holding the perpetrators accountable.

Full cooperation from all concerned, in particular States, is indispensable. Recognizing human rights challenges and asking for assistance in facing them will only demonstrate the maturity of political leaders and their genuine commitment to uphold the dignity of all people. The 2030 agenda provides an excellent opportunity to develop a more holistic approach in which continued engagement will ultimately foster improvement of the situation of human rights.

The adoption of the Covenants was a strong affirmation that all human beings have inalienable rights and freedoms. Half a century later, let us all make this conviction a daily reality for all.”

Security Council, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2250 (2015), Urges Member States to Increase Representation of Youth in Decision-Making at All Levels
9 December 2015
SC/12149
Recognizing the threat to stability and development posed by the rise of radicalization among young people, the Security Council today urged Member States to consider ways to give youth a greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2250 (2015), which defined youth as persons aged 18 through 29, the Council also urged Member States to consider setting up mechanisms that would enable young people to participate meaningfully in peace processes and dispute resolution.

Prior to its adoption, Jordan’s representative, Dina Kawar, said the resolution — considered the first of its kind on youth, peace and security — followed efforts by the Prince of Jordan, public discussions on combating violent extremism, and the Global Forum on Youth Peace and Security that took place in Amman in August.

“What we seek is to draw the world’s attention to ensure that young people are given the attention they deserve at a time when the world is a theatre for an increasing number of negative issues,” she said.

By the terms of its resolution, the Council recognized that today’s generation of youth is the largest the world has ever known, and accounted for many of those civilians affected by armed conflict, including as refugees and displaced persons.

But it expressed concern over the increased use of the Internet by terrorists and their supporters to recruit and incite youth to commit terrorist acts, and underlined the need for Member States to work together to prevent terrorists from exploiting new technologies.

Youth, the Council said, should be actively engaged in shaping lasting peace and contributing to justice and reconciliation, as they represented “a unique demographic dividend that can contribute to lasting peace and prosperity” if inclusive policies were put in place.

Member States were encouraged to engage local communities and non-governmental actors “in developing strategies to counter the violent extremist narrative that can incite terrorist acts”.
They were also encouraged to address conditions conducive to the spread of violent extremism by empowering youth, families, women, religious, cultural and education leaders and other concerned groups in civil society, and by adopting “tailored approaches” to counter recruitment to violent extremism.

By other terms, the resolution called for the participation and views of youth to be taken into account during the negotiation and implementation of peace agreements, as their marginalization would be detrimental to building sustainable peace in such aspects as repatriation, resettlement and reconstruction.

Resolution: The full text of resolution 2250 (2015) is available here.

700+ Organizations in 116 Countries Say Universal Health Coverage is Right, Smart, and Overdue
December 11, 2015
Global leaders urged to ensure all people can access essential health services without facing financial hardship

NEW YORK – On the second annual Universal Health Coverage Day on 12 December 2015, a coalition of more than 700 organizations in 116 countries will come together to say that universal health coverage is right, smart, and overdue. The coalition will urge world leaders to deliver on promises to achieve universal health coverage because health is a human right that reduces poverty, fuels economic growth, and builds resilience to threats from disease outbreaks to climate change.

On Universal Health Coverage Day 2015, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are still waiting for access to lifesaving health services or fall into poverty paying for needed health care. To address these inequities, more than 100 countries across the income spectrum have begun working toward universal health coverage, increasingly demonstrating its feasibility.

“When The Rockefeller Foundation first began its work to advance universal health coverage, it seemed to many to be a pipedream. Today, we are truly inspired to see how rapidly support for universal health coverage has grown, including its recent recognition in the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “Universal health coverage is key to building resilient health systems that make both people and planet healthier in the face the increasingly common shocks and stresses posed by climate change, urbanization, and globalization.”

Universal Health Coverage Day, inaugurated by The Rockefeller Foundation, marks the anniversary of the United Nations’ unanimous 2012 resolution urging governments to ensure universal access to quality health care without financial hardship.

“Universal health coverage is one of the most powerful social equalizers among all policy options,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “The global community has recognized this approach as a pro-poor pillar of sustainable development that builds social cohesion and stability – valued assets for every country.”

“Governments have everything to gain when they prioritize human health – it is an investment. I am hopeful for global progress because universal health coverage has been included in the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health, Rwanda.

Progress toward Health for All
New events and initiatives show growing global momentum to deliver universal health coverage and offer an opportunity to further accelerate progress:

:: High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines: To address serious gaps in access to lifesaving health interventions, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has established a new High-Level Panel tasked with ensuring access to medicines is improved around the world. The panel, which convenes for the first time on 11 and 12 December, demonstrates commitment to improve health access at the highest level of the United Nations.

:: International Conference on Universal Health Coverage in the New Development Era: Next week in Japan, Bill Gates, Margaret Chan, Jim Yong Kim, and other global health leaders will gather for a major conference on the role of universal health coverage in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. Co-hosted by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in conjunction with its replenishment meeting, the conference will examine the critical link between building strong health systems and stopping the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

:: Sustainable Development Goals: The Sustainable Development Goals officially launch on 1 January 2016, and include achieving universal health coverage among their many targets. Coalition members are urging world leaders to prioritize universal health coverage as a foundational investment that can drive progress on all health objectives and advance the overarching goal of ending extreme poverty.

There is increasing evidence that universal health coverage is a smart investment. Earlier this year, The Rockefeller Foundation convened the Economists’ Declaration on Universal Health Coverage, a landmark statement outlining the economic benefits of universal health coverage and calling on policymakers to prioritize it as an essential pillar of sustainable development. More than 300 economists from 44 countries have added their names to the Declaration, including the current and former World Bank chief economists and five Nobel Laureates.

The WHO and World Bank’s first global monitoring report on universal health coverage released in June 2015 found that despite significant worldwide progress on health, 400 million people still lack access to essential health services and 17% of people in low- and middle-income countries are pushed or further pushed into poverty (US$2/day) because of health spending…

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Issues Call for New Deal on Medicines
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
Dec 11, 2015
NEW YORK -The United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines held its first meeting today. The panel committed itself to finding solutions that will increase access to medicines, while continuing to promote investment in new treatments to save the lives of millions.

“It is a basic fundamental right that everyone should be able to access medicines, vaccines and diagnostics they need in order to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of people of all ages, as set out in Sustainable Development Goal 3,” said President Mogae, co-chair of the High Level Panel.

Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland are co-chairing the panel. The work of the High-Level and its Expert Advisory Group is being supported by a Secretariat at UNDP in collaboration with UNAIDS. The panel was established by the Secretary-General to find solutions to increase access to medicines, while continuing to promote investment in developing new medicines.

Panelists noted that despite progress made in many areas, millions of people are still left behind. Many are dying because they cannot access life-saving medicines. This includes:
:: 1.2 million people died from AIDS in 2014.
:: 9.6 million people infected with TB and 1.5 people died because of TB.
:: Over 400 million people have hepatitis B and C and 1.4 million people have died from Hepatitis B and C.
:: 38 million people have died from non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (17.5 million deaths), diabetes (1.5 million deaths), cancer (8.2 million deaths) and respiratory diseases (4 million deaths)…

…Following the meeting, the High-Level Panel will issue a call for proposals from experts, individuals and organizations to recommend solutions that promote the rights of inventors, international human rights law, trade rules, and public health in the context of health technologies. Proposals submitted will be reviewed, shortlisted and invited to present at public hearings where stakeholders from governments, the industry, patient groups and others will be able to provide their thoughts and views on the proposals. The High-Level Panel’s findings and recommendations will be compiled in a report, which will be presented to the Secretary-General in June 2016.

The Secretary-Generals High Level Panel on Access to Medicines comprises of 16 eminent, well-respected individuals with a deep knowledge and understanding of the broad range of legal, trade, public health and human rights issues associated with access to medicines and health technologies. Biographies and additional information on the High-Level Panel can be accessed from www.UNSGaccessmeds.org

Refugees and migrants in Europe need protection and respect for their human rights
Press Releases, 9 December 2015
Joint UNHCR/Council of Europe statement to mark Human Rights Day on 10 December

09.12.2015 – Ahead of Human Rights Day, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the head of the 47-nation Council of Europe have urged European states to honour their international commitments to guarantee basic human rights for refugees and migrants. They also called on governments, civil society and media professionals to step up efforts to counter racism and xenophobia, which can undermine support for asylum and protection.

“This is the largest movement of refugees and migrants Europe has seen in decades, and the only way to address it effectively is for European states to act together,” said High Commissioner António Guterres. “The right to seek asylum is not only enshrined in international law, but protection of people forced to flee war and persecution is also one of the fundamental values of the European project. The impressive mobilisation of civil society to welcome refugees, and the many voices that speak out against re-surging intolerance and xenophobia, have shown the continued resonance of these principles.”

“As soon as anyone sets foot on our continent they have the same basic human rights as everyone else in Europe, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. “The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has been very clear on this. Our 47 member states have a legal responsibility to guarantee the basic human rights of refugees and migrants, to treat people as individuals and to assess their situation on a case-by-case basis.”

Some 900,000 people have entered Europe via the Mediterranean in 2015, more than four times last year’s total. The majority of them come from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. UNHCR continues to advocate for a common European approach to the situation, to enhance reception capacity and allow for proper screening of the new arrivals so as to identify those who may be in need of protection.

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage

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10 December 2015
GA/11738
Adopting Six Resolutions, General Assembly Calls for Stronger Coordination of International Humanitarian Aid, Unity against Violent Extremism
Unanimously adopting five resolutions on humanitarian issues, and one resolution on countering violent extremism, the General Assembly today heard from more than two dozen speakers as the 193-member body debated the past, present and future of international assistance to persons in need.

10 December 2015
DSG/SM/924-HR/5283-OBV/1570
Help Create World Where Four Freedoms Is ‘More Than a Monument, But a Way of Life Everywhere’, Says Deputy Secretary-General at Human Rights Day Event

9 December 2015
SG/SM/17405-OBV/1567
Secretary-General Urges All Substantial Investment to Achieve Affordable Health Coverage Access Worldwide, in Message for International Observance

9 December 2015
SC/12149
Security Council, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2250 (2015), Urges Member States to Increase Representation of Youth in Decision-Making at All Levels
Recognizing the threat to stability and development posed by the rise of radicalization among young people, the Security Council today urged Member States to consider ways to give youth a greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels.
9 December 2015