PLoS Pathogens
http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/
(Accessed 6 June 2015)
.
Pearls
A 21st Century Perspective of Poliovirus Replication
Nicolas Lévêque, Bert L. Semler
Published: June 4, 2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004825
Featured in PLOS Collections
Why Poliovirus Replication Has Been Studied for More Than 50 Years

Poliovirus is the etiologic agent of poliomyelitis, an acute flaccid paralysis affecting 1%–2% of infected patients and, on rare occasions, causing death by paralyzing muscles that control the throat or breathing. A striking feature of infection is lifelong disabilities that may affect survivors of the acute disease. Transmitted by the fecal—oral and oral—oral route, this virus (three serotypes) was one of the most feared pathogens in industrialized countries during the 20th century affecting hundreds of thousands of children every year, via outbreaks during warm summer months. Although there are highly effective vaccines to control poliomyelitis, it remains endemic in a few countries, from which spread and outbreaks continue to occur throughout the world. Since its discovery in 1908, poliovirus has been intensively studied to better understand and control this formidable pathogen. The history of poliovirus is not, however, limited to the fight against the disease. Poliovirus replication studies also have played important roles in the development of modern virology since poliovirologists and, more generally, picornavirologists have been pioneers in many domains of molecular virology. Poliovirus was, for example, the first animal RNA virus to have its complete genome sequence determined, the first RNA animal virus for which an infectious clone was constructed, and, along with the related rhinovirus, the first human virus that had its three-dimensional structure solved by X-ray crystallography. Indeed, the history of over half a century of poliovirus replication studies is marked by major discoveries, many of which are summarized here and illustrated in Fig 1…

PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
(Accessed 6 June 2015)

.
Financial competitiveness of organic agriculture on a global scale
David W. Crowdera,1 and John P. Reganoldb
Author Affiliations
Edited by M. S. Swaminathan, Centre for Research on Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development, Madras, India, and approved May 1, 2015 (received for review December 10, 2014)
Significance
Some recognize organic agriculture as being important for future global food security, whereas others project it to become irrelevant. Although organic agriculture is rapidly growing, it currently occupies only 1% of global cropland. Whether organic agriculture can continue to expand will likely be determined by whether it is economically competitive with conventional agriculture. Accordingly, we analyzed the financial performance of organic and conventional agriculture from 40 y of studies covering 55 crops grown on five continents. We found that, in spite of lower yields, organic agriculture was significantly more profitable than conventional agriculture and has room to expand globally. Moreover, with its environmental benefits, organic agriculture can contribute a larger share in sustainably feeding the world.
.
Abstract
To promote global food and ecosystem security, several innovative farming systems have been identified that better balance multiple sustainability goals. The most rapidly growing and contentious of these systems is organic agriculture. Whether organic agriculture can continue to expand will likely be determined by whether it is economically competitive with conventional agriculture. Here, we examined the financial performance of organic and conventional agriculture by conducting a meta-analysis of a global dataset spanning 55 crops grown on five continents. When organic premiums were not applied, benefit/cost ratios (−8 to −7%) and net present values (−27 to −23%) of organic agriculture were significantly lower than conventional agriculture. However, when actual premiums were applied, organic agriculture was significantly more profitable (22–35%) and had higher benefit/cost ratios (20–24%) than conventional agriculture. Although premiums were 29–32%, breakeven premiums necessary for organic profits to match conventional profits were only 5–7%, even with organic yields being 10–18% lower. Total costs were not significantly different, but labor costs were significantly higher (7–13%) with organic farming practices. Studies in our meta-analysis accounted for neither environmental costs (negative externalities) nor ecosystem services from good farming practices, which likely favor organic agriculture. With only 1% of the global agricultural land in organic production, our findings suggest that organic agriculture can continue to expand even if premiums decline. Furthermore, with their multiple sustainability benefits, organic farming systems can contribute a larger share in feeding the world.

Prehospital & Disaster Medicine
Volume 30 – Issue 03 – June 2015
https://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=PDM&tab=currentissue

.
Editorial
Disastrous Events and Political Failures
Jeffrey Levett
National School of Public Health, Department of Health Service Management, Athens, Greece
Abstract
Response to the Ebola crisis (ongoing event) has been less than efficient. It has been monitored less than adequately by the international community and has been coordinated poorly in the USA. The event is used as a platform to examine deficiencies in public health infrastructure, the limits of its political and financial support, and how political outcomes can be affected. The need to tease out the political determinants implicit in policy failure and disaster management is argued in this Editorial. Failures mentioned include in the Balkans and in Greece with ongoing austerity. Comments on the real heroes of Ebola on the ground in Africa and the need for a charismatic role for political leaders in public health are also included.

.
Original Research
Humanitarian Assistance and Accountability: What Are We Really Talking About?
Y.S. Andrew Tana1 c1 and Johan von Schreeba2
a1 Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
a2 Centre for Research on Health Care in Disasters, Health Systems and Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract
Background In the past two decades, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of disasters, as well as the number of people affected, along with the number of foreign medical teams (FMTs) deployed to provide assistance. However, in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, multiple reports and anecdotes questioned the actual, positive contribution of such FMTs and even the intentions behind these aid efforts. This brought on a renewed interest in the humanitarian community towards accountability. Between 2000 and 2012, the number of “Quality and Accountability” initiatives and instruments more than tripled from 42 to 147. Yet, to date, there is no single accepted definition of accountability in the humanitarian context.
Aim The aim of this report was to explore and assess how accountability in the humanitarian context is used and/or defined in the literature.
Methods The electronic database PubMed and a predefined list of grey literature comprising 46 organizations were searched for articles that discussed or provided a definition of accountability in the humanitarian context. The definitions found in these articles were analyzed qualitatively using a framework analysis method based on principles of grounded theory as well as using a summative content analysis method.
Results A total of 85 articles were reviewed in-depth. Fifteen organizations had formal definitions of accountability or explained what it meant to them. Accountability was generally seen in two paradigms: as a “process” or as a “goal.” A total of 16 different concepts were identified amongst the definitions. Accountability to aid recipients had four main themes: empowering aid recipients, being in an optimal position to do the greatest good, meeting expectations, and being liable. The concepts of “enforcement/enforceability” under the last theme of “being liable” received the least mention.
Conclusion The concept of accountability is defined poorly in many humanitarian organizations. Humanitarian providers often refer to different concepts when talking about accountability in general. The lack of a common understanding is contributed by the semantic and practical complexities of the term. The lack of emphasis on “enforcement/enforceability” is noteworthy. Other aspects of accountability, such as its “measurability” and by whom, similarly lack a common understanding and community-wide consensus. To what extent these vague definitions of accountability affect agencies’ work in the field remains to be documented.

.
Comprehensive Review
Child Debriefing: A Review of the Evidence Base
Betty Pfefferbauma1 c1, Anne K. Jacobsa1, Pascal Nitiémaa1 and George S. Everly Jr.a2a3
a1 Terrorism and Disaster Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
a2 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland USA
a3 Department of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Abstract
Introduction
Debriefing, a controversial crisis intervention delivered in the early aftermath of a disaster, has not been well evaluated for use with children and adolescents. This report constitutes a review of the child debriefing evidence base.
Methods
A systematic search of selected bibliographic databases (EBM Reviews, EMBASE, ERIC, Medline, Ovid, PILOTS, PubMed, and PsycINFO) was conducted in the spring of 2014 using search terms related to psychological debriefing. The search was limited to English language sources and studies of youth, aged 0 to 18 years. No time limit was placed on date of publication. The search yielded 713 references. Titles and abstracts were reviewed to select publications describing scientific studies and clinical reports. Reference sections of these publications, and of other literature known to the authors that was not generated by the search, were used to locate additional materials. Review of these materials generated 187 publications for more thorough examination; this assessment yielded a total of 91 references on debriefing in children and adolescents. Only 15 publications on debriefing in children and adolescents described empirical studies. Due to a lack of statistical analysis of effectiveness data with youth, and some articles describing the same study, only seven empirical studies described in nine papers were identified for analysis for this review. These studies were evaluated using criteria for assessment of methodological rigor in debriefing studies.
Results
Children and adolescents included in the seven empirical debriefing studies were survivors of motor-vehicle accidents, a maritime disaster, hostage taking, war, or peer suicides. The nine papers describing the seven studies were characterized by inconsistency in describing the interventions and populations and by a lack of information on intervention fidelity. Few of the studies used randomized design or blinded assessment. The results described in the reviewed studies were mixed in regard to debriefing’s effect on posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and other outcomes. Even in studies in which debriefing appeared promising, the research was compromised by potentially confounding interventions.
Conclusion
The results highlight the small empirical evidence base for drawing conclusions about the use of debriefing with children and adolescents, and they call for further dialogue regarding challenges in evaluating debriefing and other crisis interventions in children.

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública/Pan American Journal of Public Health (RPSP/PAJPH)
March 2015 Vol. 37, No.
http://www.paho.org/journal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=158&Itemid=266&lang=en

.
Prevalence of cholera risk factors between migrant Haitians and Dominicans in the Dominican Republic [Prevalencia de los factores de riesgo de cólera entre los inmigrantes haitianos y los dominicanos en la República Dominicana]
Andrea J. Lund, Hunter M. Keys, Stephanie Leventhal, Jennifer W. Foster, and Matthew C. Freeman

.
Adequação da assistência pré-natal segundo as características maternas no Brasil [Adequacy of prenatal care according to maternal characteristics in Brazil]
Rosa Maria Soares Madeira Domingues, Elaine Fernandes Viellas, Marcos Augusto Bastos Dias, Jacqueline Alves Torres, Mariza Miranda Theme-Filha, Silvana Granado Nogueira da Gama e Maria do Carmo Leal

.
A systematic review of nursing research priorities on health system and services in the Americas [Revisión sistemática de las prioridades de investigación de enfermería en sistemas y servicios de salud en la Región de las Américas]
Alessandra Bassalobre Garcia, Silvia Helena De Bortoli Cassiani,and Ludovic Reveiz

Tropical Medicine & International Health
July 2015 Volume 20, Issue 7 Pages 821–966
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.2015.20.issue-7/issuetoc

.
Systematic Reviews
Utilization of maternal health services among adolescent women in Bangladesh: A scoping review of the literature (pages 822–829)
A. S. M. Shahabuddin, Thérèse Delvaux, Saloua Abouchadi, Malabika Sarker and Vincent De Brouwere
Article first published online: 27 MAR 2015 | DOI: 10.1111/tmi.1250
Abstract
Objective
To understand the health-seeking behaviour of adolescent women in Bangladesh with respect to the use of maternal health services.
Methods
Literature review of seven electronic databases: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, POPLINE and Global Health. Studies published in English between 1990 and 2013 which describe Bangladeshi adolescent women’s healthcare-seeking behaviour during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum were included.
Results
Twelve studies were included in this review. 11 used quantitative methods and one used a mixed-methods approach. All studies included married adolescent women only. Women with lower educational levels are less likely to seek skilled maternal health services than those with higher levels of education. Use of maternal health services is also less common among rural married adolescent women than women in urban areas. Being part of the richest bands of wealth, having had previous experiences of childbirth and higher women’s autonomy positively influence the use of skilled maternal health services among married adolescent women in Bangladesh. Antenatal care is a key predictor of the use of skilled birth attendants for delivery and post-natal care.
Conclusion
Maternal health-related programmes should be designed targeting rural and uneducated married adolescent women in Bangladesh. More qualitative investigations are required to broaden our understanding on maternal health-seeking behaviour of both married and unmarried adolescent women.

.
Psychological interventions for Common Mental Disorders for People Living With HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: systematic review (pages 830–839)
Dixon Chibanda, Frances M. Cowan, Jessica L. Healy, Melanie Abas and Crick Lund
Article first published online: 20 MAR 2015 | DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12500

.
Pneumococcal carriage in rural Gambia prior to the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: a population-based survey (pages 871–879)
Effua Usuf, Henry Badji, Abdoulie Bojang, Sheikh Jarju, Usman Nurudeen Ikumapayi, Martin Antonio, Grant Mackenzie and Christian Bottomley
Article first published online: 6 APR 2015 | DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12505
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate pneumococcal colonisation before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in eastern Gambia.
Methods
Population-based cross-sectional survey of pneumococcal carriage between May and August 2009 before the introduction of PCV into the Expanded Program on Immunization. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from all household members, but in selected households, only children aged 6–10 years were swabbed. This age group participated in an earlier trial of a nine-valent PCV between 2000 and 2004.
Results
The prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage in 2933 individuals was 72.0% in underfives (N = 515), 41.6% in children aged 5–17 (N = 1508) and 13.0% in adults ≥18 (N = 910) years. The age-specific prevalence of serotypes included in PCV7, PCV10 and PCV13 was 24.7%, 26.6% and 46.8% among children <5 years of age; 8.5%, 9.2% and 17.7% among children 5–17 years; and 2.5%, 3.3% and 5.5% among adults ≥18 years. The most common serotypes were 6A (13.1%), 23F (7.6%), 3 (7.3%), 19F (7.1%) and 34 (4.6%). There was no difference in the overall carriage of pneumococci between vaccinated and unvaccinated children 8 years after the primary vaccination with three doses of PCV (48.3% vs. 41.1%).
Conclusion
Before the introduction of PCV, serotypes included in PCV13 accounted for about half the pneumococcal serotypes in nasopharyngeal carriage. Thus, the potential impact of PCV13 on pneumococcal disease in the Gambia is substantial.

Media/Policy Watch  [to 6 June 2015]
This section is intended to alert readers to substantive news, analysis and opinion from the general media on vaccines, immunization, global; public health and related themes. Media Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues CVEP is actively tracking. This section will grow from an initial base of newspapers, magazines and blog sources, and is segregated from Journal Watch above which scans the peer-reviewed journal ecology.

We acknowledge the Western/Northern bias in this initial selection of titles and invite suggestions for expanded coverage. We are conservative in our outlook in adding news sources which largely report on primary content we are already covering above. Many electronic media sources have tiered, fee-based subscription models for access. We will provide full-text where content is published without restriction, but most publications require registration and some subscription level.

.

Center for Global Development
http://www.cgdev.org/
Accessed 6 June 2015
New Rules for Public Payers and Pharma in Emerging Economies?
6/3/15
Amanda Glassman
This week, emerging economy governments and multinational pharmaceutical executives announced they have agreed to a new way of working together, which should ensure people in those countries get the medicines they need at affordable prices. I’m glad to see this new framework for better priority-setting become a reality. Agreed to in April in Vietnam, it will allow public healthcare payers, the pharma industry and patients benefit from a more transparent process for deciding what drugs are made available to those who rely on strained public health care systems. While I have some questions and reservations about the agreement, at least it begins to address a chronic problem in global public health…

.

Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/
Accessed 6 June 2015
Bill Gates, Dr. Paul Farmer And African Tycoon Strive Masiyiwa On Combating Future Epidemics
Billionaire Bill Gates, renowned doctor Paul Farmer and Zimbabwe’s richest man Strive Masiyiwa discussed how to combat future epidemics during the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy.
Keren Blankfeld, Forbes Staff Jun 05, 2015

.

The Guardian
http://www.guardiannews.com/
Accessed 6 June 2015
Children continue to die from vaccine-preventable diseases. We can stop that
Amy Belisle
4 June 2015
An unprecedented outbreak of chicken pox and whooping cough in Maine likely stems from a breakdown of herd immunity

.

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Accessed 6 June 2015
Movie Review
Review: ‘Every Last Child,’ a Front-Line View of the Polio Crisis in Pakistan
New York Times | 2 June 2015
“Every Last Child,” a compelling documentary by Tom Roberts, gives a street-level view of the polio crisis in Pakistan, where that crippling virus remains endemic. While a program by the World Health Organization goes door to door administering oral vaccinations to infants, Pakistani Taliban militants have killed dozens of health workers since 2012.

The film spends time with an adult victim of polio and with a father whose infant son must be fitted for leg braces. And it follows Gulnaz Sherazi, a health worker who lost her niece and sister-in-law to Taliban attacks but continues to serve. These wrenching stories humanize the stakes of a health initiative that found itself and its employees at risk from a toxic mix of politics, propaganda and terrorism.

Once thought to be on the verge of global eradication, polio continues to threaten pockets of Pakistan: Peshawar in the north and the Waziristan tribal areas, and spreading south to Karachi. And the Pakistan polio strain has turned up in Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria, even China.

The Taliban’s brutal violence stuns Elias Durry, in charge of the W.H.O. program in Pakistan. “It’s a public health campaign,” he says. “It’s not supposed to be a war.” But that’s what the vaccination project has become, with an implacable enemy and a resentful populace…

.

Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/home-page?_wsjregion=na,us&_homepage=/home/us
Accessed 6 June 2015
Ebola’s Long Shadow – West Africa Struggles to Rebuild Its Ravaged Health-Care System
By Betsy McKay 5 June 2015

.

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Accessed 6 June 2015
The Post’s View
Cholera’s fresh attack in Haiti
As donor dollars have dried up, the impoverished Caribbean nation faces a surge in the disease.
Editorial Board | Opinions | Jun 4, 2015
By Editorial Board June 4

THE FIGHT against the cholera epidemic in Haiti, by far the world’s worst in recent years, has been a hard slog. Still, the number of new cases had fallen precipitously, to just 1,000 per month for much of 2014 from an average in 2011 of nearly 30,000 per month.

But a recent spike — to about 1,000 new cases per week — is a grim reminder of how much is left to do to eradicate an illness that was virtually unknown in Haiti until U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal introduced it in 2010.

The surge in new cases also casts an unflattering spotlight on international donors, whose focus has gradually shifted elsewhere since the deadly 2010 earthquake killed at least 160,000 people .

It’s impossible to know whether flagging contributions reflect donor fatigue or the fact that relatively few cholera victims end up dying (less than 1 percent), thanks to quicker recognition and treatment in many parts of the country. Still, tighter money means longer odds for tackling the disease over the long term.

A plan to eliminate cholera in Haiti by 2022, devised in coordination with the Port-au-Prince government, was pegged to cost $2.2 billion. But of the $1.7 billion sought to execute the first five years of the plan, from 2013 to 2018, only 17 percent — about $286 million — has been raised and spent so far.

That means that blueprints to improve and replace portions of Haiti’s glaringly inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure are not being implemented. In the absence of those upgrades, more Haitians will continue to succumb to cholera, a diarrheal illness caused by consuming contaminated food and water.

Vaccinations have been a major focus of international health organizations combating cholera in Haiti. Yet in a country of more than 10 million people, fewer than 400,000 Haitians have received the cholera vaccine despite the efforts of organizations such as Partners in Health, which has vaccinated thousands of people in rural areas, and a Haitian group called GHESKIO, which has done similar work in the slums of Port-au-Prince. Supplies of the vaccine, which was not in wide demand before the Haitian outbreak, remain limited.

The United Nations has done extensive and admirable work in Haiti, including on public health, but it maintains it is immune from legal liability for the cholera epidemic. This is despite the consensus of health experts that U.N. peacekeepers introduced the disease into the country. In January, a federal judge in New York sided with the United Nations .
Nonetheless, it has a moral obligation to do more, including pressing donors to fund the plan to eradicate the disease. There is no mystery about how cholera is transmitted or about the means to eradicate it. Only money is lacking.

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 30 May 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 verion: The Sentinel_ week ending 30 May 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries to be posted below on 31 May – 1 June 2015

Syria  [to 30 May 2015]

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos Statement to the Security Council on Syria, New York, 28 May 2015
Published on 28 May 2015
Download PDF (149.93 KB)
As delivered

Madam President,
As this is my last briefing to the Council, it is in many ways fitting that it is on Syria as during my time as Emergency Relief Coordinator it is the crisis that has taken more of my time and attention, and that of this Council, than any other crisis in the world. It is the Syria crisis and its consequences which have led me to the belief that this Council and the international community more broadly, needs to do more to protect civilians and ensure greater accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.

I have been proud to serve in the United Nations as I have a strong belief in the values of the UN and the principles underpinning the charter and feel that in today’s unpredictable and deeply troubled world, we need the United Nations more than ever. As I have watched the huge rise in the number of people around the world affected by conflict and natural disasters, an estimated 70 million in 2010, when I started, and 114 million today, it is clear that there needs to be a major rethink of humanitarian response efforts: who does what, who pays for it and greater investment in conflict prevention, disaster preparedness, peace and state building.

In my time in this role I have seen the very worst of what people are capable of and also the very best of humanity.

The countless Syrians who, despite the gravity of their situation have not given up hope and refuse to buy into the rhetoric that the country’s problems can be solved through violence. It is found in the bonds forged between strangers who do everything they can to help their fellow countrymen and women survive. It is reflected in the generosity of families in Syria and neighbouring countries sheltering, feeding, and clothing the displaced, without asking anything in return.

It is embodied in the staff and volunteers of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent; of the NGOs; of the first responders; the staff of hospitals and clinics throughout the country who do not let narrow political interest cloud their commitment to doing everything they can to safeguard the well-being of ordinary Syrians.

And it is demonstrated in the thousands of staff of the United Nations on the ground who carry out their duties day in and day out, despite petty political pressure and, in some cases, violence and intimidation from the parties to the conflict.

For more than four years we have watched Syria descend into deeper depths of despair, surpassing what even the most pessimistic observers thought possible. The situation throughout the country is, by any measure, extremely grave and deteriorating by the day.

In the past weeks we have seen more and more heinous acts. Innocent men, women and children killed; maimed; displaced; and subjected to a savagery that no human should have to endure.

For example at the end of April, a market in Darkoush, rural Idlib, was subjected to aerial bombing killing between 40 and 50 people and wounding over 100 civilians. The same market was again hit last week, with reports of twenty more people killed. Reports have emerged of ISIL’s killing of civilians following its capture of Palmyra in the past week. Such blatant disregard for the most basic rules of international humanitarian law – the distinction between civilians and combatants – must be condemned in the strongest terms.

In February of last year, the Council came together to adopt resolution 2139. It was clear in what it demanded of the parties: end the violence; comply with international law; and ensure that obligations to facilitate humanitarian access to people in need were met.

Yet, for the past fifteen months, the Secretary-General has systematically reported on the continued non-compliance with the Council’s demands. While the cross-border deliveries enabled by resolutions 2165 and 2191 have allowed the United Nations to extend its reach and complement the enormous efforts of our NGO partners, the parties to the conflict have ignored practically all aspects of the resolution.

The use of chlorine continues to be reported, killing, injuring and terrorizing civilians.

Indiscriminate attacks, although prohibited in International Humanitarian Law, continue with no regard for the protection of civilians.

Schools and hospitals continue to be attacked. Physicians for Human Rights recorded more attacks on medical facilities in April this year than it had in any month since the adoption of resolution 2139.

422,000 people – nearly twice the number as when resolution 2139 was adopted – are under siege. If I had reported this at the beginning of the conflict I am sure that Council members would not have believed it possible: today we take it for granted. The UN and our partners were not able to reach any besieged locations in April.
People are trying to survive, day by day, without the basic necessities of life such as water and electricity. And parties to the conflict continue to cut services, collectively punishing entire villages and cities in the process.
Restrictions on the delivery of aid continue. The Government’s introduction of new rules and regulations which result in delays and distractions, are preventing us from delivering assistance, including surgical supplies, to people in desperate need. Of the 48 inter-agency convoys requests submitted since December, five have been completed; nine have been approved in principle by the Government of Syria and are at various stages of preparations, and a further eleven have been put on hold due to insecurity. Nineteen more are awaiting a reply.
ISIL’s advance brings with it new depths of depravity to Syria with indiscriminate killing and maiming, raping and destroying. They have forcibly recruited children and made the delivery of humanitarian assistance more and more difficult in areas under their control. In addition to restricting operations delivering food and other supplies, aid workers have been prevented from vaccinating children in areas of the country under their control.

Today, more than 12.2 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Syria – an increase of almost a third compared to when resolution 2139 was adopted. Many of those who were previously able to care for themselves are now in need of help. Less than half of the country’s hospitals are fully functioning. Two million children in Syria are out of school. The social, economic and human costs of this tragedy are profound. It may take generations for Syria to recover.
An additional 540,000 people have been displaced this year alone adding to the 7.6 million already displaced.

Another nearly four million people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, placing host countries and communities under unbearable pressure. My thanks to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey for their significant efforts in this regard. Desperation means that more and more people are prepared to make the perilous journey to Europe by sea.

The Security Council can demonstrate its leadership and uphold its responsibility for international peace and security by taking the following measures:
(1) Ensuring the protection of civilians;
(2) Ensuring that the parties to the conflict abide by their international legal obligations – and Security Council resolutions – to facilitate humanitarian access to all people in need throughout the country, without discrimination;
(3) Bringing an end to the sieges, which collectively punish people;
(4) Considering all possible avenues to ensure accountability, sending a clear message to those responsible for violations of international law, as well as their victims, that the international community will not tolerate such action in Syria or elsewhere;
(5) Stepping up financial support to the humanitarian response effort;
(6) Respecting the non-political nature of humanitarian aid and giving aid workers the space they need to carry out their work free of political pressure.

I know that there are no easy answers or quick fixes. But I also know that we cannot let the difficult prevent us from upholding our responsibility to act on behalf of the people of Syria. We cannot leave Syrians abandoned to hopelessness and further despair.

The Security Council is entrusted with considerable power and responsibility. For the sake of Syria and its future generations, this Council must set aside its political differences and come together to find a solution to what appear to be intractable problems. We saw in the passing of resolutions 2139 and 2165 what can be done when this Council acts together and speaks with one voice. I very much hope it happens again.

Thank you.

Migration  [ to 30 May 2015]

UNHCR welcomes Bangkok proposals, calls for creative solutions for refugees, migrants at sea
Press Releases, 29 May 2015
The UN refugee agency is encouraged by the positive outcomes of a regional meeting to resolve the plight of thousands of refugees and migrants risking their lives at sea in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

Organized by the Royal Thai Government, the Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean on Friday brought together 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific and UNHCR, IOM and UNODC. It concluded with a set of proposals and recommendations focusing on immediate responses to assist people in distress at sea, as well as efforts to curb people smuggling and trafficking, and address the root causes of these movements.

More than 88,000 people have departed on smugglers’ boats from the Bay of Bengal since 2014 and over 1,000 are believed to have died as a result of abuse and deprivation at sea.
“Saving lives must be the number one priority,” said UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Volker Türk, welcoming States’ commitment to rescue and disembark people in distress, and to ensure UNHCR’s access to them. “These proposals are a good beginning that will require robust implementation.”

UNHCR and other organizations have offered to help screen the boat arrivals – who include refugees, economic migrants, victims of trafficking and unaccompanied minors among others – to determine their needs and seek appropriate solutions. Migrants are likely to be able to go home; refugees cannot and will need temporary stay arrangements in host countries. Only the most vulnerable will have access to the limited resettlement places available globally.

“In essence, this means that those who cannot return now because of international protection reasons be allowed to stay temporarily and work,” said Türk. “This would simply recognize and regularize what has already been happening in reality for many years.”

UNHCR is ready to support governments with such arrangements through registration, documentation and other means as part of a comprehensive and creative approach to the growing regional problem.

“It would be disingenuous to suggest that there are any simple solutions to this phenomenon,” he said. “Yet, as the world has learned from South-East Asia, there is always an opportunity in a crisis and a real potential for a “win-win” situation for all involved. It will require political will and leadership, individually and collectively, to achieve that.”

A key part of the solution lies in addressing the root causes of flight, including citizenship issues in Myanmar. While welcoming initial steps taken in this regard, Türk said, “In the interim, a legal status for all habitual residents recognizing that Myanmar is their own country is urgently required. Access to identity documentation and the removal of restrictions on basic freedoms is needed to normalize and stabilize lives.”

Participants at the meeting agreed to explore ways to address the root causes of irregular movements and improve livelihoods in at-risk communities. Recommended actions included providing development assistance, enhancing a sense of security and belonging, and promoting full respect for human rights and adequate access to basic rights and services….

.

Press statement by Commissioner Avramopoulos on the first measures under the European Agenda on Migration
Brussels, 27 May 2015
Today, the Commission has shown that it can act quickly and firmly to better manage migration.

Only two weeks after the adoption of the European Agenda on Migration, we are making another important step. We are moving from policy planning to policy making. We are taking concrete actions.

This new step underscores the Commission’s determination and commitment to implement this Agenda.

So, let’s see what we have put on the table today.

We have a European resettlement scheme for 20,000 persons who are in clear need of international protection. They will be resettled from countries outside Europe to EU Member States.

We also have a proposal for an emergency mechanism to relocate 40,000 asylum seekers. Syrians and Eritreans will be relocated from Italy and Greece to other EU Member States over a period of 2 years.

For the first time, we will trigger the emergency mechanism under Article 78 point 3 of the Treaty.

Malta faced a similar situation in the past and was supported, but not in the same way. We learned from this experience.

This time, we are ready to propose emergency measures if other Member States also face a sudden influx of migrants

Let me clarify some points.
The European Agenda on Migration has raised very diverse reactions in the press, in the Member States and in the European Parliament.

Overall, the comments on the Agenda are positive. But there are also some misunderstandings.

There is no proposal to relocate irregular migrants across the EU.

We do not propose the fixing of “quotas”; it’s a word we don’t like and we don’t use.

All this is about ensuring solidarity, but it is up to each Member States to decide on how many persons they will grant refugee status.

If countries want to relocate or resettle more persons, they can. But we want to ensure minimum solidarity.

As I said many times before, the European Agenda on Migration is a comprehensive policy.

The Agenda does not only address the situation in the Mediterranean, nor does it only deal with the distribution of asylum seekers across the EU…

World Committee on Tourism Ethics proposes International Convention on Tourism Ethics
PR No.: 15036
Madrid, 28 May 15
The transformation of the Global Code of Ethics into a full international convention as a means to boost the responsibility of governments in this field and advance the impact of the Code was the main topic discussed at the 15th meeting of the WTCE.

Alongside this issue, the WCTE looked into the level of implementation of the Code by public and private sectors as well as at the advances on its priority areas: the fight against child exploitation, accessibility, all inclusive holidays and its impact on local communities, and the issue of unfunded ratings in web portals.

Pascal Lamy, WCTE Chairman and former Director General of the World Trade Organization, highlighted “the importance of the implementation of the principles of the Code of Ethics by both UNWTO Member States and the Private Sector in order to promote an ethical and responsible tourism development.”

“The World Committee on Tourism Ethics has done invaluable work in raising awareness and promoting responsible policies and practices in the tourism sector for over ten years”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the meeting. “Tourism has immense potential to be a force for good, but it requires concrete action from all stakeholders. I therefore fully support the Committee’s proposal to bring the Code further into an international convention”, he added.

In the area of children’s rights, Carol Bellamy, chair of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection and former Director of UNICEF, presented a report on child protection in tourism and supported the transformation of the Code of Ethics into a convention in order to help enforce the principles of child protection worldwide.

The Committee approved a set of specific recommendations on accessible tourist information which will be presented to the 21st session of the UNWTO General Assembly (Medellin, Colombia, 12-17 September 2015) for adoption. It addition, it noted the wide interest of Governments and national tourism administrations in the Code and the growing number of companies and associations that have adhered to the Private Sector Commitment to the Code.

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) is the independent body responsible for promoting and overseeing the implementation of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET), a set of principles designed to guide tourism development in a way that maximizes the socio-economic benefits of the sector, while minimizing any negative impacts.

– UNWTO Ethics and Social Responsibility Programme
– World Committee on Tourism Ethics
– UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
– UNWTO Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

World Bank Mobilizes US$248 Million to Support 2 Million Pastoralists in the Sahel
PRESS RELEASE
May 26, 2015
Project to help boost regional cooperation in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal where pastoral activities are the main source of income

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2015. The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors approved today a total of US$248 million IDA to boost regional integration and improve access to essential services, increase the income and strengthen markets for over 2 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists across six Sahelian countries.

Pastoralism is the main source of income for about 50 million pastoralists in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the Sahel, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) represent 75% of the land area and support an estimated 20 million pastoralists.

The Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (in French: “Projet Régional d’Appui au Pastoralisme au Sahel –PRAPS”) is a six-year undertaking in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. The new project is an important step to building a solid alliance to support pastoralism by pooling the expertise and resources of various actors, including bilateral and multilateral technical and financial partners, governments, the private sector, and pastoral civil society organizations.

“Pastoralism is crucially important to the Sahel, yet it is under threat and faces many challenges including rapid population growth, conflict, animal diseases, shrinking grazing areas and water resources,” said Makhtar Diop, the World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region. “Major investments are required to improve the productivity and resilience of pastoral production systems and ensure that the economic opportunities generated by the growing demand for livestock products translate into widespread benefits for communities that depend on pastoralism for their livelihood.”

This new project will help improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience of pastoral livelihoods, as prioritized in the Nouakchott Declaration on Pastoralism, adopted on October 29, 2013 by the Governments of the six beneficiary countries, in collaboration with international and regional institutions including the World Bank, FAO, World Organization for Animal Health, Africa Union, ECOWAS, CILSS and WAEMU. The Nouakchott Declaration aims to secure the lifestyle and means of production of pastoral populations in order to increase the incomes of pastoralists.

The new project is designed to support poverty reduction and to promote shared prosperity, including for women and the youth. As stated by Christian Berger, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the PRAPS: “The proposed investments are targeting historically under-resourced marginal areas with a large share of poor households that are locked into low-asset poverty traps and vulnerable to drought. These investments are expected to promote shared prosperity by enabling households to withstand future shocks with fewer losses and to invest in human capital development.”

Specifically today’s project will focus on key areas that are hindering the ability of pastoralists to reap benefits. The financing will go towards improving access to key services such as veterinary services, water, weather data, herd and rangeland management practices, animal nutrition, market information and advisory services adapted to mobile communities to boost productivity . It will promote national and regional cooperation, particularly for disease control, natural resource management, trans-boundary movements of herds, and the facilitation of trade. Finally, it will enhance resilience to climate change, animal diseases, economic hazards, conflicts, and insecurity.

“The prospects for income growth increase as pastoralists become integrated into West Africa’s increasingly dynamic regional and national livestock markets. By building on the collective action of the countries in the region, the new project will deliver a set of public goods that address the challenges and build on the opportunities created by this changing environment, including zoonotic animal diseases, shared rangelands and water resources, cross-border trade, market information, and pastoral risks, including shocks. All of these challenges and opportunities cut across national borders and have key regional dimensions that are important to address”, says Simeon Ehui, Practice Manager of the Agriculture Global Practice at the World Bank.

The PRAPS’s implementation will be coordinated at the regional level by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) under the political leadership of ECOWAS, WAEMU, Chad and Mauritania, and alongside with the ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Center.

“One positive achievement is the fact that PRAPS makes the Nouakchott Declaration operational and was prepared in a record time. Moreover, the inclusiveness during the preparatory phase and its very strong ownership by the beneficiary countries and the CILSS, and the capacity of PRAPS to leverage additional funding for pastoral development in the Sahel are key assets that are determinant for its good implementation. We remain very committed to the success of this new project”, says H.E. Djime Adoum, Executive Secretary of the CILSS.

The PRAPS is part of the Sahel Initiative, launched by the World Bank Group President –following a historic trip to the Sahel region in November 2013 by leaders of five organizations: the World Bank, the United Nations, the African Union, the African Development Bank and the European Union— to address the regional drivers of vulnerability, conflict and underdevelopment.

Financed by IDA, the WBG’s fund for the poorest countries*, Burkina Faso will receive a US$30 million credit; Mali will receive a US$45 million credit; Niger will receive a US$45 million credit; Senegal will receive a US$30 million credit; Chad will receive a US$45 million grant; Mauritania will receive a US$45 million grant; and the CILSS will receive a U$8 million grant.

About IDA
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.8 billion people, the majority of whom live on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent going to Africa.

Message of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana C Dlamini-Zuma, on the Occasion of the 52nd Africa Day
Addis Ababa, 25 May 2015

Fellow Africans on the Continent and in the Diaspora:
Our Friends and Partners across the world;

On this, the fifty-second occasion of us marking the birth of our beloved continental body. I have the singular honour to wish all of you a happy and fulfilling Africa Day. This year’s celebration comes at the time when the African Union is celebrating 13 years since its transformation from the Organization of African Unity. We have indeed transformed the organisation from one pursuing the struggle to liberate the continent and safeguard the independence of African States to one that facilitates work for a united, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

This year’s theme which is: “Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063” is a recognition of centuries of African women and women from the Diaspora to the struggles against slavery, racial and gender discrimination, and for the emancipation of our continent and African men and women everywhere.

Women and girls continue to play critical roles – paid and unpaid – in their families, communities, countries and regions, that directly impact on economies and societies.
Despite the constraints that they continue to face, we have made strides, as a result of different waves of struggles by the women’s movements. Since the historic Beijing Conference twenty years ago, and the recognition of women’s rights as human rights, we have seen progress on women’s representation, in the advancement of reproductive rights, on equal pay for equal work, on access to education and basic services.

At the same time, it is estimated that if real change happens at the same, it will take us 80 years before reaching full gender parity. This is simply not good enough. It will mean that our efforts to reverse the curse of underdevelopment and conflicts must wait another 80 years to come to fruition. It also means that Africa will also continue to use less than half of its talents, skills and potentials.

To address these constraints, we crisscrossed the continent and solicited the inputs of all sectors, spheres and levels of society. Our only question was … What Africa do YOU want to see by 2063. Agenda 2063 is the resulting mandate from the people of Africa here and in the diaspora. Agenda 2063 is an intergenerational mission, an inclusive African strategy to use Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans.

Our Africa Day celebration is therefore facilitating and celebrating African narratives of the past, present and future that will enthuse and energize the African population and use their constructive energy to accelerate a forward looking agenda of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance in the 21st century.

We mark this Africa Day with much optimism. Africa has answered the clarion call to shape its own agenda… for the people by the people.

Fellow Africans,
We also mark this Africa Day with several blemishes.

These have included the conflicts that continue to bedevil our beloved continent as is the case, at the moment, in Burundi, Central African Republic, Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as other Member States.

The recent Xenophobic attacks in the coastal city of Durban and in the economic hub of Johannesburg, is also one such blemish.We take this opportunity to reiterate our condemnation of the unacceptable acts of violence that affected our brothers and sisters.

No matter what the circumstances, such actions cannot be justified. No matter the frustrations, the loss of even a single life cannot be condoned. We also wish to applaud the swift action taken by the South African Government and its citizenry in response to these acts of violence, which also resulted in the loss of life and livelihood.

It has been said that one of the major causes for such incidents as witnessed in South Africa and elsewhere are the challenges presented by poverty and inequality. These are often characterised by the poor fighting the poor over limited and sometimes scarce resources. These incidents also underscore the urgent need for all of us to give urgent attention to issues related to migration and human trafficking. We must address the very circumstances that lead our nationals to leave our shores for better opportunities in other parts of the continent and the world. To this effect, I take this opportunity to also extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the 800 African brothers and sisters who recently lost their lives on the North Coast of our continent. That incident is also a painful reminder that we must urgently deal with the growth and integration of our continent.

Never and never again must such acts and incidents be witnessed on our continent.

In realising Africa’s development, human development is also not negotiable. The pockets of instability and conflict, which have sometimes resulted in loss of life and livelihood, bear testament to that fact. We cannot afford to continue on a trajectory that excludes and is inequitable.

In order to facilitate for inclusive and sustainable growth we must translate Agenda 2063 into our national plans so that we can facilitate for priority areas such as integration, youth and women’s empowerment, job creation, energy, and infrastructure development. In translating Agenda 2063 we will need accelerated action towards an equitable growth path, which prioritises the people and connectivity. We must realise key urgent projects that connect us including road, rail, aviation, marine transport, telecommunications, as well as industrialisation and manufacturing.

Our pursuit for accelerating our equitable economic growth path will also place greater pressure on our traditional and mainstream energy sectors, consequently we will begin to seriously implement key projects in the renewable energy sector, which include hydro and wind energy. In accelerating connectivity we will pay greater attention to the promotion of the Continental Free Trade Area.

It is in seeking to accelerate implementation of these (and other) priorities and programmes that we will convene the Africa Economic Platform, in the latter part of this year. The Platform will pursue continental synergy and will bring together Africa’s captains of industry, academics, governments and activists. Only through working together can we facilitate for Africa’s unity, shared prosperity and lasting peace.

Africa…. One people. One Destiny
Long live Africa and her Diaspora!
Long live African solidarity and unity!
I thank you and happy Africa Day!!

OECD Skills Outlook 2015: Youth, Skills and Employability
OECD
Published on May 27, 2015 :: 160 pages
Abstract
Young people around the world are struggling to enter the labour market. In some OECD countries, one in four 16-29 year-olds is neither employed nor in education or training. The OECD Skills Outlook 2015 shows how improving the employability of youth requires a comprehensive approach. While education , social, and labour market policies have key roles to play, co-ordination between public policies and the private sector is also crucial. The publication, which builds on the results of the 2012 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) presented in the first edition of the Skills Outlook, also presents examples of successful policies in selected countries.

.
Press Release
Governments must step up efforts to tackle youth unemployment
27/05/2015 – More than 35 million young people, aged 16-29, across OECD countries are neither employed nor in education or training (NEET). Overall, young people are twice as likely as prime-age workers to be unemployed. Governments need to do more to give young people a good start to their working lives and help them find work, according to a new OECD report.

The OECD Skills Outlook 2015 says that around half of all NEETs in the OECD are out of school and not looking for work and are likely to have dropped off the radar of their country’s education, social, and labour market systems.

“Addressing this issue is not only a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, launching the report in Berlin. “Too many young people leave education without having acquired the right skills and, even those who do, are prevented from putting them to productive use. These young people often face a difficult future and need all our support. “

The report expands on the findings of the first OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), published in 2013, and creates a detailed picture of how young people acquire and use their skills, as well as the potential barriers they face to doing both.

It shows that 10% of new graduates have poor literacy skills and 14% have poor numeracy skills. More than 40% of those who left school before completing their upper secondary education have poor numeracy and literacy skills.

Work and education are also too often separate worlds: less than 50% of students in vocational education and training programmes, and less than 40% of students in academic programmes in the 22 OECD countries and regions covered were participating in some kind of work-based learning at the time of the survey. Even young people with strong skills have trouble finding work. Many firms find it too expensive to hire individuals with no labour market experience.

Young people in work can also face institutionalised obstacles to developing their skills. For example, one in four employed young people is on a temporary contract and so tend to use their skills less and have fewer training opportunities than workers on permanent contracts.

To help more young people into work, the OECD recommends:
:: High-quality pre-primary education for all children in order to help mitigate disparities in education outcomes and to give every child a strong start to their education.
:: Teachers and school leaders should identify low achievers early on to give them the support they need to attain sufficient proficiency in reading, mathematics and science, and prevent them from dropping out of school entirely.
:: Public employment services, social welfare institutions and education and training systems should offer some form of second-chance education or training. In return for receiving social benefits, young people could be required to register with social welfare or public employment services, and participate in further education and training.
:: Education providers and the business sector should work together to design qualifications frameworks that accurately reflect the actual skills of new graduates.
:: Work-based learning should be integrated into both vocational and academic post-secondary programmes.

ITU – ICT Facts and Figures – The world in 2015
International Telecommunication Union
Geneva, May 2015 :: 6 pages
Pdf: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/facts/ICTFactsFigures2015.pdf

.
This report features end-2015 estimates for key telecommunication/ICT indicators, including on mobile-cellular subscriptions, Internet use, fixed and mobile broadband services, home ICT access, and more. 2015 is the deadline for achievements of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which global leaders agreed upon in the year 2000, and the new data show ICT progress and highlight remaining gaps.

“This year governments are making their final assessment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which global leaders agreed upon in the year 2000. Over the past 15 years the ICT revolution has driven global development in an unprecedented way. Technological progress, infrastructure deployment, and falling prices have brought unexpected growth in ICT access and connectivity to billions of people around the world.

“In 2015 there are more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, up from less than 1 billion in 2000. Globally 3.2 billion people are using the Internet of which 2 billion are from developing countries. ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society.

“Our mission is to connect everyone and to create a truly inclusive information society, for which we need comparable and high-quality data and statistics to measure progress.”
Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015
Meeting the 2015 international hunger targets: taking stock of uneven progress
FAO, IFAD and WFP.
Rome, 2015 :: 62 pages
ISBN 978-92-5-108785-5
Pdf: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4646e.pdf
Overview
This year´s annual State of Food Insecurity in the World report takes stock of progress made towards achieving the internationally established Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) and World Food Summit hunger targets and reflects on what needs to be done, as we transition to the new post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. The report reviews progress made since 1990 for every country and region as well as for the world as a whole.

Progress towards the MDG 1 target, however, is assessed not only by measuring undernourishment, or hunger, but also by a second indicator – the prevalence of underweight children under five years of age. Progress for the two indicators across regions and over time, is compared, providing insights into the complexity of food security.

Overall progress not withstanding, much work remains to be done to eradicate hunger and achieve food security across all its dimensions. The 2015 report not only estimates the progress already achieved, but also identifies remaining problems, and provides guidance on which policies should be emphasized in the future. Key factors that have determined success to date towards food security and nutrition goals are identified. The list of factors – economic growth, agricultural productivity growth, markets (including international trade) and social protection – is by no means exhaustive. The report also shows how protracted crises, due to conflict or natural disasters, have deleterious effects on progress in hunger reduction.

Key messages
:: About 795 million people are undernourished globally, down 167 million over the last decade, and 216 million less than in 1990–92. The decline is more pronounced in developing regions, despite significant population growth. In recent years, progress has been hindered by slower and less inclusive economic growth as well as political instability in some developing regions, such as Central Africa and western Asia.

:: The year 2015 marks the end of the monitoring period for the Millennium Development Goal targets. For the developing regions as a whole, the share of undernourished people in the total population has decreased from 23.3 percent in 1990–92 to 12.9 per cent. Some regions, such as Latin America, the east and south-eastern regions of Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia, and the northern and western regions of Africa have made fast progress. Progress was also recorded in southern Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and southern and eastern Africa, but at too slow a pace to reach the MDG 1c target of halving the proportion of the chronically undernourished.

:: A total of 72 developing countries out of 129, or more than half the countries monitored, have reached the MDG 1c hunger target. Most enjoyed stable political conditions and economic growth, often accompanied by social protection policies targeted at vulnerable population groups.

:: For the developing regions as a whole, the two indicators of MDG 1c – the prevalence of undernourishment and the proportion of underweight children under 5 years of age – have both declined. In some regions, including western Africa, south-eastern Asia and South America, undernourishment declined faster than the rate for child underweight, suggesting room for improving the quality of diets, hygiene conditions and access to clean water, particularly for poorer population groups.

:: Economic growth is a key success factor for reducing undernourishment, but it has to be inclusive and provide opportunities for improving the livelihoods of the poor. Enhancing the productivity and incomes of smallholder family farmers is key to progress.

:: Social protection systems have been critical in fostering progress towards the MDG 1 hunger and poverty targets in a number of developing countries. Social protection directly contributes to the reduction of poverty, hunger and malnutrition by promoting income security and access to better nutrition, health care and education. By improving human capacities and mitigating the impacts of shocks, social protection fosters the ability of the poor to participate in growth through better access to employment.

:: In many countries that have failed to reach the international hunger targets, natural and human-induced disasters or political instability have resulted in protracted crises with increased vulnerability and food insecurity of large parts of the population. In such contexts, measures to protect vulnerable population groups and improve livelihoods have been difficult to implement or ineffective.

Joint statement on renewed attacks against the civilian population, especially women and children, in the widening armed conflict in South Sudan
28 May 2015
:: UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura,
:: UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui,
:: Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,
:: UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng
:: UN Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Jennifer Welsh.

We are deeply concerned at reports of escalating violence against the civilian population in the context of the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, particularly against women and children. Since the middle of April 2015, reports have indicated that serious violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law have taken place and are ongoing, as fighting intensifies between forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army–In Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Unity and Upper Nile States.

We are appalled at the large-scale, widespread nature of the violations and abuses reported, including extra-judicial killings, the abduction of women and children, rape and other forms of sexual violence, recruitment and use of children, looting and destruction of property. In addition, the fighting has exacerbated an already dire economic and humanitarian situation by reducing the humanitarian space, thus depriving thousands of South Sudanese of essential humanitarian assistance.

We continue to remind the political and military leadership of the SPLA and SPLA-IO of their responsibilities, in line with international law, including their responsibility to ensure the full protection of the civilian population, especially women and children, from violence and to spare them the effects of hostilities. The Government of South Sudan bears the primary responsibility for protecting its population from serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. We therefore call upon the Government to exercise that responsibility. The SPLA and SPLA-IO leaders must immediately put a stop to ongoing violations and abuses, issue clear orders for the immediate release of children associated with their forces and prohibiting sexual violence crimes. They must ensure the enforcement of these orders by field commanders, take concrete steps to identify and hold perpetrators accountable as well as facilitate access for humanitarian actors to continue providing life-saving assistance to the population.

We believe that a sustainable solution to the crisis can only be found through inclusive dialogue and that accountability is critical to obtaining lasting peace and in fostering reconciliation among communities in South Sudan. Women, as leaders and agents of change must be represented in peace talks and women’s groups must be fully consulted in the process.

We urge the UN Security Council, African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), neighbouring countries and other relevant stakeholders, especially those involved in the mediation process, to reinforce engagements with the SPLA and SPLA-IO in order to de-escalate the current situation, prevent further violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and move the mediation process forward.

It is the collective responsibility of the international community to take decisive steps to end the protracted suffering of the South Sudanese people, especially the women and children who are disproportionately affected by the recent clashes.

EBOLA/EVD [to 30 May 2015]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); “Threat to international peace and security” (UN Security Council)

WHO: Ebola Situation Report – 27 May 2015
[Excerpts]
SUMMARY
:: There were 12 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the week to 24 May: 9 from Guinea and 3 from Sierra Leone. A total of 5 districts (3 in Guinea, 2 in Sierra Leone) reported at least one confirmed case, compared with 6 districts the previous week. The west-Guinean prefecture of Forecariah reported the most cases of any one district, and continues to present the greatest challenge in terms of response, with multiple chains of transmission over a wide geographical area (4 sub-prefectures), and the continued occurrence of cases from unknown sources of infection.

COUNTRIES WITH WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION
:: There have been a total of 27,013 reported confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (figure 1, table 1), with 11,134 reported deaths (this total includes reported deaths among probable and suspected cases, although outcomes for many cases are unknown). A total of 9 new confirmed cases were reported in Guinea and 3 in Sierra Leone in the 7 days to 24 May. The outbreak in Liberia was declared over on 9 May.

Nepal earthquake 2015 – Grade 3 emergency  [to 30 May 2015]

.
:: Health situation report No. 19pdf, 317kb – 26 May 2015 2015
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
:: The repeated earthquakes and aftershocks since 25 April 2015 have had a major public health consequences, with a total 1085 health facilities (402 completely and 683 partially) damaged.
:: A total of 2088 people have undergone major surgeries and 26,160 have received psychosocial support in the highly affected 14 districts.
:: Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) identifies 429 patients in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur who require longer term treatment support.
:: 42 Foreign Medical teams (FMTs) are operating in the country with a total 802 persons including 264 doctors and 236 nurses.
:: Currently there are over 100 beds available for patients requiring ongoing rehabilitation or nursing care within the Kathmandu valley.

.

:: Global Health Cluster
Health Cluster Bulletin No. 4 pdf, 1.83Mb 27 May 2015
Situation update
Up to 26 May, just a little over a month after the first earthquake of 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on 25 April, followed by a 7.3 magnitude on 12 May and numerous aftershocks, the MoHP is reporting that there has been 8673 earthquake-related deaths and 21952 injuries. Of this amount, eight health workers and 10 FCHVs have lost their lives, 75 have been injured and two remain missing.
The Ministry of Health and Population’s (MoHP) Early Warning and Response System for epidemic-prone diseases (EWARS) show a generally stabilizing trend in numbers of outbreak prone diseases in the 14 severely affected districts. No major outbreaks have been reported to date…

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 30 May 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

.
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage
29 May 2015
SC/11912
Action against Threat of Foreign Terrorist Fighters Must Be Ramped Up, Security Council Urges in High-Level Meeting
The Security Council this morning welcomed what it called “extraordinary efforts” by States to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to and from conflict zones, while urging stepped-up work on the issue due to growing recruitment by extremist groups, from more than 100 countries.

28 May 2015
ECOSOC/6691
At Economic and Social Council Partnerships Forum, Speakers Stress Investment in Health-Care Systems Critical to Achieving Post-2015 Agenda Targets
Robust, sustained investment in health-care systems were critical to achieving post-2015 development targets, as well as making the “final push” against the West African Ebola outbreak and preventing other devastating epidemics, said high-level speakers, as the Economic and Social Council held its annual Partnerships Forum and launched the Global Network on Promoting Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization today.

28 May 2015
SC/11911
Humanitarian Chief, Briefing Security Council, Describes Savagery in Syria, Urging Members to Set Aside Differences
Syria’s descent into “deeper depths of despair” over the past four years had surpassed what even the most pessimistic observers thought possible, the top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council today, urging the 15-member body to set aside its political differences and prevent the abandonment of Syrians to further hopelessness.

28 May 2015
GA/11646
Expressing Outrage over Attacks on Cultural Heritage of Iraq, General Assembly Unanimously Adopts Resolution Calling for Urgent Action
Condemning the barbaric destruction and looting of the cultural heritage of Iraq by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the General Assembly today deplored the rising incidence of intentional attacks against and threats to such heritage of countries affected by armed conflict.

29 May 2015
SC/11914-AFR/3147-PKO/493
Security Council Press Statement on Mali
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda Murmokaitė (Lithuania).

28 May 2015
DSG/SM/869-GA/11647-IK/703
World Must Do All in Its Power to Halt Destruction of Iraq’s Cultural Heritage, Deputy Secretary-General Tells General Assembly
Following are United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on “Saving the cultural heritage of Iraq” today.

28 May 2015
DSG/SM/868-ECOSOC/6693-ENV/DEV/1523
Global Cross-Cutting Partnerships Needed for Post-2015 Sustainable Future, Says Deputy Secretary-General at Economic and Social Council Forum
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Economic and Social Council annual Partnerships Forum, “The role of Partnerships in achieving the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Making it Happen”, in New York today.

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 30 May 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true

.
Zeid urges further investigation into human rights violations by international forces in Central African Republic
GENEVA (30 May 2015) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Saturday said he has urged several States to intensify their efforts to investigate long-standing allegations that soldiers in their forces sent to keep the peace in the Central African Republic may have committed very serious violations, including killing of civilians, summary executions, abductions and sexual exploitation of local women.

“These allegations were extremely disturbing,” Zeid said. “People in CAR were desperate for protection. The role of international forces in halting the worst of the fighting and sectarian slaughter in CAR has been invaluable, and their presence has unquestionably saved many, many lives. Yet, in some cases the longed-for protectors turned into predators.”

“In the wake of the revelations of alleged serious sexual abuse of children, currently under investigation by the French authorities, my Office has taken a deeper look into these issues and the extent of the follow-up into alleged serious violations by soldiers belonging to several other international contingents operating under the MISCA* umbrella in 2014,” the UN Human Rights Chief said. “Some of these incidents have been at least partly investigated, and some States have apparently sanctioned some of the soldiers involved, but the fact that a number of foreign contingents may have been implicated is in itself a matter of enormous concern.”…

.
International development financing: “It’s not just about more resources” – UN human rights expert
5/26/2015
GENEVA (26 May 2015) – The Third International Conference on Financing for Development should endorse and reinforce a human rights based approach to development, UN expert Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky has said today, urging governments worldwide to drum up the necessary resources to ensure that future international development goals can realistically be met.

The appeal* by the UN Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights comes as States negotiate the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13-16 July 2015.
“Human rights must be at the core of development financing to ensure that everybody can enjoy a decent life, free from hunger, and has access to education, health care, housing and drinking water,” Mr. Bohoslavsky stressed. “The Conference should reiterate that the human being is the central subject of development and should be its active participant and beneficiary.”

The expert urged negotiators to recognize in the Conference’s outcome document that unsustainable debt burdens continue to pose challenges to sustainable development and to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. “While international debt relief for highly indebted poor countries has been important, most of them are expected to miss the UN Millennium Development by the end of this year,” he said.

“Unfortunately, some of these countries are again at risk of falling into a debt trap,” Mr. Bohoslavsky warned. “This failure should not be repeated and long-term solutions to the global problem of unsustainable debt are required, including for middle-income and highly developed countries.”

The Independent Expert noted that private finance and businesses enterprises can make an important contribution to sustainable development; however, he underscored that “the conference should reiterate that States have to ensure that all investments must comply with relevant social, environmental and human rights standards, including the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Guiding Principles on Foreign Debt and Human Rights.”

“Infrastructure projects financed by development loans have displaced millions of people around the world during the last decade and affected individuals have not always received adequate compensation,” he said expressing concern that the environmental and social safeguard procedures of development banks have not been sufficiently robust to prevent human rights violations…