BRAC [to 10 May 2014]

Seminar held on ‘Creating accessibility in transportation and road infrastructure for the disabled’
BRAC’s road safety programme held a seminar on ‘Creating accessibility in transportation and road infrastructure for the disabled’ on 6 May 2014, at BRAC Centre. It was a collaborative initiative between BRAC and BRTA. Consultant in traffic planning and researcher of Lund University Helena Svensson, PhD gave a presentation on the topic. She identified insufficient footpath and a lack of arrangement for disabled people to get into public transport as major problems…

A call for action to end malnutrition
Civil Society Alliance for Scaling Up Nutrition, Bangladesh (CSA for SUN) celebrated a “Global Day of Action” on nutrition with 18 other countries on 4 May 2014 at Spectra Convention Centre. Inaugurated in 2012 by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, SUN is a unique movement founded on the principle that all people have a right to food and good nutrition. BRAC is facilitating Secretariat responsibility to achieve the objectives of SUN Movement.
The purpose of the Global Day of Action is to display the strong public support behind the nutrition issues of Bangladesh, and reflect this internationally. Art and quiz competitions were held in 14 districts across 7 divisions of Bangladesh in April. An art exhibition with the winning artwork from all 14 districts was displayed in the event.
“We must not allow under-nutrition to prevail and only with coordinated efforts we will be able to overcome malnutrition” said the chief guest of the event, State Minister for Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, MP. Representative of World Food Programme Christa Rader and member of SUN Civil Society Network, Dr. Sultana Khanum attended the event as special guests. Dr. Michael Foley, Director, Save the Children & Executive Member of CSA for SUN, Dr. Rukshana Haider, Chair, CSA for SUN, Bangladesh, Kaosar Afsana, Director, BRAC & Member Secretary, CSA for SUN were also present.
Within the SUN Movement, national leaders are prioritizing efforts to address malnutrition. With a shared understanding that many factors impact nutrition, each of us has a unique contribution to make. Together we are capable of achieving what none of us can do alone.

BRAC @BRACworld • May 6
Tomorrow night BRAC UK will be tweeting from ‘The Bangladesh Success Story: state and civil society partnering for lasting change’ #joinus

BRAC@BRACworld • May 6
Thanks to @amplifierstrat & @WrenBren for this excellent article on BRAC’s ultra-poor prog – http://bit.ly/QbVmh9

BRAC @BRACworld • May 4
In pursuit to develop English & ICT skills of 77k girls of #Bangladesh – http://bit.ly/1iTbniZ @BritishCouncil #gender #ICT4D #globaldev

Casa Alianza [to 10 May 2014]
Covenant House [to 10 May 2014]

Broadway Stars Join with Jon Bon Jovi in Philadelphia to Support Our Kids
More than 450 guests joined with Covenant House President Kevin Ryan and some of Broadway’s most talented stars to honor Jon Bon Jovi, Craig Spencer and our Covenant House kids.

Covenant House @CovenantHouse 6h
The Honduran military police savagely beat our national director of Casa Alianza (@CovenantHouse) #FreeGuadalupe https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203722096115560&set=a.1090714550738.2016329.1312714968&type=1&theater …

Covenant House @CovenantHouse May 7
We love you Jon Bon Jovi! “@CovHousePrez: Thank you Jon & @JBJSoulFound for celebrating with us in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/HJHIeVruJp”

Casa Alianza UK @CasaAlianzaUK • May 5
A year after genocide trial, is this justice? #Guatemala http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/03/world/americas/guatemala-genocide-trial-anniversary/ … via @CNN #humanrights @LaAlianzaGT

Casa Alianza UK @CasaAlianzaUK • May 4
Raped Guatemalan girls need much more than pity: http://www.iamnotthebabysitter.com/casa-alianza-guatemala/ … via the Director of @LaAlianzaGT #Guatemala #humanrights #noalatrata

ECPAT [to 10 May 2014]

Regional Consultation against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Latin America
Posted on 05/08/2014, 12:30
The ECPAT Latin America Regional Consultation against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children wrapped up today in Panama City. The three-day Consultation brought together ECPAT groups from the region, together with leading child-rights experts to discuss the regional strategy to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Latin America. The Consultation kicked off Monday morning with opening remarks from Bernt Aasen, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

ECPAT International ‏@ECPAT May 8
ECPAT and the @INHOPE_PR Foundation cooperate in the fight against child sex abuse material. http://bit.ly/1o9swwM

Retweeted by ECPAT International
Ecpat Belgium @ecpatbelgium May 2
Empowering children to become responsible digital citizens is primary for @ecpat #makeitsafe project http://bit.ly/1k8Itww @CommissionerHR

Handicap International [to 10 May 2014]

Handicap Int’l-US @HI_UnitedStates • May 8
HI Physical Therapist Iris saved Dante from a life of permanent disbility: http://bit.ly/RuAWAY #TyphoonHaiyan #Philippines

Handicap Intl UK ‏@HI_UK May 8
Typhoon Haiyan 6 months on: Find out about our emergency response to ensure the most vulnerable are not forgotten http://bit.ly/1cQRdJY

Handicap Int’l-US @HI_UnitedStates • May 6
We’ve restored 17 basketball courts damaged by Typhoon Haiyan in the #Philippines so kids can play ball in safety. http://bit.ly/RkpYyb

Handicap Int’l-US @HI_UnitedStates • May 5
We employ people with disabilities in the #Philippines to restore community spaces damaged by Typhoon Haiyan.

Handicap Int’l-US ‏@HI_UnitedStates
HI Co-Founder Jean-Baptiste Richardier was in #Nepal to celebrate the opening of our new office in Kathmandu. pic.twitter.com/zzIUDFwl7y

Handicap Intl UK @HI_UK May 2
We’ve added powerful videos of our work in Syria, Rwanda and Lebanon over the last few weeks – Check out our channel http://bit.ly/HIUK-YouTube

Retweeted by Handicap Intl UK
HelpAge ‏@helpage May 2
Download now: Second issue of the Age & Disability Monitor looking at our joint work on #Syria crisis with @HI_UK http://bit.ly/PXaQ8N

Heifer International [to 10 May 2014]

Heifer International @Heifer • May 8
.@HeiferCEO shares how to #BringBackOurGirls in his latest blog post: http://hefr.in/Rvl5lA

Heifer International @Heifer • May 6
Heifer works to close the ‘digital divide’ in Peru by empowering women w/ technology to sell their goods. http://www.heifer.org/join-the-conversation/blog/2013/July/ict-peruvian-artisans-connect-internet.html … #FairMoms

Heifer International @Heifer • May 6
Heifer works with partners like @GreenMtnCoffee to ensure farmers have a sustainable livelihood. http://www.heifer.org/join-the-conversation/blog/2014/May/coffee-farmers-models-of-sustainability.html … #FairMoms

HelpAge International [to 10 May 2014]
6 May 2014

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL HELPS UP TO 140,000 PEOPLE IN SIX MONTHS SINCE TYPHOON HAIYAN
Excerpt
Funds raised by donors across the world have assisted HelpAge International to reach more than 140,000 people in the six months since Typhoon Haiyan hit on 7 November 2013. (8.40pm GMT on 7 November 2013, 4.40am 8 November 2013 local time).
Aid has so far included:
:: Emergency food for almost 8,000 households in hard-to-reach communities
:: Cash grants for almost 16,000 households
:: Emergency shelter kits for 4,000 households
:: Rice and fertilizer for about 4,000 older farmers and fertilizer for about 3,500
:: Health check-ups and medical examinations with free access to one month’s supply of appropriate medicines for more than 1,600 people in 36 remote communities in Leyte
:: Psychosocial support for almost 1,700 people in partnership with Mercy Malaysia.
“Many older people have still not fully rebuilt homes and livelihoods destroyed by the typhoon and it is essential that poor and vulnerable older people are included in ongoing recovery programmes,” said Ian Clarke, HelpAge International’s Emergency Programme Manager in the Philippines.
“Helping people get their lives and livelihoods back on track is going to take a long time and a lot of resources. The recovery process is only just beginning,” he added…

Retweeted by HelpAgeUSA
AARP Foundation @AARPCares May 9
In Haiti we, @helpage formed OPAs, older people assns, that focus on care for elderly, which didn’t exist before.

HelpAgeUSA @HelpAge_USA May 9
Our CEO is @ #lifeat50 event in Boston today 2 discuss our work in #Haiti, w the support of @AARP members @AARPEvents http://bit.ly/1kSGKwN

HelpAge @helpage • May 8
Vote today for a better world. Have your say at the United Nations #globalvote http://thndr.it/1nVn9lD

HelpAge @helpage • May 7
Encouraging report from our team at #OWG11 and inclusion of language on #ageing and older people in #SDGs: http://bit.ly/1kLm9ur #post2015

HelpAge @helpage • May 6
Our CEO, @tobyhporter on next steps we’re taking at #SDGs meeting in #NYC to ensure #ageing included http://bit.ly/1rYtUjc #post2015 #OWG11

HelpAge @helpage • May 6
Typhoon #Haiyan, 6 months on: Rebecca Rita explains how we helped her rebuild her house & harvest enough rice http://youtu.be/pOo3Ie0RgDE

International Rescue Committee [to 10 May 2014]

Women fleeing Nigeria cite fear of abduction, reports IRC
09 May 2014 – MEDIA RELEASE–
Women fleeing Nigeria cite fear of abduction, reports IRC
80% of refugees pouring across the Niger border are women & girls
Excerpt
May 9, 2014 – Fears over the risk of abduction have contributed to a sharp increase in women and girls fleeing northeastern Nigeria into Niger, where the International Rescue Committee is responding to the crisis. This is in addition to the general fear of violence following an increase in attacks on villages on the border.
As many as a 1,000 refugees a week, 80 per cent female, are pouring over the border into the Diffa region of Niger from Nigeria’s Borno state, where 284 school girls were abducted by Boko Haram militants in April.
“With the number of armed attacks on villages along the border increasing each week, families are deciding to send their wives and daughters across the border as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of abduction and other violence,” says Matias Meier, IRC country director in Niger. “The stories the refugees tell us are terrible. At times refugees have had to literally run over corpses of people who have been shot or have drowned as they attempted to cross Lake Chad.”
“With so many female-headed families struggling to survive in Niger, there is a worry that if more humanitarian aid does not arrive soon, some mothers will be forced into prostitution out of desperation to feed their children,” says Meier. Alongside other forms of support, the IRC is providing female refugees who have experienced violence with medical treatment, counseling and legal support…

Humanitarian impact bonds: Pipe dream or possibility?
Posted by Radha Rajkotia on May 9th, 2014
Last month, DFID launched the United Kingdom’s first development impact bond (DIB) intended to reduce Rhodesian sleeping sickness in Uganda. The launch of the DIB represents a number of exciting features of how development can be approached. more »

The equity smell test: Is USAID going to the right places?
Posted by Emmanuel d’Harcourt on May 8th, 2014
USAID has contributed more than $7 billion to global health programs. But U.S. citizens, global health professionals and, most of all, people living in countries receiving aid from the U.S. government have a right to ask: Is this money spent as well as it could be, and does it go to people who need it the most? more »

#BringBackOurGirls: Responding to the clarion call
Posted by Heidi Lehmann on May 7th, 2014
The #BringBackOurGirls hashtag on Twitter has focused attention on the girls in Nigeria, their families are gaining traction and other countries are offering support. Heidi Lehmann’s question is: Will this galvanize action to address the systemic injustice girls face in accessing education? more »

South Sudan: Dilemmas in dealing with the peacekeepers
Posted by Melanie Teff on May 5th, 2014
Relationships between UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian agencies are rarely totally harmonious, since they are present for different reasons and those reasons sometimes clash. And humanitarian agencies often fear being associated with the political and military elements of peacekeeping missions, in case this association affects the perception of their impartiality. But in some humanitarian crises they are forced to deal with each other more than in others. Here in South Sudan, the way this crisis has developed has forced humanitarians and peacekeepers into closer proximity than usual. more »

Intl Rescue Comm IRC @theIRC • 7h
(2/2) by respecting agrmnt,food can be distributed,people can move to safety, & plant- the steps required to avert famine later. #SouthSudan

Intl Rescue Comm IRC @theIRC • 7h
All parties in #SouthSudan must respect May 9 agreement: http://bit.ly/1l3su3m (1/2)

Intl Rescue Comm IRC @theIRC • 7h
#SouthSudan: IPC report forecasts that 4 million will suffer crisis or emergency level food insecurity in June-Aug: http://bit.ly/1l3su3m

Intl Rescue Comm IRC @theIRC • May 9
Polio should be eradicated, but still exists in #Somalia – 193 cases in past year #SomaliaAlert http://bit.ly/1m35G7B

Intl Rescue Comm IRC @theIRC • May 8
VIDEO: Typhoon #Haiyan #Philippines was 6 months ago today. See how the IRC & partners have been helping communities http://bit.ly/1hAmk9K

IRCT [to 10 May 2014]

New report highlights widespread torture in Ukraine
08-05-2014
Excerpt
Treatment of detainees in prisons across Ukraine is so severe in some cases “that it could be considered as amounting to torture”, claims a new European torture report.
The report from the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the anti-torture committee of the Council of Europe, collected allegations of torture from prisoners, methods of which include beatings, electric shocks, burning using cigarettes, and asphyxiation using plastic bags.
The allegations were made by adult men, women, and even juveniles in some instances.
The majority of the torture and ill-treatment was committed by Internal Affairs officials, a trend which has been “an issue of grave concern for the CPT since the Committee’s first visit to Ukraine 15 years ago,” the report states…
…The IRCT echoes the calls of the CPT upon the Ukrainian authorities “to take decisive and energetic action to stamp out” the practices of unaccounted detention, ill-treatment and torture.
Full report from CPT here.

IRCT @IRCT May 9
Elena Calix from our Brussels office discusses legislation available to prevent #torture in the U.S. http://wp.me/p1FGNE-zP

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 10 May 2014]

Central African Republic: MSF Reduces Medical Activities Following Massacre
May 05, 2014
Excerpt
BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC—Following the brutal killing of more than one dozen civilians and three of its humanitarian workers in a hospital in the Central African Republic (CAR) last month, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today announced a one-week reduction of its activities in the country.
MSF is reducing its activities in CAR and in neighboring countries where it is supporting Central African refugees. The organization is also evaluating the working environment for its staff and the broader potential impact on its medical activities of the armed robbery and resulting massacre at the main hospital in the northern town of Boguila, in Ouham Prefecture on April 26, in which 16 people, including the three MSF workers, were killed.
“We urge the transitional government in CAR and all armed groups involved in the conflict to immediately and publicly condemn this horrific attack,” said Arjan Hehenkamp, general director of MSF. “We demand that all armed groups take responsibility for the population living in areas under their control, publicly commit to reining in their troops, and respect civilians and humanitarian workers.”…

MSF International @MSF • May 9
RT @MSF_uk “Every day you can see things changing in Guiuan” MSF & the Philippines 6 months on pic.twitter.com/FmcPrYH0tA http://bit.ly/1jDXwlh

MSF International @MSF • May 8
Six months after the #typhoonhaiyan #MSF is still working in the #Philippines Read the update: http://bit.ly/1jDXwlh

MSF International @MSF • May 8
#SolomonIslands: #MSF provides care to flash #flood victims. Read the article: http://bit.ly/1fY7NK8

MSF International @MSF • May 7
#MSF #CARcrisis Dr Florien Oudenaarden looks back at a time of extreme violence, displacement and change. Testimony: http://bit.ly/1g7qZzq

MSF International @MSF • May 6
#Guinea: “Don’t leave them alone” Read the op-ed by Luis Encinas, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Macenta #ebola http://bit.ly/1imTrgF

Operation Smile [to 10 May 2014]
Upcoming Mission Schedule
May 9 – 19 | Mekelle, Ethiopia
May 12 – 16 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
May 14 – 18 | El Bagre, Colombia
May 15 – 21 | Liangshan, China
May 15 – 21 | Huangshi, China
May 17 – 24 | David, Panama
May 23 – 31 | Lima, Peru

Operation Smile @operationsmile • May 6
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month! Find out why Speech Therapy is so important for children with cleft. #BHSM http://www.operationsmile.org/blog/2013/the-importance-of-speech.html …

Operation Smile next
May 15-19, 2014
:: Operation Smile/ Covidien Inaugural Cleft Centers & Global Standards Summit
May 15 – 18 (14-19 with travel)
Operation Smile centers around the world are an integral platform for the delivery of surgical care. Operation Smile’s medical professionals will come together to discuss the best practices related to cleft center operations, programs and policies.
In addition, attendees will review and update the organization’s Global Standards of Care in order to ensure that the highest level of care is provided at every Operation Smile Center.
:: Resident’s Leadership Conference
May 17-18 (16-20 with travel)
Operation Smile’s annual conference for medical residents is sponsored by the Regan Fellowship and the Stryker Fellowship programs. The Conference aims to increase the residents’ understanding of Operation Smile’s programs and safe surgical care delivery.
:: MediCon
May 17-19 (16-20 with travel)
Operation Smile is proud to present MediCon, a new conference that will bring together future medical leaders from around the world to collaborate, learn and contribute to the growth of our global medical enterprises.

Partners In Health [to 10 May 2014]

May 09, 2014
PIH Nurses: Medical Multitaskers, Patient Advocates, Clinical Leaders

May 06, 2014
In Lesotho, Nurse-Midwife Mary Lesesa Delivers More Than Quality Care
Tlhanyaku Health Center is one of seven hard-to-reach areas in which PIH/Lesotho collaborates with the Ministry of Health to operate a health center. At all of these sites, nurses are the lead on-site clinicians. Read More ▸

Partners In Health @PIH • 12h
In #Lesotho, #nurses are the lead on-site clinicians at PIH/Ministry of Health centers: http://bit.ly/1mJTUh5

Partners In Health @PIH • May 7
We’re excited to partner w/ @UNITAID, IRD, & @MSF to revolutionize access to drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment! http://bit.ly/1g89T4s

PATH [to 10 May 2014]

Announcement | May 06, 2014
Canada expands access to new single-size contraceptive diaphragm
Product launch will introduce Caya® contoured diaphragm to North America

PATH ‏@PATHtweets May 9
We are honoring four remarkable mothers this week: http://www.path.org/blog/2014/05/4-mothers … #mothersday

PATH @PATHtweets May 6
This simple and low-cost device uses a mobile phone app to accurately pasteurize donated breast milk. http://bit.ly/1fPECc7 #BFGH

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 10 May 2014]

Mother Courage: When War Came to Malakal
09.05.2014 – SOS mother Nyanyul Look did not imagine her family would be in danger when government soldiers and rebels began fighting over her town of Malakal. Surely, no one – not even fighters – would jeopardize the safety of a child. Unfortunately, she was wrong. More

We support you Nigeria: #BringBackOurGirls
08.05.2014 – 07.05.2014 – SOS Children´s Villages International and its staff express their support for Nigeria´s kidnapped girls and their families. We stand with Nigerians to #BringBackOurGirls More

Ukraine Update: “Anxiety is Being Transmitted to Children”
06.05.2014 – All precautions are being taken to ensure the continued safety and care of SOS children and their families in Lugansk, Ukraine; but anxiety about the future is rising for adults and children. More

South Sudan Update: One Month after Evacuation
05.05.2014 – SOS children and families who escaped from their homes in Malakal under threat from rebel soldiers are beginning to put their lives back together in a temporary home in Juba. But there are new challenges every day. More

Children’s Villages @sos4children 12h
We support the #bringbackourgirls campaign. “The recent abduction of girls by militants in #Nigeria is abhorrent” – Richard Pichler, SOS

Children’s Villages @sos4children May 9
Catch up on the latest news and stories from SOS. Here’s our recent newsletter http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/email-list/archive/70a42e8cbc&id=6cf4f949a3 …

Tostan [to 10 May 2014]

May 6, 2014
However Long the Night, Tostan Founder Molly Melching’s biography, released in paperback today
Today, May 6, the paperback version of Tostan Founder Molly Melching’s biography, However Long the Night: Molly Melching’s Journey to Help Millions of African Women and …

Tostan @Tostan May 9
What can radio shows do to help end harmful practices? Find out from @Tostan Supervisor Mamadou Diarra Camara http://bit.ly/Rvapns

Tostan @Tostan May 7
Applications for the @Tostan Africa Volunteer Program are open. Apply by June 1st for Sept ’14 http://bit.ly/1kLct2X pic.twitter.com/VYj57EnDYk

Tostan @Tostan May 7
TODAY: Join our #HLTNchat at 1pm EDT w/ @Tostan’s @MollyMelching, author @aimeenmolloy, & @SkollFoundation #HLTN pic.twitter.com/ULeGp1KrcY

Women for Women International [to 10 May 2014]

Women for Women Intl @WomenforWomen May 9
#WfWI Nigeria Country Director Ngozi Eze provides an update on the situation in #Nigeria & urges 2 #BringBackOurGirls http://ow.ly/wFuux

Women for Women Intl ‏@WomenforWomen May 7
#WfWI VP of Programs discusses the power of bringing attention to the campaign #BringBackOurGirls with @AlJazeera http://ow.ly/i/5uwKp

United Nations – Selected Meetings Coverage and Press Releases [to 10 May 2014]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

Meetings
Committee on Information Emphasizes Need for Equitable Use of All Official United Nations Languages, as It Approves 2 Draft Resolutions (9 May 2014)
PI/2092

Creating Medal Named after Captain Mbaye Diagne, Security Council Honours Senegalese Peacekeeper’s Heroic Actions during 1994 Genocide in Rwanda (8 May 2014)
SC/11385

Security Council Statement Reaffirms Concern over Weapons of Mass Destruction as It Marks 10 Years since Adopting Landmark Non-proliferation Text (7 May 2014)
SC/11382

United Nations Role in Haiti Crucial to Stability, Say Delegates in Fifth Committee, Speaking out against Proposed Financial Cuts (7 May 2014)
GA/AB/4107

Press Releases
Security Council Committee Concerning Central African Republic Lists Three Individuals Subject to Measures Imposed by Resolution 2134 (2014) (30 May 2014)
SC/11389

Security Council Press Statement on Attacks in Nigeria (9 May 2014)
SC/11387-AFR/2882

Targeting Children Not Justifiable under Any Circumstances, Says Secretary-General Regarding Schoolgirls Abducted in Nigeria (8 May 2014)
SG/SM/15828-AFR/2878

Extreme Poverty Will Not Be Eliminated without Adequate Food, Nutrition for All, Secretary-General Tells World Food Security Committee (7 May 2014)
SG/SM/15827-DEV/3088

Secretary-General Encourages Next Generation of Leaders to Raise Voice around the World, in Message to Youth Conference (6 May 2014)
SG/SM/15825-SOC/4819

Cultural Heritage of Solidarity with Nature Basic for Sustainable Development, Deputy Secretary-General Tells General Assembly (5 May 2014)
DSG/SM/772-GA/11507-ENV/DEV/1429

Inaction on Climate Change Threatens Global Prosperity, Secretary-General Warns ‘Abu Dhabi Ascent’ Forum, Saying Solutions Already Exist (4 May 2014)
SG/SM/15819-ENV/DEV/1427

UNICEF [to 10 May 2014]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_71508.html

Media Releases [selected]
UNICEF statement on second abduction of Nigerian school girls
DAKAR, Senegal/NEW YORK, 6 May 2014 – “The abduction of eight more girls in Nigeria is an outrage and a worsening nightmare for the girls themselves and for the families of the more than 200 girls who have been stolen from their communities in the last several weeks.

United Nations agencies report steady progress in saving mothers’ lives
GENEVA / NEW YORK, 6 May 2014 – New United Nations* data show a 45% reduction in maternal deaths since 1990. An estimated 289 000 women died in 2013 due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth, down from 523 000 in 1990.

UNOCHA [to 10 May 2014]
http://www.unocha.org/

Press Releases
10 May 2014
South Sudan: South Sudan Aid Chief Welcomes Agreement to Resolve the Crisis
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Country: South Sudan Statement by Toby Lanzer, Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Juba, 10 May 2014: “Given the enormous, immediate and medium-term humanitarian consequences of the past five months of fighting, I am pleased to note the parties’ agreement in Addis Ababa. An end to the violence will allow people some breathing space, to move around more safely and to…

10 May 2014
Pakistan: Tackling a nutrition crisis in southern Sindh
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Pakistan A severe drought and limited access to health services has led to a nutrition crisis in the Tharparkar region of south-east Pakistan. This year alone, more than 200 people including many children have died due to malnutrition-related causes in the region. An estimated 44 per cent of children under five are suffering from chronic malnutrition. Read the full story on OCHA

09 May 2014
Somalia: Somalia again on precipice of crisis; HC calls for urgent funding
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Country: Somalia Statement from the Humanitarian Coordinator (Geneva, 9 May 2014) — The Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Mr. Philippe Lazzarini warned that without intervention Somalia’s fragile food security situation is likely to worsen in the coming months. Due to a combination of delayed rains, rising food prices and continued conflict, the humanitarian conditions in…

08 May 2014
Philippines: Urgent needs remain six months after super typhoon
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Philippines The humanitarian situation is stable in areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan, but ongoing support is needed to help millions of people to obtain adequate shelter and rebuild livelihoods (Tacloban, 7 May 2014): Six months after Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) struck the Central Philippines on 8 November, the humanitarian situation has stabilized across the affected regions. The progress remains fragile,…

08 May 2014
Pakistan: UN Assistant Secretary-General calls for more support for people affected by insecurity, disasters and malnutrition in Pakistan
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Pakistan (Islamabad/New York, 08 May 2014): UN Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Kyung-wha Kang concluded her mission to Pakistan today, stressing the need for more support to millions of people affected by insecurity, natural disasters and chronic malnutrition in the country. Ms. Kang visited the Jalozai Camp for displaced people in Nowshera District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which hosts…

07 May 2014
Chad: Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, calls for more humanitarian support for Chad
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan (N’Djamena/Geneva/New York, 7 May 2014): United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos completed her two-day mission to Chad late Tuesday, calling for urgent donor support to meet the humanitarian needs of 97,000 people who have fled the violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) and for the two million Chadians suffering from persistent food insecurity and malnutrition. The…

06 May 2014
Chad: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos Remarks at press conference, N’djamena, Chad, 6 May 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan Good afternoon, This is my first visit to Chad and I came for two specific purposes. First of all, to see the impact on Chad of the displaced from the Central African Republic, and also to look at the food insecurity and malnutrition crisis. I had the opportunity to speak to the President, the Prime Minister, and members of his Government, to members of the United Nations based here…

06 May 2014
Afghanistan: UN deputy humanitarian chief calls for continued humanitarian support for vulnerable communities in Afghanistan
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan (Kabul/ New York, 6 May 2014): UN Deputy Humanitarian Chief Kyung-wha Kang concluded her visit to Afghanistan today calling for continued support for vulnerable communities affected by conflict and natural disasters. As the country undergoes a major security, political and economic transition, any significant reduction in international aid could have a devastating impact on people’s lives, warned Ms. Kang. “…

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 10 May 2014]
http://www.us.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html

10 May 2014
Helen Clark: Speech as Guest of Honour at conference on Stopping Wildlife Crime and Advancing Wildlife Conservation: A Call to Action

08 May 2014
Six months since Haiyan: A promising start to recovery in the Philippines
Six months ago on 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, the most deadly storm to ever make landfall in the country and strongest tropical cyclone in history, killed more than 6,200 people and left over 4 million homeless. More than 1,000 are still missing.

08 May 2014
Six months since Haiyan, Konno donates money for Philippine rebuilding
Japanese actress and writer Misako Konno has donated 1 million yen (approximately US$ 10,200) to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help rebuild the Philippines following devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

08 May 2014
Six months on from Haiyan: Physical recovery progress is clear, but long-term focus should be on poverty
Six months after one of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded hit the Philippines, UNDP says that though the physical signs of recovery are impressive, much needs to be done to prevent the storm from continuing to exacerbate suffering in the country.

07 May 2014
International Aid Transparency Initiative Annual Report – Progress made, but still more to do to achieve greater transparency
Today marks the publication of the second International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) annual report, which looks at progress made from January to December 2013. The IATI Annual Report demonstrates that IATI is truly a multi-stakeholder movement and is gaining momentum.

05 May 2014
In Cameroon, UNDP Africa Chief calls on partners to redouble efforts on development goals
Although it is the sixth largest economy in Africa, and has abundant natural resources, Cameroon remains off track to meet most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), even though progress has been made in areas such as universal primary school education and access to water.

5 May 2014
United Nations opens up channels for direct participation of people in international decisions
The United Nations will devote the first week of May to getting out the vote for its MY World opinion poll, organizing a multitude of activities in more than 50 countries to raise awareness of and boost global participation in its efforts to foster a conversation with the world’s citizens that will better inform future international policy-making.

05 May 2014
Helen Clark: Closing Remarks at The Abu Dhabi Ascent Conference in Support of Climate Summit 2014

04 May 2014
Helen Clark: Statement on “The Importance of Action to Combat Deforestation and Tropical Forest Degradation in Tackling Climate Change” at the Abu Dhabi Ascent Conference In Support Of the UN Climate Summit 2014

UN Women [to 10 May 2014]
http://www.unwomen.org/

In the words of Evelyn Amony: “I was forced to become one of his 27 ‘wives’ ”
Posted on May 8, 2014
Evelyn Amony was abducted by the Ugandan rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) when she was only 12 years old. For nearly three decades, this rebel group has committed a range of atrocities including the abduction of children, rape, killing, maiming and sexual slavery. Today Evelyn is Chair of the Women’s Advocacy Network, comprised of over 400 formerly abducted and war-affected women, many of whom are speaking out and effectively advocating for gender justice in Uganda. In her own words, she tells her story… More

#BringBackOurGirls: A joint op-ed on the abduction of more than 200 school girls in Nigeria
Posted on May 7, 2014
In this joint op-ed on the abduction of more than 200 school girls in Nigeria, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, and Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund, say violation of the rights of women and girls on such a scale, no matter who they are and where they are, requires the whole world to stand up and take action. More

Join our Google Hangout on reducing the unequal burden of unpaid care work on women and girls
Posted on May 6, 2014
UN Women is hosting a Google Hangout on 7 May 2014 from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. EST. Unpaid care work, which includes domestic tasks, caring for people at home and in the community as well as the collection of fuel and water, is generally not recognized as ‘real work’ and is often undervalued by society. More

Markets for Change to seek safety and better earnings for women in the Pacific
Posted on May 6, 2014
Vendors and management at marketplaces across Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are set to benefit from a new project that will inject almost USD 11 million into ensuring they provide safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory working environments. More