Somalia: Declaration of National Disaster (28.02.2017)

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The president has appealed to the International Community to urgently respond to the calamity in order to help families and individuals to recover from the effects of the drought disaster to avoid humanitarian tragedy.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 28, 2017 -The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, His Excellency Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo) has declared a National Disaster to deal with the humanitarian emergency in all areas affected by the current drought.

The president has appealed to the International Community to urgently respond to the calamity in order to help families and individuals to recover from the effects of the drought disaster to avoid humanitarian tragedy.

The president is also kindly calling on the Somali business community and Diaspora to participate in the recovery operations efforts in the affected area with the aim to mitigate the impact of drought nationwide.

The president stands ready to receive a continuous briefing on the assessment and response to the emergency.

Humanitarian coordinator calls for urgent access as needs surge in South Sudan (28.02.2017)

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Somalia: Drought Emergency Response (27.02.2017)

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Renewing the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan and addressing the need for accountability for past and on-going crimes under international law and human rights violations in South Sudan (23.02.2017)

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United Nations Independent Expert Calls on Sudan to Protect the Rights of Civilians in Darfur (23.02.2017)

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The region has been engulfed in a civil conflict since 2003 with hundreds of thousands of displaced people still living in camps.

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 23, 2017 -The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, has called on the Government in Khartoum to protect the rights of civilians in war-torn Darfur.

The region has been engulfed in a civil conflict since 2003 with hundreds of thousands of displaced people still living in camps.

Mr. Nononsi was speaking at the end of a 12-day mission during which he held talks with people living in the village of Adi Kong in western Darfur state.

“This community remains anxious about the security situation in the area,” he said. “Its members want enhanced protection of civilians by the authorities as well as basic services, including access to water, education and health care. It is essential for the Government, with the support of its international partners, to effectively protect the rights of civilians in a sustainable manner,” Mr. Nononsi stressed.

The Independent Expert also visited Sorotony Camp in northern Darfur, which provides shelter for people who have fled the fighting. He described the conditions of the displaced people living there as “precarious”.

Some of the residents spoke of living in a state of insecurity because of “armed elements” and of criminality both inside and outside the camp. Sexual and gender-based violence was also a serious concern in the Camp, added Mr. Nononsi.

He said information suggested the attacks were being carried out by armed individuals either outside the Camp when the women were doing their daily work, or inside it when they had returned.

Nine cases of rape were reported in the Sorotony Camp between 27 January and 18 February. But, Mr. Nononsi said many other incidents of sexual violence were not reported because of fear of the social stigma associated with rape. Women were also afraid to speak out, he said, because they feared reprisal. The absence of law enforcement institutions in Sorotony to effectively investigate and prosecute the rapists made matters even worse.

Ending his visit to Sudan, Mr. Nononsi said: “I urge the Government, which bears the primary responsibility to protect civilians within its territory, to promptly conduct investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice. I also urge the authorities in Khartoum to abide by the UN Security Council call for enhanced cooperation with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), in its efforts to protect civilians in Darfur.”

Mogadishu Declaration on Regional Cooperation on the Current Drought (22.02.2017)

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Mogadishu – Wednesday, 22 February 2016The following joint declaration was made in Mogadishu by H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, and H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

1. We have come together as the heads of government of four countries in a region facing significant stress as a result of the current drought. Multiple seasons of failed rains and global weather patterns have, yet again, negatively affected the resilience mechanisms of millions of our people. This is evident in the immediate humanitarian crisis facing us today and will show up in longer term socio-economic vulnerability in communities that today are selling all their assets and uprooting their families for survival.

2. This situation, which may worsen in Somalia and result in a renewed famine over the coming months, could also have security and political implications in our region and beyond, as coping mechanisms are eroded and tensions over dwindling resources risks sparking conflict. Scores of people are moving both within countries and across borders in the hope of increasing their chances of survival. This upheaval is taking a particularly heavy toll on children and women, and makes people vulnerable to exploitation, human rights abuses and to criminal and terrorist networks. Drought-related disease outbreaks and inter-communal conflict are already on the rise.

3. While each of our governments is mobilising to respond, the dire situation calls for international collaboration and regional partnership between governments, civil society, aid organisations, business and international donors.

4. We commit ourselves to regional cooperation to facilitate a more comprehensive response and strong partnership.

5. We commit to strengthening our cross-border collaboration and our efforts to establish security and stability in Somalia to ensure an effective response to the drought and to enable further progress in peace building and state building in Somalia. We further commit to the provision of appropriate protection and assistance to those compelled to leave their areas of origin as a consequence of the drought, including those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

6. We will be consulting on a regular basis to review progress on these issues, and to agree upon any necessary collective action that will help our countries and region respond to this emergency. Furthermore, we have instructed our respective foreign ministers and drought response teams to work together and keep us briefed.

7. In the longer term, we commit to working together bilaterally and through existing regional bodies such as IGAD, the African Union as well as the United Nations to address the underlying structural issues that commonly affect our economies, environments and communities, including cross-border rangeland and water resource management.

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Burundi: “Menace des Subventions du Fond Mondial pour le Burundi suite au malaise au sein du Ministre de la Sarte Publique et de la Lutte contre le Sida” (08.02.2017)

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Burundi: Letter to UN – “Remplacement de Monsieur Jamal Bonamar, votre Conseiller Special sur la Resolution des conflicts y compris le Burundi” (21.02.2017)

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Burundi: “2017: Journal d’un Patriote Arusha les Obstacles et les Responsabilites” (Fevrier 2017)

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UN allocates $21 million to help thousands in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan (20.02.2017)

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