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Crisis
In Darfur Is Of Extraordinary Gravity, International Community
Warns
 |
| A
Sudanese refugee arriving in Farachana camp. Upon arrival
at the camp, refugees receive blankets, mattresses, jerry
cans, kitchen sets, and soap from UNHCR, as well as sorghum,
oil and corn-soya blend provided by WFP. Photo UNHCR/H.Caux |
Describing
the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan's Darfur region
as being "of extraordinary gravity, magnitude
and urgency," the United Nations, donor countries and aid
agencies wrapped up a one-day donor alert meeting in Geneva last
week by appealing for at least $236 million to help an estimated
2.2 million victims of the war and forced ethnic displacement survive
until the end of this year. At the same meeting, the European Commission
announced its intention to commit an additional EUR 10 million
in humanitarian assistance to the EUR 9.2 million aid package the
European Commission already allocated to the victims of the Darfur
crisis.
In a joint statement the UN, the United States
and the European Union warned that the situation in Darfur, an
impoverished region
in Sudan's west, is so dire that donors will have to maintain their
support at least until 2006. Hundreds of thousands of lives will
be at risk in Darfur unless immediate protection and relief are
provided, they say. Civilians still face the threat of attack from
the Janjaweed militias; many people are spilling into neighbouring
Chad to escape the violence. More….
Drought-Hit Northern Somalia Faces Looming Disaster
Without substantial rains in the next two weeks, northern Somalia
could suffer worsening drought conditions that would overtake the
current capacity of aid agencies to provide relief, the United
Nations official warned this week. "All the signs indicate
that the communities of large parts of northern Somalia are experiencing
yet another season of inadequate rainfall," the UN Humanitarian
Co-ordinator for the country, Maxwell Gaylard, said in a statement
released in Nairobi, Kenya. "This situation could develop
into full-blown disaster in the next couple of months." More…
Fighting Erupts Again In The DRC
The fragile security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) broke down this week when rebels attacked the eastern town
of Bukavu and surrounding districts. Resistance from DRC troops
melted away as the soldiers fled, leaving the rebels in command
of the town. The small UN peacekeeping force in the area is neither
equipped nor mandated to suppress this sort of insurgency but that
hasn't altered the perception among local people that the UN ought
to have done more. More…
Five Aid Workers Murdered In Afghanistan
Five members of Médecins sans Frontières were murdered
this week in north western Afghanistan when they were caught in
what appeared to be an ambush on the road between the towns of
Khairkana and Qala-I-Naw. Two of the dead were Afghans, the others
came, respectively, from the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. More…
Numbers
Of Asylum Seekers Fall Again
New figures issued by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR)
show that the number of asylum-seekers reaching the world's developed
countries fell again in the first three months of this year, continuing
the downward trend of the last few years. More…
Boost Bio-Energy To Ease Poverty In Developing Countries
With wood, charcoal and fuel-producing crops emerging as environmentally
friendly and cost-effective sources of energy, especially for developing
countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) this week called for the urgent inclusion of so-called bio-energy
into agricultural and forestry programmes. More…
UN
Nuclear Watchdog Explains Role In Safeguarding Nuclear Weaponry
Discussing how to prevent nuclear weaponry from falling into the
hands of terrorists, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) has stressed the role it can play in reinforcing
national efforts to detect smuggling of nuclear material and equipment
that could be used in crude explosive devices and so-called dirty
bombs. More…
Myanmar:
Continued Concern For Democracy And Human Rights
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the UN expert tracking the human rights
situation in Myanmar has voiced disappointment with the lack of
co-operation on the part of the country's authorities with his
work. He has asked twice to visit Myanmar since last November,
but "without much success so far".
The authorities have rejected all dates he has suggested up until
now. More...
UN
Human Rights Experts Demand Israel Stop Razing Palestinian Homes
Two United Nations experts this week condemned Israel's systematic
demolition of Palestinian homes, water sources and livelihoods
in the Rafah refugee camp, describing the practice illegal and
calling for international action if it continues. More…
Thousands Of Refugees Hurry Home To Sierra Leone Before UN Repatriation
Programme Ends
The United Nations-sponsored return of refugees to Sierra Leone
is picking up pace before the repatriation programme comes to an
end on 30 June. Last week, large convoys with a total of over a
thousand refugees arrived from Liberia in Gendema, on their way
to the UN way station in Zimmi.. More..
Commission
Allocates EUR 9.1 Million Healthcare Funding To North Korea
The European Commission has adopted a EUR 9.1 million humanitarian
aid plan to boost healthcare for up to ten million people in the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The funding, will
provide much-needed equipment and medicines, and help to rehabilitate
health centres, hospitals and specialist facilities. More..
Threat
To Cold-Water Coral Reefs
Slow-growing cold-water corals are being damaged by heavy, deep
sea fishing, waste disposal and oil and gas exploration and production,
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced this
week. More..
©EuropaWorld 2004
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Speeches
Pascal
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The Role of Europe in Today’s
Globalised World: Seventh Conference on Globalisation – Felix
Meritis Connecting Cultures. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 31 May 2004
En
Bref
Six-month
extension of UN force in Cyprus proposed while
pledging a review before the mid-point aimed
at adapting its mandate to the prevailing circumstances.
The UN say that the situation along the ceasefire
lines remains calm, while people from both sides
continue regularly to pass through the crossing
points. "I remain convinced that, in the
absence of a comprehensive settlement, the presence
of UNFICYP on the island continues to be necessary
for the maintenance of the ceasefire," said
Mr. Annan. The Secretary-General urged the Turkish
Cypriot authorities to provide full freedom of
movement for UNFICYP so that it could carry out
its mandate more effectively.
Commission
increases budget for democracy and human rights activities
by almost EUR 27 million. New priorities have been added
to the programme, including support measures for victims
of human rights abuses and a pilot project for an experts'
network for conflict prevention, while the budgets for
supporting the development and consolidation of democracy
and the rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, have been increased.
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