UNMISS "Protection of Civilians" (PoC) Sites
As of 21 February 2019, a total of number of civilians seeking safety in six Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites located on UNMISS bases is 192,521 including 113,695 in Bentiu, 29,190 in Malakal, 32,444 in Juba UN House, 2,164 in Bor, and 115 in UNMISS base and 14,913 in the area adjacent to UNMISS in Wau ".
GIDEON SACKITEY “I left Waat five years ago. Today if we are here, I am sure that peace is here. I am happy that today, 20 February 2019, I can return here, without been chased away or be met with fighting.”
The words belong to Musa Chot Yak, a paramount chief in the Bieh area of the Greater Jonglei region. His emotional outburst came as he spoke at a consultative meeting on the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in Waat.
He had more to say.
“It has been one of the most uniting events I have witnessed, with all our three governors from government and opposition areas attending a joint meeting with their commissioners and chiefs. I pray things stay as they are, and improve so that we can have lasting peace in our communities.”
Fighting broke out between government and rebel forces in 2013, when the national conflict erupted, forcing thousands out of the town into neighbouring states and countries. Many have never come back to their town since.
Musa Yak, looking rather old, said he was happy to see his children all sitting down, choosing to talk instead of fighting, to resolve their disagreements.
Key participants at the consultative meeting, a precursor to a peace rally scheduled in Bor, were the governors of Bieh, Lankien and Akobo.
Seated behind a table draped in white to signify the era of peace, the discussions centered on a variety of issues, amongst which were military cooperation during the interim period the observance of free movement for civilians the delivery of humanitarian services. The voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced people to their original areas of residence was also singled out as a priority.
Other issues discussed at the meeting, which was open to the public, were the return of confiscated assets of civilians during the crisis, impediments blocking the progress of the peace implementation in Lou Nuer land and the necessity of true reconciliation and healing.
Later in a post-meeting interview, Lankien governor Simon Hoth had a lot to say.
“Having been chased out [of Waat] by these two [pointing at his counterparts from Bieh and Akobo]. But I am excited to be back on a peaceful note and for a real peaceful occasion.”
“We are the same people. We all belong to the greater Lou Nuer area and it does not matter who becomes the governor here as we will all work towards peace for the benefit of our people who have suffered for too long,” he added.
Bieh governor Moses Majok pointed out that the consultative meeting had been long overdue. “This should have happened much earlier, after the signing of the peace agreement, but we were busy with other things,” he said.
Speaking as the three-and-half-hour meeting concluded, Akobo governor Maok explained that participants had agreed that the peace agreement will be disseminated widely, and that civilians shall be granted freedom of movement. Military personnel, however, will require permits to travel, and assets confiscated during the conflict will be returned to their owners.
“We also agreed that communication infrastructure and internet networks should be opened, and the military cooperation issues be left with the military to sort out,” Mr. Maok said.
Representatives from church groups, women and youth groups took turns to plead for sustained peace and cessation of hostilities in the entire, previously contended area so that change can be felt by all.
“We want peace to prevail, so that we can all live and look [well] like those of you in government,” said John Deng a youth leader in Waat.
Deborah Schein, head of the UN peacekeeping mission’s field office in Bor, urged the leaders to uphold the peace.
”South Sudan can be a prosperous nation and the current revitalized peace agreement is the best chance for peace towards a better future,” she stressed.
After the meeting, the three governors and dignitaries were draped in white Laawa, a traditional fabric wrapped over clothing, to mark them out as peace ambassadors to lead their communities towards peace and tranquility.
JAMES SOKIRI
Women leaders in Joppa near Juba have added their voices to the many calling for stakeholders at all levels of society to pay special attention to fulfilling the needs of women and girls when the new peace accord is implemented.
“We die from treatable diseases such as malaria fever, typhoid and diarrhea, yet there are no culverts and bridges across our streams for cars to intervene quickly during security or health emergencies, says Mary Matayo, a resident of Joppa, who nevertheless expressed her joy over the arrival of peace in her country.
Mary and her female friends said most that challenges facing women are compounded by ill-proclaimed cultural practices, beliefs and customs that put females at the lowest level of importance simply for being women.
Their call for women-specific concerns to be addressed was made at a peace forum organized by the Gender Affairs Unit of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which brought together about 45 women leaders to explore ways of ending sexual and gender-based violence.
The session also helped pinpoint obstacles hindering the progress of women, including a hitherto failure to live up to the inclusion of 35 per cent women at all levels of government, as stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement.
Yet security seems to be at the top of the list of priorities.
“We want to see lasting peace so that we can live together peacefully forever, so that we can sleep outside our houses in the hot season like this, and so that our children can go back to school,” Mary Matayo says.
Another Joppa resident, Lili Abraham Duku, said it was the first time for her to understand the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in her country.
“We were once in darkness, but your lessons have opened us up to the rest of the world. Not all of us are here, but we shall now go with our mouths open to help educate the rest on what we have acquired from this forum,” she proclaimed. “I have learnt that division is bad, and that unity is power…so from today onwards, we shall live as one community, one tribe and one nation.”
She added that her community is yet to witness tangible fruits of the peace agreement, but is hopeful that this will change.
So is definitely Gladys Jambi, an UNMISS Gender Affairs Officer present at the knowledge-producing event, and she pointed her finger firmly at the male half of the population.
“As women and girls are the most vulnerable members of any setting, bad men or institutions are exploiting their defenselessness night and day during war, at home and at the workplace to achieve their selfish desires,” says Gladys Jambi, UNMISS Gender Affairs Officer, adding that not making the most of women’s abilities and skills, not least when it comes to the area of conflict resolution, will hold back the development of the country.
Listing some of the social ills making it difficult for women to realize their full potential, Ms. Jambi mentioned sexual violence, molestation, women trafficking, a lack of social and political representation, and alarming rates of domestic violence, including forced marital sex, which also constitutes rape.
Hellen Turkia, Director of the Lazor Women Development Organization, a partner of the peacekeeping body, asked women to be the ears and eyes in their communities. By fearlessly reporting, in a timely fashion, incidents of harmful cultural practices, Ms. Turkia believes they can contribute to ending these problems.
“If not taken care of [reported], it can kill as the stigma [suffered by victims of sexual violence and harassment] affects those around it much more than if these cases are rightfully reported,” Ms. Turkia said.
Pastor Paul Issa, who also spoke at the event, pointed out that most cases of domestic and sexual violence are perpetrated by people, especially close relatives, under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“It degrades human integrity, hampers progress in society, sours relationships and plants a bitter seed of division and hatred,” he concluded.
Wau Town features two PoC sites and five collective centres in which IOM-DTM conducts monthly headcounts to monitor changing population dynamics and displacement trends. These include: Wau PoC 1 and Wau PoC AA sites, as well as Cathedral, Nazareth, St. Joseph, Lokoloko and Masna collective centres.
Throughout 2018, a steady decline in the Wau PoC AA site population could be observed. Between January 2018 and January 2019, Wau PoC AA decreased by 40 per cent of its population- a reduction of 10,116 individuals (16,707 individuals since November 2017). The population of Wau PoC AA decreased by 359 individuals since December 2018.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Vaccination against Ebola Virus Disease starts in Yambio, Western Equatoria.
• Health organizations have strengthened surveillance and vaccination activities across the country after measles outbreaks were confirmed in three counties.
• Inter-communal fighting kills hundreds of civilians and disrupts aid operations across the country.
• After several months of intensive access negotiations, humanitarians have increased aid operations in Western Equatoria.
Improving Ebola Virus Disease preparedness
On 28 January, a high-level team from the Ministry for Health and humanitarian organizations visited Yambio to launch the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) vaccination campaign. This follows an allocation of about 2,160 doses of vaccine by GAVI Vaccine Alliance to South Sudan in December 2018.
The campaign aimed to vaccinate targeted healthcare and frontline workers operating in high risk states bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against EVD, as part of national preparedness efforts. At least 82 healthcare workers and frontline workers were vaccinated at Yambio State hospital during the launch. Similar vaccination campaigns will be launched in other EVD high risk areas including Morobo, Yei and Juba in Central Equatoria and Nimule in Eastern Equatoria.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund allocated US$2 million to support critical EVD preparedness activities in South Sudan. The EVD activities aim to protect an estimated 440,000 people in high-risk areas.
The CERF funds will help with time-critical actions to strengthen surveillance, build case management capabilities, enhance laboratory services and increase infection prevention and control.
The implementation of trhe preparedness plan continues across border areas considered to be at high risk of EVD. These include entry screening of travelers at selected points of entry, health facility and community-based EVD surveillance, and community engagement. Capacity for infection prevention and control, case management, and for safe and dignified burials is also being enhanced. Nineteen screening points are operational across the country. As of 31 January, more than 1,164,000 people entering South Sudan have been screened at the points.
EVD isolation units have been constructed in Yei, Yambio and Nimule. Organizations in Yei have also trained and deployed 40 community-based mobilizers in five communities in Yei County for house to house sensitization.
Construction of a temporary holding unit has been completed in Nimule, Eastern Equatoria. Twenty healthcare workers were trained on infection prevention and control, case management and water, sanitation and hygiene activities in Juba, and another 40 health workers were trained in Maridi. About 56 health facility workers were trained and given cell phones to help with reporting on surveillance.
Despite the preparedness response, consistent access to areas outside Yei County remains a challenge due to insecurity. On 29 January, partners reported that they had failed to secure humanitarian access to Lasu in Otogo County to verify reports of the arrival of over 7,000 returnees from the DRC who would require EVD screening. Efforts to secure access are continuing, to be able to reach areas as needed in February and March to undertake critical preparedness activities.
CONTEXT AND METHODOLOGY
Yambio town is located in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State, near South Sudan’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Yambio town was the centre of significant armed clashes and widespread displacement in 2016, and hosts a large population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) many of whom have started to return home as of early 2018.
This factsheet provides results from the REACH road monitoring exercise in Yambio town, Yambio County. REACH monitors four bus/car parks in Yambio town to record the arrivals and departures of people on a daily basis. Daily data is synthesised into a monthly factsheet to provide an overview of wider movement trends, including push/pull factors and intentions.
The following findings are based on primary data collected between 2 and 31 January 2019, during which 420 departing HHs (827 individuals) and 79 arriving HHs (135 individuals) were recorded, along with 17 HHs (35 individuals) that were transiting through Yambio town.1 Enumerators interviewed respondents who were arriving in and departing from any of Yambio town’s four (Tambura, Nzara, Maridi and DRC) bus/car parks.
Not all entry points to Yambio town were covered systematically, and some arrivals and departures reportedly took place outside of data collection hours (9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m). Moreover, departures are over-represented due to many arrivals getting off buses early due to the matatu system.
As such, the data presented in this factsheet is not representative, rather indicative of movement trends for the assessed population.
OVERVIEW
In 2018, a total of 760 humanitarian access incidents were reported. Over half (52 per cent) involved violence against humanitarian personnel and assets. Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of all incidents occurred in Unity (23 per cent), Central Equatoria (20 per cent), Jonglei (18 per cent) and Upper Nile (13 per cent). Forty-three per cent of the incidents were attributed to State security and civilian authorities, while criminals or unknown perpetrators were responsible for a further 39 per cent. International NGOs experienced nearly half (48 per cent) of all incidents.
IMPACT
Fifteen aid workers were killed while delivering humanitarian assistance, resulting in a total of at least 112 aid workers killed since the start of the conflict. At least 117 staff were detained for prolonged periods. Over 575 staff were relocated due to insecurity – the most significant was the relocation of almost 400 aid workers from Maban following extreme violence and targeting of humanitarian facilities, which effectively suspended many operations for months. Armed clashes in Central Unity prevented access to highly food insecure counties and forced widespread suspension of operations from April to June, affecting services to some 100,000 people. The significant deterioration in road security in Central and Western Equatoria substantially reduced access outside of Yei and Yambio towns, requiring increased use of air assets and force protection. Although armed groups committed to ensuring full humanitarian access, road insecurity inhibited Ebola preparedness efforts by delaying screening, monitoring and logistics support. Bureaucratic and operational interference continued unabated in both state and non-state controlled areas, causing excessive delays and costs to principled humanitarian operations. State security forces persistently denied access to the greater Baggari area until August, which cut off up to 28,000 people from humanitarian support. Extended stand-offs in the Bentiu and Malakal Protection of Civilians sites endured over employment grievances, disrupting the delivery of critical health and nutrition services to some 140,000 people.
Despite these challenges, humanitarians were able to reach the majority of counties across the country, by air where necessary. Since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, some positive access gains were noted in late 2018 and into 2019 in areas such as Baggari, Nagero, Tambura and Tonga. People’s access to assistance will be contingent upon State and non-State forces and authorities’ commitment and support to provide safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to end all bureaucratic and operational blockages.
This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 61 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:
For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have largely been controlled and thus closed.
Major issues and challenges include:
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues with moderate transmission intensity. While the overall number of incidence cases slowed down during the week, several risk factors still persist, including community deaths, undocumented transmission chains, high mobility of cases, etc. – suggesting higher risk of further propagation of infections. There is a need to step up implementation of proven public health measures to control this outbreak.
The measles outbreak in Chad remains serious, with the disease trend rapidly increasing. The ongoing response measures are being challenged by inadequate resources, especially lack of laboratory testing reagents, vaccines and operational funds. Supplementary immunization activities are patchy and slow, as well as suboptimal routine immunization services. There is a need to quickly scale up the ongoing reactive vaccination campaigns in order to protect the remaining vulnerable population and bring this outbreak under control.
Beatrice Mategwa
An unusual gathering in Juba, and an unusual dose of honesty.
“We cannot deny that we use children in our forces,” said Major General Charles Machieng Kuol from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) at the gathering – of mainly officers from different military groups in South Sudan, and other stakeholders.
They had come together – at a three-day workshop – to discuss the final draft of what would become a Comprehensive Action Plan aimed at preventing violations against children in armed conflict.
“Now that the peace is here, we need to work together as peace partners and stop using children,” said Lam Puol Gabriel from SPLM-IO. “Today we are here to put a stop to that suffering,” he added.
“Not only have children’s rights been violated … all rights are under threat,” said a representative of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). “The primary role of the army is to protect children in both times of peace and war time. It is a constitutional right for the army to perform these duties,” said the SSPDF representative.
South Sudan finds itself on the unenviable list of countries regarded as persistent perpetrators of grave violations against children, in the annexes of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on children and armed conflict.
At the workshop, the military officers expressed a shared desire to help delist their country from this list.
“We are gathered here to open a new page where South Sudan will be respected,” said Bangasi Joseph Bakasoro of the opposition alliance (SSOA). “Let us move together with our brothers and sisters in different countries to make sure that we are respected as a family of the global world; respecting the rule of law, respecting human rights and respecting the rights of children to demobilize them in all our ranks,” urged Mr. Bakasoro, while acknowledging that “crimes and mistakes” had been committed against children and humanitarian agencies.
“The children of South Sudan need peace and they need freedom,” said Alfred Orono Orono, Chief of Child Protection at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which helped organize the workshop.
“They need to be secure, like all the children in the whole world, doing things that children do,” added the senior child protection officer, passionately listing other things children should be doing.
“They need to go back to school, they need to be productive members of their community in the future, and that cannot be done within conflict; and that cannot be done if they are part of the armed forces,” he went on, “Or if their schools are attacked or destroyed – if they are denied the humanitarian access. All these things cannot happen – the future of the children in this country cannot happen with that background,” he said.
Mr. Orono Orono was essentially considering the six grave violations against children, which continue to be committed in South Sudan following years of conflict: recruitment and use of children; killing and maiming; rape and other forms of sexual violence; abduction and attacks on schools and hospitals; and denial of humanitarian access.
“The most important thing is that it meets the international standards,” he added, saying that this was “the first time anywhere in the world that an Action Plan that has all the six grave violations has been drafted and is going to be adapted.”
The government expressed its commitment to ensuring an end to these violations, with a robust plan to implement the Action Plan, including by integrating it in the military training curriculum.
“When the army is being trained at the training centres, they should be given this part of the act,” said Kuol Manyang Juuk, South Sudan’s defence minister to journalists.
“In the military colleges, also this should be one of the subjects to be taught so everybody becomes responsible in the protection of children. So, we will commit ourselves to doing it,” said the minister, who said this will be rolled out as soon as the document is approved by the government, promising it “will be implemented in letter and spirit.”
An initial Action Plan was signed on in 2009 by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) now the SSPDF, revised in 2012 and recommitted to in 2014, but efforts to implement it were interrupted by the civil war that erupted in 2016.
“Unicef is very happy with the level of engagement and collaboration. We are now very hopeful that it will now be ratified by the and endorsed by the government and the parties. Ultimately, this is the Action Plan of the government of South Sudan and the parties,” said Andrea Suley from Unicef – the UN children’s fund.
“They have all committed to work together to make sure that we prevent children from being committed and being used in armed forces. Now this will require tremendous amount of commitment and work from all the players,” said Alain Noudehou, UNMISS Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.
“The plan was not easy to come up. They have worked tirelessly and have come to a commitment and agreement – and the work moving forward, will be tough, but I recognize that because we have leadership of all these entities assembled in this room and committed to it, it will be very important that they stay the course so that the implementation of the Action Plan is actually fruitful,” said Noudehou.
A visit report from the latest HART fact-finding trip to South Sudan and the Nuba Mountains in Sudan presents an overview of humanitarian situations, provides first-hand evidence of human rights issues, and includes testimonies from local people, community leaders and political figures. The concerns outlined below seek to reflect the priorities of our partners in Sudan and South Sudan – the full report can be downloaded from the attachment at the bottom of this page.
Sudan
• The Government of Sudan should allow cross-border aid to reach the Two Areas to enable the survival of civilians, who are not able to trust aid sent from Khartoum due to their experience of sustained genocidal policies perpetrated against them for so many years.
• The UK Government acknowledge there has been no improvement in human rights in Sudan in recent years. Yet it continues to promote trade links with Sudan, which provides credibility and support for the regime. We heard time and again from community leaders within the Two Areas that the UK’s ‘strategic dialogue’ policies will not work.
South Sudan
• We share the widely-publicised concern over the many problems in South Sudan, caused by aspects of the political leadership, economic crises and inter-communal conflicts. However, we were encouraged by the resilience and resourcefulness of local people, especially at the Mary Help College of Nursing and midwifery and St. John’s College in Wau.
• Community leaders are inhibited from accessing funds by large-scale donors, most notably the UK’s Department for International Development, because of disruptive bureaucratic requirements. We urge such donors to make funds available to those who undertake programmes that supply essential services, such as education, health care, agricultural development and small-scale entrepreneurship.
Testimonies
“My children get night terrors because they are traumatised. They cry in their sleep from what they have seen. We are suffering and dying miserably.”Asunta Abuk Madut, Hai Masna camp, South Sudan
“The regime does not want to finalise peace. They prefer to deny us our rights. They want to impose only one culture and one religion.”Governor Anur Shallah, Nuba Mountains, Sudan
The Government is killing its own people. They are burning churches. They do not want people to be Christians.”General Jagot Mukwar, Deputy Chair of SPLM-N, Sudan
“Our people have suffered so long. Hunger, sickness, war. The Government persecute us in so many ways.They employ new tactics to inflict suffering.”Commissioner David Isiah, Nuba Moutains, Sudan
“People are traumatised by war. Our families were killed. Our cattle slaughtered. Our homes destroyed.”Community leaders in Yida refugee camp, South Sudan
“My baby is malnourished and has diarrhea but I cannot access medicine or a ration card as we arrived too late.”Awok Mamour, Hai Masna camp, South Sudan
Summary
As of January 2019, a total of 209,9791 mostly Somali refugees reside in Dadaab refugee complex (Dagahaley, IFO, Hagadera). With continued conflict, instability and drought, causing new displacement in Somalia in addition to reduced humanitarian funding in Dadaab, there is need to strengthen the knowledge of future return intentions and movement patterns of the refugee population. Since May 2017, REACH has worked with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on developing tools and methodologies for data collection in Dadaab refugee complex.
In November 2018, REACH conducted a survey in Dadaab refugee complex with findings showing a majority of the households (39%) not willing to return to Somalia mainly due to fear of conflict. This factsheet provides an overview of the third round of assessment conducted in February 2019 across the three camps of Dadaab refugee complex.
Primary data was collected through household surveys from 11 to 13 February, 2019. Households were randomly sampled to fulfill a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. A total of 381 HHs were interviewed. This level is guaranteed for all questions that apply to the entire surveyed population of each camp. Findings relating to a subset of the population may have a wider margin of error. The maximum margin of error of subsets is indicated with ‘MOE.’
CAMEROON
$299 MILLION NEEDED FOR AID RESPONSE
Armed attacks and insecurity have displaced more than 100,000 people, over half of whom were forced to flee their homes in the past two months alone.
Burkina Faso is for the first time in history facing massive internal displacement. The persistent armed raids and insecurity in Centre-Nord, Nord and Sahel regions have also triggered an unprecedented humanitarian emergency.
The displaced have settled in two main sites in Centre-Nord region as well as in communities. Aid organizations and the Government are working to ramp up assistance.
CHAD
GUNMEN KILL FIVE IN IDP CAMP ATTACK
Armed assailants on 19 February attacked Bourboura IDP camp in Ngouboua locality in the western Lac region, killing five people and wounding four others. The camp hosts more than 1,000 displaced people, half of whom arrived recently. In a separate attack also on 19 February, armed men raided Ngachia village in Ngouboua where 365 displaced people have sought refuge. The attackers abducted four people, including two teenagers. Villages near Ngouboua suffer regular armed attacks. There is little security and people live in constant fear. An upsurge in violence in recent months in north-east Nigeria has forced thousands of civilians to flee across borders for safety.
DR CONGO
PREGNANT, NURSING WOMEN CAN RECEIVE EBOLA VACCINE
A WHO expert panel on 20 February recommended that pregnant and lactating women should be included in Ebola vaccination underway in eastern DRC where the virus erupted in August 2018. Around 83,000 people have so far been vaccinated. The panel also recommended that the vaccination must include provisions for safety monitoring and for documentation of Ebola cases among those vaccinated, including monitoring of pregnant women and their babies. Separately, a new Ebola infection was reported in Beni, the first after 23 days, WHO reported on 22 February. The patient is suspected to have come into contact with the bodily fluids of an Ebola survivor.
Investigations are underway to determine the epidemiological link. As of 22 February, 864 Ebola cases and 540 deaths had been recorded since the outbreak started.
SOME 15,000 SOUTH SUDANESE FLEE TO DRC
Around 15,000 South Sudanese have crossed into the DRC fleeing an escalation of violence since 30 January, according to the authorities in Aru territory in the north-east Ituri province.
The majority have settled near the border. Around 6,000 have relocated to a displacement site supported by UNHCR and its partners. Ituri is currently home to 45,000 South Sudanese according to immigration authorities. It also hosts some 8,000 Congolese who have fled fighting in other violence-hit regions of the country.
CAMEROUN
PLUS DE 100 000 PERSONNES DÉPLACÉES
Le 20 février, le gouvernement et la communauté humanitaire ont présenté le plan de réponse humanitaire conjoint des Nations unies et de leurs partenaires, nécessitant 299 millions de dollars pour venir en aide à 2,3 millions de personnes. Les besoins humanitaires ont augmenté de 31% cette année par rapport à 2018 en raison de la violence et de l'insécurité principalement dans les régions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest. Le plan met l'accent sur l’assistance vitale, le renforcement de la protection des civils affectés contre les abus et l'exploitation et l’identification des risques et vulnérabilités afin d'aider le gouvernement à renforcer la résilience des communautés face aux chocs.
En 2018, le plan de réponse de 320 millions de dollars n’avait été financé qu’à hauteur de 40%.
TCHAD
CINQ MORTS DANS L’ATTAQUE D’UN CAMP DE DÉPLACÉS
Le 19 février, des assaillants armés ont attaqué le camp de personnes déplacées de Bourboura, dans la localité de Ngouboua, dans la région du Lac à l’ouest du pays, faisant cinq morts et quatre blessés. Le camp accueille plus de 1 000 personnes déplacées, dont la moitié sont arrivés récemment. Lors d'une autre attaque, également le 19 février, des hommes armés ont attaqué le village de Ngachia, à Ngouboua, où 365 personnes déplacées ont cherché refuge. Les assaillants ont enlevé quatre personnes, dont deux adolescents. Les villages proches de Ngouboua subissent régulièrement des attaques armées. L’insécurité règne et les gens vivent dans une peur constante. La recrudescence de la violence ces derniers mois dans le nord-est du Nigeria a contraint des milliers de civils à fuir par-delà les frontières pour assurer leur sécurité.
RD CONGO
LES FEMMES ENCEINTES ET ALLAITANTES PEUVENT RECEVOIR LE VACCIN CONTRE EBOLA
Le 20 février, un groupe d'experts de l'OMS a recommandé l'inclusion des femmes enceintes et allaitantes dans la vaccination anti-Ebola en cours dans l'est de la RDC, où le virus a fait son apparition en août 2018.
Environ 83 000 personnes ont déjà été vaccinées. Le groupe a également recommandé que la vaccination soit accompagnée de dispositions relatives à la surveillance de la sûreté et à la documentation des cas d'Ebola chez les personnes vaccinées, y compris la surveillance des femmes enceintes et de leurs bébés. Par ailleurs, une nouvelle infection à virus Ebola a été signalée à Beni, la première depuis 23 jours, a fait savoir l’OMS le 22 février. Le patient est suspecté d'avoir été en contact avec les fluides corporels d'un survivant d'Ebola. Des enquêtes sont en cours pour déterminer le lien épidémiologique. Au 22 février, 864 cas d'Ebola et 540 décès avaient été enregistrés depuis le début de l'épidémie.
QUELQUE 15 000 SUDSOUDANAIS FUIENT EN RDC
Environ 15 000 Sud-Soudanais sont entrés en RDC, fuyant l’escalade de la violence depuis le 30 janvier, selon les autorités du territoire d'Aru, dans la province du nord-est de l'Ituri. La majorité s'est installée près de la frontière. Environ 6 000 personnes ont été relogées sur un site de déplacement soutenu par le HCR et ses partenaires. Selon les autorités de l'immigration, l'Ituri abrite actuellement 45 000 Sud-Soudanais. Il accueille également quelque 8 000 Congolais qui ont fui les combats dans d'autres régions du pays touchées par la violence.
Abstract
This rapid review provides a synthesis of evaluations and learning reviews of cash-based programming in South Sudan. There is evidence that in South Sudan the cash-based programming help poor households address food needs and nutrition; and by injecting funds from vouchers, paid work, or grants into the local economy affect local markets. These cash based programmes are changing Sudanese society by affecting traditional kinship relationships and social safety networks; and affecting livelihood strategies as people are switching from subsistence to market-based activities. The review identifies and explains how injecting money into communities in growing volume influences the organisation of Sudanese society, including rebel groups and others who might profit.
K4D helpdesk reports provide summaries of current research, evidence and lessons learned. This report was commissioned by the UK Department for International Development.
Abstract
This helpdesk review provides an overview of academic, policy and practitioner literature that explores lessons or evidence from efforts to establish joint operating principles agreed by humanitarian actors to improve humanitarian access and factors that contributed to their success or failure. Given the diffuse nature of the evidence base, this report is structured in three parts. First part will provide an overview of access constraints faced by humanitarian actors and factors that may enable or constrain the delivery of humanitarian aid, and an overview of joint operating principles and lessons learned. Part 2 provides an annotated bibliography of global and country specific readings that touch on, or have relevance, for the development of joint operating principles and humanitarian access. Part 3 provides examples of operating principles.
K4D helpdesk reports provide summaries of current research, evidence and lessons learned. This report was commissioned by the UK Department for International Development.
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to be challenging as ongoing security incidents and pockets of community mistrust hamper response efforts. Following our last report on 19 February 2019, 32 new confirmed cases have been reported, with 11 additional deaths.
From the beginning of the outbreak to 24 February 2019, a total of 872 EVD cases, including 807 confirmed and 65 probable cases, were reported from 19 health zones in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. A total of 548 deaths were reported (overall case fatality ratio 63%), including 483 deaths among confirmed cases. Of confirmed and probable cases with reported age and sex, 57% (496/871) were female, and 30% (262/871) were children aged less than 18 years. One healthcare worker was among the newly confirmed cases in the last week, bringing the number of health workers infected to 69, with 21 deaths.
Eight (8) of the 19 affected health zones have active virus transmission, reporting at least one confirmed case in the last 21 days (4-24 February 2019). Over this period, a total of 73 confirmed cases were reported from Katwa (43), Butembo (18), Kyondo (4), Vuhovi (3), Kalunguta (2), Oicha (1), Beni (1), and Rwampara (1). Trends in case incidence reflect that the outbreak is continuing, with most recent cases reported in the major urban centres of Katwa and Butembo, with 84% (61/73) of cases reported in the last three weeks. Overall, cases have been reported from 119 of 301 (40%) health areas (a subdivision of health zones) across 19 health zones. Thirty-two health areas have reported at least one case in the last 21 days.
The Ebola treatment centre (ETC) in Katwa was set on fire by unknown assailants during a security incident that occurred on the night of 24 February 2019. The ETC, manned by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Ministry of Health, has been rendered non-functional and the patients have been evacuated to Butembo ETC. While no casualties have been reported, this incident will negatively impact on the overall response operations.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), WHO and partners continue to monitor and investigate all alerts in affected areas, in other provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in neighbouring countries. To date, all reported alerts outside the outbreak affected areas have been investigated or laboratory tested to rule out EVD.
Here is a selection of the latest evidence on violence against women and girls (VAWG):
CHILDHOOD VIOLENCE
Risk factors for childhood violence and poly-victimization (February 2019). This cross country analysis explores risk factors for childhood emotional (EV), physical (PV), sexual violence (SV) and polyvictimisation for children aged 13– 17 from nationally-representative Violence Against Children Surveys across six countries (Cambodia, Kenya, Haiti, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania).
The results underscore that children often simultaneously suffer multiple forms of violence, with substantial heterogeneity of risk factors across countries, and a few notable trends.
Due to longer exposure, increasing age was associated with increased risk of lifetime SV among females and, to some extent, among males.
Associations with school enrolment were mixed among girls (protective in some settings and risky in others), consistent with existing literature.
Among boys, school enrolment tended to increase the risk of PV in half of the countries studied.
The lack of clear patterns across countries underscores the importance of context in understanding children’s experience of violence, as well as prioritising context-specific research on risk factors to inform prevention strategies.
HUMANITARIAN CRISES
Evidence from the 2014 Israeli Military Operation in Gaza (January, 2019). Using qualitative data from 21 group discussions and unique survey data from a representative crosssection of 439 women in the Gaza Strip, this study investigated how the Israeli military operation “Protective Edge” in 2014 influenced domestic violence, accounting for risk factors at different levels of the ecological model.
The results show that the military operation increased domestic violence. The analysis suggests that the mechanisms through which conflict increased levels of violence are displacement, a lowered ability of married women to contribute to household decision-making and reduced social support networks.
Risk factors for gender-based violence against Syrian refugees in Turkey (January 2019). This qualitative study explores risks of gender-based violence against Syrian adolescent girls and young women in Turkey, including how risks are shaped by displacement.
Syrian adolescent girls and young women expressed an increased sense of vulnerability to violence since their displacement. Women reported pressure to marry or work by their families, both of which they perceived to increase the risks of violence.
