The United Methodist Committee on Relief is sending two international field specialists to Bam, southeast Iran, in the next few days. Following the deadly earthquake that struck in the early morning of Dec. 26, the pair will assess needs for immediate aid as well as for longer term reconstruction. Guy Hovey, UMCOR's head of mission for Europe and Asia, and David Sadoo, disaster specialist based in New York, may arrive in Iran within the week. While there, they will consult with other members of the disaster response community.
"UMCOR's excellent experience following

MISSION SPECIALE DE L'OEA VISANT A RENFORCER LA DEMOCRATIE EN HAITI
La Mission Spéciale de l'OÉA fait part de sa préoccupation suite à des déclarations publiques faites hier matin sur des stations de radio de la capitale par l'un des Substituts du Commissaire du Gouvernement près le Tribunal Civil de Première Instance de Port-au-Prince, Me Daméus Clamé Ocnam, qui aurait quitté le pays.

Ce substitut fait état de pressions exercées sur sa personne par des représentants et conseillers de l'exécutif Port-au-Princepour qu'il appose sa signature au bas de mandats de justice visant à arrêter

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 24 (AFP) - Three people were killed and 14 injured in northwestern Haiti since anti-government demonstrations erupted Monday demanding the resignation of President Jean Bertrand Aristide, journalists on the scene reported Wednesday.

The increasingly violent demonstrations were concentrated in the northwestern coastal city of Gonaives, where the body of the third victim was found on one of the city's main streets.

Calls for Aristide's resignation have mounted in recent months amid accusations of corruption and misrule.

More than 30 people have been killed,

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Haitians are witnessing the collapse of their country's nascent democracy as political violence and human rights abuses escalate. As a result, the United States and Caribbean countries may soon face another Haitian refugee crisis. As has been the case during past crises, however, there is no meaningful refugee protection for Haitians in the region. Thus far, the response of receiving countries -- including the United States and the Dominican Republic -- has been to adopt measures designed to prevent Haitian asylum seekers from accessing asylum procedures.

This report includes:
A) Middle East and Central Asia: (1) Iraq, (2) Afghanistan

B) East and Central Africa: (1) DR Congo, (2) Burundi, (3) Rwanda, (4) Uganda, (5) Sudan, (6) Eritrea, (7) Ethiopia, (8) Somalia

C) West Africa: (1) Mauritania, (2) Guinea, (3) Sierra Leone, (4) Liberia, (5) Côte d'Ivoire

D) Southern Africa: (1) Regional, (2) Namibia, (3) Angola, (4) Zambia, (5) Zimbabwe, (6) Malawi, (7) Mozambique, (8) Swaziland, (9) Lesotho, (10) Madagascar

E) Asia: (1) Bhutan, (2) Indonesia, (3) DPR Korea

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 17 (AFP) - Supporters of Haiti's President Jean Bertrand Aristide shot and wounded three students Wednesday as police used tear gas to halt student demonstrations against the president, witnesses said Wednesday.

Tensions have mounted in the western hemisphere's poorest country as protests against Aristide have increased in recent weeks.

The students were wounded in the latest in a series of demonstrations in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The witnesses said the Aristide supporters were armed with revolvers, highlighting the degenerating conditions.

The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. The Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project.
This document reflects a range of programmes and activities to be implemented in 2004, and the related funding

by Dominique Levanti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Dec 12 (AFP) - Thousands of Haitians burned tires and erected barricades Friday in rallies for and against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in which at least four people have died in two days of unrest.

One person died in the capital when gunfire rang out from a passing vehicle. Clouds of smoke rose over roads blocked by flaming tires. Stones injured several people, witnesses said.

Three people died Thursday when demonstrators clashed with police and armed opponents of Aristide in the coastal town