By Anthony H. Cordesman, Andrew C. Gagel Jun 29, 2011

The Burke Chair has prepared two new reports on terrorism in North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia: 2007-2010. These reports draw on unclassified US reporting by the National Counterterrorism Center and the US Department of State.

Richard Gowan

Overviews of international engagement in conflict-affected states typically focus on military peacekeeping and the economics of postconflict peacebuilding. This excludes an array of primarily civilian missions deployed by the United Nations (UN) as well as other multilateral institutions in countries and regions that are at risk of, experiencing or emerging from violence. The hallmark of these missions is political engagement with governments, parties and civil society aimed at averting, mitigating or stopping conflict.

This report presents the findings, conclu sions and recommendations of an evaluation of the Norwegian support to Norwegian People's Aid's mine action programmes commissioned by Norad's evaluation provides information on the results of Norwegian People's Aid's humanitarian mine activities, and provides recommendations that can be used in future identification, design, and implementation of humanitarian mine activities. The evaluation covers a 10-year period with focus on landmine surveys and assessments, humanitarian demining, cooperation with and capacity

Funds allocated by HSTF: $ 14,000

The Nabatyeh market is one of the major cultural heritages of the inhabitants of the region; in fact, since decades, the market is a meeting point for traders coming from different villages of the kadaa and is a key commercial hub in the area. Moreover, Nabatieh is famous for its Monday flea market, where traders from all Nabatieh kadaa exhibit their products, and where consumers from Nabatieh, Marjayoun and Hasbaya kadaa visit for shopping.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

USAID has played a significant role in supporting democracy and governance programs in developing countries. This report summarizes the results of the Office of Inspector General audits conducted at seven selected missions: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, and Morocco. (See appendix III for a list of audit reports issued.) These seven missions obligated a total of approximately $162.4 million for democracy and governance activities

In 2007, natural and man-made disasters continued to take a toll on the lives of people. Flooding, cyclones, landslides and tropical storms have threatened lives and livelihoods on every continent. And in many parts of the world, from Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Iraq, Zimbabwe and Sudan, children and women continue to bear the brunt of conflict, displacement and deteriorating living conditions.

An important lesson learned from major emergencies is that timely and flexible funding enables humanitarian actors

Background

This report presents findings from a population survey of Iraqis in Lebanon conducted by a team from the Danish Refugee Council.

Objectives

The goals of the survey are to arrive at a population estimate of Iraqis in Lebanon and to examine other demographic characteristics and living conditions and protection issues.

Methods

The survey involves integrating information derived from a variety of sources and utilizing a mix of qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including interviews with key informant

This report presents overall findings from a review of the OCHA and UN system wide response in Lebanon between July-October 2006. The aim of the lesson learning review was twofold;

- to review the appropriateness and timeliness of the response and understand what worked well and why

- provide a platform to discuss key issues relevant for OCHA, for action and follow up.

Both primary and secondary information have been used and more than 25 key informant interviews were carried out with stakeholders external to OCHA. Though limited in scope the paper covers

UNHCR undertakes Real Time Evaluations (RTE) of large emergency operations to independently assess the effectiveness of its operational response. In analyzing the operation as it evolves, the RTE seeks to ensure that its findings are used as an immediate catalyst for operational and organisational change.

This RTE was led by Stefan Sperl, a UNHCR Consultant and Senior Lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. The other members from UNHCR Headquarters were Khassim Diagne, Senior Policy Advisor (Internally Displaced Persons Operations) and David