Joint communication to the press: ICRC No. 99/10 - Federation No. 99/05
Geneva (ICRC/Federation) - On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of mine victims and the millions who live each day in fear of those weapons, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies whole-heartedly welcome the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction (the Ottawa treaty).

The treaty, which has become law more

UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa
Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org

ETHIOPIA/ERITREA: Frontier quiet as Ethiopia deliberates on ceasefire

The Ethiopian/Eritrean frontier remained quiet today (Monday), government sources in both countries confirmed. Consultations were held in Addis Ababa to determine the next step after what the Ethiopian government called a "total victory for operation sunset," on

NATIONS UNIES
Bureau pour la Coordination des Affaires Humanitaires / IRIN
pour l'Afrique Centrale et de l'Est
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e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org

ETHIOPIE/ERYHTREE

Frontière calme, l'Ethiopie délibère sur le cessez-le-feu

La frontière érythréo-éthiopienne est calme ce lundi, signale-t-on de source gouvernementale confirmée dans les deux pays. Des consultations ont eu lieu à Addis-Abeba pour décider de la suite des événements après ce que le gouvernement éthiopien a qualifié

Produced in collaboration with IRI
International Research Institute For Climate Prediction
This El Niño/La Niña Update is based on information obtained from the national Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of WMO Member States and affiliated organizations. Information contained herein is current as of 18 February 1999. Extracts may be freely used elsewhere provided acknowledgement of their source is made. Users are strongly advised to contact their NMHS for more detailed information.

INTRODUCTION

By David Fox

NAIROBI, Feb 26 (Reuters) - A leading international aid agency says the United Nations has allowed thousands of tons of food meant for famine victims in south Sudan to be misappropriated at a cost of millions of dollars to donors. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said in a report issued on Friday that Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) -- a consortium of U.N. and non-governmental agencies -- was "incapable of ensuring the respect for humanitarian principles that are supposed to govern it".

We feel that it is our responsibility

This report includes: A) FR Yugoslavia - Kosovo B) Cambodia C) Sudan D) East and Central Africa: Tanzania, DR Congo and Congo/Brazzaville E) Sierra Leone F) Guinea.
From Manuel Aranda da Silva, Chief, Technical Support Service. Available on the Internet on the WFP Home Page at http://www.wfp.org/ or by electronic mail from Deborah.Hicks@wfp.org or Natasha.Nadazdin@wfp.org (fax 39 06 6513 2837). For information on resources, donors are requested to contact Aleesa.Blum@wfp.org or Marius.deGaayFortman@wfp.org at WFP Rome,

NATIONS UNIES
Bureau pour la Coordination des Affaires Humanitaires / IRIN
pour l'Afrique Centrale et de l'Est
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Fax: +254 2 622 129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org

REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO (RDC)

La visite de Garreton

Les pays occidentaux devraient prendre des mesures pour venir en aide aux personnes d'origine tutsie détenues à Kinshasa et dans d'autres régions de la RDC, entre autres, en les prennant en charge, au moins pour une certaine période, a fait savoir jeudi à IRIN

NATIONS UNIES
Bureau pour la Coordination des Affaires Humanitaires / IRIN
pour l'Afrique Centrale et de l'Est
Tel: +254 2 622 147
Fax: +254 2 622 129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org

REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO (RDC)

Un sommet régional appelle à la trêve

Les chefs d'Etat de sept pays d'Afrique centrale se sont rencontrés hier jeudi dans la capitale camerounaise, Yaoundé, et ont appelé au cessez-le-feu dans le conflit en RDC ainsi qu'au retrait de toutes les troupes étrangères du pays, a rapporté Reuter. L'agence a

World Food Programme - Rome
1. HIGHLIGHTS

Influxes of returnees were noted in several locations in Gogrial, Twic and Yirol counties in Bahr el Ghazal. WFP is closely monitoring the food security situation in these locations.Insecurity linked to train movement northwards of Wau town led to the evacuation of a number of locations in Bahr el Ghazal. Similarly, Thiek Thou (Gogrial County) was evacuated following insecurity in the area. Ongoing assessments indicate in several locations in southern Sudan that current food deficits vary from 10% to over 30% depending on the availability