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NEW YORK, 30 April (Department of Political Affairs) — The United Nations Trust Fund for the Fight against Piracy today approved a package of projects in support of anti-piracy efforts in Somalia and other affected States in the region, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives and the Seychelles.

The announcement was made in New York by United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, who chaired the Board of the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

27/03/2013 - Heavy rains have pounded Southern African countries resulting in widespread flooding, destruction of property, and loss of lives. The floods took place in the midst of the lean season, in a situation of acute food insecurity affecting millions of people through the region. In Mozambique, the worst hit country, more than 250,000 people, mostly women and children, are affected by the crisis with about 190,000 temporary displaced since January 2013. Malawi, Botswana, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe have also been affected by the floods.

This year, World Water Day (March 22) highlights the importance of international efforts to preserve and protect the world’s shared water resources.

The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon: ‘Water is central to the well-being of people and the planet, we must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource.’

UN-SPIDER at a glance

• Knowledge Management: Read the latest UN-SPIDER Newsletter

• VALID project: Case Study for Namibia

• UN-SPIDER invited to contribute to improve the UNESCO-IOC tsunami risk assessment guidelines

• UNESCAP Workshop: UN-SPIDER elaborates on relevance of space-based information for HFA priorities

News from our Regional Support Offices

• UN-SPIDER’s 4th Annual Meeting of Regional Support Offices

Link: Southern Africa: Floods Situation Report No. 6 (as of 15 February 2013)

Government resources are limited and levels of relief stocks low while more rain and flooding are expected until the flood and cyclone season ends in April. OCHA's latest situation report provides updates on the affected countries.

CHF 106,551 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Seychelles Red Cross Society (SRCS) in delivering immediate assistance to some 3,000 beneficiaries. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: On 27 and 28 January 2013, the Seychelles main island of Mahe was devastated by the Tropical depression Feleng and the island La Digue was severely affected.

February 1, 2012 -- President James Michel has visited la Digue today in the plateau areas which were flooded during the heavy rainfall of this week. Mr. Michel visited families whose homes are still surrounded by water as well as viewing the roads and areas which are a source of concern for the residents.

Heavy rains brought by the tropical storm Felleng combined with a high tide resulted in severe flooding and caused extensive devastation to coastline areas and widespread structural damages to infrastructure.