Food security levels are generally better than a year earlier in East Africa and the Sahel, with most areas facing either IPC phase 1 ‘minimal’ or phase 2 ‘stressed’ conditions, thanks to favorable agro-climatic conditions in 2012.

LONDON, 4 April 2013 (IRIN) - In the great plains of northern Tanzania, close to the world-famous Serengeti National Park, a bitter row has broken out over an attempt to designate 1,500sqkm of Loliondo District as a game-controlled area.

The World Health Organization reports that rates of violence are 4-10 times greater among persons with disabilities than non-disabled persons. Consultations with persons with disabilities conducted by the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) in seven countries suggest that women and girls with disabilities may be particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict settings. However, they do not have the same access to prevention and response programs as other community members.

NEW YORK, 8 janvier 2013 (IRIN) - À Harare, capitale du Zimbabwe (3 000 000 habitants), un homme urine sur des ordures, à quelques pas de sa baraque en tôle. Il se bouche le nez pour ne pas sentir la puanteur qui s’échappe d’une latrine qui déborde non loin de là. À Ramallah, capitale du Territoire palestinien occupé (300 000 habitants), une jeune fille de 14 ans est réveillée par des crampes menstruelles – elle n’ira pas en classe, car son école n’a pas de toilettes permettant l’intimité.

Introduction

1. The actions of non-state armed actors (NSAAs) have received significant attention in recent years, especially with regard to how their presence in the field impacts humanitarian space. Groups such as the Taliban and al-Shabaab are believed to restrict access to populations of concern and contribute to an increasingly insecure operating environment.

The Global Overview is a weekly update that provides a snapshot of current humanitarian priorities and recent events. The Global Overview collates information from a wide range of sources, including Reliefweb and media sources, and displays this information in a manner that allows for quick comparison of different humanitarian crises.

Australia and the World Bank Group Partnership: Unlocking potential, achieving results

This report highlights the achievements of the Australia – World Bank Group Partnership.

Unlocking potential, achieving results - online version

Headline results in 2012

• Access to finance provided to more than 500,000 people in the Pacific.

This report covers the period 01 January 2012 to 30 June 2012

In brief

Programme outcome

To save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises by reducing the impact of, and vulnerability to, disasters through the development and effective use of national, regional and international Red Cross and Red Crescent capacities and resources in sheltering.

JOHANNESBURG, 6 August 2012 (IRIN) - As global grain prices begin to climb, the Sahel countries of West Africa, those in the Horn, and in central and southern Africa - many of which depend mainly on imported cereals to feed their people - are most exposed to the impact of more expensive food, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Around the world plenty of people are already living with high food prices, and more will be joining them.