Source

Summary

As heads of state prepare to gather for the NATO summit in Chicago, the undersigned NGOs call on NATO member states and the Afghan Government to prioritize improving the accountability of the Afghan National Security Forces as well as measures to enhance their capability to protect civilians more broadly.

More than ten years after the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan´s transition towards peace and stability remains far from complete. Decades of armed conflict, natural disasters and extreme weather have had a devastating effect on Afghan society, causing significant civilian casualties, widespread destruction of property and infrastructure and numerous waves of displacement.

NRC Horn of Africa: Assisted 1.2 million people

Astrid Sehl, Nairobi (12.04.2012)
In the midst of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, the NRC Horn of Africa programme provided assistance to nearly 1.2 million of the most vulnerable people in 2011.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is undertaking a study on strengthening principled humanitarian response capacities with research input from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). Donors and humanitarian actors have committed themselves to providing humanitarian aid in accordance with the following principles, which are enshrined in the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles and the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief:

NORCAP’s contributions have grown considerably in the last few years. In 2011, the total volume of contributions amounted to 311 secondments, translating into 1,659 person-months in the field, according to the report.

The NORCAP annual report outlines the roster’s contributions to UN agencies and international operations, and includes global information about the size and frequency of the support provided. The report also contains articles on the NORCAP 20th anniversary conference as well as several personal accounts from NORCAP members the field.