La politique humanitaire de l'Union européenne est une expression de ses principes fondateurs - la solidarité, la tolérance et le respect de la dignité humaine. L'aide humanitaire, sans être un instrument de crise, est un des piliers de l'action communautaire en faveur des pays affectés par des catastrophes naturelles ou les catastrophes causées par l'homme, ainsi que par les urgences complexes liées aux conflits(1). Au regard de ses activités dans les zones de crises et au travers de sa contribution active à la promotion du respect et de l'adhésion au Droit international

Forecast until mid-February 2009

In early December, there was a sharp increase in locust activity in NW Mauritania. As vegetation began to dry out in the Zgueimir area east of Nouakchott, solitarious hoppers concentrated and increased in density (up to 20 locusts/sq. metre), fledged and formed small groups of adults. The infestations, which originated from local breeding during the autumn, were confined to a relatively small area that was difficult to access because of sand dunes.

In order to prevent further grouping

Period covered by this Ops Update: 17 October to 20 December, 2008

Appeal target: CHF 809,626 (USD 716,690 or EUR 531,950)

Appeal coverage: 16%;

Appeal history:

- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 17 October 2008 for CHF 809,626 (USD 716,690 or EUR 531,950) for six months to assist 2,513 families (12,000 beneficiaries).

- Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 187,166 (USD 165,800 or EUR 121,690) was allocated from the International Federation's DREF to respond to the immediate needs.

Summary: Despite a very low coverage

(Rabat, December 19, 2008) - Morocco violates the rights to expression, association, and assembly in Western Sahara, Human Rights Watch said in a new report issued today, revealing stark limits to the progress that Morocco has made in protecting human rights overall. Human rights conditions have also improved in the Sahrawi refugee camps managed by the Polisario Front in Algeria, although the Polisario marginalizes those who directly oppose its leadership.

Human Rights Watch called on both Morocco

In a manifesto distributed Wednesday in Oslo on the occasion of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the NGO denounced the "inhuman

Le Maroc, rappelle-t-on, ne cesse de demander, depuis plus de deux décennies, au HCR de procéder à un recensement de ces populations, selon les critères internationaux scientifiquement reconnus afin de collecter des données démographiques exactes et non approximatives