Purpose of the Guide

On Thursday 16th May 2013, Cyclone Mahasen hit the coastal district of Patuakhali in Bangladesh. Officials had prepared for the storm before its arrival, evacuating nearly a million people, reducing fatalities to just 14.

Serge St-Louis just returned from nine months as Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) head of mission in the Central African Republic (CAR). He was there in late 2012, when Seleka, a new coalition of Central African rebel groups, took control of several towns before finally entering Bangui, the capital, in late March. Here, he updates us on the post-conflict situation, including the issues and outlook for the country, its health care system, and MSF.

The National System for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Attention (SINAPRED) of Nicaragua, government institutions, the United Nations Emergency Technical Team (UNETE), participated in a Category 5 Hurricane simulation with the aim of strengthening the process of coordination and operations, combined with humanitarian assistance.

17 May 2013 - Christian Aid is releasing £100,000 emergency funds to partner organisations in Bangladesh to help them distribute food and provide emergency assistance to vulnerable communities hit by Cyclone Mahasen. Nearly 1.3 million people have been affected, 128,000 homes destroyed and 14 people are dead after heavy rain and cyclone-strength rains hit low-lying coastal regions of Bangladesh on Thursday evening.

The Global Fund published a report today on preventing and detecting possible misuse of funds in countries where Global Fund grants support programs that fights AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The report, prepared by Chief Risk Officer Cees Klumper, outlines actions that the Global Fund has taken over the past year to reduce risk and improve oversight. Mr. Klumper pointed out that investing in developing countries means taking calculated risks. In order to manage those risks, significant measures are in place with a particular focus on fraud prevention and detection.

Highlights

• On 16 May 2013, AFAD - the Disaster and Emergency Management Agency of Government of Turkey announced that the total number of Syrians registered and accommodated in 17 camps in 8 provinces has increased to 194,425 including 336 Syrians receiving medical treatment in hospitals.

Humanitarian agencies in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have warned that a lack of funding is limiting their ability to meet the most pressing needs of people and communities. Over the past decade the UN and its partners have seen a dramatic reduction in donor support to one of the world's most protracted humanitarian emergencies.

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Unrest and insecurity in Syria have led to a constant flow of Syrian refugees into neighbouring countries since March 2011. The harsh living conditions in the Domiz refugee camp make it difficult for the children and youth to readapt to their lives. With support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department, ACTED is making tireless efforts to provide children with adequate spaces where they can safely play and develop normally.