UNRWA health programme hard hit in Syria but the UN agency's work is having an impact

Today, during the World Health Organization’s sixty sixth’s Annual World Health Summit, UNRWA released its Health Department 2012 Annual Report. The publication reflects on the operational challenges, the Agency has faced with rolling out an ongoing health reform and managing regular services during times of conflict.

Said Wali, a former Mujahid who had lost his leg succeeded to walk with an artificial leg he attained from the SCA orthopedic workshop in Taloqan. A support SCA delivers for many people with disabilities. He is now free from his wooden crutches he used for fifteen years.

A treaty to regulate the global trade in weapons was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly on 2nd April by 154 member states. For the first time, major exporting countries like France, the United Kingdom and the United States have accepted the need to set standards for the transfer of conventional weapons. Although the treaty contains a number of flaws, Handicap International welcomes the fact that an overwhelming majority of United Nations member states have taken steps to prevent the human tragedies witnessed by our teams every day in the field.

HIGHLIGHTS

Total number of Syrian refugees registered and awaiting registrations with UNHCR in Egypt stands at 66,420 individuals as of 13th of May 2013.

On Wednesday the 8th of May 2013, a fund raising event for the aid of Syrian refugees, took place at the Cairo Opera House. The event was organized by the British Embassy and UNHCR and was under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Arab League Dr. Nabil Al-Arabi.

SRINAGAR, May 18 2013 (IPS) - Aadil Khan and his two siblings had been playing as usual behind their house in the village of Diver, 110 kilometres north of Kashmir’s capital, Srinagar, when they came across what they thought was a “plaything” laying on the ground. But no sooner had they picked the object up than it literally shattered their innocent lives into pieces.

As Tropical Storm Mahasen hits Bangladesh, our emergency team is ready to respond.

Tropical Storm Mahasen is beginning to hit the south coast of Bangladesh, with heavy rain and winds of up to 60 km/h. People are bracing themselves for flash flooding and widespread damage to buildings and farmland.

Our longstanding local partner Caritas Bangladesh has put more than 5,000 trained volunteers on standby, and ensured that stocks of emergency aid will be available as soon as they are needed.

Dr Kate Crowley, our Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser, said: