Switzerland
Bern, 21.09.2017 - On Tuesday, a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake caused major damage and claimed many lives in Mexico. The epicentre was about a hundred kilometres south of Mexico City. Switzerland immediately offered to help and is sending structural engineers to the affected areas at the request of the Mexican authorities.
Highlights
Compilation of available statistical data indicates that the arrivals to Europe through the Mediterranean in the first eight months of 2017 is lower when compared to the same period in 2016. As of 31 August 2017, national authorities in Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Spain registered 131,167 newly arrived migrants mostly from the Middle East, Africa, South and Central Asia which is in a sharp contrast to 297,255 recorded during the same period in 2016 (56% decrease).
Trends and key figures
Bern, 18.09.2017 - New York, 18.09.2017 - Address by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter at the 72nd UN General Assembly (High-Level Side Event on water cooperation as a tool for conflict prevention) - Check against delivery
Excellencies Dear colleagues Ladies and gentlemen
The dynamic rhythms of the Symphonie on Water and Peace that we just heard remind us that we have something to celebrate today: a report with a strong and optimistic message and a wide range of proposals that deserve broad discussion here in New York and around the world.
Le Conseil fédéral approuve un budget de 57 millions de francs au Fonds mondial de lutte contre le sida, la tuberculose et le paludisme (GFATM) pour la période 2017-2019. Pays hôte et cofondateur, la Suisse est un partenaire important du Fonds depuis sa fondation en 2002. Ces quinze dernières années, le Fonds mondial a contribué à sauver des millions de vies, avançant considérablement la lutte contre ces maladies. Malgré cela, ces pandémies constituent toujours un problème majeur de santé publique dans les pays à faible et moyen revenus.
Santiago, 21 de agosto 21 de 2017. La Alianza del Pacífico anunció que está realizando un estudio analítico para modelar la exposición ante desastres naturales de sus países miembros. El estudio se concentrará inicialmente en el riesgo sísmico y también está evaluando la posibilidad de emitir un bono catastrófico (Cat Bond) conjunto para transferir parte del riesgo a los mercados financieros.
Bern, 23.08.2017 - The Federal Council has approved a budget of CHF 57 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) for the period from 2017 to 2019. As host country and one of the founding members, Switzerland has been an important partner for the Global Fund since it was created in 2002. Over the past 15 years, the Global Fund has helped save millions of lives and made great strides in combating these diseases. As ongoing pandemics, however, they still pose a major public health problem in middle and low-income countries.
Trends and key figures
En Sierra Leone, les glissements de terrain ont enseveli de nombreuses habitations de la capitale Freetown. La Suisse débloque 400'000 francs pour appuyer les opérations d’assistance et lutter contre la propagation de maladies comme le choléra.
Aide humanitaire: sauver des vies et réduire les souffrances
L’aide humanitaire mise en œuvre par la DDC représente la solidarité de la Suisse envers les populations en détresse. Elle se concentre sur l’aide d’urgence, la reconstruction et la réhabilitation des zones sinistrées et la réduction des risques de catastrophes. Elle place les victimes au cœur de son engagement, dans un esprit de neutralité, d’indépendance et d’impartialité.
Humanitarian Aid: saving lives and alleviating suffering
Key figures (October 2015 – 26 July 2017)
HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS
For the first time in eleven months, the number of new refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants counted in Serbia dropped below 5,000: to 4,997 on 30 July (below chart refers). The number of new arrivals encountered by UNHCR and partners during this week, however, rose to 63 (as compared to 28 the preceding and nine the week before), mainly men from Afghanistan or Pakistan, including nine unaccompanied or separated children (UASC).
This monthly digest comprises threats and incidents of violence affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It is prepared by Insecurity Insight from information available in open sources.
Africa
Cameroon
On 20 July 2017, the Federal Council decided to dispatch a Swiss Armed Forces Super Puma helicopter from Switzerland to Montenegro to help fight forest fires. The helicopter is already en route to Tivat, where it will replace a KFOR helicopter which had been redeployed from Pristina to Tivat yesterday to provide initial support.
Highlights
According to available data, in the first half of 2017, there were more than 100,000 arrivals to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Spain (101,559). This represents a 58% decrease when compared to the same period in 2016 when 239,925 arrivals were registered. This is mainly due to the sharpe decrease in arrivals to Greece.
The joint GICHD-UNDP study explores the links between mine action and the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. It seeks to reflect the current understanding of the contribution and impact that mine action is having on achieving the 2030 Agenda in countries affected by landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.
The study also aims to provide guidance to policy and decision makers from mine action organisations, donors and particularly National Mine Action Authorities on how to:
Bern, 05.07.2017 - At its meeting on 5 July 2017, the Federal Council approved the continuation of Switzerland's financial contribution to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) for the 2017 to 2020 period, in the amount of CHF 36 million. The GPE is a priority fund for the SDC's multilateral cooperation work. Through its support for the education systems of the world's poorest countries, it is helping to ensure that everyone can attend school, and thanks to its backing, an additional 64 million children were enrolled in school in 2014.
The Swedish asylum system—long one of the most efficient and generous in the world—faced an unprecedented challenge in the fall of 2015. As the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Sweden surged, processing times for asylum applications grew and emergency housing reached capacity. Schools struggled to enroll young newcomers, who made up nearly half of asylum applicants in 2015. The pace of arrivals, coupled with existing housing, teacher, and interpreter shortages, brought this robust system to a crisis point.
