Yemen

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, signed on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and three cooperation agreements with the Government of Qatar, Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) and Qatar Charity (QC) to support UNHCR’s operations around the world.

Current major event

Multidrug-resistant typhoid fever in Pakistan

Since November 2016, there has been an increase in the number of cases of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhoid (MDR S. Typhi) fever in Pakistan. Up to epiweek 48 of 2018 a total of 5,174 cases of MDR S. Typhi have been reported from different districts of Sindh province (please see table) in Pakistan.

Editorial note

Stockpiles of excess, poorly-secured, or otherwise at-risk conventional weapons continue to pose a challenge to peace and prosperity worldwide. In the wrong hands, SA/LW fuel political instability and violence, while more advanced conventional weapons, such as MANPADS, pose a serious threat to international security. Aging munitions stockpiles may also explode without warning, devastating nearby population centers. Meanwhile, landmines and ERW, including cluster munition remnants, artillery shells, and mortars, continue to kill and maim people even after conflicts end.

More than half a million people who have fled fighting in Yemen are facing a double threat of famine and near freezing temperatures Oxfam said today, as it called on the warring parties to respect the ceasefire agreed in Sweden last week.

People forced to flee their homes are set for a winter struggle to survive in areas of the country which are one step away from famine and often without adequate shelter to protect them or fuel to keep them warm as temperatures plummet.

Ugo Gentilini, Sarah Laughton and Clare O’Brien

Abstract

Threats and violence affecting emergency care

Africa

South Africa

15 November 2018: In Randfontein city, West Rand district, Gauteng province, emergency workers staged a sit-in at the premises of the West Rand District Municipality over serious financial woes, putting a fleet of emergency vehicles, several fire engines and community safety vehicles under lockdown. Source: News 24

Asia

India

Threats and incidents of violence against educational facilities, teachers and students

AFRICA

Burkina Faso

12 November 2018: In Toulfé village, Loroum province, four armed men on motorcycles stormed into the General Education College, where they threatened and lashed teachers before ordering them to leave the school premises. This incident created panic within the facility and beyond, forcing surrounding primary schools to shut down. Source: Aouaga

End Summary Returns, Unchecked Violence

(Athens) – Greek law enforcement officers at the land border with Turkey in the northeastern Evros region routinely summarily return asylum seekers and migrants, Human Rights Watch said today. The officers in some cases use violence and often confiscate and destroy the migrants’ belongings.

RIYADH / 9 Rabi' II 1440 AH (17 December 2018) – The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) is distributing school supplies in Al Mahra, the easternmost province of Yemen. SDRPY staff are delivering 192,000 books, 10,000 book bags, 6,000 desks, and twelve 30-passenger school buses. These materials will benefit some 26,000 students in 150 schools throughout Al Mahra Governorate.

The ceasefire in Hudayda shall enter into force at 00:00 on 18 December 2018, local time. The Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC), the joint committee in charge of implementing the Hudayda Agreement, is expected to start its work swiftly to translate the momentum built up in Sweden into achievements on the ground.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The IRC’s Watchlist 2019 highlights the countries we believe are at greatest risk of experiencing the worst humanitarian crises over the coming year.

OVERVIEW

According to the latest IPC analysis, from December 2018 to January 2019, while accounting for the current levels of Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA), a total of 15.9 million people, i.e. 53% of the population analysed, isin need of urgent action. This includes 17% of the population (about 5 million people) classied in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 36% (about 10.8 million people) in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Of greatest concern are the additional 63,500 people in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe).

Jean-Marc Olivé, Chairman of the Technical Advisory Group, reflects on what needs to be done to end polio in the Horn of Africa.

From the 27 – 29 November, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) met in Nairobi to review the outbreak response in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, and preparedness measures in Yemen, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan and Djibouti in case of international spread.

By Lauren Shaw

With policymakers under growing public pressure to manage unwanted migration, questions of how, when, and under what conditions unauthorized immigrants, rejected asylum seekers, and other migrants can be returned to their origin countries received increased attention at international levels in 2018.

Preamble:

This is a humanitarian issue and it shall not be subject to any political scores or other matters and the perspective of parties shall be to reunite the bereaved families, as it is endorsed in Islam.

Recognizing the importance of urgently addressing the issue in accordance with the legal processes and provisions, particularly, the conventions, principles and norms of international humanitarian law, human rights and relevant laws of the Republic of Yemen and relevant United Nations resolutions,

Regional Flow Monitoring Network

124 FMPs are currently active in three countries in the region.

As of the last report (July and August 2018) IOM identified at least 669,176 migrants currently in Libya. Migrants were identified in 100 municipalities, within 554 communities originating from more than 41 countries [primarily from Niger (19%), Egypt (14%) and Chad (14%)]. Information on current migration flows was collected through 1,897 assessments. Migrants were primarily located in Tripoli (22%), Misrata (12%) and Ejdabia (10%).

Regional Flow Monitoring Network

30 FMPs and nine mobile FMPs are currently operational in seven countries.

In Burkina Faso, data was collected from five FMPs during the month of October 2018. An average of 1,117 individuals were observed crossing Flow Monitoring Points daily - a slight decrease of three per cent from the September figures.