Safety & Security
This page brings together the most relevant information on aid worker safety and security from ReliefWeb's extensive collection of humanitarian content. The two main columns show substantive reports such as safety manuals and guidelines, statistical reports on security incidents involving aid workers, and analysis of the implications of engaging with private security providers and the role of peacekeepers in humanitarian interventions.
All Updates on Safety & Security
SG/SM/18996-HQ/721-ORG/1667
19 APRIL 2018
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the memorial service in honour of fallen staff, in New York today:
Dear families of our colleagues who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, today we honour our fallen colleagues. But allow me, before we begin, to say how I deeply saddened I was to learn last night of the sudden passing of our colleague Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoué, Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire.
Faits saillants
Mouvements de retour dans les territoires de Fizi et de Kabambare
Plus de 1 200 ménages assistés en vivres dans le Sud du Territoire de Shabunda
Aperçu de la situation
APERCU HUMANITAIRE du 09 au 15 avril 2018
Zone Centre
Préfecture de l’Ouham / sous-préfecture de Batangafo / Village Gbazara
Si le droit international humanitaire (DIH) protège les personnes et les biens lors des conflits armés, encore faut-il que ses règles, dans les cas où elles s'appliquent, soient dûment reconnues, bien comprises et pleinement respectées. La première étape et condition indispensable pour que cette protection juridique produise ses effets est l'acceptation des instruments juridiques pertinents par les États, qui doivent les ratifier ou y adhérer. Diverses autres mesures internes doivent aussi être prises, en temps de paix déjà, pour que le droit puisse être respecté.
Gaziantep, 17 April 2018
I am deeply disturbed over Saturday’s reported fighting between non-state armed groups outside the Al Ma’ra National Hospital in Ma’arrat An Nu’man town in Idleb Governorate, resulting in the suspension of that facility’s services and placing hospital staff and patients at risk.
Highlights
According to the March 2018 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) findings the number of people facing acute food insecurity in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States has significantly reduced over the past year from 4.7 million (March to May 2017) to 2.6 million (October to December 2017) to 2.3 million (March to May 2018). The food and nutrition insecurity situation analysis report also projected that the figure might increase to 3.2 million people during the lean period of June- August 2018.
TOP LINE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Humanitarian needs remain staggering in terms of scale, severity and complexity:
Against the continued backdrop of high levels of violence and systemic violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), no amount of humanitarian assistance and protection services can offset the lack of a political solution.
(excerpts)
Syria
RÉPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE
MOUVEMENTS HUMANITAIRES ENTRAVÉS A TRAVERS LE PAYS
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
TENSIONS HAMPER HUMANITARIAN MOVEMENTS
Humanitarian movements to and within several towns were disrupted following the 10 April crackdown by UN peacekeepers on armed vigilantes in the capital Bangui. The crackdown prompted sympathetic armed groups to urge retaliation against the UN mission. Armed groups also warned aid workers in some towns against venturing out. At least 145 people and eight peacekeepers were wounded and 31 others, including a peacekeeper, were killed in the skirmishes in Bangui’s PK5 neighbourhood.
Washington, D.C.- Yesterday, April 15, 2018, SAMS-supported Al-Mara’a Hospital in Idlib was subjected to unlawful attacks carried out by armed factions that lasted more than seven hours. Heavy armed clashes started in the vicinity of the hospital and soon moved inside the building, instilling fear and panic in medical staff and their patients, and causing material damages, including the destruction of the hospital’s blood bank.
OVERVIEW
Africa
Central African Republic
13 March 2018: A Catholic bishop accused UN peacekeeping troops of sexual abuse against internally displaced women and girls in his diocese adjoining the Catholic cathedral in Bangassou city, Mbomou prefecture, and warned that they could be guilty of crimes against humanity. Source: National Catholic Reporter
Christian Aid has issued the following statement in response to deadly attacks on staff members from two South Sudanese NGOs, including a partner organisation:
"Last weekend a staff member of UNIDO, one of Christian Aid's partners in South Sudan, was shot and killed near Leer in Unity, where they had been working in a health facility.
"In a separate attack a staff member of Hope Restoration, an organisation close to Christian Aid, was killed in Bentiu, also in Unity.
On Friday, there will be a humanitarian conference in Geneva on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We asked the NRC’s Secretary General, Jan Egeland what this conference means for over 13 million Congolese who are in acute need.
Q: What is the message NRC wants to share ahead of this conference?
Highlights
- Key health shelters of Ghouta response are covered by health sector partners (national authorities, SARC, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNHCR, IMC and national NGOs).
- A total of 2 Emergency Health Points, 10 Mobile Health Units, 54 Medical Mobile Teams, 2 PHC centers, 1 Dressing Room, 3 stabilization centers, ambulances are deployed. More are needed.
- Health supplies are being delivered to SARC and MoH to cover the shelters.
- Health supplies are pre-positioned to send with IA convoys inside the remaining parts of besieged area.
HIGHLIGHTS
After one year on the job, the Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer speaks about the huge disparities he sees, aid worker security and his personal commitment to Afghanistan.
While the number of mine casualties is on the rise, funding for mine action in Afghanistan dropped by 65 per cent over the past five years.
ACBAR’s Twinning Program successfully teams up international and national NGOs to build capacities to the benefit of both counterparts.
This overview document presents available information on KIK incidents that affected aid agencies and their staff. The report is based on incidents identified by Insecurity Insight's monitoring of open sources and reported by Aid in Danger partner agencies using the Security in Numbers Database (SiND).
The available open-source and confidentially shared information is an indication of the number of aid workers killed, injured or kidnapped. However, no claim is made that the total number of aid workers affected has been documented or is known.
Africa
Central African Republic
05 March 2018: In Paoua town, Ouham-Pendé prefecture, and across the wider Central African Republic, fighting among armed groups continues to stall humanitarian response efforts. Source: Devex
07 March 2018: In Bangassou city, Mbomou prefecture, rumours of an armed attack in the city forced several unspecified NGOs to withdraw. Source: RJDH
