Africa

On the sidelines of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, head of the Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, Mohamed Auajjar, told journalists that investigators had uncovered further evidence of serious rights violations, which they first made public last October. These abuses against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are detailed in a report which will be presented to the Council on Wednesday, Mr. Auajjar said. His team’s findings include new information on “20 detention facilities, official and unofficial…(and) secret prison networks that are allegedly controlled by armed militias”. Years of violent instability The development comes amid a backdrop of ongoing violence and lawlessness in Libya linked to the country’s protracted crisis that followed the overthrow of President Muammar Gadaffi in 2011. After years of volatility, the situation came to a head – and thousands died – after April 2019, when fighting erupted between factions of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar, based in the east, and the internationally-recognized government in the capital, Tripoli, located in the west. The escalation prompted a ceasefire appeal from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to avoid the “bloody battle for Tripoli”, amid fighting in and around the capital. Today, tensions remain high after national elections were postponed last December, Mr Aujjar explained, with “two competing governments” still in place. “Against this backdrop, violence and violations and abuses of international human rights law continued,” he noted, adding that these “violations and abuses and crimes…can especially hamper Libya’s transition to peace, democracy and the rule of law”. Democratic freedoms curtailed Among the investigators’ other findings, they also highlighted how people had been reportedly detained for expressing “views about the elections, or support for candidates”. Equally worrying was the “ongoing impunity for attacks against women politicians, which undermines women’s meaningful political participation”, Mr. Auajjar said, adding that there had been attacks on civil society organizations, on activists, on human rights defenders and on journalists”. In another incident indicative of the country’s instability, the Mission’s report detailed how “a group of armed men” had surrounded the Court of Appeal which had been due to hear an appeal by would-be presidential candidate Saif al-Islam Gadaffi – son of the country’s toppled premier – against his exclusion from the December poll. © UNICEF/Alessio Romenzi Migrants sit in the courtyard of a detention centre in Libya. (file) Child victims Over the weekend, UN Children’s Fund UNICEF in Libya reported that two children have been killed and another injured by explosive remnants of war. The victims – who included two brothers – were six, seven and 16 years old and from Benghazi and Sirte. Last year alone at least 26 children in Libya were killed or injured by explosive remnants of war, UNICEF said in a statement. “UNICEF calls on all parties to spare no effort to clear Libya of land mines and unexploded ordnances and support children and families affected. Every child in Libya across the country has the right to live in a safe and a protective environment.” Source: Continue reading...

A deepening crackdown on civil society in Libya, has prompted the concern of the UN human rights office, which noted on Friday that arbitrary arrests and a campaign of social media vilification are having “a seriously chilling effect on human rights defenders, humanitarian workers, and other civil society actors.” Members of the Internal Security Agency (ISA) of the internationally-recognized Government in Tripoli, and State-affiliated armed groups, have, in recent months, arbitrarily detained some human rights defenders and civil society activists, Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told a media briefing in Geneva. Under the pretence of protecting “Libyan and Islamic values”, she said, they have “subjected them to torture, verbal harassment and intimidation.” Social media videos Ms. Throssell recounted that between November and now, OHCHR had learned that seven 19 to 29 year-old men had been arbitrarily arrested and detained by the ISA in the capital, Tripoli. “The ISA has since posted videos of the seven men on Facebook, in which they seemingly confess to being ‘atheist, areligious, secular and feminist,’ and to using social media to propagate atheism and contempt for religion,” said Ms. Throssell. She told journalists that OHCHR, has received allegations that the confessions were obtained by coercion, raising serious concerns regarding the use of torture, “which is absolutely prohibited”. “These confessions also implicate several other men and women, many of whom have now gone into hiding after receiving death threats,” added the spokesperson. Moreover, the Facebook videos have sparked a wave of hate speech, against human rights defenders. “In fact, a list of activists has been circulating on social media with calls to prosecute those on it, as apostates under Sharia law and sentence them to death”, if found guilty, she flagged. ‘Stop aggressive campaign’ Meanwhile on 13 March, the Tanweer Movement – a prominent social campaign for gender equality and social and cultural rights – was dissolvedits board of directors have fled overseas fearing for their safety, Ms. Throssell said. And other civil society groups, including the Libyan Rational Dialogue, and Al-Baraka, are being targeted with online hate speech and threats. “We call on the Libyan authorities to immediately stop this aggressive campaign against Libyans exercising and defending their human rights, and to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained, while also ensuring the protection of those named in coerced ‘confessions’,” said the UN official. ‘Democratic space is critical’ She underscored that the Libyan authorities should also launch “prompt and effective investigations” into the alleged human rights violations, including allegations of torture. Furthermore, she continued, they should hold all alleged perpetrators to account, including ISA members. “A safe, open, and democratic space is critical for Libya, and it cannot be built without full respect for freedom of expression and association,” concluded the OHCHR spokesperson. Source: Continue reading...

More than 70 percent of South Sudan’s population will struggle to survive the peak of the annual ‘lean season’ this year, as the country grapples with unprecedented levels of food insecurity caused by conflict, climate shocks, COVID-19, and rising costs, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday. While global attention is focused on Ukraine, said WFP in a press release, a “hidden hunger emergency” is engulfing South Sudan with about 8.3 million there – including refugees – facing extreme hunger in the coming months. As the 2022 lean season peaks, food becomes scarce and provisions are depleted, according to the latest findings published in the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview. Particularly at risk are tens of thousands of South Sudanese who are already severely hungry following successive and continuous shocks and could starve without food assistance. ‘Ring of fire’ South Sudan forms part of a ‘ring of fire’ encircling the globe where climate shocks, conflict, COVID-19, and rising costs are driving millions closer to starvation, said the UN emergency food relief agency. The impact of the climate crisis and ongoing conflict have led to large scale displacement, livelihoods losses, the destruction of arable land and crops as well as rising food prices, threatening the survival of communities living in some of the most isolated areas in the South Sudanese states of Jonglei, Lakes, Unity and Warrap. “The extent and depth of this crisis is unsettling. We’re seeing people across the country have exhausted all their available options to make ends meet and now they are left with nothing,” said Adeyinka Badejo, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in South Sudan. Turning the tide on hunger While providing critical food and nutrition assistance to meet the immediate needs of populations at risk, WFP simultaneously implements resilience building activities, to help these communities cope with sudden shocks without losing all their productive assets. “Given the magnitude of this crisis, our resources only allow us to reach only some of those most in need with the bare minimum to survive, which is not nearly enough to allow communities to get back on their feet”, added Ms. Badejo. “WFP is working tirelessly not only to cater for these immediate needs, but also to support communities to restore their own resilience and be better prepared to face new shocks”. Nearly 6 million reached In 2021, WFP reached 5.9 million people with food and nutrition assistance, including more than 730,000 people in South Sudan who benefited from livelihoods activities. In Greater Jonglei and Unity States, where unprecedented floods and localized conflict prevented people from reaching their cultivated fields, WFP supported people with cash assistance to buy food and other basic needs, provided communities with tools to protect and maintain critical assets, and trained young people in food-related programmes, including post-harvest management. © WFP/Gabriela Vivacqua Sacks of split peas are transported to Jonglei State via the White Nile River in South Sudan. Projects in the field To help communities prepare for the impact of floods, WFP built dikes in areas at risk such as Bor in Jonglei State, where constructing an 18km barrier enabled thousands of displaced families to return to their homes. WFP also began restoring a key roadway submerged following the devastating floods that hit Bentiu in Unity State, where many people remain displaced. In areas not affected by floodwaters, WFP worked with community members to clear and cultivate more than 40,000 acres of land to grow food, thereby enabling smallholder farmers to be more self-reliant year-round. “Investing in resilience is an important step to help communities find their way out of poverty and hunger. While we stand on their side to address their most immediate challenges, we must also work closely with the Government and other development partners to seek longer-term solutions to some of the chronic problems that South Sudan faces – addressing entrenched inequity and isolation and restoring conditions for peace and stability” said Ms. Badejo. Source: Continue reading...

Tropical Storm Ana left a trail of destruction in its wake in Malawi, particularly in hardest-hit southern districts, after it struck the country in late January. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has been at the forefront of efforts to help pregnant women and mothers by providing medical supplies, and reproductive services. “The prospect of another cyclone was scary,” says Monica, who lives in Mbenje in Malawi’s Nsanje District. “We lived through the same experience with Cyclone Idai and then Cyclone Kenneth. We had to rebuild from scratch.” Word had spread through the village during the day that a powerful cyclone had hit neighbouring Mozambique, and on that Sunday evening two weeks ago the weather suddenly changed. For almost six hours, torrential rain and strong winds pummelled Mbenje; Tropical Storm Ana had made landfall in Malawi. “I looked outside and saw the water levels rising. From previous experiences, I knew we had to move to safety,” said Monica, who is six months pregnant. “I alerted my husband who quickly gathered the kids.” Monica and her family trudged through the rain and mud all night to Nyambese camp, one of 27 temporary disaster sites that have sprung up across Nsanje, and which are now sheltering people affected by the storm. The following day, Monica and her husband made the five-kilometre trek back to their village to see whether they could salvage anything from their home. Their worst fears were confirmed. There was now a deep pool of water filled with rubble where their house had once stood, the food grain was gone and their animals had been washed away. “After seeing the destruction, I knew Nyambese camp would be our home until the flood water subsided,” Monica said wearily. © UNFPA Monica, who already had to rebuild after 2019 Cyclones Idai and Kenneth and lost everything to Tropical Storm Ana, holds her two children close at her new temporary home at Nyambese camp, Nsanje District. Lives and homes destroyed Tropical Storm Ana has left a trail of destruction in its wake in Malawi, particularly in the hardest-hit southern districts of Nsanje, Phalombe, Mulanje and Chikwawa. Flooding has cut off roads, hampering relief efforts, while damage to the country’s electricity infrastructure is causing frequent power outages. In Nsanje District, more than 55,000 people are now living in temporary camps. Among them are Monica, who is expecting her third child in May, and approximately 1,500 pregnant women. Forced to share latrines, and with little privacy, women and girls are at increased risk of physical and sexual violence in a country where one in three women are subjected to gender-based violence. Restricted mobility due to floodwaters and electricity blackouts are affecting the delivery of sexual and reproductive health care; the vast majority of health facilities in Nsanje district – 21 out of 24 – are struggling to provide services. Three newborns have already died in the district when incubators were left inoperable due to a lack of power. Fuel for the generator at the district hospital, as well as supplies including lifesaving maternal health medicines, are running low. UNFPA/ Joseph Scott UNFPA Malawi Deputy Representative, Masaki Watabe helping out with dignity kits distribution at Sekeni Primary School Camp Restoring sexual and reproductive health services The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners were on the ground within days of the disaster. To date 6,600 dignity kits containing basic hygiene items such as menstrual pads, soap and underwear, have been distributed to women and girls in Nsanje and Chikwawa. Repairs to the generator at Nsanje District Hospital have been completed, restoring power to the facility. Plans are also underway to deliver reproductive health kits containing medical and non-medical supplies, maternal health medicines and contraceptives to affected communities in the two districts. “Our immediate priority is to restore quality sexual and reproductive health and protection services in the aftermath of the disaster,” said Young Hong, UNFPA Representative in Malawi. “As extreme weather events become more frequent in the region, UNFPA’s support to the recovery must focus on strengthening systems and building the resilience of affected communities, particularly women and girls.” For Monica, the road ahead will be challenging. She faces the prospect of rebuilding both her home and her life again. But, for now, her most pressing concern is her unborn child. “I lost everything, even my health passport,” she says, cupping her face in her shaking hands. “I was supposed to go to an antenatal clinic this week, but travelling to the health centre is not possible. The roads are bad and still flooded.” Source: Continue reading...

The interagency convoy of 59 trucks was carrying WFP food and nutrition assistance on Monday when it was attacked by armed gunmen near Gadiang, located in Jonglei state, some 160 kilometres from the state capital, Bor. UNMISS peacekeepers were protecting the convoy, which was travelling to various locations to preposition much needed assistance for some 95,000 people ahead of the rainy season, when access becomes heavily restricted. Lifesaving aid derailed The Mission and WFP issued a statement strongly condemning the attempted ambush. They said such incidents derail humanitarians from being able to deliver lifesaving assistance to people in need during the limited window of opportunity available to reach them. Meshack Malo, UN interim Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, added that continued attacks on humanitarians, and attempted looting of vital relief, are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.  “At a time of major funding constraints, the loss of aid due to theft, looting or destruction, means that every bag of food, nutrition or other humanitarian supplies looted, is stolen directly from the South Sudanese families most in need,” he said. Attacks on the rise UNMISS and WFP have called on the Government to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. They also underlined the need to respect humanitarian operations and UN peacekeepers working to promote peace and stability in the country. Attacks targeting humanitarian convoys and assets have been rising in South Sudan, surpassing 590 last year, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA. The rising violence has forced humanitarian organizations to seek protection from UNMISS forces during aid deliveries. Human rights violations This latest incident comes as the Mission and the UN human rights office, OHCHR, issued a joint report on grave violations and abuses committed during fighting last year in Tambura county, located in Western Equatoria state. At least 440 people were killed, and 18 injured, in clashes between warring groups that occurred between June and September 2021. The report further revealed that at least 64 civilians were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence, including a 13-year-old girl who was gang-raped to death. Some 80,000 people were also forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting. Other violations reported included looting and destruction of property, child conscription, attacks on protected personnel and facilities, and hate speech and incitement to violence. Hold perpetrators accountable “We call on all parties to the conflict to hold to account all individuals implicated in the horrific killings, rape, and abductions, among other grave human rights violations,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. “Women and children who were abducted must immediately be released and reunited with their families, and survivors provided with reparations,” she added. The report names members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) – which is led by Major General James Nando – and their respective affiliated militias, as responsible for the violations and abuses. Those suspected of instigating, facilitating and aiding the violence have been identified, and they include high-ranking military officials and community and religious leaders. UN Photo/Laura Jarriel Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (photo from 26 September 2018) “Allegations against these individuals must be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated; and perpetrators brought to justice and held accountable,” said Ms. Bachelet. Here again, the South Sudanese authorities have been called on to investigate and prosecute those responsible. UN peace efforts In the wake of the initial clashes, UNMISS brought together top-level officials in the capital, Juba, and Western Equatoria to address the violence. The Mission deployed 21 rotations of military, police and civilian personnel in Tambura and enabled humanitarians to conduct assessments and deliver aid to thousands of displaced people. Peacekeepers also established a temporary operating base so that they could provide protection, deter violence, and respond at short notice. Ms. Bachelet stressed that sustainable peace in South Sudan is only possible if gross human rights violations committed during conflict are addressed through justice, truth, reconciliation, healing, compensation and reparations. “The perpetrators of such brutal violence against the men, women and children of South Sudan cannot be left to benefit from impunity. Accountability is critical to deter further violations,” she said. Source: Continue reading...

Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the release of four members of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) who were arrested in the capital, Bangui, earlier this week, his spokesperson said on Wednesday. Local gendarmerie arrested the personnel on Monday while they were escorting a senior military officer from the mission, which is known by the French acronym, MINUSCA. The incident occurred at the airport and those arrested were French peacekeepers, according to international media reports. Procedure not followed UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General has strongly condemned their arrest. The UN chief emphasized that MINUSCA personnel “enjoy privileges and immunities which are held in the interest of the United Nations”, he said, in line with the 2014 Status of Forces Agreement between the Organization and the Government of the CAR. “The Secretary-General recalls that the 2014 Status of Forces Agreement establishes a specific procedure in cases where members of MINUSCA are suspected, by the authorities of the Central African Republic, of having committed an offence,” he added. “The Secretary-General notes that this procedure has not been followed in the present case.” The Secretary-General has called on the CAR Government to abide by all its obligations under international law, including the Status of Forces Agreement, and release the MINUSCA personnel unconditionally and without delay. He also reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity and continued support to the country. Source: Continue reading...

Local elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), which have been pending since 1988 and are slated for September, will deepen efforts to decentralize power and expand political space, the UN envoy for the country told the Security Council on Tuesday, encouraging the new Government to “deploy all possible efforts” to calm the political climate. Updating the Council on events since President Faustin-Archange Touadéra declared a unilateral ceasefire last October, Special Representative Mankeur Ndiaye – who also heads the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country (MINUSCA) – alerted that “the security situation remains worrying”. In some parts of the territory, military operations are underway against armed groups, notably the Coalition of Patriots for Change, he said. In turn, these militia are carrying out reprisals against both the national security forces and the population. Sexual violence and child recruitment While noting progress in terms of regaining control of territory previously occupied by armed groups, Mr. Ndiaye denounced violations of human rights and international humanitarian law continue to be committed by all parties to the conflict. These include the excessive use of force targeting certain communities, gender-based sexual violence and the recruitment, abuse, and use of children by armed groups. Against that backdrop, the MINUSCA chief urged Central African authorities to conduct the necessary investigations, prosecute the perpetrators and bring justice to the victims. Positive signs The UN official went on to outline positive steps towards restoring peace and stability, following the adoption of CAR’s Joint Road Map for Peace on 16 October, including a visit to Bangui on 14 January by representatives of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. He called on the Government to demonstrate more commitment to stay the course, including through the adoption of follow-up mechanisms and a clear timeline. Touching on MINUSCA’s proactive role in facilitating the peace process – such as by helping to loosen the political deadlock and restore a climate of trust, which has resulted in the return of the democratic opposition to the Committee organizing national dialogues – he stressed that the process should be revitalized through the complementary role played by the 2019 Khartoum Accord and the more recently adopted Joint Road Map. Hope for impartiality The UN Special Representative also welcomed the holding of the first hearing of the Special Criminal Court, underscoring the importance of its independence and impartiality in order to carry out its mandate. Source: Continue reading...

Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will be the first countries on the African continent to receive the technology needed to produce game-changing mRNA vaccines, which have proved crucial to the fight against COVID-19, the head of the UN health agency said on Friday. The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Council, France and South Africa and with the respective Presidents of each in attendance. “No other event like the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that reliance on a few companies to supply global public goods is limiting, and dangerous”, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The revolutionary mRNA technology teaches the body’s own cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response, without using any viral material. In the case of COVID-19, it produces a harmless piece of the spike protein, alerting the body to defend itself from the virus. Production on home soil The global mRNA technology transfer hub was established in South Africa last year to support low and middle-income countries in manufacturing their own mRNA vaccines – with the required operating procedures and know-how to meet international standards. Primarily set up to address the COVID-19 emergency, the hub has the potential to expand its capacity for other manufacturing as well, putting countries in the driver’s seat when it comes to the kinds of vaccines needed to address their health priorities. Depending on the country’s infrastructure, workforce and regulatory capacity, WHO and partners will work with them to develop a roadmap, organize training and provide support to begin producing the highly effective vaccines at home, as soon as possible. “This is an initiative that will allow us to make our own vaccines and that…means mutual respect…investment in our economies…and, in many ways, giving back to the continent”, said South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa. MPP/WHO/Rodger Bosch Women technicians work in the mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa. Biomanufacturing hub To ensure that every country builds the capacity to produce their own vaccines and health technologies, WHO has been establishing a biomanufacturing workforce training hub for States interested in production and scientific and clinical research, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Moreover, WHO’s current activities in support of low and middle-income countries will expand through a global tool that assesses countries’ ability to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of health products. It will also provide training to build agile and fit-for-purpose regulatory systems. “In the mid to long-term, the best way to address health emergencies and reach universal health coverage is to significantly increase the capacity of all regions to manufacture the health products they need, with equitable access as their primary endpoint,” Tedros said. Transferring technology The WHO mRNA technology transfer hub is part of a larger effort to empower low and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccines, medicines and diagnostics to achieve universal health coverage. The initial effort is centred on mRNA technologies and biologicals, which are important for vaccine manufacturing and can also be used for other products, such as insulin to treat diabetes, cancer medicines and, potentially, vaccines for other priority diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. The ultimate goal is to extend capacity building for national and regional production to all health technologies. French President Emmanuel Macron pointed out that in an interconnected world, stronger new collaborations between countries, development partners and others are important “to empower regions and countries to fend for themselves, during crises, and in peace time”. “Improved public health benefits, supporting African health sovereignty and economic development are the principal goals of strengthening local production in Africa”, he added. Source: Continue reading...

In Madagascar, child sex abuse is “widespread and tolerated” in tourist hotspots, UN-appointed rights experts said on Thursday. In a call to the authorities to take action to protect youngsters from child prostitution and other violations, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child heard that the majority of children who had sex for money, do so to survive. Boost prevention To combat this, the Geneva-based panel urged Madagascar’s government to strengthen multilateral, regional and bilateral accords, to prevent sex tourism. Its recommendations followed a scheduled rights review of the Indian Ocean island nation, which in 2004 committed to eradicating all forms of violence against children – including sexual abuse and exploitation. Vulnerabilities During exchanges with the Malagasy authorities and civil society in Geneva, the UN panel noted the extreme vulnerability of communities affected by recurring drought and chronic shortages of water and food, particularly in southern areas. Linked to this, rates of acute malnutrition among children have worsened “exponentially” in Madagascar, said the UN-appointed independent panel, which oversees how Member States implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Prostitution ‘trivialized’ In its submission to the panel, the civil society group ECPAT International, explained that child prostitution “has become trivialized in Madagascar and is conducted openly in bars, nightclubs, massage salons and hotel establishments”. ECPAT International added that poverty was the main driver of the practice and that some families even pushed their children into vice, the majority being girls, although the prostitution of boys has increased in recent years. It said that while more than 250,000 tourists visited Madagascar according to latest data from 2017, the majority of abusers were citizens of the island nation, with most affected areas being the capital and coastal towns. Madagascar has been struck by two deadly cyclones in recent weeks, causing widespread loss of life and damage to parts of the country. UN and humanitarian partners have been providing support and aid to those affected, and extreme weather events have led to widespread hunger across the country. Committee’s mandate The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a body of 18 Independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its State parties. It also monitors implementation of two Optional Protocols to the Convention, on involvement of children in armed conflict and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Source: Continue reading...

As the Sahel region “stares down a horrendous food crisis”, the UN emergency food relief chief warned on Wednesday that the number of people on the brink of starvation has “increased almost tenfold” over the past three years and “displacement by nearly 400 per cent”. The vast Sahel, which runs nearly the breadth of the continent, south of the Sahara Desert, is experiencing some of its driest conditions in years. “An absolute crisis is unfolding before our eyes”, WFP Executive Director David Beasley said from Benin, having just visited the agency’s operations in Niger and Chad. Insecurity, poverty, inflation In just three years, the number of people facing starvation has skyrocketed from 3.6 to 10.5 million, in the Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. And insecurity, COVID-induced poverty, dramatic food cost increases and other compounding factors, have put those countries and others in the region, on a trajectory that would surpass any previous crises. “I’ve been talking with families who have been through more than you can possibly imagine”, Mr. Beasley said. “They have been chased from their homes by extremist groups, starved by drought and plunged into despair by COVID’s economic ripple effects”. Rock bottom support While the needs are sky high, resourcing to support the vulnerable is at rock bottom, forcing WFP into the difficult position of having to take from the hungry, to feed the starving, he said. For example, funding shortages in Niger mean that WFP is halving food rations. The UN food relief agency requires $470 million for the next six months to continue operations in the Sahel. Despite a challenging security context, last year WFP worked with humanitarian partners there to maintain lifesaving support for 9.3 million people across the five countries. Helping to change lives WFP has also been implementing resilience-building programmes to help families thrive. Over the last three years, it has partnered with communities to turn 270,000 acres of barren Sahel fields into productive agricultural and pastoral land, changing the lives of over 2.5 million people. Communities that have benefited from the resilience building activities there, have been empowered to grow enough food to feed themselves and diversify their productions and income – faring relatively better against the unprecedented food crisis. Conflict across borders Meanwhile, the threat of conflict spilling across from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger is leaving Benin on tenterhooks. And despite that the Government-funded school-feeding programme – jointly implemented by WFP – provides nutritious meals to 700,000 children and has been vital for creating jobs and strengthening the local economy, Mr. Beasley warned that the situation remains dire. “We’re running out of money, and these people are running out of hope,” he said. © WFP/Mariama Ali Souley The Satara market garden in Tillaberi region, Niger. Source: Continue reading...

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan on Wednesday strongly condemned the continued violence across the country, which is affecting the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers, constraining humanitarian access, and disrupting the delivery of aid and services to thousands of vulnerable people. In a statement, Sara Nyanti, condemned the killing of a nurse working with an international aid organization which took place on 10 February in Agok town, leaving several civilians injured, including aid workers. 70,000 displaced Reports indicate that some 70,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, and humanitarian operations, including healthcare services, have been temporarily suspended. Also on the same day, an aid worker was killed by crossfire during fighting in MirMir in Unity State, said Ms. Nyanti. Since 2013, 130 humanitarian workers have been killed while delivering aid and services, the vast majority of them South Sudanese nationals. Following a recent fact-finding visit to the country, UN human rights experts warned of increased political violence and polarization between communities across the world’s youngest country. Aid and health facilities closed Additionally, a centre designed as a safe space for women and girls was reportedly looted, a health and nutrition facility temporarily closed, and an access route serving up to to 500,000 people in need in Unity State has been jeopardized, according to the press release issued by the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA. A further incident occurred in Unity State, just two days later, when a clearly marked humanitarian vehicle came under fire on its way to a health facility, resulting in grave injury to three health workers. Struggling to survive According to OCHA, South Sudanese face the highest levels of food insecurity since independence in 2011 and the brutal civil conflict between rival factions began, in 2013. The latest IPC analysis, indicates that between April and July last year, 7.2 million people were estimated to be at crisis phase, of which 2.4 million are at emergency level of need. Around 108,000 people in six counties, faced catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. “These appalling acts of violence against civilians and humanitarians must stop”, said Ms. Nyanti. “Every day, people in South Sudan are struggling to survive and violence has no place in a country determined to move forward towards peace. “Attacks against civilians and humanitarians and their assets, along with the destruction and looting of aid supplies intended for the most vulnerable are unacceptable. They also severely impact our ability to deliver assistance”, Ms. Nyanti continued. Safe environment needed Committed to alleviate the suffering of people affected by violence, food insecurity, climate and health crisis in South Sudan, humanitarians risk their lives every day to provide much-needed aid to vulnerable people there. Repeated violence and threats against humanitarians and their assets have resulted in the relocation of workers and the suspension of lifesaving activities in South Sudan. According to OCHA, a total of 322 humanitarian workers were relocated in 2021 alone. “We need a safe environment to operate so that we can focus on what matters most: helping people in need in South Sudan”, the UN humanitarian coordinator reiterated. Expressing her condolences to the families of the aid workers who were killed in Agok and MirMir, Ms. Nyanti reminded that attacks against civilians and humanitarian assets constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The humanitarian community urged all parties to the conflict to respect international law and protect civilians and humanitarian personnel and assets, calling on authorities to conduct a full investigation into the deaths. Source: Continue reading...

The UN together with humanitarian partners on Monday, launched the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Mali, seeking $686 million from donors to help 5.3 million of the most vulnerable people in the country. The level of needs is higher than at any point since 2012, with an overall total of around 7.5 million Malians in need of assistance, according to UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, briefing journalists in New York. Conditions deteriorating “The past year was characterized by a deterioration in the humanitarian situation due to growing insecurity in the central region of the country”, he said, adding that “the security crisis is now expanding to the southern region.” The Malian Government has been seeking to restore stability following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a failed military coup d’état, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of much of the territory in the north and central regions, by radical extremists. The removal from power of the sitting president in 2020 was followed by a coup in May last year, and a further military coup in August. Briefing the Security Council last month, the UN Special Representative who heads the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, reported that “insecurity has expanded, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated, more children are of out of school and the country has been affected by an endless cycle of instability.” Close to 2 million food insecure More than 1.8 million people are expected to need food assistance in 2022 compared to 1.3 million in 2021, the highest level of food insecurity recorded since 2014. Mr. Dujarric said that violence and climate shocks were key factors driving the increased number of people facing severe food shortages, some 51 per cent more than in 2021. Civilian casualties climb Civilian casualties also sharply increased in northern and central Mali last year, he added, “with civilians increasingly the target of violent attacks by armed groups, increased intercommunal violence and the risks posed by improvised explosive devices.” Mali was one of the 10 least funded Humanitarian Response Plans in 202, he said. “Despite mounting challenges, aid workers and organizations have stayed and are delivering. Humanitarian organizations reached more than 2.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance last year.” Source: Continue reading...

Mozambique may have been spared by Tropical Cyclone Batsirai, but it is still reeling from the devastating impacts of Tropical Storm Ana. Humanitarians are continuing to support the country’s recovery, and the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA is focusing on fortifying their services to support women and girls. Making landfall on 24 January in Angoche District in the coastal province of Nampula, Storm Ana tracked westward toward Zambezia and Tete Provinces, leaving behind widespread flooding, damaged and destroyed homes, leaving basic services cut off. Sofala, Niassta, and Cabo Delgado Provinces were also hit, but less extensively. Downstream from major river basins, with a lengthy coastline and low topography, Mozambique is vulnerable to flash flooding and a target of cyclones. In 2019, it was hit by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth within weeks of each other. Collapsed houses and schools According to the latest data released by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD), the storm grim statistics include at least 38 killed, 207 injured, 12,000 houses in ruins, as well as 26 health centres, 25 water supply systems, 138 power poles, and about 2,275 kilometres of roads damaged. Flooded crops have raised concerns about food security, and nearly 300,000 students no longer have schools to attend. “My house collapsed on top of me, after I managed to take my children out,” said Florinda Culosa, 48, in Mocuba District. The house Ms. Culosa shared with six children and two grandchildren is gone. “I feel very sad about losing my house”, she added.   Strengthening services  In the aftermath of the storm, UNFPA is working with the government to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and protection services for the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls of reproductive age (15-49). Florinda Culosa was in her house in Zambezia Province in Mozambique when it collapsed during Tropical Storm Ana., by © UNFPA/Sergio Borge The 180,869 people affected by the storm includes an estimated 43,409 women of reproductive age and 5,127 pregnant women who will continue to need reproductive health services.  “On the night the storm hit, in the maternity ward we assisted a mother as she gave birth to triplets, while the health centre was flooding and intense wind was ripping away parts of the roof,” said Filomena Aibo Joao, maternal and child health nurse at Alto Benfica Health Center in Mocuba District. “The situation was scary, but we were very lucky, the mother and three babies survived”, she continued.   Mobile units have been deployed to provide sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptives and maternal health medicines, in remote affected areas. In Tete Province, mobile clinics quickly resumed sexual and reproductive health and family planning services in communities isolated by floods.   Distribution of dignity kits UNFPA is distributing thousands of dignity kits to vulnerable women and girls to support their menstrual hygiene, sanitary and female dignity needs as well as tents that will allow damaged health centres to continue providing care.  After Noemia Hortênsia, 19, lost her house, belongings, and rice crop in the small village of Magica, she and her children went to the resettlement site of Sopa Parreirao, where she received one of more than 200 dignity kits that had to be transported by canoe because of the storm-damaged road and bridge. “My house fell because of the flooding. I was afraid that it was going to fall on me or on my son and daughter,” she said. “We lost everything.”  © UNFPA/Sergio Borge Strong winds damaged the roof of the maternity ward of the Alta Benfica Health Centre in Mocuba District, which flooded during the storm as a nurse helped one woman deliver triplets. Source: Continue reading...

Humanitarians are continuing to support Madagascar in the wake of Cyclone Batsirai which hammered the island nation this past weekend, the UN said on Thursday. The storm left 92 people dead and has affected another 112,000, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, wrote on Twitter. Some 17,000 homes were damaged. In #Madagascar, humanitarians are supporting the government-led response by providing food, clean water, health care services and more. — UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) February 10, 2022 Additional support Speaking in New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists that emergency response teams are deploying to the hardest-hit areas, in support of the Government-led response. “Additional staff from the UN and NGOs have landed in Madagascar to support relief efforts, thanks to the European Union, which has facilitated the necessary humanitarian air bridge,” he said. UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as their aid partners have been ramping-up response in close coordination with Government counterparts. Second deadly storm Cyclone Batsirai struck the eastern coast of Madagascar late on Saturday, making it the second deadly storm in just two weeks, following the passage of Cyclone Ana in the north. WFP were on the ground providing emergency assistance within hours. In a report published on Sunday, Martina Azzalea, head of the WFP office in Manakara, recalled the horror. “Everything was shaking. It felt like claws were pulling the roof. I heard metal sheets ripped from the roofs of nearby houses bang against my door,” she said in a voice message. “Power lines were cut and the whole city was left completely in the dark.” Food, protection and medicine In addition to hot meal distributions by WFP, Mr. Dujarric said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and sister agency the UN sexual and reproductive health fund, UNFPA, have been providing protection activities. Health partners have sent essential medicine, emergency health and first aid kits, mosquito nets, and COVID-19 prevention materials to the areas affected by the cyclone, he added. They have also set up emergency medical posts at the temporary accommodation sites for displaced people.   UNICEF and partners working in water, sanitation and hygiene have delivered kits to affected areas, while others are procuring rehabilitation kits for households, health facilities and schools. Meanwhile, communication with communities affected by the crisis is being strengthened, including through the mobilization of volunteers and community partners. Source: Continue reading...

Africa is on track to control the COVID-19 pandemic this year if current trends continue, but vigilance will remain key, the head of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional office said on Thursday. Since the first case on the continent was identified nearly two years ago, Africa has faced four waves of COVID-19, each with higher peaks or more total cases than the previous one. These surges were mainly driven by new variants which, though highly transmissible, were not necessarily more fatal. Against the odds On average, each wave was roughly 23 per cent shorter than the one before, with the first lasting 29 weeks, while the fourth ended in six weeks. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said countries have got smarter, faster and better at responding to each new surge. “Against the odds, including huge inequities in access to vaccination, we’ve weathered the COVID-19 storm with resilience and determination, informed by Africa’s long history and experience with controlling outbreaks,” she said. However, she said Africa has paid a high price in the pandemic, with more than 242,000 lives lost and tremendous damage to economies. COVID-19 has also pushed some 40 million people into extreme poverty, according to World Bank estimates. End in sight Meanwhile, every month that emergency containment measures stay in place costs the continent roughly $13.8 billion in lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “Although COVID-19 will be with us for the long-term, there is light at the end of the tunnel. This year we can end the disruption and destruction the virus has left in its path, and gain back control over our lives,” Dr Moeti said. “Controlling this pandemic must be a priority,” she added “but we understand no two countries have had the same pandemic experience, and each country must, therefore, chart its own way out of this emergency.” During the first COVID-19 wave, the proportion of infected people who died from the disease was high, 2.5 per cent. The figure rose during the second wave, driven by the Beta variant, reaching 2.7 per cent, but had dropped to 2.4 per cent by the Delta-powered third wave. In contrast, the fourth wave ratio was low, 0.8 per cent, representing the first time a wave’s surge in cases has not led to a corresponding increase in hospitalizations and deaths. © UNICEF/Arlette Bashizi A nurse poses for a portrait in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Improving capacity Africa has improved capacity to manage COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, with the increased availability of trained health workers, as well as oxygen and other medical supplies. The number of beds in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across the continent also rose from eight per one million people two years ago, to 20 today. WHO has also helped increase the number of oxygen production plants on the continent, from 68 to 115, a 60 per cent rise, through supporting the repair, maintenance and procurement of new oxygen plants. The cost of oxygen has also decreased by 40 per cent in areas where plants have been set up. Even with these improvements, oxygen availability remains a concern, and a large majority of patients who require it for treatment lack access. Source: Continue reading...

Uganda must pay the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) $325 million in reparations related to the brutal conflict between the two nations from 1998 to 2003, the UN’s highest court ruled on Wednesday. Delivering its judgement, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) broke down the compensation, awarding the DRC $225 million for damage to persons, which includes loss of life, rape, recruitment of child soldiers and displacement of civilians. The country will also receive $40 million for damage to property, and $60 million for damage to natural resources, including the looting and plundering of gold, diamonds and timber. Reparation reflects harm suffered “The Court notes that the reparation awarded to the DRC for damage to persons and to property reflects the harm suffered by individuals and communities as a result of Uganda’s breach of its international obligations,” said Judge Joan Donoghue, the ICJ President. The DRC initially filed the case with the ICJ in June 1999, citing acts of armed aggression perpetrated by Uganda on its territory “in flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and of the Charter of the Organization of African Unity.” At the height of the war, more than nine African countries were drawn into the fighting. The Court ruled in December 2005 that Uganda had to make reparation to the DRC, but the sides could not reach agreement. Uganda is ordered to pay the $325 million in five annual instalments of $65 million, starting in September. The ‘World Court’ The ICJ, also known as the “World Court”, is the highest judicial body of the United Nations. The Court settles legal disputes submitted to it by States, in accordance with international law. It also gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies. Judgments in disputes between States are binding. The ICJ is composed of 15 judges and is based in The Hague in the Netherlands. Source: Continue reading...

Dissolving the Tunisian body that deals with judicial independence, known as the High Judicial Council, is a “clear violation” of the country’s obligations under international human rights law, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned on Tuesday. Tunisian President Kais Saied announced his decision to dissolve the Council on Sunday, which is mandated to ensure the independence of the judicial system and tasked with appointing most of the nation’s judges. Ms. Bachelet responded by underscoring the importance of the separation of powers and independence of the country’s judiciary, saying that the move seriously undermines the rule of law. “Much remains to be done to bring justice sector legislation, procedures and practices in line with applicable international standards – but this has been a big step in the wrong direction”, Ms. Bachelet said in a news statement released by her office, OHCHR. Barring judges Established in 2016, the High Judicial Council was hailed as a major advance in the consolidation of the rule of law, separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary in Tunisia. But now, Internal Security Forces have cordoned off the Judicial Council’s office buildings, preventing judges and staff from entering the premises. And online hate campaigns and threats have been targeting the Council’s members. The High Commissioner stressed that all necessary measures must be taken to safeguard the security of members and staff of the Council. Worrying trajectory OHCHR described the president’s move as “the latest development in a worrying trajectory in the country”. On 25 July last year, the president suspended the national parliament and assumed all executive functions. “Since then, there have been increasing attempts to stifle dissent, including through the harassment of civil society actors”, said OHCHR. Source: Continue reading...

Three consecutive failed rainy seasons in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, have decimated crops and caused abnormally high livestock deaths, while, shortages of water and pasture are forcing families from their homes and triggering conflict between communities. “Harvests are ruined, livestock are dying, and hunger is growing as recurrent droughts affect the Horn of Africa”, said Michael Dunford, Regional Director in the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa. Dismal projections Meanwhile, forecasts of below-average rainfall are threatening to compound the already dire conditions. The drought has impacted pastoral and farmer populations across southern and southeastern Ethiopia, southeastern and northern Kenya, and south-central Somalia, compounding increases in staple food prices and inflation as well as low demand for agricultural labour – all of which is exacerbating families’ inability to buy food. And high malnutrition rates across the region could worsen if immediate action is not taken. Lifesaving interventions Throughout the three drought-affected nations, WFP is providing lifesaving food and nutrition assistance to affected communities. Additionally, its cash grants and insurance schemes are helping families to buy food for livestock. To avoid a major humanitarian crisis, like that of 2011 in which 250,000 people died of hunger in Somalia, WFP is launching a Regional Drought Response Plan for the Horn of Africa. It is calling for $327 million to meet the immediate needs of 4.5 million people over the next six months and help communities become more resilient to extreme climate shocks. Ethiopia ‘drying up’ In Ethiopia, an estimated 5.7 million people affected by severe drought need food assistance. Elamu, a mother of seven, told WFP that the drought has put her livestock “in danger”. “Our livelihood depends on them, so we are doing everything we can to keep them healthy”, she explained. “Every morning we lead our cattle to graze at a pasture far away, but even that area is drying up.” The UN food relief agency is supporting her with cash transfers and providing crucial information about the upcoming drought. Elamu is one of almost 3,000 pastoralist households who are receiving cash transfers, and one of 16,000 receiving early warning messages from WFP to help manage the drought in Ethiopia’s Somali Region. Bolstering assistance Elsewhere, WFP is ramping up food aid for 2.9 million people in the Somali Region, providing 585,000 malnourished children and mothers with nutrition treatment; and preventive malnutrition treatment for 80,000 households with mothers or young children. It is also continuing its livelihoods, resilience and food systems programmes to protect recent development gains and strengthen vulnerable Somalis against droughts and other crises in the long term. Meanwhile in September, the Government of Kenya declared the drought a national emergency as an estimated 2.8 million people scrambled for assistance. WFP has targeted more than 890,000 people in the worst affected counties for urgent food assistance, and scaled up malnutrition treatment and prevention programmes for women and children. WFP will also extend microinsurance support for smallholder farmers there. “The situation requires immediate humanitarian action and consistent support to build the resilience of communities for the future”, underscored Mr. Dunford. © WFP/Michael Tewelde Severe drought is killing livestock in the pastoralist community of Higlo Kebele in Ethiopia. Looming catastrophe At the same time, Mohamed M. Fall, Regional Director for the UN Children’s Fund in (UNICEF) Eastern and Southern Africa described the situation as “dire”, saying, “millions of lives are hanging in the balance”. “The needs are massive and urgent, and they are quickly outpacing the available funds to respond. We need to act NOW to prevent a catastrophe”, he spelled out. UNICEF projects that the number of needy people in the Horn of Africa is almost equal to the combined populations of Greece and Sweden. “Many of them are children, who are at even greater risk due to one of the worst climate-induced emergencies of the past 40 years”, he said. Children at risk Warning that “the region cannot cope with yet another perfect storm” – of COVID-19, conflict and climate change – he pointed out that children are being deprived of homes, meals, classrooms, and access to life-saving health services. Right now, nearly 5.5 million children in the region are threatened by acute malnutrition and an estimated 1.4 million by severe acute malnutrition, which can rise by 50 per cent if rains do not come over the next three months. “This is a crisis that requires a collective response – ensuring access to clean water, nutrition and safe spaces for children” – otherwise they will die or face needless suffering “with life-long cognitive or physical damage”, said Mr. Fall. Multi-million dollar ask To provide life-saving assistance, UNICEF is appealing for $123 million to prevent a disaster for children and their families till end of June 2022. “Their lives and futures depend on it. We must act quickly. We must act together. And we must act across sectors”, said the UNICEF official. © UNICEF/Mulugeta Ayene Women and children in a sandstorm in the Somali region of Ethiopia. Source: Continue reading...

António Guterres also argued that, for the last 20 years, the African Union (AU) “has helped to bring this hope to life, in order to enable the continent to realize its enormous potential.” The UN chief addressed the 35th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU, taking place in Addis Ababa this weekend, via a video message. He is being represented in the Ethiopian capital, by Deputy Secretary-General, AminaMohammed. Partnership According to Mr. Guterres, the collaboration between the UN and AU “is stronger than ever”, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 (Africa’s blueprint for a peaceful, integrated and more prosperous continent) as the central pillars. The Secretary-General argued that “injustice is deeply embedded in global systems”, but it is Africans who “are paying the heaviest price.” He remembered that the vaccination rate in high-income countries is seven times higher than in Africa and stated that “a morally bankrupt global financial system has abandoned the countries of the South.” “The unethical inequalities that suffocate Africa, fuel armed conflict, political, economic, ethnic and social tensions, human rights abuses, violence against women, terrorism, military coups and a sentiment of impunity”, he continued. Because of that, Mr. Guterres said, tens of millions of people are displaced across the continent and the democratic institutions are in peril. The Secretary-General then offered the UN’s support to ignite “four engines of recovery.” Vaccination First, he said, everyone needs to get their vaccine. In this regard, he highlighted the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Force (AVATT) and the benefits that greater vaccine production in South Africa and other African countries will generate. “I urge you to create the conditions for the number of African countries capable of producing tests, vaccines and treatments to multiply, including by addressing intellectual property issues and providing the technical and finance needed”, he said. Reform financial system Second, Mr. Guterres said Member States need to ignite the engine of economic recovery by reforming the global financial system. “But the deck is stacked against Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is facing cumulative economic growth per capita over the next five years that is 75 per cent less than the rest of the world”, he said. He called for re-directing Special Drawing Rights – an IMF-created reserve currency asset – to countries that need support now, reform of the international debt architecture, and more concessional forms of finance. Green recovery Thirdly, the UN chief pointed to a green recovery across the continent. The vast continent contributes just 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but many of the worst impacts of climate change are being felt there. “To address today’s tragic reality, we need a radical boost in funding for adaptation and mitigation on the continent”, Mr. Guterres said. According to him, the Glasgow COP26 commitment to double adaptation finance, from $20 billion, must be implemented, but it is not enough. A man works in a cotton factory just outside of Johannesburg, South Africa., by UNCTAD/Kris Terauds He called on wealthier countries to make good on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries, starting this year, and hold to account private sector partners who have also made commitments. “We are in emergency mode, and we need all hands on deck”, he said, pointing to the next UN Climate Conference (COP27), happening later this year in Egypt, as “an essential opportunity for Africa and our world.” Peace Lastly, the UN chief said peace across the continent can also work as an engine for recovery. In multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural States across Africa, Mr. Guterres believes an organization like the African Union “is about showing how people can co-exist – even flourish – by working together.” According to him, this requires “inclusive and participatory structures” and so Member States need to make them a reality through good governance. Especially for young Africans, Mr. Guterres added, who need more connectivity to access information, benefit from faster communication, better education and jobs.

In Somalia, over 90 per cent or more of girls and women, have been subjected to female genital mutilation, or FGM. Despite the practice having devastating health ramifications for women and girls – including pain, bleeding, permanent disability and even death – discussion over how to end the harmful tradition, remains taboo. The United Nations has called for collaboration at all levels, and across all sectors of society across the world, to protect millions at risk from FGM every year. As the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is marked on 6 February, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, continues to lead the UN effort to end FGM. Dear Daughters Last fall, and in collaboration with the Ifrah Foundation, the UN agency launched the Dear Daughter campaign, as part of the effort to end FGM once and for all. The idea is to get individual parents not to cut their daughters. Through letter-writing, they pledge instead, to protect them, and support their right to govern their own bodies. ‘Dear Daughter’ works towards ending FGM in Somalia, which has one of the highest prevalence rates of the practice in the world. To date, 100 Somali mothers have signed the pledge. By targeting rural and urban individuals and communities, that are making an extraordinary commitment, to change the FGM narrative. For Nkiru I. Igbokwe, gender-based violence specialist at UNFPA in Somalia, it is “accelerating the voices of women and men alike, to end FGM in the country”. As part of the campaign, women living in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu – home to 280 households that fled Danunay village nearly 250 kilometres away, due to insurgent violence – have been learning about the harmful effects of FGM. Halima*, 50, a mother of five daughters and five sons, was among them. As a camp gatekeeper and a community member with influence, she was identified as someone who could advocate to help end the harmful practice that she and her first daughter had also endured. Flashbacks Like so many other women in her community, Halima underwent FGM as a child, subjecting her to lifelong health problems. “The procedure was painful, with no anesthesia. I bled for days,” she recalled. “I was in bed for more than three months and urinating was a problem”. When Halima reached adolescence, passing menstrual blood was also difficult, and as a newlywed, sex with her husband was a painful experience. When she became an expectant mother, childbirth was excruciating with labour lasting for days, putting her life at risk. Despite her suffering, Halima allowed her first daughter to be cut, just like her mother had done. ‘She felt the pain’ “My daughter underwent the Sunna type of FGM (removal of part or all of the clitoris), and she felt the pain I have been through,” Halima said. But because it was not the more severe ‘pharaonic’ procedure (stitching the opening closed), people insulted them, she said, saying her daughter was unclean. The World Health Organization (WHO) is opposed to all types of FGM and is opposed to health care providers performing FGM. “Throughout the training course, I had flashback memories of how the practice has badly impacted my life,” she said. Three years ago, a young girl in the same camp died as a result of FGM, and Halima started galvanizing the community, to try and make sure the tragedy is never repeated. Changing the future for Somali girls The Ifrah Foundation, together with the Global Media Campaign to End FGM, distributed UNFPA-supplied radio transmitters to 100 households so residents could listen to awareness campaigns and information. “It has been a long-standing dream of mine to work to save girls from the unnecessary pain and suffering I endured as a result of FGM,” said survivor Ifrah Ahmed, founder of the foundation that bears her name. “Halima is an example of how we can change the future for all Somali girls”, she added. Halima’s advocacy has expanded beyond FGM. She encourages pregnant and lactating mothers to visit health centres and raises awareness over sexual and gender-based violence. She also notes that community members used to stay silent about rape due to fear of stigmatization, but now they seek help. According to UNFPA, because of her leadership, almost 100 mothers have pledged not to practice female genital mutilation, sparing about 200 girls in the settlement. “I don’t want my other daughters and other young girls to go through the pain we have gone through,” Halima said. The numbers across the world According to WHO, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where FGM is practiced. Only in Somalia, based on the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey, 99 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 in Somalia, have been subjected to FGM, the majority between ages five and nine. The survey also reports that 72 per cent of women believe it is an Islamic requirement, though some religious leaders have said Islam actually condemns it. In 2020, UNFPA provided 52,225 Somali women and girls protection, prevention or care services related to female genital mutilation. While there is no national legislation outlawing the practice, Puntland state passed a FGM Zero Tolerance Bill last year. This year, WHO will launch a training manual on person-centered communication, a counselling approach that encourages health care providers to challenge their FGM-related attitudes, and build their communication skills to effectively provide FGM prevention counselling. UNFPA Somalia/Tobin Jones A girl plays with her younger sister at a maternal child health care centre in Hargeisa, Somaliland. COVID-19 challenges The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of female genital mutilation continuing unfettered, with the UN predicting than an additional two million girls will be victimized in the next ten years. Prolonged school closures have provided cover for girls recovering from FGM. In addition, movement restrictions have prevented campaigners against FGM from accessing some villages. In 2018, it was estimated by UNFPA that globally 68 million girls were at risk; now the figure stands at 70 million. *The name in the story has been changed for privacy and protection.