Middle East

After more than seven years of war, “tens of thousands of civilians – including at least 10,000 children – have died”, Mr. Guterres said, adding that “for millions of internally displaced people, life is a daily struggle for survival”. Today, over 23 million Yemenis face hunger, disease, and other life-threatening risks as the country’s basic services and economy are collapsing, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Coordination (OCHA). Rations cut back To make matters worse, a lack of funding has forced the UN and partners to “scale back or close” around two-thirds of life-saving programmes, Mr. Guterres said. “Food rations have just been reduced for eight million people, with devastating consequences. In the coming weeks, nearly four million people in major cities may now lose access to safe drinking water. “And one million women and girls may lose access to reproductive health and gender-based violence services – a death sentence in a country where one woman dies every two hours from complications during pregnancy and childbirth due to preventable causes.” Famine numbers up fivefold The number of vulnerable people has risen by 13 per cent since last year, and some 161,000 people are likely to experience famine over the second half of this year, a fivefold increase from the current figure. Addressing journalists from New York, UN humanitarian relief chief Martin Griffiths underlined that “almost three quarters of the population will depend on humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022”, which makes Yemen’s emergency among the worst in the world. Objective: aid for 17.2 million people Nearly $4.3 billion is required in 2022 to reach 17.2 million people and reverse the downward spiral, Mr. Griffiths continued. The civil war in Yemen is the main driver of hunger and the crisis is likely to deteriorate due to the conflict in Ukraine. Around 90 per cent of Yemen’s food is imported, with one third of its wheat imports coming from Russia and Ukraine. “Ending the war in Ukraine now, is of greatest importance,” insisted Mr. Griffiths, “because as it goes on, it has secondary and tertiary impacts upon the new harvest, the new planting season and so forth. Ukraine is a breadbasket.” Food prices are already “skyrocketing” and restrictions on supply are expected, he continued. “This comes on top of the fact that the food prices nearly doubled anyway last year.” Commercial sense Ensuring that commercial imports can reach Yemen’s ports is an additional challenge for the humanitarian agency. “We need to allow these ships to flow in and out of those ports,” Mr. Griffiths said, noting that checks for weapons should take place in line with international embargoes – “but not stopped when they have food, fuel or other things that are needed for the welfare of the people”. The poorest Arab nation was plunged into civil war in 2014, when Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran (formally known as Ansar Allah) took control of its capital, Sana’a, and part of the north, forcing the internationally-recognized Government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. The war has deteriorated into a stalemate, although a sharp escalation across the country has claimed an increasing number of civilian lives since the start of the year. Swiss appeal “The needs are humanitarian, but economic as well as political,” said Manuel Bessler, head of Switzerland’s aid department, co-hosting the appeal with Sweden. “It is important to see this crisis (as) a holistic crisis and to mobilize all the attention and all the support we can get.” Funding shortages have forced two-thirds of major UN projects in Yemen to scale down or close their operations in Yemen. Earlier this year, eight million people saw their food rations cut in half, with further reductions on the way. “We need to turn every stone to make sure that these dramatically increased needs can be met with the resources that we have available”, said Carl Skau from the Swedish Ministry for foreign affairs, adding that “we need to broaden the donor base”.

The UN human rights chief has condemned the beheading of 81 people by Saudi Arabia during the course of a single day, charged with terrorism-related offences. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged the authorities in a statement released following Saturday’s mass execution, to “bring the country’s counterterrorism laws fully into line with international standards”. The beheadings exceeded the total of 67 executions that reportedly took place in the country during the whole of last year. Unfair trials Among those put to death on 12 March, Ms. Bachelet said she understood that 41 were Muslims from the Shiite minority who had taken part in anti-government protests in 2011-12, calling for greater political participation. Another seven were Yemenis and one was a Syrian national. “Our monitoring indicates that some of those executed were sentenced to death following trials that did not meet fair trial and due process guarantees, and for crimes that did not appear to meet the most serious crimes threshold, as required under international law,” she said. The High Commissioner also expressed concern that some of the executions appeared to be linked to the on-going armed conflict in Yemen, between Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition, backing the internationally recognized Government forces. Possible war crimes Implementing death sentences following trials that do not provide the required “fair trial guarantees” is prohibited by international human rights and humanitarian law and “may amount to a war crime,” the UN rights chief reminded. Moreover, the death penalty is “incompatible with fundamental tenets of human rights and dignity, the right to life and the prohibition of torture”. She said that failure to provide relatives with information on the circumstances of their loved ones’ executions “may amount to torture and ill-treatment”. “Authorities should return the bodies of those executed to their families”, underscored the top UN human rights official. Wide classification Ms. Bachelet voiced her concern over the extremely broad definition of terrorism in Saudi legislation, including non-violent acts that supposedly “endanger national unity” or “undermine the State’s reputation.” “This risks criminalizing people exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” she warned. Despite a global move away from the death penalty, Saudi Arabia is among some 38 countries that continue to implement it. “I call on the Saudi authorities to halt all executions, immediately establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, and commute the death sentences against those on death row,” concluded the High Commissioner.

Presenting the latest UN Human Rights Council-mandated report on the nearly 11-year-old conflict at a virtual press conference in Geneva, Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, described the “devastating” impact on communities. Half the country displaced “Hundreds of thousands have been killed, more than half of the pre-war population – somewhere in the order of 22 million – have been displaced. More than 100,000 are missing or forcibly disappeared. Syria’s cities and infrastructure have been destroyed. Today the poverty rate in Syria is an unprecedented 90 percent; 14.6 million people in Syria depend on humanitarian aid.” In Syria’s northwest, many Syrians forced from their homes “are still living in flimsy tents, stuck in snow, rain, mud,” Mr. Pinheiro continued, before insisting that “some actors seem to spend more energy on preventing aid to get to them, rather than facilitating it”. Although parts of Syria are no longer subject to active fighting, communities remain caught between warring parties and exploited by armed actors, Mr. Pinheiro said. In the abyss He added: “Make no mistake that violence against civilians continues across the country, from bombardment in the northwest, north and northeast, to targeted killings, unlawful detention and torture…These are the abysses faced by the Syrian people.” According to the report, covering the period July to December 2021, there were increased bombardments in the northwest of the country and skirmishes between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast. The Commission documented “grave violations of fundamental human rights and international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict, including war crimes and ongoing patterns of crimes against humanity. “In Idlib and western Aleppo in the northwest, residential areas were also shelled indiscriminately from the ground by pro-government forces.” Ukraine food factor Previous reports by the Commission of Inquiry have warned about a worsening humanitarian situation across Syria because of fighting and insecurity, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February has heightened concerns that critical wheat imports may now be affected, said Commissioner Hanny Megally: “We’re already seeing inflation at 140 per cent at the beginning of this year (and) it’s gone up. “We’re seeing the State already beginning to ration. We’re seeing the prices of commodities, basic commodities and fuel going up…Most of Syria’s imported wheat is coming from Ukraine or Russia, so we are very concerned that the war in Ukraine will have a bad impact on Syria.” Sanctions review With Syria “teetering on collapse”, the Commissioners urged a review of sanctions imposed on Syria on a country-by-country basis. “Sanctions …should facilitate humanitarian assistance (but) this is not really working very well,” said Mr. Megally, who warned that many countries were so fearful of breaching the embargoes that they were practising “overcompliance”, leaving Syrian communities short of essential commodities. Findings from the latest report from the Commission of Inquiry include 14 attacks “by Syrian and Russian forces in northwest Syria”, Mr. Pinheiro said. “Over these past few months, scores of children were killed, including on their way to school; and the last functional medical centre in Jabal al Zawiya was rendered inoperable.” Festering conditions in Al-Hol Longstanding concerns also remain over the detention in Al Hol camp of tens of thousands of women and children, believed to be the families of former ISIL fighters, in Syria’s northeast. “The conditions in Al Hol are absolutely appalling, and the number of children and other numbers of mostly women who are detained-cum-interned there,” said Commissioner Lynn Welchman of the notorious camp complex in Syria’s northeast. “It’s a dreadful situation, humanitarian-wise and security-wise. And it’s one of the things that we are most concerned about in terms of what’s happened…In some cases, it could at least be addressed by third nations who are able to take back their nationals, with their children.” © UNICEF/Delil Souleiman A child carries winter clothing kits, distributed by UNICEF, in Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. The Commission of Inquiry has repeatedly called for UN Member States to repatriate nationals who went to participate in the Syrian conflict. “The camp residents are under constant risk of being injured, killed, or trafficked. More than 90 murders and 40 attempted murders have occurred in Al Hol alone in the past year,” said Mr. Pinheiro. “We are repeating our call for Member States to bring home their women and children from the camps.”

Conflict last year had forced more than 700,000 Afghans to leave their homes and added to the 5.5 million people already displaced over past years, the UN migration agency said on Tuesday. “The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan is intensifying humanitarian needs and increasing displacement risks both inside the country, as well as across borders to countries in the region”, according to a statement issued by Ugochi Daniels, the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Deputy Director-General for Operations. Women, girls most at risk Afghans, especially women and girls, are facing increasing vulnerabilities and protection risks, the UN agency said. The Taliban militant group, which ruled the country from the late 1990s to 2001, regained control after international troops withdrew in August and the Afghan Government collapsed, prompting concern that they would reimpose a harsh interpretation of Islamic law that prohibits girls from attending school. Yet, despite the change in power, IOM has never left the ground, continuing to deliver vital assistance to displaced populations and migrants throughout the nation’s 34 provinces. As the country teeters on the brink of systemic collapse, more than half the Afghan population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, “Nearly all Afghans have now plunged into poverty”, Mr. Daniels said. © WFP/Sadeq Naseri People waiting for food distribution in a remote district of Herat Province, Afghanistan. Displacement likely to continue IOM explained that last year, Afghans increasingly crossed the border into Iran and Pakistan, describing it as a trend that is likely to continue in the coming months. The UN agency warned that as needs continue to grow, failure to sustain and improve access to essential services, restore livelihoods, and effectively address the vulnerabilities of populations affected by the crisis, will cause a surge in displacement and migration. To respond to the urgent humanitarian and protection needs of more than 3.6 million people in the conflict-stricken country, IOM is appealing for $589 million. Without the funding to support a response – encompassing rapid humanitarian action and mid-to longer-term development planning – economic and social conditions in Afghanistan will continue to spiral downwards. Moreover, it would further risk wiping out any development gains made over the past 20 years, Mr. Daniels warned. Scaling up aid Between August and December last year, IOM had scaled up its operational capacities to reach more than 600,000 people in Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Today, the UN agency – the second largest provider of emergency shelter and non-food items in the country – is currently working to help displaced populations manage the freezing winter temperatures. IOM also administers key reception and transit centres along the borders and provides healthcare in 12 provinces, including COVID-19 vaccinations.

To combat malnutrition and iron deficiency in Gaza and the West Bank, the World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday, launched a campaign to provide support to hundreds of pregnant and nursing women. Through community-based and online initiatives, the campaign will accelerate and support “a knowledge-sharing process”, according to Samer AbdelJaber, WFP Representative and Country Director. At individual, household, and community levels, activities such as cooking classes, home-garden kits, and training – on growing vegetables and fruits for example – are being rolled out via social media platforms and through on-site awareness sessions. Dietary boosts According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), iron deficiency has become a significant public health problem in Palestine, especially among children under five. Sessions designed for mothers with young children, pregnant and nursing women, provide information on iron-rich foods and anaemia prevention. They also include ‘edutainment’ activities, discussions with nutritionists and cooking sessions on preparing healthy, iron-fortified meals. Through this campaign, WFP will support mothers and families in improving their nutrition while also boosting iron intake. WFP/Wissam Nassar The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a campaign to combat malnutrition and iron deficiency in pregnant and nursing women in Palestine. Combining health with fun Social and Behaviour Change Communication, or SBCC, combines elements of interpersonal communication, social change, advocacy, and community engagement, to support individuals and families, adopt and maintain more nutritious eating patterns. Using the SBCC approach, WFP is conducting a “grow your own garden” initiative, which will include more iron-rich vegetables. “These activities will encourage participants to make healthy food and lifestyle choices for themselves and their families, contributing to improving their overall nutritional status”, according to the UN agency. Inspiring people In Palestine, WFP provides food assistance to the most vulnerable people through in-kind food and cash-based transfers. It also supports long-term resilience via targeted training, and skills-focused job opportunities. “Through hands-on initiatives and harnessing the power of technology, we work together to build a process that ultimately aims not just to share information but to inspire people to apply it to their everyday activities”, said Mr. AbdelJaber.

The UN and its partners need to reach more Syrians with immediate life-saving aid, the UN relief chief warned the Security Council on Thursday, calling for expanded access and more funds to sustain humanitarian operations, as the country struggles with an uptick in violence, deepening economic crisis, and a winter storm that has left a ‘trail of destruction’ in its wake. “It is not over for the Syrian people,” said Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, as he outlined the myriad challenges. “And your responsibility is not over either.” Early recovery essential The humanitarian affairs chief said it was essential to scale up early recovery programmes – aimed at addressing needs that arise during the humanitarian phase of an emergency – which can offer a pathway to more self-sufficiency and restore basic services. Perhaps most immediately, he drew attention to the hundreds of children who this week, have been trapped in a terrifying prison siege in Al-Hasakah, in Syria’s northwest. He cited reports announced by Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on 25 January, of fatalities among children besieged inside the Al-Hasakah’s Ghwayran military detention facility, and of children trapped as ISIL-affiliated inmates battled Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces (SDF), being forced to take part in the fighting. News reports indicate the siege is now over with the Kurds regaining control of the prison, but Mr. Griffiths told ambassadors that it was of “critical importance that all children are accounted for, evacuated to safety, and supported,” he insisted. Their predicament echoes that of the country, Mr. Griffiths stressed. He described Syrian girls and boys shivering in tents in the snow, while others are stuck in displacement camps or detention facilities, and millions more – lucky enough to have housing – are still missing out on a healthy diet and reliable schooling. Failing the people “We are failing the Syrian people, young and old,” he said. “I urge you to work with the United Nations on new approaches.” The Under-Secretary General recalled that six civilians were killed on 20 January when missiles landed in Afrin city, while another airstrike in early January, severely damaged the main water station servicing Idlib city. Alongside security concerns, unusually bitter winter storms last week damaged thousands of tents in camps in the northwest, forcing those displaced to burn garbage to stay warm and risk asphyxiation, sheltering from sub-zero temperatures. Just not enough With the cost of a food basket reaching new highs in each of the last four months, and international aid declining, “the food aid we provide to millions of people each month is just not enough,” he warned. He called for ongoing support for the UN’s six-month plan for humanitarian operations, drawing attention to early recovery projects to support food production and the cross-line delivery of aid to Syria’s northwest. Two such operations have been completed and a third is expected to take place soon, he added. ‘From war to hell’ Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, agreed that conditions have grown “dramatically worse,” amid renewed armed conflict in Dara’a, Damascus and Eastern Ghouta. Mr. Egeland – who was formerly UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, from 2003 to 2006 – said the economic crisis, exacerbated by drought, is now so deep that families he had met during his recent visit described their journey as one “from war to hell”. He implored the Council to end this “suffocating paralysis”, requesting “help from you as members of the Security Council, and from you as influential powers with parties and actors in the region. “The situation demands it.” Humanitarian diplomacy Specifically, Mr. Egeland called for help to end access restrictions on all sides of the conflict lines, stressing that humanitarian work is still too often held back by administrative, logistical, legal and physical barriers. More effective humanitarian diplomacy is needed. For example, he said the Russian Federation can help on the Syrian Government side, where the Norwegian Refugee Council is still unable to provide legal aid to displaced people and returnees, while Turkey and the United States can help with de facto authorities in opposition-controlled areas. He also called for help in negotiating solutions to conflicts in Idlib and elsewhere, emphasizing that “we cannot allow a war to rage in what is, in reality, a gigantic string of displacement camps.” A call for solidarity Meanwhile, he said civilians must be able to seek protection and emphasized that “now is not the time to close borders.” It will also be essential to resume a deconfliction system, ensure cross-border and cross-line relief, secure access to water and agreement around waterways from the north, support the rehabilitation of civilian infrastructure, enable durable solutions for refugees and close the funding gap for humanitarian operations. “2021 was one of the worst years on record for civilians in Syria,” he said. “We urge donor countries not to turn their backs in 2022.”

Boys and girls caught up in intense fighting which raged for six days around a besieged prison in northeast Syria, need protection and assistance, the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, said on Thursday. ISIL fighters launched an assault on the Ghwayran/Sinai’i detention centre in the city of Al-Hasekeh last week, in an attempt to free some of their counterparts, sparking fighting with Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) who control the facility. More than 5,000 men are being held inside the prison, including up to 700 boys. According to news reports, the US-led coalition-allied SDF fighters have now regained full control of the prison, after some ISIL-affiliated detainees reportedly used some of the boys as human shields during the stand-off. Fighting displaces thousands The fighting forced nearly 45,000 people in the area to flee, mostly women and children, UNICEF said. Some have been displaced several times, having escaped violence in other parts of Syria over the years. The agency has been working with partners to provide displaced children and their families with life-saving assistance, including clean water and hygiene supplies. UNICEF volunteers helped people reach shelters and clinics and distributed food, blankets, mattresses, clothes, and medicine. They have also distributed materials on the risks of explosive ordnance to raise awareness among boys and girls in the shelters and keep them safe. Support to families Vulnerable children and their mothers have also received medicine and other services through a UNICEF- supported mobile health and nutrition team. Staff provided health consultations and free medicine, and has screened children, pregnant and lactating mothers. Malnourished children were also given ready-to-use supplementary food. UNICEF has been providing information to families on how to prevent separation and access psychosocial support to children and caregivers. Children witness horrors Nine separated and unaccompanied children were identified as of Thursday. They had become separated from their families along the way and did not know the whereabouts of their parents. “Children in shelters were frightened after the horrors they witnessed,” said Bo Viktor Nylund, UNICEF Representative in Syria. “Families told us children were having nightmares and bedwetting. It has been a harrowing experience for them, and it is clear they urgently need protection and assistance.” UNICEF continues to call on all parties in northeast Syria to protect all children in the region at all times.

With no shifts in the frontlines in almost two years, the UN Special Envoy for Syria warnedt he Security Council about “a strategic stalemate” in the nearly 11-year-old war. For Geir Pedersen, despite the continued violence and suffering, it is clear that “a military solution remains an illusion”and no combatant can determine the outcome of the conflict. Mr. Pederson also said that Syrians continue to suffer deeply. Just last month, they had to deal with airstrikes, more crossfire and shelling across front-lines, a flare up of hostilities in the northeast, continued violence in the South, a growing number of security incidents related to drug smuggling, and ISIL terrorist attacks, among other threats. Geir Pederson, the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, addresses the Security Council on 30 April 2019., by UN Photo/Loey Felipe Prison-break In recent days, an unprecedented terrorist attempt at a prison-break for thousands of detainees with suspected ISIL affiliation in Hasakah, sparked major clashes, with airstrikes reportedly causing dozens of fatalities. According to the Special Envoy, the Syrian Democratic Forces which run the prison, have taken back control in the last few hours, and all or most of the ISIL fighters seem to have surrendered. Despite the positive development, Mr. Pederson remainsvery concerned for the safety and security of civilians caught up in this situation, many of whom have been displaced. He’s also aware of reports of ISIL members being holed up in dormitories for minors, in effect, using boys as human shields, putting hundreds of children in detention at risk. “Even if this particular ISIL uprising might have been quashed, this episode brings back terrible memories of the prison breaks that fueled the original rise of ISIL in 2014 and 2015”, he said. For the Envoy, this is “a clear message” of the importance of uniting to combat the threat of international terrorist groups, and to resolve the broader conflict in which terrorism inevitably thrives. Humanitarian situation Siblings in their family tent in Alzhouriyeh makeshift camp, east rural Homs, Syria, after receiving their winter clothing kits., by © UNICEF In the meantime, the tragedy of the Syrian people is deepening, he said. About 14 million civilians now need humanitarian assistance.More than 12 million remain displaced – and many are right now facing freezing winter conditions. Tens of thousands are detained, abducted or missing. The economy of Syria has collapsed. Criminality and smuggling are flourishing. Education is fragmented and severely degraded, as are institutions and infrastructure across the board. There are also reports of young people seeking any opportunity to leave the country, sometimes falling prey to traffickers and warlords. “The country remains de facto divided and society is deeply fractured. Syrians see no concrete progress towards a political solution”, Mr. Pederson informed. Negotiation © UNOCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman A snow-laden displaced persons camp in Selkin city, northwest Syria. A snow-laden displaced persons camp in Selkin city, northwest Syria., by © UNOCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman In visits this past month to Tehran and Doha, the Special Envoy has continued to engage with all parts to the conflict. Mr. Pederson has also been convening senior officials from key stakeholders in bilateral consultations in Geneva. “My question to all interlocutors is the same: can you identify not only what you demand, but also what you are prepared to put on the table, in exchange for steps from the other side?”, hetold Council Members. The Special Envoy said he would welcome any “fresh ideas” on issues such as detainees;humanitarian assistance and recovery; conditions for refugee returns; and repairing the economy and social fabric. Theultimate goal, he explained, remains to create an environment where a constitutional political process canbe agreed, and elections can take place administered under UN supervision, as envisaged in Security Council resolution 2254. As part of this process, Mr. Pederson istrying to reconvene the Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated Constitutional Committee, but he said the Committee’s work “remains disappointing” so far. “It is an enormous challenge to make real progress that can make a difference to the Syrian people, but that is what we must do”, he concluded.

The attempted jailbreak began last Thursday with two coordinated car bomb attacks to free suspected ISIL members – sparking violence between ISIL fighters and Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) which control the prison, including in residential areas of Al-Hasekeh. “We are particularly disturbed by reports that a significant number of boys, possibly several hundred, are held there and are extremely concerned for their safety and well-being”, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva. “The detention of children should, as ever, be a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time”. Curfew declared The Ghweiran prison is one of the largest detention centres in northeast Syria, housing an estimated 5,000 male detainees, many in prolonged pre-trial detention or internment and includes numerous suspected ISIL fighters from Iraq and Syria. While the SDF subsequently said that it had recaptured a number of the escapees, many are reportedly hiding in Al-Hasakeh city, according to Ms. Shamdasani. Reports from the prison say that close to 300 mostly detainees have been killed during fighting in and around the prison, run by the Western coalition-backed Kurdish forces. “The SDF has declared a curfew in all areas under its control in the city and has, with air support from international forces, surrounded the prison”, she said. Hostage situation However, detainees, many of whom are suspected to be ISIL members, are reportedly in control of the prison’s main building and have taken some prison staff hostage. Moreover, fearing further ISIL attacks, thousands of people have fled the area. “We remind all parties to the conflict, as well as governments with influence over the parties, that international law requires them to do their utmost to protect civilians, including in the planning and execution of military and security operations”, said the OHCHR official. Squalid prisons These latest developments highlight the desperate situation of thousands of detainees, including suspected ISIL members, across Syria. “We have previously warned about the squalid and insecure state of detention facilities run by the SDF, where detainees are held in overcrowded conditions, do not have access to proper medical care, and cannot see their families”, reminded Ms. Shamdasani. She recalled several riots, instigated by ISIL-linked detainees and attacks on detention facilities by ISIL sleeper cells, as appears to have been the case in Thursday’s attack on Ghweiran prison. “We remain deeply concerned by the situation of thousands of Syrians, Iraqis and ‘third country nationals’ with presumed family links to ISIL members, who are confined in overcrowded displacement camps such as Al-Hol and Al-Roj in northeastern Syria”, the OHCHR spokesperson stated. ‘Chaos and carnage’ An independent human rights expert on Tuesday also zeroed in on the welfare of close to 700 children being held at the prison, noting that boys as young as 12 are living “amid the chaos and carnage in the jail”. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, called on States to urgently repatriate all their young nationals being detained in Syria who have been “tragically being neglected by the own countries through no fault of their own except they were born to individuals allegedly linked or associated with designated terrorist groups”. The UN expert upheld that the treatment of hundreds of boys who have been detained in “grotesque prison conditions is an affront to the dignity of the child and the right of every child to be treated with dignity”, adding that “their lives in the prison have always been at risk”. “The abject refusal of States to repatriate their children is a contributory factor in the security and human rights morass that has ignited in Al-Hasakeh in recent days”, said Ms. Ni Aoláin, who last year identified 57 States with nationals held in Syria’s camps. “Their failure to repatriate these children, who should rightly be considered victims of terrorism and as children in need of protection under international law, beggars belief”. ‘Horrific consequences’ The UN expert explained that many of the boys, who were forcibly separated from their family member in recent years, have been denied their most fundamental human rights their entire lives. “They have been held arbitrarily and never participated in any legal process that would justify depriving them of their liberty, and in conditions that constitute torture, cruel and degrading treatment under international law”, she continued. “Treating boys as a distinct class, refusing to recognize in practice their rights as children is a form of gender discrimination that has had horrific consequences for these children now caught up in the violent confrontation at Al-Hasakeh prison”. Ms. Ni Aoláin called on all States and others operating in northeast Syria to protect civilians, and children being held in the prison. Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not paid for their work.

Speaking by videoconference to journalists in New York, Mark Cutts said humanitarians had seen “some real horror scenes” in the last few days, especially in the northwest, where he said the camps were “bad at the best of times”. “Our humanitarian workers have been pulling people out from under collapsed tents”, he added. Mr. Cutts described a scenario where many people do not have shovels or other equipment to clear the snow, so they have been doing it with their bare hands, while children walk in the snow wearing just sandals. “It’s really particularly difficult for the elderly people and people with disabilities, who are living in these torn and ripped and flimsy tents in thesesub-zero temperatures”, the coordinator said. Vulnerable populations According to him, about 100,000 people have been affected by the heavy snow and about 150,000 have been battling the rain and freezing temperatures. “That’s a quarter of a million people who are really suffering now the effects of this cold spell that is going across the entire region”, Mr. Cutts said. The area is home to 2.8 million displaced people, who are amongst some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. “These are people who been through a lot in the last few years. They have fled from one place to another, the bombs have followed them, and many of the hospitals and schoolsin the northwest have been destroyed during the ten years of war”, he said. In the last few days, humanitarian workers have been doing their best to clear the roads, deploy mobile clinics, repair or replace damaged tents and provide urgently needed items, such as food, blankets and winter clothing. Mr. Cutts concluded issuing an appeal to the international community, asking it to recognize the scale of the crisis and to quickly get the displaced out of tentsand into safer and more dignified temporary shelter. Escalation in fighting over prison break attempt Following an attack on Sina’a prison in the Syrian city of Al-Hasakeh, last week, hostilities have escalated quickly in the region, with gunfire and explosions causing civilian casualties and pushing about 45,000 people out of their homes. In a statement release on Monday, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Riza, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, MuhannadHadi, expressed deep concern about the safety of civilians. The attack was reportedly launched by ISIL extremist fighters who are trying to free more than 3,000 detainees affiliated with the terrorist group. They are being held by US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Most of the displaced have sought safety with family and friends in nearby areas. About 500 people are being hosted at two temporary shelters. Humanitarian organizations are scaling their responses, but the two UN officials noted that “unhindered humanitarian access by all concerned parties is paramount to ensure emergency assistance reaches affected people.” Mr. Riza and Mr. Hadi also reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligations, including avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Human rights In Geneva, the Human Rights Council initiated its Universal Periodic Review of Syria. Speaking to the Council, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bashar Ja’afari, said that, even though the country had experienced war, occupation, sanctions and COVID-19, it had managed to reform its human rights bureaucracy and judiciary and continued to subsidize health and social services. Member States commended these efforts, highlighting a conference on women and peace that took place last year, and the participation in the review process. States recommended that the country ends enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture, publish official lists of people held or who have died in detention centers, and preserve mass graves. They are also calling on Syria to amend legislation that identifies the political opposition as terrorists, rehabilitate child soldiers, strengthen protection of asylum seekers and refugees. The review also calls for the abolition of laws limiting ownership of property, strengthened access to drinking water and clean sanitation, abolition of the death penalty and allowing unhindered access to humanitarian aid.

Taliban leaders in Afghanistan are institutionalizing large scale and systematic gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls, independent UN human rights experts warned on Monday. The group of around three dozen Human Rights Council-appointed experts highlighted a “wave of measures” such as barring women from returning to their jobs, requiring a male relative to accompany them in public spaces, prohibiting women from using public transport on their own, as well as imposing a strict dress code on women and girls. “Taken together, these policies constitute a collective punishment of women and girls, grounded on gender-based bias and harmful practices,” the experts said. These policies have also affected the ability of women to work and to make a living, pushing them further into poverty. “Women heads of households are especially hard hit, with their suffering compounded by the devastating consequences of the humanitarian crisis in the country”, they explained. The experts also noted the increased risk of exploitation of women and girls, including of trafficking for the purposes of child and forced marriage, as well as sexual exploitation and forced labour. Education The Taliban, who became de facto rulers of Afghanistan after taking the capital Kabul last August, also continue to deny the fundamental right to secondary and tertiary education, arguing that women and men must be segregated and that female students have to abide by a specific dress code. As a result, most girls’ secondary schools remain closed. The vast majority of girls who should be attending grades 7-12 are being denied access to school, based solely on their gender. The experts denounce an “attempt to steadily erase women and girls from public life”, pointing out the closure of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the occupation of the premises of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. According to them, various service providers supporting survivors of gender-based violence have shut down for fear of retribution. The same happened with many women’s shelters. Specialized courts and prosecution units – responsible for enforcing the 2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women – have also been discontinued, and many women and and social workers are being prevented from working. At risk groups The experts have particular concerns for women human rights defenders, civil society activists and leaders, judges and prosecutors, security forces, former government employees, and journalists. According to them, all these women are being exposed to harassment, threats of violence and actual bodily harm, and their civic space has been severely eroded. Many have been forced to leave the country as a result. The experts are also “deeply troubled” by reports of peaceful protesters having often been beaten, ill-treated, threatened, and in confirmed instances, detained arbitrarily. These concerns are exacerbated in the cases of women from ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities such as the Hazara, Tajik, Hindu and other communities, whose differences or visibility make them even more vulnerable. Women in a waiting room of a clinic in Afghanistan. , by © UNICEF/Alessio Romenzi The group is “extremely disturbed” by the reports of extrajudicial killings and forced displacement of ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Hazara, which “would suggest deliberate efforts to target, ban, and even eliminate them from the country.” International plea The experts reiterated their call to the international community to step up urgently needed humanitarian assistance and to continue to hold the de facto authorities accountable for continuous violations. “Any humanitarian response, recovery or development efforts in the country, are condemned to failure if female staff, women-led organizations, and women in general – particularly those from minority communities – continue to be excluded from full participation in the needs assessments as well as in the decision-making, design, implementation and monitoring of these interventions,” the experts said. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary, and the experts are not paid for their work.

The man, known as Anwar R, was charged with complicity in the torture of thousands of people between 2011 and 2012 in the Al-Khatib Branch of Syrian General Intelligence in the capital, Damascus.  Renewed spotlight on atrocities UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet said his trial cast a much-needed renewed spotlight on the torture and inhuman treatment countless Syrians suffered in detention facilities. “It is a landmark leap forward in the pursuit of truth, justice and reparations for the serious human rights violations perpetrated in Syria over more than a decade,” she said. The verdict should also help push forward “all efforts to widen the net of accountability for all perpetrators of the unspeakable crimes that have characterised this brutal conflict,” she added. Perpetrators now on notice The Higher Regional Court in the German city of Koblenz sentenced Anwar R, 58, to life in prison for crimes that include torture, killings, serious deprivation of liberty, rape, sexual assault and hostage-taking. Germany adopted a Code of Crimes against International Law in 2002, which allows courts there to try crimes against international law committed in other countries where neither the perpetrator nor the victim is a German national. The Code also excludes the statute of limitations for these crimes. “This conviction has put State authorities on notice – no matter where you are or how senior you may be, if you perpetrate torture or other serious human rights violations, you will be held accountable sooner or later, at home or abroad,” said the UN human rights chief. Anwar R was a supervisor of Eyad al-Gharib, a Syrian intelligence officer who was convicted by the same court last February for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison. “This is a clear example of how national courts can and should fill accountability gaps for such crimes wherever they were committed, through fair and independent investigations and trials carried out in line with international human rights laws and standards,” said Ms. Bachelet. “This serves as a powerful deterrent and helps prevent future atrocities.” Progress towards justice The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria also welcomed Thursday’s verdict, though emphasizing the need to achieve justice for victims and survivors. Three of the Commission’s reports were read into evidence during the trial. “Verdicts such as today’s represent much-needed progress towards achieving justice for victims and survivors of war crimes in Syria – despite the fact that pathways to accountability remain curtailed in Syria and at the UN Security Council,” said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the Commission’s chair. Fellow Commissioner Hanny Megally commented that the outcome would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of victims and family associations. “If Member States want to achieve justice for Syrians, it is the meaningful participation of those Syrian voices that must be supported,” he said.  The UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, noted that there have been several other criminal and civil cases against former officials and members of non-State armed groups accused of crimes in Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and other jurisdictions. A number of proceedings are currently pending in national courts. OHCHR said action at national levels is particularly important in Syria. The country is not a party to the Rome Statute, the 1998 treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC), which tries cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, adding “and the UN Security Council has repeatedly failed to refer the situation to the ICC Prosecutor.”

Despite having been “around aircraft for so long” due to her personal and family history, Rasha admits that she still gets a “heart flutter” every she watches a plane take to the skies. “It never gets ordinary being here”, she said. Like mother, like daughter Early last year, Rasha joined the World Food Programme’s (WFP) UNHAS team as an Aviation Assistant at Qamishli airport in Syria’s northeast. Prior to that, she’d worked in commercial aviation for seven years. The young woman’s passion for airports goes back to childhood days. “My mother served at the same airport for 35 years. I vividly remember her wearing her silver uniform with a white blouse and a silky maroon scarf neatly tied around her neck”, she recalled. But what fascinated Rasha most was her mother’s devotion. “Qamishli is not a luxurious airport as it lacks comfort and catering facilities, so it can be rough to miss your flight and have to spend the night here. My mother assisted everyone she encountered unconditionally and to the best she could, and I wanted to be her one day”, she said. Safer, quicker journey Over years of crisis in Syria, conflict lines have shifted dramatically, rendering roads linking Damascus to the two northern governorates of Qamishli and Aleppo dangerous to use. The skies above became the most viable way for UN staff and humanitarian workers to travel between the capital and the country’s north. And with domestic airlines further disrupted by the COVID pandemic, the 2020 launch of UNHAS in Syria has provided a crucial connection between staff and the people it serves – turning a gruelling 16-hour drive into a one-hour flight. “If it wasn’t for UNHAS, humanitarian staff would have faced many challenges in accessing families in need”, Rasha said. Today, UNHAS in Syria serves 39 different humanitarian organizations, not just UN agencies. Even with COVID-19 precautions strictly followed, the airline service transports an average of 350 passengers on its flights between Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishli. Humanitarian needs across Syria reached unprecedented levels last year making it more important than ever for staff to rapidly and safely reach those in urgent need of assistance. WFP/Manal Alkalaji Rasha works closely with colleagues visiting from Damascus. ‘Humanitarian core’ At first, Rasha was most impressed by the airline’s high standards, discipline and punctuality, but then she found a deeper meaning to it. “One day, my passengers were all onboard for a flight to Damascus and we were about to close the gate when a man from another humanitarian organisation rushed in with his daughter who was in need of urgent medical evacuation to Damascus”, she recounted. When Rasha contacted UNHAS management, she was immediately advised to delay the flight until the man had finalized his necessary documents. “My supervisor told me: ‘Our existence is to serve these people, so our gates can’t be shut before them.’ That was the moment when I realized the humanitarian core of my work and it deeply moved me”, said the staff member. United in delivering In addition to people, UNHAS also flies lifesaving medical assistance. In 2021 the airline transported critical medical equipment, including COVID-19 vaccines and mobility aids for people with disabilities. “It was thanks to UNHAS that UN staff in Qamishli and their dependents were vaccinated, as the vaccines and specialized medical staff had to be transported all the way from Damascus”, Rasha said proudly. With the onset of winter, she knows that her job will be more challenging for months to come but recognizes the impact of her work each day as colleagues and families are now closer together than ever before.

A long-term lack of funding for the UN’s relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, now represents an “existential” threat, its top official warned on Thursday. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, said that chronic and drastic funding shortfalls could even precipitate its collapse. “Today, austerity has reached its limit and is impacting the quality of our services”, he said, highlighting that despite “rampant” poverty, the agency can no longer increase the number of refugees that it supports, . He added that “austerity reaches its limit when we put 50 children in a classroom or leave the most deprived children without transportation or stationery…when a doctor can only spend three minutes with a patient…[and] when many teachers and sanitation laborers are daily paid workers. These are frontline staff and it really pains me that UNRWA cannot yet give them more stable jobs”. Distress In an open letter to Palestine refugees, Mr. Lazzarini wrote that he was “painfully aware” that further uncertainty about UNRWA’s “dire” financial situation added another layer of distress to their lives. “When everything around you falls apart, being able to send your children to school, receive health care and be part of a social safety net are a lifeline”, he added. The Commissioner-General spoke of his many meetings with Palestine refugees throughout the year, including children in Gaza who were mentally scarred in May by 10 days of rocket fire and airstrike exchanges between Israeli forces and armed groups in the enclave. He also recalled encountering refugee families in the West Bank “living with the daily threat of forced displacement; young graduates in Burj Baranjeh camp whose only hope for a better future was to emigrate through dangerous migration routes; and refugees in Jordan who faced immense financial hardships under COVID-19”. Today, well over five million Palestinians have registered with UNRWA as refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Political attacks In his open letter, Mr. Lazzarini said that since 2018, political attacks on the agency’s mandate had threatened to sever the “lifeline” of education, healthcare and social welfare that UNWRA provides. “These attacks aim at harming the reputation of the Agency…[and] are based on the foolish and wrong idea that by closing UNRWA they will erase 5.8 million Palestine refugees”, he said. “Let me reassure you that your rights, including your right of return and compensation, are enshrined in international law and UN resolutions and have nothing to do with the UNRWA mandate”. The agency chief acknowledged that for close to a decade, stagnating donor funding remained below the amount needed to provide quality services. At the same time as the refugee population has continued to grow, poverty and vulnerabilities have skyrocketed. To promote long-term funding security, Mr. Lazzarini said that the agency planned to expand its donor base, increase digital fundraising and look into innovative funding mechanisms to ensure that Palestine refugees have continued access to all services. Brought to you by: Carlo Schaaij (Sky) Chief Technology Officer View Carlo's LinkedIn

The UN food relief agency warned on Wednesday that it is running out of funds to continue providing food assistance to 13 million Yemenis. From January, eight million who are going hungry in Yemen will receive a reduced food ration, while five million others who are at immediate risk of slipping into famine, will remain on a full ration. “Desperate times call for desperate measures and we have to stretch our limited resources and prioritize, focusing on people who are in the most critical state”, said Corinne Fleischer, Regional Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) for the Middle East and North Africa. The lowest point The reductions come at the worst possible time for families in Yemen who are dependent on WFP’s food assistance to survive. As currency devaluation and hyper-inflation drive the economy to near collapse, inadequate food consumption has risen rapidly, affecting half of all families over the last three months. And food prices have more than doubled across much of Yemen through the course of the year. Meanwhile, fighting across multiple frontlines continues to force families to flee. “The Yemeni people are now more vulnerable than ever, reeling from relentless conflict and the deepening economic crisis that has pushed millions into destitution”, said Ms. Fleischer. From bad to worse Beginning in January, families will receive barely half of WFP’s daily minimum ration. Moreover, without new funding, more severe reductions will soon be unavoidable, perhaps even cutting people from food assistance programmes completely. Malnutrition treatment and school meals may also be reduced. “Every time we reduce the amount of food, we know that more people who are already hungry and food insecure, will join the ranks of the millions who are starving”, said the WFP official. ‘Dangerously low’ stocks Currently, more than half the Yemeni population – some 16.2 million people – face acute hunger and 2.3 million children under five, risk malnutrition. “WFP food stocks in Yemen are running dangerously low at a time when budgets for humanitarian crises around the world are stretched to the limit”, Ms. Fleischer said. WFP needs $813 million to continue to assist the most vulnerable in Yemen through May. And in 2022, the agency will need $1.97 billion to continue to deliver vital assistance to families on the brink of famine. “We desperately need donors, who were so generous in the past, to work with us to avoid this looming hunger catastrophe”, she concluded. © WFP/Annabel Symington Children are treated for malnutrition at a WFP-supported mobile clinic in Lahj, Yemen.

Israel’s plan to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem has drawn strong condemnation from two independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. Settlement expansion “tramples” on human rights law, Special Rapporteurs Michael Lynk and Balakrishnan Rajagopal said in a statement on Wednesday. Solidifying a permanent presence Nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers are now living in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, they stated. In recent weeks, Israeli authorities have approved plans for more than 1,700 new housing units in two settlements in East Jerusalem, Givat Hamatos and Pisgat Zeev, the experts reported.  Developments are underway for an estimated 9,000 more in Atarot, and another 3,400 in an area just east of Jerusalem. In the West Bank, plans to construct some 3,000 housing units are also being advanced, while reports indicate the Israeli government wants to retroactively legalize several settlement outputs. “The very raison d’être of the Israeli settlements in occupied territory – the creation of demographic facts on the ground to solidify a permanent presence, a consolidation of alien political control and an unlawful claim of sovereignty – tramples upon the fundamental precepts of humanitarian and human rights law,” said the experts. ‘The engine of occupation’ The Special Rapporteurs characterized Israeli settlements as “the engine of the occupation”, and responsible for a wide range of human rights violations against the Palestinian people. These include land confiscation, severe restrictions on freedom of movement, and racial and ethnic discrimination. “Most seriously, the purpose of settler implantation – rupturing the relationship between a native people and its territory – is the denial of the right to self-determination, which is at the very core of modern human rights law,” they said. The UN has repeatedly stated Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are a flagrant violation under international law, the rights experts recalled. “As well, the Israeli settlements are a presumptive war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and should be treated as such by the international community,” they added. Action from governments The rapporteurs have welcomed criticism of the expansion plans, including by the United States and the European Union, though stressing “criticism without consequences means little in these circumstances.” The rights experts urged the international community to support the ongoing investigation into Israeli settlements by the Prosecutor’s Office at the International Criminal Court. They also called on governments to ensure that corporations and institutions under their jurisdiction “have no involvement in aiding, assisting or investing in the settlements.”  Role of UN rapporteurs Mr. Lynk is the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, and Mr. Rajagopal is Special Rapporteur on adequate housing.  They received their mandates from the UN Human Rights Council, which is based in Geneva. As independent experts, they operate in their own capacity and are neither UN staff, nor are they paid by the Organization.

Human rights defenders in Afghanistan report that they are now enduring a “climate of fear”, threats, and becoming increasingly desperate over conditions in the country, an independent UN expert said on Wednesday. Stating that “the threat is very real”, Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, called for an urgent coordinated response from the international community. “Defenders tell me of direct threats, including gendered threats against women, of beatings, arrests, enforced disappearances, and of defenders being killed. They describe living in a climate of constant fear”, she said. Those most at risk are people documenting alleged war crimes, women, in particular criminal lawyers, cultural rights defenders, especially those working in banned sectors such as musical performance, and others from minority groups. Some told Mrs. Lawlor that they have erased their online data history to evade identification, and that the Taliban are using other ways to find them. One of them, for example, was identified by an injury to his leg. Urgent action According to her, the Taliban have raided offices of human rights and civil society organisations, searching for names, addresses and contacts. “Many defenders are well known in their local communities, in particular in rural areas, and have left for the anonymity of the cities, but even there, they are forced to constantly change locations,” the UN expert said. “Most have also lost their source of income, further limiting their options to find safety.” Mrs. Lawlor called for immediate international support, including an urgent plan for the evacuation of those at high risk, along with their families. She also said these are the people who have been fighting for 20 years to advance human rights in the country. “Many say they feel abandoned. States who have supported their work for the past two decades must do more to provide visas, travel documents and routes to asylum for the hundreds of defenders left behind and at risk.” Testimonies To produce her report, the rapporteur received online testimonies from around 100 human rights defenders. A woman living in western Afghanistan told her that every day 5 or 10 people are being arrested, with families afraid of being recognised. “Family members don’t even claim the dead bodies in the street. They are afraid. Human rights defenders were not prioritised in the evacuation efforts”, Mrs. Lawlor said. Another activist argued that “the Taliban cannot be expected to stick to their word” and that “the future looks dark.” A woman who worked in 34 provinces, for women’s rights, assured that she wants to protect the gains made in the last 20 years, but she can’t leave her home and go to the office. People like her, she said, “are being smeared as foreign agents.” Another defender said that 38,000 prisoners have been released, some of them with problems with those working on justice and rule of law, and they are now “a direct threat to human rights defenders.” Finally, a mother complained to Mrs. Lawlor about the torture of her 12-year-old child by the Taliban, asking for help. “She thought that even now we could defend their children’s rights, but what was not clear to her, was that I have no more authority and the ability to defend her and her son, as I myself have been side-lined along with human rights activism in Afghanistan”, the rapporteur said. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not paid for their work.

Masami Ogata is a survivor of Minamata Disease, a debilitating illness caused by industrial mercury poisoning, which originated in the Japanese town of the same name in the 1950s. As a UN conference on preventing future poisoning outbreaks gets underway, we hear Mr. Ogata’s story. As a storyteller at the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum, Mr. Ogata helps to keep alive the memory of what is considered to be one of the most serious Japanese pollution incidents of the Twentieth Century. The incident was caused by the release of toxic chemicals from an industrial plant, which accumulated in shellfish and fish, and were then eaten by the local population. More than 2,000 people have been recognized as victims, many of whom, including Mr. Ogata, had to fight for recognition and compensation: around 20 members of his family were affected by the disease, which causes muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and hearing and speech impairment. Minimata Disease Municipal Museum Masami Ogata, a storyteller at the Minimata Disease Municipal Museum in Japan, who lives with the disease. “Minamata disease first caused damage to my family in September 1957. When I was nearly two years old, my grandfather Fukumatsu Ogata suddenly developed an unexplained illness, which worsened day by day, with convulsions and drooling, difficulty walking, speech problems, and other symptoms. Minimata Disease Municipal Museum Minamata Disease is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. Two months later, he passed away in the isolation and infectious diseases ward at the Minamata City Hospital. That was the first tragedy caused by Minamata disease in the Ogata family. However, we were never told what caused the illness. My sister Hitomi, who was born a week before her grandfather developed the illness, was born with a disability, again without explanation, then other members of the Ogata family started falling ill one after another. When I became an adult, I noticed that I had very little sensation in my limbs. I work as a joiner and, when I was younger, would often cut my finger on the whetstone when sharpening knives, because my finger would droop. We came to understand that it was caused by methylmercury poisoning but we couldn’t really make it public that we were victims, because people thought that Minamata disease was contagious. Rumours spread though, and people would say that no one should marry a member of the Ogata family. I got married at the age of 20, but on the day of our engagement, my wife had a phone call. Naming me, the person said to her, “the man you are trying to marry is a Minamata disease victim. The whole family will be annihilated. Are you okay to go to such a place as a bride?” When I was younger, I hid my disease from others. I would change the subject if it came up, and say that it had nothing to do with me. It was my daughter who said to me that I had to live honestly. Her words stuck in my chest, and I chose to stop hiding, at the age of 38. For 10 years, my application to be officially declared a Minamata disease victim was rejected until, on March 15, 2007, the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture declared that she would recognize me as a Minamata disease patient. After receiving the certification, I asked myself how I would live in the future, then I decided to become a storyteller, so that I could tell people all over the world about the disease. Minamata, which has suffered so much, helped the world create the UN Convention named after the city, which will save the lives of many people around the world. The people of Minamata suffered a lot from the disease and were torn apart, but from that we gained a wonderful power, in the form of the Minamata Convention. Minamata disease is by no means over but, by showing people around the world what victims can do and achieve, I think the world can take courage.” Minimata Disease Municipal Museum Masami Ogata, a storyteller at the Minimata Disease Municipal Museum in Japan, who lives with the disease. Minamata Convention on Mercury The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The Convention includes a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, the phase-out and phase-down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and the regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.

Geir Pedersen reported on the sixth session of the Committee’s so-called “Small Body”, which he convened last week in Geneva. The hope was that the 45 men and women – who represent the Syrian government, opposition and civil society – would draft a text that would help support a peaceful future for their country after more than a decade of war. Working mechanism needed However, they were unable to move from submitting and discussing initial drafts to developing a productive textual drafting process. It is important the Committee’s work continues “with urgency and purpose”, said Mr. Pedersen, adding that his engagement will continue. “We need a common understanding on a working mechanism to help the Constitutional Committee discharge its drafting mandate,” he told ambassadors. “I remain convinced that progress on the Constitutional Committee could, if done the right way, help to build some trust and confidence. But let me stress that this requires real determination and the political will to try to build some common ground.” In parallel with the Constitutional Committee meeting, Mr. Pedersen also convened a meeting of the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board (WAB) at a location near Geneva. Learning from Syrian women The WAB was established five years ago by the Office of the UN Special Envoy, and it ensures diverse women’s perspectives, as well as gender equality, are reflected throughout the Syrian political process and in peace talks. Although members come from different backgrounds and affiliations, Mr. Pedersen said their discussions revealed a sense of common purpose and urgency around getting the political process to move. “They also stressed the need for effective institutional arrangements to guarantee the protection and full participation of women in the future of Syria. And they gave me and my deputy valuable ideas and advice,” he said. “We will continue to consult them closely.” Syrians still suffering Even amid diplomatic efforts, Mr. Pedersen underscored the need to never lose sight of the suffering Syrians have endured in the ongoing conflict. More than 12 million remain displaced, whether inside their homeland or as refugees. Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian affairs chief, offered more details about the conditions Syrians are facing. Life remains very difficult, and many people are finding things increasingly hard. The violence continues to kill civilians, with attacks and “security incidents” rising this month. “Daily life in Syria is becoming less and less affordable. Over 90 percent of the population now lives below the poverty line,” said Mr. Griffiths, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. Stepping-up aid delivery At the same time, Syria is currently experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19, and cases are escalating. Meanwhile, vaccination stands at just two per cent of the population. “And now, exhausted by years of conflict, poverty and the pandemic, Syrians will soon face another bitter winter,” he added. “And as temperatures start to drop, rain, cold and winter conditions will compound hardship for millions of people.” The UN and its partners continue to do all they can to scale up assistance. Following a cross-line delivery of food aid into Idleb governorate in northwest Syria this August, preparations are underway for a second delivery next month. Mr. Griffiths said the UN has also developed a plan for a series of regular cross-line operations to deliver “multisectoral assistance” over the next six months, which will complement aid coming across the border from Turkey.

Independent UN human rights experts on Monday strongly condemned the decision by the Israeli Minister of Defence to designate six Palestinian human rights and civil society groups, as terrorist organisations. In a joint statement, the experts called the decision “a frontal attack on the Palestinian human rights movement, and on human rights everywhere.” “Silencing their voices is not what a democracy adhering to well-accepted human rights and humanitarian standards would do”, they add. Calling upon the international community to act, they argue that anti-terrorism legislation must never be used to unjustifiably undermine civil liberties. According to them, the UN Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council have all “been clear” about this issue.   “The misuse of counter-terrorism measures in this way by the government of Israel undermines the security of all,” the group of 17 experts said. Civil society The six Palestinian organizations being redesignated are Addameer, Al-Haq, Defense for Children International – Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees. Among those groups they work with are women and girls, children, peasant families, prisoners and civil society activists, all of whom face increased levels of discrimination and even violence, the experts said. According to the UN experts, “these organisations speak the language of universal human rights.” “They use a rights-based approach to their work, including a gendered analysis, to document human rights abuses of all kinds in Palestine, including business-related human rights abuses”, they said.   Practical ban The redesignation as terrorist organisations, in effect, bans the work of these human rights defenders, and allows the Israeli military to arrest their staff, shutter their offices, confiscate assets and prohibit their activities. In at least one case, according to the experts, the decision may have been taken as a form of reprisal for cooperation with UN entities. “The Israeli military has frequently targeted human rights defenders in recent years, as its occupation has deepened, its defiance of international law has continued and its record of human rights violations has worsened,” the experts say. They note that most international and Israeli human rights organisations face challenges, but also argue that Palestinian human rights defenders “have always encountered the severest constraints.” Finally, the experts call upon the international community to use its full range of tools to request that Israel reverses this decision. “These civil society organisations are the canaries in the human rights coalmine, alerting us to the patterns of violations, reminding the international community of its obligations to ensure accountability, and providing voices for those who have none,” they conclude. Special rapporteurs and other independent UN rights experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council. They are neither paid for their work, nor UN staff, and are independent of any government or organisation, and serve in their individual capacity. West Bank settlements On Sunday, Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that he was deeply concerned by the continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. His statement follows the announcement by the Israeli authorities of tenders for the construction of more than 1,300 housing units in the occupied West Bank.  Mr. Wennesland reiterated that all settlements are illegal under international law, remain a substantial obstacle to peace, and must cease immediately.