Middle East

The process of drafting a new constitution for Syria has been “a big disappointment” UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen concluded on Friday. Following the end of discussions in Geneva, a consensus on how to move forward was not achieved, he added. The drafting process between Government and opposition Co-Chairs of the Syrian Constitutional Committee (Small Drafting Body) and civil society began on Monday and was led by Mr. Pedersen. The aim was to produce a text that would help support a peaceful future for the country, after more than a decade of war. The development followed close to nine months of negotiations by the Special Envoy to reach a consensus on constitutional reform. In January, he said that insufficient progress had been made at the fifth meeting of the 45-member Small Drafting Body and that there was a realization that “we could not continue the way we have been going”. Under discussion were four agenda baskets set out in 2017 by then UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura. These describe the general terms of governance and political transition, constitution, elections and counterterrorism. First meeting in nearly 9 months It is nearly two years since the first meeting of the full Syrian Constitutional Committee, a 150-member body which comprises 50 representatives of the Syrian Government, 50 from the opposition and 50 from civil society, represented by the so-called “Middle Third”. Fifteen members of each bloc represent the Small Drafting Body. For the first time ever, committee co-chairs Ahmad Kuzbari, the Syrian government representative, and Hadi al-Bahra, from the opposition side, met together with Mr. Pedersen on Sunday morning. ‘Ups and downs’ “It’s fair to say it was ups and downs over the four days,” Mr. Pedersen said. “We had three days which went well and one more difficult day. In the end, we had good discussions on the different principles”. Now they will have to concentrate on bringing the principles forward and agree on what they disagree over. But he warned that a proper understanding needed to be developed to move forward. On a positive note, the negotiator said that trust had been established this week which could be built on. But he emphasized that political will was needed to find a way to deal with the process, so differences were minimised and areas of commonalities were identified. Mr. Pederson added that he “could see possibilities, but as long as the parties have not concluded this, I’m not the one to conclude this on their behalf”. © UNICEF/Giovanni Diffidenti Young boys who work as market porters push a cart past ruins in Idlib, Syria.

Israel has been urged to either release or charge five Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. Grave concerns have been expressed for the lives of the prisoners by UN independent rights experts, who on Thursday, called on the Israeli Government to completely end the “unlawful practice “ of administrative detention. In a statement, the experts said that Israel continues to detain more than 500 Palestinians – including six children – “without charges, without trials, without convictions”. ‘Classified secret information’ They are being held on the basis of “classified secret information” that the detainees cannot access or challenge, and they do not know “when, or if, they are going to be released”, according to the Human Rights Council-appointed experts. According to them, the five hunger strikers, all men in their twenties and thirties, have been refusing food for between 58 and 99 days to protest being held in administrative detention for months or even years at a time. The rights experts highlighted the cases of two of the men, Kayed Al-Fasous and Miqdad Al-Qawasameh, who are said to be in imminent danger of death. Mr. Al-Fasous who was reportedly held in harsh conditions in solitary confinement, and is now in Barzelai hospital. Mr. Al Qawasameh was transferred to Kaplan Hospital after his health deteriorated. He has been in intensive care there since 19 October. On 7 October and 14 October, the Israeli High Court of Justice suspended their administrative detention orders. However, the rights experts pointed out that they decided to continue with their strike despite their very frail condition, because the suspension does not mean their release. Two other men, Alaa Al-Araj, and Hisham Ismail Abu Hawash, were transferred on 19 October to Israeli hospitals after their health detoriated. The fifth, Mr. Shadi Abu Aka is currently in a prison clinic. Harsh detention conditions The experts noted that Israel has regularly violated its legal duty under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. This states that an occupying power cannot transfer prisoners from occupied territory, to detention centres in its territory. UN calls for Israel to comply with its obligation, have come to no avail, the experts said. “In international law, administrative detention is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, and only for short periods of time. Israel’s practices exceed all of the international legal boundaries.” The independent experts also called upon Israel to end its harsh detention conditions of Palestinian prisoners: “the imposition of solitary confinement on detainees already weakened by months of hunger strike, must stop immediately” they said. Special Rapporteurs and other independent rights 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. Their positions are honorary, they are not UN staff nor are they paid for their work.

Four children – three boys and a girl – were killed on Monday morning while travelling to school in northwest Syria, along with a teacher, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday. UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Ted Chaiban, said in a statement that they were victims of an attack on a market in Ariha, south of Idlib. The governorate is the last rebel held enclave in the country. According to news reports, a total of ten people were killed in the attack on Ariha, while another 20 were wounded during the shelling. Artillery shelling was reported in Idlib on Tuesday also, the UN Spokeperson, Stéphane Dujarric, told correspondents at the regular noon briefing. One civilian was killed, and four others injured. Artillery shelling was also reported in other parts of Idlib and in Western Aleppo. Combined with Wednesday’s attack in Ariha, the Spokesperson described the recent escalation as “the most significant increase in hostilities in northwest Syria since the ceasefire agreement of March 2020.” “The UN condemns all violence in Syria”, he added. “We remind all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, including the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks and the obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.” Damascus attack The numbers of children injured and killed continue to increase, said Mr. Chabain, noting that earlier on Wednesday, a military bus had come under attack in the capital Damascus. According to media reports, two explosive devices attached to the bus, detonated as it passed under a bridge in the centre of the city during rush hour. At least 14 were reportedly killed, which the Sana State News Agency described as the deadliest attack in the Syrian capital in four years. “Today’s violence is yet another reminder that the war in Syria has not come to an end”, said the UNICEF official. Protect the children “Civilians, among them many children, keep bearing the brunt of a brutal decade-long conflict”, added Mr. Chabain. “Attacks on civilians including children are a violation of international humanitarian law. Children should be able to reach their schools safely”, he underscored. “We repeat our calls to those fighting, that children are not a target. They should be protected at all times especially in times of conflict.”

Political stagnation is “fuelling tensions, instability and a deepening sense of hopelessness”, the top UN official working towards peace in the Middle East warned the Security Council on Tuesday. “We should have no illusions about the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland said, describing a situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) that continues to deteriorate, with no progress towards a two-State solution. Cycle of violence He painted a picture of an “increasingly desperate reality” shaped by extremists and unilateral actions on all sides, that threaten to heighten risks for Palestinians, Israelis and the entire region. “Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering and paying a steep price for the persistence of the conflict, including the protracted occupation”, said Mr. Wennesland. Meanwhile, settlement activity, evictions, Palestinian property seizures and movement restrictions, “further feed the cycle of violence” as Israeli civilians continue to be killed and injured in Palestinian attacks. The UN envoy described “nightly clashes” between Israeli and Palestinian citizens, and underscored that all perpetrators of violence must be “held accountable and swiftly brought to justice”. Settlements, holy sites Mr. Wennesland highlighted Israeli plans for construction in E1, located adjacent to and northeast of East Jerusalem, saying that these units would “sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank, significantly undermining the chances for establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-State solution”. “I reiterate that all settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace”, he spelled out. The UN envoy noted Israel’s official adherence to preserving the status quo regarding holy sites in Jerusalem, a bloody flashpoint in recent months, reminding that it must be upheld and respected by “all sides”. In “a welcome development”, the Special Coordinator said that Israeli and Palestinian officials had announced that some 4,000 undocumented Palestinians in the West Bank would be registered in the Palestinian population registry and receive identity documents. ‘Breaking point’ Meanwhile, as expenditures exceed revenues and donor support, Palestine’s economic decline continues, with bank loan options “exhausted”. “The PA’s fiscal situation is reaching a breaking point”, Mr. Wennesland said, citing estimates that the Authority is now approaching a $800 million budget deficit in 2021 – nearly doubling the 2020 gap. He voiced concern that “these negative trends are occurring simultaneously across the West Bank and Gaza” and should not be left unaddressed. The “unprecedented fiscal and financial crisis” has prompted the need for “significant reforms and policy changes – by both Israelis and Palestinians”, the UN envoy said. Drawing attention to the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) continued budget shortfall, he underscored that it remains “indispensable for regional stability and must have the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate”. Reconstruction Meanwhile, the UN launched reconstruction efforts to rebuild up to 1,800 destroyed or severely damaged homes and in late September, Egypt began repairing one of the Gaza enclave’s main coastal roads. While welcoming the issuance of permits and improved movements of goods in and out of the occupied Gaza Strip, the Special Coordinator told the Council that “much more is needed to facilitate sustainable access”, reiterating that “the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism remains best placed to enable the entry and accountable delivery of items and materials that would otherwise not be allowed into the Strip”. ‘Piecemeal’ solution unacceptable Mr. Wennesland stressed that the current situation cannot be addressed in “piecemeal”. “We can no longer lurch from crisis to crisis…incident by incident, on a short-term day-to-day basis as stand-alone issues”, he said, calling for a “broader package of parallel steps” by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community that addresses the “key political, security and economic challenges” that are barring progress. Despite the enormity of the current challenges, “we cannot afford to be pessimistic or passive” and must “begin to restore hope in a peaceful, sustainable, negotiated resolution of the conflict”, said the Special Coordinator. A thawing in political dialogue is not the “end game” but a stage on the road to ending occupation, suppressing extremist voices, he spelled out. “We must build consensus…for engagement or face an increasingly desperate reality”, he concluded.

“This clearly also has damaging impact on prospects for peace and sustainable development for Israel, as well as the surrounding region”, she argued. Ms. Bachelet was briefing the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in Geneva. She argued that, “no matter how long the road has been, ‘never-ending’ cannot be an acceptable description for any situation in which human rights are violated and abused.” “Only an end to the occupation can bring about lasting peace and establish the conditions in which the human rights of all can be fully respected”, she added. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (photo from 26 September 2018), by UN Photo/Laura Jarriel Situation in Gaza In May of this year, there was the most significant escalation in hostilities since 2014, resulting in the killing of 261 Palestinians including 67 children. The High Commissioner Office (OHCHR) determined that 130 of those killed were civilians. At the time, the Human Rights Council decided to establish an independent, international commission of inquiry. Its first report should be presented in June of next year. For Ms. Bachelet, the people of Gaza also continue to suffer from a 15-year land, sea and air blockade implemented by Israel, with vital infrastructure crumbling and a decaying sewer system. “Severe movement restrictions and obstructions to people’s access to essential goods and services, including specialised healthcare, generate immense suffering”, she said. She also noted that reconstruction and recovery efforts are ongoing, the fragile cessation of hostilities continues to hold, and some goods have been gradually allowed to enter Gaza. Humanitarian conditions, however, “remain deeply concerning.” Civic freedoms On 19 October, Israel designated six Palestinian civil society organizations as “terrorist organizations” under Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Law of 2016. On 7 November, they were also declared unlawful in the occupied territory under the Emergency (Defence) Regulations of 1945. According to Ms. Bachelet, these decisions “appear to have been based on vague or unsubstantiated reasons, including claims related to legitimate and entirely peaceful human rights activities.” All six organisations have worked with the international community, including the UN, for decades. For the High Commissioner, claims of links to terrorism are “extremely serious”, but “without adequate substantive evidence, these decisions appear arbitrary, and further erode the civic and humanitarian space in the occupied Palestinian territory.” “They can therefore legitimately be viewed as an attack on human rights defenders, on the rights to freedoms of association, opinion and expression, and on the right to public participation”, she argued. Since June 2021, OHCHR has also documented cases of assaults of journalists and human rights defenders, as well as intimidation, gender-based violence and harassment, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and censorship. Killings and injuries  Palestinian children look out from their house window at destroyed buildings in their neighbourhood in the Gaza City., by © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba Ms. Bachelet told the Committee that her concerns “continue to deepen about the numerous killings and injuries” of Palestinians by Israeli forces, as well as, increasingly, by armed settlers. She is particularly alarmed at recurring incidents of excessive use of force leading to the death and injury of Palestinian children. This year, Israeli forces have killed 16 children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Calling for investigations and accountability, she noted that “the chronic impunity” has been repeatedly raised in reports by the Secretary-General and herself. She said that settler-related violence against Palestinians, stood now at “alarmingly high levels”. In the past year, there have been 490 incidents resulting in deaths, injury and/or significant property damage, the highest incidence of settler violence ever recorded by the United Nations. Currently, it represents an average of almost one incident of settler violence each day. Children the most affected For the High Commissioner, children continued to suffer disproportionate impact from the recurring cycles of military escalation and associated deprivation. Reports by UN partners indicate that 75 per cent of all children in Gaza are in need of mental health and psycho-social support, as well as other services. Currently, 160 Palestinian children are detained by Israel, some of them without charge, under administrative detention regulations. Under international law, administrative detention is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. For Ms. Bachelet, “this is not the case in the Occupied Palestinian Territory today.” She concluded saying that her Office (OHCHR) also continues to receive “disturbing” reports of the ill-treatment of children during their arrest, transfer, interrogation and detention by Israeli authorities.

Thanking the Governments of Jordan and Sweden for organizing the pledging conference for the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the UN chief pointed out the agency’s many accomplishments. In addition to providing more than half a million children with high quality education, investing in human development and offering “lifelines of hope and opportunity”, UNRWA has also enabled many of its beneficiaries to “make extraordinary contributions to their communities and to the world at large”, he said. “An investment in UNRWA is an investment in peace and hope”, spelled out the top UN official. Protection and support needed UNRWA also plays a pivotal role in promoting regional stability, according to the UN chief, and yet, despite that UN Member States have agreed on its comprehensive mandate for decades, Mr. Guterres reminded that it continues to face an existential crisis. “We need to protect UNRWA from being used as a political pawn – and focus on its ability to carry out its General Assembly mandate and its unrelenting commitment to humanitarian principles and shared UN values”, he underscored. And, lacking sufficient funding, the UN agency also is being prevented from assisting Palestine refugees in a predictable way. “These recurring funding crises have led UNRWA to introduce austerity measures. But these have reached their limits”, said the UN chief, stressing the need for “adequate resources, including human resources”. Short- and long-term funding asks To address this, the Secretary-General has asked the General Assembly for additional posts from the UN Regular Budget and made two specific requests to the conference. The first was to bridge the immediate funding gap to keep UNRWA’s essential health, education and services active. “A disruption of services and salaries would have a crippling impact – especially in a region already struggling with the consequences of the pandemic”, he said. Secondly, he urged Member States to step up longer-term commitments and solidarity and to match the generosity of the countries that host Palestine refugees. “We need to collectively find a path towards more predictable, sufficient and sustainable funding for the agency, including through multi-year commitments”, Mr. Guterres asserted. Giving thanks In closing, the Secretary-General expressed deep admiration for UNRWA’s day-in-day out” work. “The teachers, the doctors and nurses, the sanitation workers, the engineers, and so many others – all are working under extreme duress to provide Palestine refugees with access to basic services that all of us take for granted”, he said. “Let’s help them help Palestine refugees”. © UNRWA Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde (centre), co-chairs the UNRWA International Conference in Brussels with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (right) on 16 November 2021. Thwart an ‘unstable vacuum’ UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the agency as “both a truly compelling story of global solidarity in action and a tragic example of ineffective and insufficient financial support that pushes it to the brink”. He cautioned that if “real solutions” are not found for now and the future, “the institution will very soon jump over the brink”, leaving “an unstable vacuum in its wake”. “And no environment likes a vacuum”, he said. Mr. Lazzarini appealed to the conference participants to translate their political support into “predictable, sufficient and sustainable resources”. “Your support will ensure that UNRWA continues to be the irreplaceable and trusted lifeline for Palestine refugees until a fair and lasting political solution is achieved”, he concluded.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the experts called on the Iranian authorities to repeal the ‘Youthful Population and Protection of the Family’ law, which was ratified by Iran’s Guardian Council on the first of November. The law, said the experts, severely restricts access to abortion, contraception, voluntary sterilization services and related information, in direct violation of women’s human rights under international law, and contains a provision stating that if carried out on a large scale, abortion would fall under the crime of “corruption on earth” and carry the death penalty. “The Iranian Government is taking further steps to use criminal law to restrict the rights of women, for the sake of increasing the number of births, which will effectively force many women and girls to continue unwanted pregnancies to term which would be inherently discriminatory”, the experts declared. Severe restrictions on women’s rights Abortion in Iran is effectively banned, apart from a few exceptions. The new law puts the final decisions on therapeutic abortion – in case of threat to the life of the pregnant woman or foetal anomalies – in the hands of a panel consisting of a judge, medical doctor and forensic doctor, rather than on the pregnant women, supported by the medical doctor. For the UN experts, the law violates the rights to life and health, the right to non-discrimination and equality, and to freedom of expression by making it illegal to access a range of reproductive health services and share reproductive rights information. The law also prohibits free distribution of contraceptive goods, and imposes a ban on voluntary sterilizations for men and women, aside from very exceptional cases. The move, said the experts, will disproportionately impact women in situations of marginalization, and victims of sexual violence. Risk of maternal deaths In the experts’ view, the law will not stop abortions. They pointed to data illustrating that “criminalizing the termination of pregnancy does not reduce the number of women who resort to abortion”. “Instead, it forces women to risk their lives by undergoing clandestine and unsafe procedures.” According to official data an estimated 300,000 to 600,000 illegal abortions are performed in Iran every year. Under the law, antenatal screening tests will be restricted, and the health ministry will establish a system to collect information on everyone who goes to a health centre for fertility treatment, pregnancy, delivery, and abortion – a move apparently designed to expand the monitoring of pregnancies and discourage abortions. “Restricting the access of women to free contraception goods and services will lead to unwanted pregnancies and high maternal mortality”, the experts warned. “We will closely monitor the impact of this law on maternal deaths and ensure accountability for failure to act with due diligence to prevent the death of women and girls with risk pregnancies, or the death of those that undergo unsafe abortions”, they added. Cruel and degrading The package of measures contained in the law could, therefore, amount to gender-based violence because women denied safe abortions can incur mental and physical suffering, according to the UN experts. Moreover, the criminalization of abortion can constitute cruel, degrading, and inhumane treatment, and may amount to torture. “We urge the Government to immediately repeal the law on ‘Youthful Population and Protection of the Family’ and to take measures to end the criminalization of abortion and to ensure that all women can access all necessary health services, including sexual and reproductive health care, in a manner that is safe, affordable, and consistent with their human rights”, 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 they are not paid for their work. Click here for the names of those who endorsed this statement.

Blaming a deadly combination fighting, climate change, COVID-19 and rising food and fuel costs, he said, “Mothers are telling me that with the upcoming winter they are caught between a rock and a hard place”. “They either feed their children, and let them freeze, or keep them warm and let them go hungry. They cannot afford both fuel and food”, added the WFP chief spelling out that the deadly mix is “pushing people beyond their limits”. Choosing who eats During his travels, Mr. Beasley spoke to mothers in nutrition and food distribution centres who elaborated on the hard choices they are forced to make to survive. A mother of four in Aleppo described her daily struggles. “We are tired, worn out and now hungry too as the economic situation takes its toll”, she said. She explained that she has not been able to get any fresh food, dairy or eggs for her children for the last four months and had to make difficult decisions, “like deciding which of my children should eat on the basis of who is most fragile and sick or who will slip into severe malnutrition if not fed today”. Syria breaks food insecurity record Some 12.4 million people, or almost 60 per cent of the population, are now food insecure and do not know where their next meal will come from – a 57 per cent increase since 2019 and the highest number ever recorded in the history of Syria, said the UN agency. The country’s agricultural sector struggles to produce enough to meet the population’s needs as food prices across the country reached record highs in September. The price of a basket of staple foods has more than doubled since last year and is now beyond the reach of millions of families. Avoid desperate actions Moreover, record lows in both rainfall and Euphrates River levels are affecting 3.4 million people as wheat and barley producing governorates report significant losses. At the same time, the impact of the financial crisis in neighbouring Lebanon, the declining value of the Syrian pound and the long-term effect of COVID-19 have all contributed to the country’s economic downturn. “History has shown us that if we do not help people before they become destitute, they will take drastic measures and we will see mass migration”, warned the top WFP official. Saving lives Each month, WFP assists over five million people with food assistance across Syria. But the agency faces severe funding constraints and was recently forced to reduce the size of the monthly food ration that families receive. With only 31 per cent of WFP’s operations in Syria funded, the UN agency urgently needs close to $480 million for the next six months. “It is cheaper to help people where they are than to do so after they have fled their homes and became refugees in other places. We need the resources to be able to save lives and stabilize the situation”, concluded Mr. Beasley.

In a statement released on Friday, the agency’s Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said that she was “deeply concerned” over reports that child marriage is on the rise. Even before the latest political instability, UNICEF’s partners registered 183 child marriages and 10 cases of selling of children in Herat and Baghdis provinces between the ages of six months and 17 years from 2018 to 2019. The agency estimates that 28 per cent of Afghan women between the ages 15 and 49 were married before they reached their 18th birthday. A growing crisis The COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing food crisis and the onset of winter have further exacerbated the situation for families. In 2020, almost half of Afghanistan’s population was so poor that they lacked basic necessities, such as nutrition or clean water. And the extremely dire economic situation is pushing more families deeper into poverty and forcing them to make desperate choices, such as putting children to work and marrying girls off at a young age. “As most teenage girls are still not allowed to go back to school, the risk of child marriage is now even higher”, Ms. Fore said. “Education is often the best protection against negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage and child labour”.-* Lifetime of suffering UNICEF is working with partners to raise the awareness of communities on the risks girls face when marrying early, such as a lifetime of suffering. Girls who marry before they turn 18 are less likely to remain in school and more likely to experience domestic violence, discrimination, abuse and poor mental health. They are also more vulnerable to complications in pregnancy and childbirth. The agency has started a cash assistance programme to help offset the risk of hunger, child labour and child marriage among the most vulnerable families. The plan is to scale up this and other social services programmes in the months to come. UNICEF will also work with religious leaders to ensure that they are not involved in the “Nekah”, or marriage contract, for young girls. “But this is not enough”, said Ms. Fore, calling on central, provincial and local authorities to support and safeguard the most vulnerable families and girls. She also urged the de facto authorities to prioritize the reopening of all secondary schools for girls and allow all-female teachers to resume their jobs without any further delays. “The future of an entire generation is at stake”, she concluded. ‘Dramatic situation’ In parallel coverage, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) closed its 18th session. In her concluding remarks, Gladys Acosta Vargas, the Committee Chairperson, said all Members were “deeply concerned about the dramatic situation” of women and girls in Afghanistan. She argued that it was “crucial” that the Committee decided to request an exceptional report on their situation, at an opportune time. The Committee also asked for the creation of an informal task force to consider the impact of the evolving political, economic and social situation on the rights of women and girls.

Almost all international support came to a halt, and it seemed certain that for health workers in lifesaving facilities throughout the crisis-wracked nation, and the millions they serve, things would only get worse. But then, as one midwife* recalled, in testimony exclusively supplied to UN News, the support started coming, thanks to a groundbreaking new agreement led by the UN’s development agency. Lifeline for families In the past few weeks, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), under an agreement with the Global Fund, has quietly extended a lifeline to Afghanistan’s health system and all the families that depend on it, providing $15 million to avoid the collapse of the entire sector. “We were able to save the lives of most critical patients, and we were able to support inpatient services, for more than 500 women and children”, she said. With the weather turning from autumn warmth, to a freezing winter, she used some of the salary she had finally begun to receive, to get some blankets and other materials to keep her family safe. The midwife is just one of the over 23,000 health workers, in nearly 2,200 health facilities in 31 provinces, that have received wages since the scheme got underway. UNDP has also paid for medicines and health supplies. “UNDP undertook this enormous challenge to help prevent the total collapse of the health system”, Deputy Resident Representative in Afghanistan, Surayo Buzurukova, told UN News. “Of course, it doesn’t solve all the problems; we are providing a temporary fix. But it helps. We are sending a message of hope to the Afghan people that not everything is lost, that they have not been forgotten.” Complex logistics According to UNDP, this represents a significant financial aid package for the health sector. Before it was forthcoming, less than 20 per cent of these health facilities were fully functioning. Ms. Buzurukova explained that all the healthcare workers who have received salaries, were identified by a group of 16 civil society organizations which contribute to a World Bank project, known as Sehatmandi. To overcome the barriers presented by the liquidity shortage in the Afghan banking system, the agency had to combine several cash transfer instruments. Over 90 per cent of the workers received their salary directly into their bank accounts; those without bank accounts, often located in remote areas, received the payment in cash. “The remaining health workers, we’re talking about 25,000 people total, will receive their salary by Thursday”, the Deputy Representative told UN News. Continue the work A midwife at a family health house in Daikundi, Afghanistan, provides care to a baby (file photo). , by © UNFPA Afghanistan Millions of vulnerable Afghans continue to be at risk of losing access to primary healthcare, and the agency hopes others providing aid, will also join in the innovative new approach to keeping healthcare operational in the crisis-wracked country. Ms. Buzurukova told us that the agency was in “very close communication” with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children Fund (UNICEF). “They will continue with the payments. We are sharing the best practices, we are also sharing all the lessons learned”, she said. Monthly salaries of Afghan health workers range from $150 for technicians, vaccinators, administrative workers or nurses, to around $700 for specialized doctors or surgeons. With around 800,000 civil servants going unpaid for months, the project also opens the door to help other groups whose work is key to keeping the country running, such as judges and teachers. A solution The abrupt cutoff of foreign funding is threatening the entire economy, but many international organizations and States who provide aid, remain reluctant to work with the Taliban authorities. Back in October, the UN Secretary-General urged the international community to “find ways to make the economy breathe again”. António Guterres believes this “can be done without violating international laws or compromising principles.” “We must seek ways to create the conditions that would allow Afghan professionals and civil servants to continue working to serve the Afghan population”, he said. Now, the UNDP initiative provides one possible, albeit temporary, solution, Ms. Buzurukova said. “We are not engaged with the de facto authorities, who are not recognized by the international community. We want to provide directly to the doctors, to the nurses, who are dealing with the people, and support them”, she explained. A new tomorrow The Deputy Representative recently returned from Mazār-i-Sharīf, the fourth-largest city of Afghanistan, where she visited a hospital to see for herself the impact the new initiative is having. She was particularly interested in talking to women workers. “It was really good to see that women are continuing in their jobs”, she said. Women’s rights are one of the biggest areas of concern for the United Nations since the Taliban takeover, but Ms. Buzurukova remains hopeful for the future. The visit to Mazār-i-Sharīf was part of a series of trips she has taken since August 15. She described talking to people in the streets, entering people’s houses, meeting families, the young, and older citizens. “I was absolutely impressed by how strong they are”, she recalled. “There is a faith in the future, that they will overcome [the challenges]; that tomorrow will come, maybe not soon, but it will come.” A midwife at a family health house in Daikundi, Afghanistan, provides care (file photo). ., by © UNFPA Afghanistan Humanitarian crisis Forty years of war, recurrent natural disasters, chronic poverty, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, have devastated the people of Afghanistan. The recent escalation in conflict and resulting upheaval has only exacerbated needs and further complicated an extremely challenging context. Even before 15 August, the humanitarian situation was one of the worst in the world. By the mid-year mark, nearly half of the population, some 18.4 million people, were already in need of humanitarian and protection assistance. One in three Afghans were facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity and more than half of all children under five, were expected to face acute malnutrition. Protection and safety risks to civilians, particularly women, children and people with a disability, were also reaching record highs. The flash appeal, launched in September by the Secretary-General, is asking for an $606 million to avoid imminent starvation and disease. So far, it is only 54 per cent funded. *Names of workers are being withheld, due to concerns for their safety. © UNICEF/Frank Dejongh The UNDP initiative is making it possible to continue with healthcare services such as vaccination

UN Agencies and the Association International Development Agencies (AIDA) said on Tuesday they were standing firmly behind civil society organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, following an Israely military decision to de-authorize six NGOs. In a statement released this Tuesday, the agencies said they regretted the decision, made on 7 November by the Military Commander in the West Bank, saying it represents “a further erosion of civic and humanitarian space”. The move extends to the West Bank a decision by the Israeli Minister of Defence, made in October, to designate these Palestinian human rights and civil society groups as terrorist organisations. The UN agencies believe the move “stands to significantly constrain the work” of these NGOs, which have worked with the international community, including the UN, for decades, providing essential services to countless Palestinians. Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City., by © Unsplash Allegations According to news agencies, Israel has said the organizations are tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a political movement with an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis and is considered a terrorist organization by some Western nations. In a statement, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the OPT, Lynn Hastings, said “these allegations are taken very seriously.” According to her, however, none of the UN agencies, nor AIDA, have received written documentation which could serve as a basis for the allegations. “We will continue to engage with all relevant partners for more information”, Mrs. Hastings explained. International law Counter-terrorism legislation must follow international humanitarian and human rights law, which include full respect for the rights to freedom of association and expression. It also cannot be applied to legitimate human rights and humanitarian work. For the UN agencies, “the breadth of the Israeli 2016 Anti-Terrorism legislation and its impact on the presumption of innocence, present serious concerns under international law.” “With our strong commitment to the indispensable role of civil society in democratic life and in finding peaceful solutions to conflict, many of us work with, and some financially support, these organizations”, the statement reads. They agencies said that past allegations of misuse of funds by Palestinian civil society organization partners have not been substantiated. “We will continue to stand by international law and civil society organizations that promote international humanitarian law, human rights and democratic values”, the agencies conclude. ‘A frontal attack’ 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. 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. At the end of October, independent UN human rights experts called the initial decision “a frontal attack on the Palestinian human rights movement, and on human rights everywhere.”

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has condemned “in the strongest terms” the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, following a drone attack overnight on Sunday, aimed on his house in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone. According to news reports, the exploding drone caused damage to the residence and several of the Prime Minister’s security guards were injured in the attack. Mr. al-Kadhimi, was sworn into office in May last year. The Green Zone houses Government offices and many foreign embassies. No group has so far claimed any responsibility for the attack and remains from the explosive-laden drone have been recovered, as part of an on-going investigation. “The Mission expresses its relief that the Prime Minister was not hurt in the drone attack”, said the UNAMI statement. In a statement, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, also strongly condemned the attack, and called for the perpetrators “of this crime, to be held accountable.” “The Secretary-General calls on all Iraqis to exercise utmost restraint and reject all violence and any attempts to destabilize Iraq. He urges all political actors to uphold the constitutional order and resolve differences through peaceful and inclusive dialogue.” No place for terrorism, violence “Terrorism, violence and unlawful acts must not be allowed to undermine Iraq’s stability and derail its democratic process”, it continued. The attack has been condemned by both the Government of Iran, and the United States. On Friday, protests outside the Green Zone, against the results of the last month’s parliamentary elections turned violent, as demonstrators clashed with security forces, reportedly accusing Iraq’s political elite of rigging the vote. One protester was reportedly killed, and dozens of security personnel were injured. The Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into what led to the violence. Turnout for the election was low, with just 41 per cent turning out to vote, and supporters of pro-Iranian parties and militias, lost ground, according to preliminary results. Protesters are reportedly calling for the Government, and Iraq’s independent electoral commission, to hold a recount. Call for restraint The UN Mission joined the Prime Minister, in calling for “calm and urging restraint” in the coming days following the assassination attempt. “Moreover, UNAMI strongly encourages all sides to take responsibility for de-escalation and to engage in dialogue to ease political tensions, upholding the national interest of Iraq.” The UNAMI statement concluded by noting that the United Nations “stands by all Iraqis who long for peace and stability; they deserve nothing less.”

Nearly 23 million people, or 55 per cent of the Afghan population, are estimated to be in crisis or experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity between now and March of next year. Speaking to journalists in New York, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General pointed to reports that isolated clashes and violence affecting civilians and resulting in casualties continued countrywide this week. In Jalalabad, in Nangarhar Province, gunfire directed at de facto authorities resulted in the deaths of two children on the 1 November. Two days later, on Wednesday, a roadside radio-controlled improvised explosive device detonation reportedly targeting the de facto authorities killed two civilians. On Thursday, armed clashes were reported in Bamyan Province, resulting in the injury of five people, including one civilian. Read the full report:https://t.co/rnHGLirHdU pic.twitter.com/gabWYopvRu — OCHA Afghanistan (@OCHAAfg) November 5, 2021 Humanitarian assistance In its latest situation report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shows concern about “conditional humanitarianism” or attempts to “leverage” humanitarian assistance for political purposes. Donors are also asking that transactions and other activities required for humanitarian operations are excluded from the scope of sanctions, to allow these activities to continue without impediment. The Afghanistan Flash Appeal, which targets 11 million people with aid through the end of the year, seeks $606 million and is currently 54 per cent funded. Since 1 September 2021, the UN agencies and their partners have reached 48,383 children with community-based education activities, supported 82,761 people with emergency shelter and non-food items, and provided 4.1 million people with food assistance. About 580,050 people got primary healthcare and 85,623 children under five received treatment for Acute Malnutrition. Even prior to the events of 15 August, the humanitarian situation in the country was one of the worst in the world. By the mid-year mark, nearly half of the population, some 18.4 million people, was already in need of humanitarian and protection assistance. Protection and safety risks to civilians, particularly women, children and people with a disability, were also reaching record highs. Agricultural assistance For its part, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) began the autumn season wheat seed and fertilizer distribution campaign in the east of the country. Technical training sessions on agricultural best practices are also planned. The agency expects to reach nearly 140,000 people in the provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan.

Some women and girls being recruited in Viet Nam to serve as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, are suffering sexual abuse and torture, leading a group of UN independent human rights experts on Thursday to call on both nations to curb human trafficking. “We are seeing traffickers targeting Vietnamese women and girls living in poverty, many of whom are already vulnerable and marginalized. Traffickers operate with impunity”, they said in a statement. After signing on with labour recruitment companies in Viet Nam, some girls and women found themselves sexually abused, beaten and subjected to torture and other cruel treatments by employers once they arrived in Saudi Arabia. Often these women are denied food and medical treatment, not paid at all, or paid less than stipulated in their contracts. More action Urging the two countries to do more to combat trafficking and to protect these workers, the experts warned that all cooperation should be based on human rights’ principles, and assure accountability. “Saudi Arabia should bring migrant domestic workers under its labour law protections and extend the reforms of its kafala system to such workers”, they said, referring to a mechanism used to monitor migrant laborers, working primarily in the construction and domestic service sectors. The group highlighted “truly alarming allegations” that some companies in Viet Nam recruited girls as domestic workers and forged their age on documents, to hide the fact they were children. They share the case of one 15 year-old Vietnamese girl who became ill because of beatings inflicted by her employer, who also denied her food and medical treatment. She arranged to return home, but died before she could board her flight back. Because her documents had been forged, her family has not yet received the body, so they can lay her to rest. ‘Alleged involvement of public authorities’ In less than a two month span, between 3 September and 28 October 2021, nearly 205 women, many alleged victims of trafficking, have been repatriated to Viet Nam. The experts called on the southeast Asian country to strengthen the welfare services and assistance provided to these women, including legal assistance, medical and psychosocial care. They also urged both governments to conduct an impartial and independent investigation, including allegations of involvement of public authorities. “We further remind Viet Nam and Saudi Arabia of their international legal obligations to cooperate in order to combat trafficking in persons, including in criminal justice investigations, provision of effective remedies and assistance to victims of trafficking,” they concluded. The experts have been in contact with both countries and, according to their statement, would like to continue this “constructive engagement”. The statement was signed by four experts: Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences;  and Felipe González Morales, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. 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.