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“ Always in shock ”: Myanmar earthquakes aggravate the humanitarian crisis in the fractured country

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“ Always in shock ”: Myanmar earthquakes aggravate the humanitarian crisis in the fractured country

The earthquake of March 28 measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck the central regions with a deadly forceKilling some 3,800 people and injuring more than 5,000, according to UN estimates.

The disaster has devastated the infrastructure and houses of Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway, moving tens of thousands of others in a country already struggling with more than 3.2 million people displaced internally (PDI) since the military coup of 2021.

“” Communities are still in shock from earthquakes – the strongest in the country has known in a century,“Said Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), addressing journalists from the United Nations headquarters in New York by video of Beijing after a three -day visit to Myanmar.

“” The devastation caused by earthquakes has aggravated the existing challenges of the conflict, displacement and serious humanitarian needs.“”

Need exceeding resources

UNOPS, which maintains the largest United Nations presence in Myanmar with nearly 500 employees, mobilized $ 25 million in the weeks following the disaster and reached half a million people with rescue support.

“My colleagues worked quickly with partners to deliver emergency shelters, clean water and deploy infrastructure specialists for quick assessments,” Da Silva said.

However, he warned that much greater international support is necessary to meet the extent of needs.

The World Bank estimates the total damages at almost $ 11 billion, the complete reconstruction should cost two to three times more. Over 2.5 million tonnes of debris must also be authorized to allow recovery.

Mr. Da Silva stressed that reconstruction must be centered on people, inclusive and linked to peacebuilding efforts.

“We echo the calls of the whole UN for an end of violence”, he said. “” Recovery and reconstruction should support the trip from Myanmar to peace and reconciliation. Civilians must be a priority.“”

Women and girls face disproportionate risks

Humanitarian repercussions have struck women and girls particularly hard – many of whom were one of people killed or injured – and are now facing increasing risk of protection.

According to the United Nations Reproductive Health Agency, Unfpamore than 4.6 million women of reproductive age – including More than 220,000 currently pregnant – are at increased risks.

Damage to health establishments, aggravated by the floods and insecurity of the monsoon, disrupted access to emergency obstetric care and menstrual hygiene. Gender -based violence increases sharply in overcrowded and poorly enlightened shelters.

The Executive Director of UNOPS, Jorge Moreira Da Silva, meets a woman and her newborn in a health clinic.

Pressure health system

THE Risk of water diseases Like cholera and vector diseases such as dengue and malaria also increase.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) while No major outbreaks had been reported on May 31, cases of acute aqueous diarrhea and skin infections turn.

The monsoon rains have aggravated the conditions in temporary shelters, where overcrowding and poor sanitation raise serious health problems. Mental health remains fragile, 67% of respondents in a recent survey reporting emotional distress linked to the earthquake and the current conflict.

WHO and its partners have delivered more than 300,000 doses of vaccines-including tetanus and rage-but access remains limited and underfunced health services.

Prolonged crisis

More than 3.25 million people stay inappropriate In Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021, with at least 176,000 others looking for refuge in neighboring countries, according to the refugee, the agency, Hcr.

This excludes hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas refugees from previous waves of violence.

Myanmar also remains One of the deadliest countries in the world for land mines and the explosive remains of war.

In the first nine months of 2024 only, 889 victims were reported – Reasons Fear that the toll could exceed the record of 1,052 deaths and injuries documented in 2023.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Power to the people; Community development financing in Somalia

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Power to the people; Community development financing in Somalia

At the heart of the state of Galmudug, in Somalia, the dream of two young women, Iftin and Aminaa, to go to university in Abudwaq was responsible for challenges.

Frequent power cuts and a long dark and perhaps dangerous road between the campus and the city have made almost impossible for them and other girls to provide evening lessons.

Determined to find a solution, they approached the international organization for migration (Iom)) Co -financing system (CFS), which provides funding corresponding to the projects led by the community and which is designed to allow local communities of Somalia to take charge of their development and recovery.

© Iom / Spotlight Communications

Solar panels provide constant power at the University of Abudwaq, Galmadug.

Rallying 19 Other students, Iftin and Aminaa submitted a simple but transformative proposal… .. Crowdfund for solar lampposts and a solar energy system for the school.

In July 2022, the girls collected $ 10,000. The IOM has equaled this amount and added $ 50,000 more.

The result was a well -lit and secure road in the city of Abudwaq at the university and a fully functional solar energy system.

The system now feeds 24 hours a day with clean energy.

The impact did not stop there.

Later, the community decided to connect a nearby drilling to the system, offering clean and free water to all the communities of Abudwaq and nearby pastors, which now bring their cattle to drink and graze near the water source.

Animals water drilling powered by solar energy.

“Abudwaq was not one of our original target locations,” said Mohamed Mohamud Hussein, an IOM officer working on community planning. “But we considered the proposal because it was well thought out, transformational for the community and aligned with the mandate and the priorities of the CFS concerning property and sustainability.”

The determination of Iftin and Aminaa has given the example to other communities across Somalia.

Community power

Pilot by IOM In 2021, the CFS has become one of the most innovative recovery tools in Somalia. He puts power in the hands of local communities.

At the end of 2024, 42 projects had been completed, reaching more than 580,000 people in 22 districts in the center of Somalia.

Nine others are in progress. Nearly 1,600 members of the community and members of the diaspora contributed, raising more than $ 500,000, which corresponds to $ 2.3 million.

Even in fragile contexts, collective action makes a difference. In Farjano, a regulation for internal displaced persons in the state of Galmudug, the construction of a new primary school has more than providing classrooms. He restored hope.

A new primary school has been built in Farjano funded by the IOM co -financing system.

“For the very first time, all my children could go to school – and it was free,” said Shamso, mother of three.

In Mataban, a newly constructed stage of young people favored unity and a sense of shared identity. The groups that had previously avoided began to spend time together. “The stadium gathered us in a way that we have never imagined,” said Mustaf, a Mataban resident. “It is not only for sport – this is where our community feels united.”

By obliging communities to identify their needs and collect initial funds, the CFS adopts an approach from top to bottom towards development.

It guarantees that projects are not only focused on the community, but also have more chances of long -term success and impact

The fourth international conference on development financing (FFD4) which begins in Seville, Spain, June 30, aims to reform funding at all levels, and will undoubtedly examine local solutions and community -oriented initiatives that have proven itself in Somalia.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says

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Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says

The alert comes nearly a month since the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) started operating on 27 May in select hubs, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs.

Its food distribution points have been associated frequently with confusion and shooting as desperate and hungry Gazans rush to fetch supplies, said UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Keetan.

“Israel’s militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution,” he insisted. “The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law.”

In its latest update on the emergency, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that “scores of people of all ages are being killed and injured every day” in the shattered enclave.

“Humanitarian operations of sufficient scale are not facilitated, leaving unaddressed the critical needs of those who have so far survived,” it said.

Shelled or shot 

In Geneva, meanwhile, OHCHR’s Mr. Al-Keetan explained that private aid hub victims were either “shelled or shot” by the Israel Defense Forces. They have endangered civilians and contributed to the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza”, he maintained.

At least 93 people have also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the few remaining aid convoys of the UN and other aid partners still operating in Gaza.

In a previous alert, the UN human rights office has condemned the possible summary execution of Palestinian staff associated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation by armed men allegedly affiliated with Hamas.

“These killings must end immediately, and those responsible held to account,” the UN office said in a statement.

Most vulnerable miss out

The OHCHR spokesperson noted that women and children, along with older people and those with disabilities continue to face “multiple challenges” accessing food in Gaza today.

Looting of aid convoys is now commonplace in Gaza after more than 20 months of daily Israeli bombardment as a result of a near-total blockade on humanitarian supplies including food, fuel and medicine.

The result is that Gaza’s most vulnerable individuals are unable to access any of this diverted aid, the UN human rights office told UN News.

To date, at least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in incidents associated with the non-UN aid hubs and looting.

“Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food,” the UN human rights office explained.

Ongoing aid obstacles

Although the UN and other aid providers still function in Gaza, they are reliant on the Israeli authorities to facilitate their missions. On Saturday and Sunday, only eight out of 16 requests for humanitarian operations were approved, aid teams reported.

“Half of [the missions] were denied outright, hindering the tracking of water and fuel, the provision of nutrition services and the retrieval of the bodies,” said Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the Information Service at UN Geneva.

Her comments followed a warning from the UN’s top aid official in Gaza on Sunday who described dire scenes and “carnage”.

“It is weaponized hunger. It is forced displacement. It’s a death sentence for people just trying to survive. All combined, it appears to be the erasure of Palestinian life from Gaza,” said OCHA’s Head of Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jonathan Whittall.

Telecommunications have now been restored across Gaza after damaged fibre cables were repaired at the weekend.

“For the first time in days, humanitarian teams have had more than 24 hours of relatively stable connectivity – something that is essential to coordinate emergency relief and save lives,” OCHA said in Monday evening’s update.

But without urgent fuel deliveries, telecommunications “will go down again very soon”, the UN aid wing warned.

Fuel crisis

“Fuel is also needed to keep emergency rooms running, power ambulances, and operate water desalination and pumping stations,” it explained.

“Right now, teams on the ground are rationing what little fuel remains and working to retrieve stocks stored inside Gaza, in areas that are hard to reach.”

Access to Nasser Medical Complex is also limited because there is not enough fuel for transportation “and health workers and patients fear for their safety”, OCHA continued.

“Last week, in Khan Younis, in-patient admissions at field hospitals increased threefold, largely due to access challenges at Nasser, which also saw an influx of trauma patients and has been overwhelmed since.”

Most of Gaza remains under displacement orders issued by the Israeli military, including another one on Monday for two neighbourhoods in Khan Younis city, reportedly following Palestinian rocket fire from these areas.

“These neighbourhoods were already subject to earlier displacement orders and include two hospitals – Al Amal and Nasser,” OCHA said. “While Israeli authorities have clarified that the hospitals are not required to evacuate, OCHA says the designation is nonetheless hindering access to those critical facilities for both patients and medical staff.”

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Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says

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Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says

The alert comes nearly a month since the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) started operating on 27 May in select hubs, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs.

Its food distribution points have been associated frequently with confusion and shooting as desperate and hungry Gazans rush to fetch supplies, said UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Keetan.

“Israel’s militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution,” he insisted. “The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law.”

In its latest update on the emergency, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that “scores of people of all ages are being killed and injured every day” in the shattered enclave.

“Humanitarian operations of sufficient scale are not facilitated, leaving unaddressed the critical needs of those who have so far survived,” it said.

Shelled or shot 

In Geneva, meanwhile, OHCHR’s Mr. Al-Keetan explained that private aid hub victims were either “shelled or shot” by the Israel Defense Forces. They have endangered civilians and contributed to the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza”, he maintained.

At least 93 people have also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the few remaining aid convoys of the UN and other aid partners still operating in Gaza.

In a previous alert, the UN human rights office has condemned the possible summary execution of Palestinian staff associated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation by armed men allegedly affiliated with Hamas.

“These killings must end immediately, and those responsible held to account,” the UN office said in a statement.

Most vulnerable miss out

The OHCHR spokesperson noted that women and children, along with older people and those with disabilities continue to face “multiple challenges” accessing food in Gaza today.

Looting of aid convoys is now commonplace in Gaza after more than 20 months of daily Israeli bombardment as a result of a near-total blockade on humanitarian supplies including food, fuel and medicine.

The result is that Gaza’s most vulnerable individuals are unable to access any of this diverted aid, the UN human rights office told UN News.

To date, at least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in incidents associated with the non-UN aid hubs and looting.

“Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food,” the UN human rights office explained.

Ongoing aid obstacles

Although the UN and other aid providers still function in Gaza, they are reliant on the Israeli authorities to facilitate their missions. On Saturday and Sunday, only eight out of 16 requests for humanitarian operations were approved, aid teams reported.

“Half of [the missions] were denied outright, hindering the tracking of water and fuel, the provision of nutrition services and the retrieval of the bodies,” said Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the Information Service at UN Geneva.

Her comments followed a warning from the UN’s top aid official in Gaza on Sunday who described dire scenes and “carnage”.

“It is weaponized hunger. It is forced displacement. It’s a death sentence for people just trying to survive. All combined, it appears to be the erasure of Palestinian life from Gaza,” said OCHA’s Head of Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jonathan Whittall.

Telecommunications have now been restored across Gaza after damaged fibre cables were repaired at the weekend.

“For the first time in days, humanitarian teams have had more than 24 hours of relatively stable connectivity – something that is essential to coordinate emergency relief and save lives,” OCHA said in Monday evening’s update.

But without urgent fuel deliveries, telecommunications “will go down again very soon”, the UN aid wing warned.

Fuel crisis

“Fuel is also needed to keep emergency rooms running, power ambulances, and operate water desalination and pumping stations,” it explained.

“Right now, teams on the ground are rationing what little fuel remains and working to retrieve stocks stored inside Gaza, in areas that are hard to reach.”

Access to Nasser Medical Complex is also limited because there is not enough fuel for transportation “and health workers and patients fear for their safety”, OCHA continued.

“Last week, in Khan Younis, in-patient admissions at field hospitals increased threefold, largely due to access challenges at Nasser, which also saw an influx of trauma patients and has been overwhelmed since.”

Most of Gaza remains under displacement orders issued by the Israeli military, including another one on Monday for two neighbourhoods in Khan Younis city, reportedly following Palestinian rocket fire from these areas.

“These neighbourhoods were already subject to earlier displacement orders and include two hospitals – Al Amal and Nasser,” OCHA said. “While Israeli authorities have clarified that the hospitals are not required to evacuate, OCHA says the designation is nonetheless hindering access to those critical facilities for both patients and medical staff.”

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More than 20% of Europeans exposed to harmful noise pollution levels

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More than 20% of Europeans exposed to harmful noise pollution levels