NIGERIA: Security Council condemns Boko Haram attacks in northeast Nigeria, Chad

The members of the United Nations Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the spate of recent terrorist attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria and Chad. In a press statement, Council members extended their condolences to the families of the victims and their sympathy to all those injured in the attacks in Kwajafa, Borno state, Nigeria, on 5 April, and in Tchoukou Telia, Chad, on 3 April 2015, and reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law. They also reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the actions of Boko Haram constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whosoever committed. Members stressed that it should be combated by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter. The Council’s press statement urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and their members to adopt a common strategy and develop active cooperation and coordination to more effectively and urgently combat the threat posed by Boko Haram at their upcoming Summit. It also stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to successfully combat Boko Haram and the threat it poses to the region and added that members welcomed the convening of a Joint ECOWAS-ECCAS experts meeting in Douala, Cameroon on 2 April 2015 as a step towards achieving this goal of enhanced cooperation.

UKRAINE: UN relief wing spotlights deteriorating health situation for conflict-affected Ukrainians

The deteriorating health situation for internally displaced and others impacted by the conflict in Ukraine has drawn the serious concern of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a UN spokesperson reported 7 April 2015. According to Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, at the end of March, the Ukraine Ministry of Social Protection reported that there were nearly 1.2 million registered internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country. However, difficulties in verifying residence procedures for them are affecting their ability to access to social services. OCHA said there is a high incidence of cardio-vascular disease, mental health and acute respiratory infections. Reportedly, cases of malnutrition and acute diarrhoea are also increasing in non-government controlled areas. The pressure on schools to accommodate displaced children is increasing because of limited number of available teachers and premises, added Mr. Dujarric. Further, OCHA underscored the urgent need for mine risk education as well and humanitarian demining as mines and other unexploded ordnance are increasingly resulting in loss of life. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlights that at least 109 children have been injured and 42 killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts since March 2014. Meanwhile, he said the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that as of 2 April, the total number of Ukrainians who have sought asylum, residence permits or other forms of legal stay in neighbouring countries has reached 777,000, with the vast majority of them in Russia. Despite the great needs, funding for humanitarian operations remains very low, with only 18 per cent of the $316 million required for 2015 having been funded or even pledged so far.

YEMEN: UN relief agencies rush assessment teams, supplies to crisis-torn country

Amid ongoing heavy fighting in Yemen, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that a plane carrying humanitarian staff landed yesterday in the capital, Sana’a, and two more planes carrying medical supplies are expected later this week. http://www.un.org/news/