The ECDC communicable disease threats report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. Summarising information gathered by ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the European Union, it also provides updates on the global situation and changes in the epidemiology of communicable diseases with potential to affect Europe, including diseases that are the focus of eradication efforts.

The Humanitarian Pooled Fund (HPF) mobilises and channels resources to humanitarian partners to respond to the critical needs of million of people affected by the devastating humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The Fund operates within the parameters of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), with the objective to expand the delivery of humanitarian assistance in partnership with national and international NGOs and UN agencies. Since the intensification of the conflict in March 2015, the HPF has channelled millions of dollars towards meeting critical life-saving needs, including through the provision of healthcare, clean water, sanitation services, food supplies or shelter materials.

Minister Flanagan warns Yemen is at risk of becoming a failed state

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, and the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh TD, today announced that Ireland will provide a further €2 million in humanitarian funding to meet urgent needs in Yemen resulting from a civil war that has intensified since March 2015.

Announcing the additional funding today, Minister Flanagan:

“I have been monitoring the situation in Yemen with growing concern.  The number of people now in need in Yemen exceeds those in either Iraq or Syria.  Almost 19 million Yemenis, 70% of the population, urgently require humanitarian support. More than 14 million people are living without access to adequate food, safe water and sanitation, and over 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of this protracted conflict.  Ireland’s donation of €2 million today brings our total humanitarian funding for those affected by the conflict to over €4 million since the beginning of 2016.

Minister Flanagan added:

“Recent efforts to broker a peace agreement appear to have stalled.  The only way to end the suffering of the Yemeni people is through a resolution to this conflict.  I commend the efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and his team, who continue efforts to bring conflicting parties to the negotiating table.  I urge those with influence in the region to convince parties that a peace agreement is in the best interests of all, and the only way forward.

“This conflict is a reflection of wider tensions in the region, and a peace agreement in Yemen would go some way towards greater regional stability.”

Referring to his recent visit to the Gulf region, Minister Flanagan stated:

“I recently travelled to the Gulf, and met with the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nizar bin Obaid Madani.  I expressed my concern at the appalling humanitarian situation in Yemen, as well as my concern about military attacks that directly affect civilians.

“Before this conflict began, Yemen was already the poorest country in the Gulf region.  It is clearly at risk of becoming a failed state, with a generation of children who are growing up malnourished and without education.  This additional funding today will go some way towards assisting those at the frontline of this forgotten crisis, and I will continue to advocate at every opportunity for a peace agreement, which is the only way to bring the suffering of the Yemeni people to an end.”

Minister McHugh added:

“Ongoing conflict is devastating Yemen. The humanitarian situation is dire, resulting in levels of need that are difficult to comprehend. Ireland is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the most severe humanitarian crises, including those termed as “forgotten crises”, which do not always reach the headlines. Ireland’s additional support to Yemen will be delivered through the UN’s Humanitarian Fund for Yemen, to which we are now the sixth largest donor. This fund supports local coordination efforts by providing funding to the best placed local and international partners to deliver life-saving assistance to those in need. The UN informed us last week that rates of new cholera cases have reduced by 50% over the last year as a direct result of the UN work which this funding supports.”

At the beginning of 2017, approximately 65 million people worldwide are displaced from their homes and 130 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of ongoing violence, conflict and natural disaster.

Ireland is responding to these people’s urgent needs through our humanitarian assistance programme, managed by Irish Aid.

Our overall goal is to save and protect lives, reduce suffering and maintain human dignity, before, during and in the aftermath of humanitarian crises.

In 2016, Ireland’s total humanitarian funding amounted to more than €150 million.

This assistance was delivered on the ground by our partners – United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Non-Governmental Organisations.

A significant amount of Ireland’s 2016 humanitarian assistance was directed to crises in the Middle East, including €25 million in response to the Syria crisis, bringing our total funding to Syria and the region to more than €67 million since 2012. Ireland also responded to the dire humanitarian situation of people in Iraq, providing over €3 million in 2016, and in Yemen, providing over €4 million in 2016, as a result of ongoing conflict.

Ireland continues to provide significant humanitarian assistance (more than €22 million in 2016) in the Horn of Africa, to countries including South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia. In particular, Ireland provided more than €11 million to assist the people of South Sudan, where people’s lives continue to be critically affected by ongoing violence and severe food shortages. Similarly, in north east Nigeria, more than €3 million was contributed to meet people’s urgent humanitarian needs as a result of ongoing insurgency.

In the Caribbean, responding to Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, Ireland provided just over €2 million in humanitarian assistance to partners in Haiti.

A central feature of Ireland’s overseas humanitarian assistance programme is the Rapid Response Initiative, which includes the Rapid Response Corps. In 2016, Irish Aid deployed 37 Rapid Responders to 20 countries and deployed 10 airlifts carrying 357 tonnes of emergency relief stocks to meet urgent humanitarian needs across the globe. Items distributed by Ireland include tents, water containers, hygiene kits and basic tools such as shovels and pickaxes. These items often prove critical to families attempting to set up temporary homes for themselves in the immediate aftermath of a crisis.

Reflecting on Ireland’s growing humanitarian efforts in 2016, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, T.D. acknowledged the continued generosity of the Irish people:

‘Unfortunately in 2016 many millions of people around the world were forced to leave their homes through conflict or natural disasters. Irish humanitarian funding is provided to those worst affected; where the needs are greatest. This is the fundamental principle which underlines our decisions. Often our funding goes to crises which do not make the news headlines, the ‘forgotten crises’, which other donors neglect. Ireland has responded to global need this year with over €150 million in humanitarian funding to organisations like the UN and the Red Cross; and to Irish NGOs like Trócaire and Concern. These organisations help us bring food, water, shelter and protection to the men, women and children who face disaster without it. This contribution to humanitarian crises around the world is made possible by the continued generosity of the Irish people.’

In 2002, more than 4 million people a year worldwide died from three diseases- AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria was founded that year to combat these epidemics, and today there are one third fewer deaths from these diseases, and 20 million lives have been saved in countries where the Global Fund operates.

The Global Fund is a public private partnership between governments, civil society organisations, private organisations and the people most affected by these diseases, and it is the single largest source of financing in the fight against TB and Malaria.

Ireland was a founding member of the Global Fund in 2002, and since then we have contributed over €193 million to help end the epidemics of AIDS, TB and Malaria and build strong and resilient systems for health.

We can be proud that our contributions to the Global Fund have helped some of the communities worst affected in the world. The number of AIDS related deaths has dropped by 45% in countries where the Global Fund works, while the number of deaths from TB has dropped by 31%, and deaths from Malaria by 48%.

At the Fifth Replenishment of the Global Fund, held in Montreal in September 2016, Ireland pledged to support the Global Fund by €30 million over the next three years, continuing the support we have given over the past 14 years. A total of $13 billion was raised at the Replenishment, and $4.3 billion of this will go towards helping Ireland’s Key Partner Countries around the world.

In January 2017, Dr Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, will visit Ireland to reaffirm our joint commitment to ending the epidemics of AIDS, TB and Malaria. Dr Dybul will meet senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as holding a bilateral meeting with the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh TD.

Dr Dybul will also take part in a public event taking place in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, to discuss the topic of Global Health and the Sustainable Development Goals, along with representatives from the World Health Organization and University College Dublin.

Ending these epidemics by 2030 will require sustained efforts from the global community, and Ireland is committed to playing its part in realising this ambition.

DEVELOPMENTS

The total number of arrivals to Europe by the end of December 2016 has been recorded as 387,739. This is in stark contrast to the 1, 046,599 arrivals recorded in 2015. The decrease in numbers of arrivals can be observed across many of the countries which saw the highest numbers of arrivals in 2015. In Greece 2016 brought 176,906 arrivals compared to the 857,363 recorded in 2015, a 79% decrease, while Italy saw a slight (16%) rise in numbers of arri-vals, from 155,842 in 2015 to 181,436 in 2016.

Political factors had a significant impact on flows within the region in 2016. The EU-Turkey agreement from March 18 brought migration flows through the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Balkan route to a relative standstill whereas arrivals to Italy increased significantly from April to May form 9,146 to 19,925, an increase of 118% . A similar increase was noted during the same period in 2015 when arrivals increased by 604%, from 2,283 in March to 16,063 in April. Aside from policy changes, this increase in arrivals in 2016 is likely to be related to improved weather conditions giving rise to more favorable traveling conditions. In Greece a significant drop in arrivals was noted after March, when 27,123 were recorded compared to 3,934 arrivals reported in April. This represent a dras-tic contrast (+77%) to the same period in 2015, 6,785 recorded in March and 12,029 recorded in April.

As for the Western Balkans route, arrivals to Hungary decreased by 95% due to the border regulations implement-ed on 5 July 2016. From January to July 17,550 new arrivals were recorded, between July and December only 1,118 were recorded, a decrease of 94%.

Looking at cumulative arrivals, the number of migrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan is decreased and the num-ber of African nationals, particularly Nigerians and Eritreans, increased. Following the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement, at the end of May, migrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan made up 68.5% of arrivals, but by the end of December that number dropped to just 41%, with an increasing share of arrivals being occupied by Nige-rians (10%) and Eritreans (6%). Importantly, this breakdown varied by country of first arrival. While Greece received more migrants from Syria (45%), Afghanistan (23%) and Iraq (15%), Italy received a much greater variety of nation-alities, from Nigeria (20%), Eritrea (11%), the Gambia (6%) and other countries.

INTRODUCTION

The number of arrivals by sea and land to Europe for 2015 exceeded one million on the 20th December, with the total number registered by the relevant national authorities standing at 1,046,599 according to IOM’s DTM system in coordination with relevant IOM missions and national authority partners. Of these,

20.2 percent were Afghans whilst 2.7 percent were Pakistani nationals. In data from January to the end of May 2016, the cumulative total of 220,796 arrivals included 19.5 percent Afghan and 3 percent Pakistani nationals.

The sharp increase in violence in Afghanistan has intensified the flow of Afghan (forced) migrants during the past year. About three in four Afghans have experienced forced displacement at some point in their life, and many have experienced multiple displacements (both internal and external) (Schmeidl, 2014).
Internal displacement and migration are intertwined in Afghanistan, with Kabul and other large regional cities receiving an increasing number of people from other conflict affected areas.

In Pakistan, as of July 2015, there were more than 1.8 million people displaced by insurgency, counterinsurgency and other related violence (IDMC, 2015). In addition to violence, disasters induced by natural hazards have also played a major role in forced migration. Monsoon rains and earthquakes have caused the displacement of 14.57 million people across wide areas of the country since 2010 (IDMC, 2015)

Drawing upon the current Afghan and Pakistani migration context, DTM is implementing a project that focuses on information and data gathering to enhance the understanding of current migration flows from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Europe. This project particularly aims to collect information and data on forced and irregular migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan and their migration through the Middle East towards Europe whilst gathering information in eight thematic areas: 1) migrant profile, 2) migration routes and trajectories, 3) resourcing the journey, 4) role of intermediaries, 5) vulnerability factors in origin, transit and destination countries, 6) migration drives and decision making, 7) role of the diaspora (incl. remittances) and 8) migrant’s perceptions towards Europe.

Resettlement is receiving greater prominence not only in light of US President Donald Trump's recent actions but in the context of the recent surge in numbers of refugees. In the 33 feature theme articles in this issue of FMR, authors from around the world look at some of the modalities and challenges of resettlement in order to shed light on debates such as how - and how well - resettlement is managed, whether it is a good use of the funds and energy it uses, and whether it is a good solution for refugees.

This issue of FMR also contains a mini-feature on Post-deportation risks and monitoring and a selection of articles on other forced migration topics.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Until 31 January 2017, there were 4,480 cumulative arrivals to Italy, compared to 5,273 arrivals recorded in the same month in 2016 (a 15% decrease). Greece has seen a 97% lower number of arrivals in January 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016, 1,387 and 67,954 respectively.

• According to available data, there have been 11,233 new arrivals to Greece, Italy and Bulgaria, as countries of first arrival to Europe since the beginning of 2017 till 8 of February 2017.

• The total number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece and in the Western Balkans is 74,909. Since the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement on the 18th of March, the number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece increased by 59%. For the rest of the coun-tries, please read page 5.

• As of 8 February 2017, there have been 11,990 indi-viduals relocated to 24 European countries. Please see the new page on relocations for more information.

• As of 31 January 2017, a total of 864 migrants and refugees were readmitted from Greece to Turkey as part of the EU-Turkey Agreement with last readmis-sion taking place on 31 January 2017. The majority of migrants and refugees were Pakistani, Syrian, Af-ghan, Algerian and Bangladeshi nationals. See Tur-key section.

• Information about “contingency countries” in the Western Balkans (Albania, Kosovo (SCR 1244)*, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) is on page 29.

• For information on this report, including details on the sources of this report’s data and tallying method-ologies used, please see page 30.

• For more updates on the Central Mediterranean route, please check IOM’s Mediterranean portal with most recent DTM report from Libya and Niger.

• Part of a new Strategic Partnership on violence against women and girls in humanitarian emergencies

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D. and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh T.D. today announced €2.2 million in funding over the next two years as part of a new Strategic Partnership between Ireland and the International Rescue Committee.

The announcement was made in advance of meetings held between Mr David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Ministers Flanagan and McHugh. Mr Miliband is in Ireland today to discuss the relationship between Ireland and the IRC in the context of the current scale of global humanitarian need and the vulnerability of women and girls which the IRC responds to through Irish funding.

Speaking about his meeting with Mr Miliband, Minister Flanagan said today:

“The International Rescue Committee is an important humanitarian partner for Ireland. It is a leading organisation in the protection of women and girls who are disproportionately affected by humanitarian crises.

“Last year, Ireland provided over €165 million in humanitarian funding through our partners, including the IRC, to crises across the world. Ireland remains committed to working with a range of humanitarian partners, including our NGO partners, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

“The partnership with the International Recuse Committee is critical in delivering some of Ireland’s key policy priorities which include the promotion of human rights and gender equality.”

Minister of State McHugh went on to say:

“We recognise that agencies like the IRC have the expertise and capacity to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable in times of crises.

“Ireland has been particularly supportive of the work that the International Rescue Committee has taken forward to address Gender Based Violence in Emergencies.

“I am pleased that Ireland is building on its relationship with the IRC through this new Strategic Partnership. Over the next two years, we will provide € 2.2 million for IRC’s work with a continued focus on the protection of women and children in emergencies.”

During his visit to Dublin, Mr Miliband addressed an invited audience, comprised of representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee, NGO sector, women’s groups, academia, and relevant Government Ministries, at a seminar in Iveagh House. His address formed part of the Iveagh House Lecture Series.

ENDS
Press Office
23 February 2017

Notes to the Editor:

Irish Aid provided over €165 million in humanitarian assistance in 2016.

Humanitarian funding is provided through the UN, international organisations and NGOs. Irish Aid has provided almost €5.8 million to the IRC since 2012. The announcement of €2.2 million in funding over the next two years will bring this support to over €8 million.

Mr Miliband will deliver a keynote address as part of the Iveagh House Lecture series. The address titled “Keeping Women and Girls safe in Emergencies”, will share evidence on how the IRC protects women and girls in crises and consider how humanitarian agencies can prioritise women and girls in their policies and practice.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, and the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh TD, announced today that Ireland will contribute at least €5 million towards the global response to the humanitarian crisis in north-eastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

Announcing the funding Minister Flanagan said:

“I have been following the deteriorating situation in north east Nigeria and the Lake Chad region with great concern. The Boko Haram insurgency targeting civilian populations has destroyed vital infrastructure, preventing people from accessing essential services, causing widespread trauma, suffering and displacement. The crisis has now reached grave proportions with 10.7 million people currently in need of life-saving assistance across Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.”

“Ireland welcomes the Oslo conference as an important step in gaining necessary recognition of the scale of the crisis. While recent increases in assistance are a significant step forward, huge food security, protection, and education needs still remain to be met as more areas become accessible to the humanitarian community.”

Minister of State McHugh added:

“The combined impact of deepening insecurity, rapid population growth and severe vulnerability resulting from the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and underinvestment in social services is translating into record numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance and the situation in the Lake Chad region remains extremely fragile. Now is the time to expand humanitarian assistance, protection, basic services and essential infrastructure. Progress towards peace requires our firm and united support and Irelands stands in solidarity with the people of north east Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.”

“Ireland’s pledge of at least €5 million for north east Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region in 2017 reflects our commitment to provide humanitarian assistance where needs are greatest and our focus on forgotten crises and conflicts.”

Ireland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Seán Hoy, will represent Ireland at the Oslo Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad region on the 24th February. The conference, co-hosted by Germany, Nigeria, Norway and the United Nations, is intended to draw attention to, and increase funding for, the urgent humanitarian crisis unfolding in north-eastern Nigeria and in the Lake Chad region.

ENDS
Press Office
23 February 2017

Notes to the editor:

• Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas assistance programme. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. For further information visit http://www.irishaid.ie/

• Ireland’s Humanitarian Assistance Policy outlines how Irish Aid saves and protects lives, alleviates suffering and maintains human dignity before, during and in the aftermath of humanitarian crises.

• A new Country Based Pooled Fund for Nigeria will be announced at the Oslo Conference. Country-based pooled funds (CBPFs) are multi-donor humanitarian financing instruments established by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC). They are managed by UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) at the country-level under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC). Donor contributions to each CBPF are un-earmarked and allocated by the HC through an in-country consultative process. Ireland currently co-chairs the Pooled Fund Working Group with OCHA and is very supportive all this initiative.

• Ireland provided almost €6 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria and the Lake Chad region during 2016. This included support for the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the region, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s food security response in northern Nigeria, the UN Refugee Agency’s refugee response plan in Chad, and the work of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Niger.

• As part of Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative, Irish Aid maintains a roster of highly skilled and experienced individuals who are willing to deploy at short notice to assist in emergency relief and humanitarian efforts.

• In 2016, two rapid responders were deployed to the World Food Programme’s humanitarian operations in Nigeria to provide support in logistics and engineering, and four others were deployed to UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also in Nigeria to provide much-needed support in the information management and gender response areas.

Key figures (Oct 2015 - 08 Feb 2017)
- 3,205 persons relocated
- 5,839 places pledged
- 39,600 target

Over 25,500 potential relocation candidates arrived to Italy by sea since the adoption of the September 2015 EU Council decisions on relocation. However, the number of relocation transfers and pledges remains low, compared to the potential applicants. Furthermore, more people are staying in Italy than in previous years, also due to increased border controls in the northern areas.

According to the latest Eurostat data on decisions, candidates eligible for relocation include citizens of Syria, Eritrea, Yemen, Burundi, Maldives, Oman, Qatar. Nationals of the Central African Republic (CAR) and Iraq do not longer meet the 75% eligibility threshold. Nationals of Yemen and Burundi were eligible for relocation until end March 2016 and 8 July 2016, respectively; both groups were again eligible candidates after 30 September 2016, following publication of 2Q 2016 Eurostat data.

• Pledges of US$458 million for 2017 and $214 million for 2018 and beyond announced by 14 donors

• The conference gave voice to people affected by the conflict and crisis

• Agreement to address longer-term development needs and seek durable solutions to crises

Oslo 24 February 2017 - Some 170 representatives from 40 countries, UN, regional organisations and civil society organisations gathered at the Oslo Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region today. The conference was co-hosted by Norway, Nigeria, Germany and the UN and followed a civil society meeting with large participation from local organisations working in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

One of the world’s largest humanitarian crises is currently unfolding in the Lake Chad region with 17 million people living in the most affected areas. Nearly 11 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance. At the conference, 14 donors pledged $458 million for relief in 2017 and an additional $214 million was announced for 2018 and beyond. Pledges were announced by the European Commission, Norway, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Republic of Korea.

Humanitarian partners agreed to further scale up their response to reach the most vulnerable groups threatened by famine, including children with severe acute malnutrition. Special attention was given to the protection needs of women, children and youth, as well as the need for longer-term support and durable solutions for the displaced populations.

Foreign Minister Borge Brende of Norway said:

“The conference has helped raising awareness and increased support for millions of people affected by this crisis, not least for the many children and young people who are currently out of school. It is crucial to provide and protect education to safeguard their rights and pave the way for a peaceful development in the region. Our goal must be to ensure quality education for all, for girls as much as for boys. It is of critical importance also to enhance the protection of women and girls, who often carry the main burden of crisis and conflict, and ensure that women are involved in ongoing processes related to peace and development in the region.”

The Foreign minister of Nigeria, Geoffrey Onyeama, said:

“Nigeria is suffering from violent extremism at the same time as it is dealing with low oil prices and an economic recession. While the Government is committing significant budgetary allocations to confront the security and humanitarian situation arising from the insurgency, we also need all the help and support we can get from the international community.”

The Foreign Minister of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, said:

“With today’s pledges, humanitarian agencies can now concentrate on their work – to save lives and offer help to those in urgent need. Germany contributes 120 million Euro over the course of the next three years to those efforts. We will provide 100 million Euro for humanitarian assistance and 20 million Euro for stabilization efforts in the region. In the long run, we have to strengthen our partnership with the countries involved to address the root causes of terror, displacement and poverty. For that purpose, we established today a Consultative Group on Prevention and Stabilisation with our counterparts from the region.”

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien said:

“The humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Region is truly massive with a staggering 10.7 million people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Without our increased support, affected communities will face a life of hunger, disease, gender-based violence and continued displacement. But there is another future within grasp: as the international community scales up support, we can stop a further descent into an ever-deepening crisis with unimaginable consequences for millions of people. I am grateful for the generous support to humanitarian action we have heard this morning. The UN and our partners are ready and mobilised to further scale up our life-saving response - the people in the region have no time to wait.”

• Promesses de contribution à hauteur de $458 millions de dollars américains pour 2017 et $214 millions pour 2018 et au-delà, annoncées par 14 donateurs

• La conférence a donné une voix aux personnes touchées par le conflit et la crise

• Accord pour répondre aux besoins de développement à plus long terme et chercher des solutions durables aux crises

Oslo, 24 février 2017 – 170 représentants de 40 pays, de l’ONU, des organisations régionales et de la société civile se sont réunis aujourd’hui à l’occasion de la « Conférence humanitaire d’Oslo sur le Nigéria et la région du lac Tchad ». La conférence a été organisée conjointement par la Norvège, le Nigéria, l’Allemagne et les Nations Unies et fait suite à une réunion de la société civile qui a vu une forte participation de la société civile travaillant au Nigéria, Tchad, Niger et Cameroun.

La région du Lac Tchad fait face à une des plus grandes crises humanitaire au monde avec 17 millions de personnes vivant dans les zones les plus touchées. Environ 11 millions ont besoin d’une assistance humanitaire d’urgence. Lors de la conférence 14 donateurs ont annoncé $458 millions de promesses de dons pour l’aide en 2017 et un soutien additionel de $214 million pour 2018 et au-delà. Les promesses de dons ont été annoncées par la Commission européenne, Norvège, Allemagne, Japon, Suède, Suisse, France, Italie, Irlande, Finlande, Danemark, Luxembourg, Pays-Bas et la République de Corée.

Les partenaires humanitaires se sont mis d’accord pour augmenter leur réponse, afin d’atteindre les groupes les plus vulnérables menacés par la famine, y compris les enfants souffrant de malnutrition sévère. Une attention particulière a été portée sur les besoins de protection des femmes, des enfants et de la jeunesse, ainsi que sur la nécessité d’un soutien à plus long terme et des solutions durables pour les personnes déplacées.

Le ministre des affaires étrangères Børge Brende a dit:

« La conférence a contribué à accroître la sensibilisation autour de la crise et à augmenter le soutien aux millions de personnes affectées par la crise, notamment pour les nombreux enfants et jeunes personnes qui ne sont pas actuellement scolarisés. Il est crucial d’assurer et de protéger l’éducation afin de garantir leurs droits et de poser les bases pour un développement pacifique de la région. Notre but doit être d’assurer la qualité de l’éducation pour tous, pour les filles autant que pour les garçons. Il est également très important d’améliorer la protection des femmes et des filles, qui souvent, sont les principales victimes des crises et conflits, ainsi que de garantir l’implication des femmes dans les processus en cours liés à la paix et au développement de la région.»

Le ministre des affaires étrangères Geoffrey Onyeama a dit:

« Le Nigéria est confronté à un extrémisme violent et doit, parallèlement, faire face à une baisse du prix du pétrole et à une récession économique. Alors même que le gouvernement s’ engage à consacrer des allocations budgétaires importantes pour faire face à la situation sécuritaire et humanitaire résultant de l’insurection, nous avons également besoin de toute l’aide et soutien possible de la communauté internationale.»

Le ministre des affaires étrangères Sigmar Gabriel a dit:

«Avec les promesses de dons annoncées aujourd’hui, les agences humanitaires peuvent maintenant se concentrer sur leur travail, sauver des vies et offrir une assistance à ceux qui en ont un besoin urgent . L’Allemagne va contributer à hauteur de 120 millions d’euros à ces efforts sur les trois prochaines années. Nous fournirons 100 millions d’euros pour l’aide humanitaire et 20 million d’euros pour les efforts de stabilisation dans la région. Sur le long terme, nous devons renforcer notre partenariat avec les pays impliqués pour attaquer les causes profondes de la terreur, du déplacement et de la pauvreté. A cette fin, nous avons établi aujourd’hui un ‘Groupe consultatif sur la prévention et la stabilisation’ avec nos homologues dans la région.»

Le Secrétaire général adjoint aux affaires humanitaires et Coordonnateur des secours d’urgence Stephen O’Brien a dit:

«La crise humanitaire qui se déroule dans la région du lac Tchad, avec 10.7 millions de personnes ayant un besoin urgent d’assistance humanitaire, est véritablement une crise majeure. Sans notre soutien accru, les communautés touchées seront condamnées à la faim, aux maladies, aux violences basées sur le genre, et aux déplacements continus. Mais un autre avenir est à portée de main: étant donné que la communauté internationale renforce son soutien, nous pouvons empêcher que cette crise ne s’aggrave d’avantage et entraîne d’inimaginables conséquences pour des millions de personnes. Je suis reconnaissant du généreux soutien pour l’action humanitaire que nous avons entendu ce matin. Les Nations Unies et nos partenaires sommes prêts et mobilisés à intensifier notre réponse vitale - les personnes dans la région n’ont pas le temps d’attendre.»

• Promesses de contribution à hauteur de $458 millions de dollars américains pour 2017 et $214 millions pour 2018 et au-delà, annoncées par 14 donateurs

• La conférence a donné une voix aux personnes touchées par le conflit et la crise

• Accord pour répondre aux besoins de développement à plus long terme et chercher des solutions durables aux crises

Oslo, 24 février 2017 – 170 représentants de 40 pays, de l’ONU, des organisations régionales et de la société civile se sont réunis aujourd’hui à l’occasion de la « Conférence humanitaire d’Oslo sur le Nigéria et la région du lac Tchad ». La conférence a été organisée conjointement par la Norvège, le Nigéria, l’Allemagne et les Nations Unies et fait suite à une réunion de la société civile qui a vu une forte participation de la société civile travaillant au Nigéria, Tchad, Niger et Cameroun.

La région du Lac Tchad fait face à une des plus grandes crises humanitaire au monde avec 17 millions de personnes vivant dans les zones les plus touchées. Environ 11 millions ont besoin d’une assistance humanitaire d’urgence. Lors de la conférence 14 donateurs ont annoncé $458 millions de promesses de dons pour l’aide en 2017 et un soutien additionel de $214 million pour 2018 et au-delà. Les promesses de dons ont été annoncées par la Commission européenne, Norvège, Allemagne, Japon, Suède, Suisse, France, Italie, Irlande, Finlande, Danemark, Luxembourg, Pays-Bas et la République de Corée.

Les partenaires humanitaires se sont mis d’accord pour augmenter leur réponse, afin d’atteindre les groupes les plus vulnérables menacés par la famine, y compris les enfants souffrant de malnutrition sévère. Une attention particulière a été portée sur les besoins de protection des femmes, des enfants et de la jeunesse, ainsi que sur la nécessité d’un soutien à plus long terme et des solutions durables pour les personnes déplacées.

Le ministre des affaires étrangères Børge Brende a dit:

« La conférence a contribué à accroître la sensibilisation autour de la crise et à augmenter le soutien aux millions de personnes affectées par la crise, notamment pour les nombreux enfants et jeunes personnes qui ne sont pas actuellement scolarisés. Il est crucial d’assurer et de protéger l’éducation afin de garantir leurs droits et de poser les bases pour un développement pacifique de la région. Notre but doit être d’assurer la qualité de l’éducation pour tous, pour les filles autant que pour les garçons. Il est également très important d’améliorer la protection des femmes et des filles, qui souvent, sont les principales victimes des crises et conflits, ainsi que de garantir l’implication des femmes dans les processus en cours liés à la paix et au développement de la région.»

Le ministre des affaires étrangères Geoffrey Onyeama a dit:

« Le Nigéria est confronté à un extrémisme violent et doit, parallèlement, faire face à une baisse du prix du pétrole et à une récession économique. Alors même que le gouvernement s’ engage à consacrer des allocations budgétaires importantes pour faire face à la situation sécuritaire et humanitaire résultant de l’insurection, nous avons également besoin de toute l’aide et soutien possible de la communauté internationale.»

Le ministre des affaires étrangères Sigmar Gabriel a dit:

«Avec les promesses de dons annoncées aujourd’hui, les agences humanitaires peuvent maintenant se concentrer sur leur travail, sauver des vies et offrir une assistance à ceux qui en ont un besoin urgent . L’Allemagne va contributer à hauteur de 120 millions d’euros à ces efforts sur les trois prochaines années. Nous fournirons 100 millions d’euros pour l’aide humanitaire et 20 million d’euros pour les efforts de stabilisation dans la région. Sur le long terme, nous devons renforcer notre partenariat avec les pays impliqués pour attaquer les causes profondes de la terreur, du déplacement et de la pauvreté. A cette fin, nous avons établi aujourd’hui un ‘Groupe consultatif sur la prévention et la stabilisation’ avec nos homologues dans la région.»

Le Secrétaire général adjoint aux affaires humanitaires et Coordonnateur des secours d’urgence Stephen O’Brien a dit:

«La crise humanitaire qui se déroule dans la région du lac Tchad, avec 10.7 millions de personnes ayant un besoin urgent d’assistance humanitaire, est véritablement une crise majeure. Sans notre soutien accru, les communautés touchées seront condamnées à la faim, aux maladies, aux violences basées sur le genre, et aux déplacements continus. Mais un autre avenir est à portée de main: étant donné que la communauté internationale renforce son soutien, nous pouvons empêcher que cette crise ne s’aggrave d’avantage et entraîne d’inimaginables conséquences pour des millions de personnes. Je suis reconnaissant du généreux soutien pour l’action humanitaire que nous avons entendu ce matin. Les Nations Unies et nos partenaires sommes prêts et mobilisés à intensifier notre réponse vitale - les personnes dans la région n’ont pas le temps d’attendre.»

Now in its 10th year, the Emergency Response Fund Scheme (ERFS) was established to promote early action and reduce loss of life in a sudden humanitarian crisis. Irish Aid has just allocated €2.7 million to six humanitarian partners under the Scheme for 2017: Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, Christian Aid Ireland, Plan International Ireland, World Vision Ireland and Oxfam Ireland.

How does the Fund work?

The scheme is particularly geared towards the initial weeks after the onset of an emergency and targets those in immediate need.

At the beginning of each year, Irish Aid pre-positions a defined amount of funding with long-standing partner NGOs. With approval from Irish Aid, NGOs can access these standby funds to respond quickly after an emergency occurs, or when a protracted humanitarian situation suddenly deteriorates. It allows time for a rapid assessment of need and speedy planning to ensure appropriate responses.

Over the last decade, Irish Aid’s partners have carried out more than 150 humanitarian responses to emergencies in over 40 countries, through ERFS support. Here we take a look back at how they responded to five of the most significant crises of the past decade.

2010 Haiti Earthquake

On January 12, a 7 Magnitude earthquake caused massive destruction and loss of life in Haiti, with death-toll estimates ranging from 100,000 to 160,000 people. ERFS partner Concern Worldwide immediately began rolling out safe drinking water and hygiene facilities to those whose homes had been destroyed, while GOAL carried out an emergency response to a cholera outbreak in Port-au-Prince and implemented a Cash for Work programme to support local livelihoods, recovery and reconstruction.

2012 Philippines Typhoon

The Category 5 Super Typhoon Bopha, known locally as Typhoon Pablo, cut across the Philippines in December and devastated many areas, causing destruction of property and affecting over 6 million people. Emergency responses followed from Christian Aid Ireland, who provided immediate food, shelter, non-food items and emergency cash assistance to poor and vulnerable families. Plan International Ireland was supported to distribute water and hygiene kits in a number of communities.

2014 Ebola Response

In 2014 alone, the Ebola virus epidemic affected over 20,000 people and left millions at risk in several West African countries. Concern Worldwide, GOAL, World Vision Ireland and Oxfam Ireland all implemented ERFS responses aimed at reducing and preventing the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone, supporting survivors and addressing the specific gender dynamics in the Ebola response. Concern also worked in Liberia, implementing prevention and awareness-raising strategies, while Plan International Ireland distributed hygiene kits in Guinea, reaching over 550,000 people.

2015 Nepal Earthquake

The catastrophic 7.8 Magnitude earthquake in Nepal on April 25 killed 8,000 people and affected 8 million more. This prompted humanitarian responses from all 6 current ERFS partners – Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, Plan International Ireland, World Vision Ireland, Christian Aid Ireland and Oxfam Ireland – who provided food, access to health services, water purification systems, temporary shelter and non-food items to those in need.

2016 El Niño

From 2015 to 2016, the El Niño phenomenon brought extreme weather conditions, mainly drought and flooding, to over thirty countries worldwide. Concern Worldwide responded to severe food insecurity and malnutrition in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda by providing vulnerable communities with water, food, seed assistance and access to improved health services. Christian Aid Ireland supplied food to drought-affected households in Malawi, and to households experiencing food insecurity in South Sudan as a result of conflict and drought. In Zimbabwe, Oxfam Ireland, Plan International Ireland and Trócaire also responded to emergency food security needs. In Somalia, World Vision Ireland implemented child health and nutrition services for drought-affected communities, and Trócaire addressed a cholera outbreak resulting from a lack of clean water.

Reflecting on 10 years of the Emergency Response Fund Scheme, Joe McHugh T.D., Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, stated:

“The ERFS scheme is a critical component of Ireland’s global humanitarian assistance, allowing for rapid, life-saving and life-sustaining responses to situations of devastating crisis. Working with trusted partners, who are best-placed to respond, enables Ireland to meet critical humanitarian needs in countries where we may not ourselves have a presence on the ground. I applaud the continued essential work of our partners in humanitarian action and their role in delivering on Ireland’s values and objectives of a just and sustainable world”.

Note:

Note: Irish Aid also responded to these and other crises with complementary funding schemes, such as the Humanitarian Programme Plan (for situations of protracted crisis), the Rapid Response Initiative (by deploying emergency personnel and supplies), Calls for Proposals (for sudden onset emergencies), support to the Start Fund (for immediate response to smaller-scale, under-the-radar emergencies) and our programmes of bilateral assistance, such as in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis.

Find out more about ERFS.

• Response to famine, drought and conflict in South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan T.D. and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh T.D. today (Monday) announced new funding of €11 million to assist people suffering as a result of famine, drought and conflict in the Horn of Africa, specifically in South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan.

This funding initiative is in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region. It will be focused on the three countries severely affected by the current humanitarian crisis.

Minister Flanagan said:

"Last month, famine was declared in parts of South Sudan with 100,000 people at risk of starvation and death. Over a quarter of a million children are severely malnourished and at risk of dying from hunger and malnutrition. The situation is forecast to worse. in the coming months with 5 million people in need of food, almost 1 million of them on the brink of famine.

"The situation is also serious in Somalia. A famine warning has been issued by the United Nations for Somalia with almost 3 million people facing crisis levels of food insecurity, more than double the number six months ago. 363,000 acutely malnourished children need urgent treatment and nutrition support. In Sudan, 3 million people in are facing food insecurity at crisis levels, particularly in Darfur, and among displaced persons and refugees in the country.

"I am extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. A massive and urgent scale up of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan and Somalia is required now to avoid a catastrophe. We must not wait until people are dying from hunger. We must act now. I am determined that Ireland will play its part by responding quickly to alleviate suffering and save lives."

Ireland will provide €3million to each of the UN Humanitarian Pooled Funds in Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. It will be used to provide life saving assistance through UN and NGO partners, based on the needs of vulnerable people facing conflict, forced to leave their homes, and with insufficient food to feed their families.　

Minister Flanagan added:　

"The best way for Ireland to deliver its assistance to those in need is through our trusted partners who have a presence in these three countries, in particular the UN. Decisions on exactly what type of assistance is provided will be made locally depending on the needs in each country. It is essential that all parties to the conflict allow unhindered access to all communities in urgent need of assistance".　

Given the severity of the current situation for children in South Sudan, €1 million will be provided to UNICEF work in South Sudan, with a particular focus on treating acute malnutrition.　

Minister McHugh stated:

"We cannot ignore the suffering of children in South Sudan. We must act now to provide vital nutritional support to children on the brink of famine.　

"Many of these children have been forced from their homes with South Sudan now causing the largest refugee crisis in Africa. Over 1.5 million South Sudanese refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, 80% of whom are women and children. We are also providing an additional €1 million to UNHCR to address these immediate needs and alleviate their suffering.

"Ireland will continue to work with its EU and UN partners to ensure that the international community step up to its obligations to prevent further deaths from famine across the Horn of Africa. We must ensure that we turn this tide of human suffering."

Notes to the editor:

• Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas assistance programme. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. For further information see　www.irishaid.ie

• This package of humanitarian assistance to the Horn of Africa announced today totals €11 million, and comprises €3 million in support to each of the three UN OCHA- managed Humanitarian Pooled Funds for South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia. These pooled funds allocate funding in country to a broad range of partners, including UN organisations, and national and international NGOs. Funding is provided against the Humanitarian Response Plan for each country and in the context of UN managed humanitarian appeals, to meet critical humanitarian needs ranging from food assistance to protection to livelihoods support.　

• The funding announced also includes a €1m contribution to UNICEF's Humanitarian Action for Children Appeal for South Sudan, which has a particular focus on treating acute malnutrition. Also included is a €1 million contribution to the UNHCR's Regional Refugee Response Plan to address the immediate needs of some 1.5 million South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries.　

• Ireland has provided €31 million in humanitarian assistance to the South Sudan crisis since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013. In 2016, Ireland contributed €11 million to this crisis.　

• Ireland has provided over €27 million in humanitarian assistance to our UN, Red Cross and NGO partners in Somalia, since 2012. In 2016, Ireland contributed €5.93 million to this crisis. 　

• Ireland has provided over €18 million in humanitarian assistance in Sudan since 2012. In2016, Ireland contributed €3.93 million to the Sudan crisis.

• Our humanitarian assistance is delivered by UN, Red Cross and NGO partners on the ground and is focused on saving lives and alleviating the suffering of crisis affected people, including through meeting their immediate and most basic needs, providing emergency food and livelihoods assistance, treating acute malnutrition, providing shelter and protection, and providing　emergency services in health care, water & sanitation and education.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Until 28 February 2017, there were 13,439 cumulative arrivals to Italy, compared to 9,101 arrivals recorded in the same month in 2016 (a 48% increase). Greece has seen a 98% lower number of arrivals in February 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016, 2,611 and 125,494 respectively.

• According to available data, there have been 17,479 new arrivals to Greece, Italy and Bulgaria, as countries of first arrival to Europe since the beginning of 2017 till 28 of February 2017.

• By the end of February, total number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece and in the Western Balkans reached 75,514. Since the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement on the 18th of March, the number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece increased by 46%. For the rest of the countries, please read page 5.

• As of 28 February 2017, there have been 13,552 indi-viduals relocated to 24 European countries. Please see the new page on relocations for more information.

• As of 28 February 2017, a total of 915 migrants and refugees were readmitted from Greece to Turkey as part of the EU-Turkey Statement with last readmis-sion taking place on 7 March 2017. The majority of migrants and refugees were Pakistani, Syrian, Afghan, Algerian and Bangladeshi nationals. See Tur-key section.

• Information about “contingency countries” in the Western Balkans (Albania, Kosovo (SCR 1244)*, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) is on page 30

• For information on this report, including details on the sources of this report’s data and tallying method-ologies used, please see page 31.

• For more updates on the Central Mediterranean route, please check IOM’s Mediterranean portal with most recent DTM report from Libya and Niger.

*References to Kosovo should be understood in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)