September 2022

By SDK, 29 September, 2022

NGOs call for renewal and expansion of truce in Yemen

With the current truce agreement between the warring parties in Yemen set to expire on 2 October 2022, more than 40 national and international humanitarian organizations today urged all parties to the conflict to renew and expand the ceasefire. They also reminded the parties that the future of the people of Yemen is in their hands.

Humanitarian

Humanitarian has the following meanings:

(1) concerned with the alleviation of human need, directed towards the relief of human suffering, philanthropic, charitable, directed towards the well-being of human beings

(2) related to the plight of people, characterized by the existential need of many people.

Sudan Crisis

The scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan is unprecedented. On April 15, 2023, conflict broke out between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, causing widespread displacement, hunger, and the world's largest humanitarian crisis. After two years of conflict, about 13 million people are displaced as a result of the ongoing war. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance now stands at 30.4 million people - two-thirds of Sudan's population.

By SDK, 23 September, 2022

UNHCR warns of surging needs in Sudan

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned today of spiraling humanitarian needs for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in Sudan as living costs soar due to the impact of the war in Ukraine, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather conditions resulting from the climate crisis. Sudan hosts among the largest number of displaced people on the African continent, including over 1.1 million refugees – mostly from South Sudan – and 3.7 million internally displaced Sudanese, mainly in Darfur and Kordofan.

Afghanistan Crisis

Three and a half years after the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan remains in the grip of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Millions of people in Afghanistan are experiencing misery and hunger in the midst of decades of conflict. The cumulative effects of violent conflict, internal displacement, drought and other natural disasters have dramatically increased humanitarian needs throughout Afghanistan. The country is vulnerable to natural disasters, including floods and earthquakes.

By SDK, 20 September, 2022

Haiti: More than 2 million children in need of humanitarian assistance

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Save the Children International has today expressed its grave concern for the wellbeing of children and their families in Haiti, amid escalating violence and worsening political and economic crises. The NGO is urgently calling on the international community to ramp up its support to the Caribbean nation, to meet the growing needs of vulnerable children and families.

By SDK, 17 September, 2022

UN releases 100 million for underfunded humanitarian crises

The chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Martin Griffiths has released US $ 100 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Friday to boost underfunded humanitarian operations in eleven countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. As people’s lives and livelihoods are threatened by conflict, hunger, climate emergencies, and forced displacement, the United Nations (UN) need to assist 204 million of the most vulnerable people around the world.

By SDK, 16 September, 2022

Climate crisis fuels global hunger

Climate change is fueling hunger in ten of the world's worst climate hotspots, according to a report published today by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Oxfam International. Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia and Zimbabwe are ten of the world’s worst climate hotspots – those with the highest number of UN appeals driven by extreme weather events since 2000. Oxfam warns in these countries the rate of acute hunger has more than doubled over just the past six years.

By SDK, 12 September, 2022

50 million people in modern slavery

Fifty million people were living in modern slavery in 2021, according to a joint report by the intergovernmental organizations International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the non-governmental organization Walk Free. The latest “Global Estimates of Modern Slavery” reveals of these people, 28 million were in forced labor and 22 million were trapped in forced marriage.

IDP

IDP is the short name for internally displaced person or internally displaced people. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are those who have fled violence, armed conflict, human rights violations, human-made or natural disasters, but have not crossed an internationally recognized border and stay within their own country.

Sahel Crisis

The Sahel region is facing one of the fastest-growing humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 33 million people in need of humanitarian aid in 2025. And at the same time, it is one of the most forgotten.  Armed conflict, deteriorating security, political instability, and widespread poverty are the main drivers of unprecedented humanitarian needs, particularly in the central Sahel region, which includes the countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This deteriorating humanitarian emergency is further compounded by the impact of the climate crisis and global food insecurity. Rapid climate change is causing natural disasters such as heavy flooding to occur with increasing frequency and severity.

Humanitarian Coordinator

The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) is the senior-most official of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in a country experiencing a humanitarian emergency. Humanitarian coordinators are appointed by the U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator. The HC is accountable to the Emergency Relief Coordinator.

CERF

CERF is the short name of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. CERF is one of the fastest ways to get urgent aid to the world's most vulnerable people whenever and wherever crises hit. Contributions to CERF will help to save lives and reach the millions of people trapped in disasters and conflict. The Central Emergency Response Fund is managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

By SDK, 9 September, 2022

UNDP: Multiple crises halt progress in human development

A report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) finds the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, economic uncertainty and other crises have halted progress in human development and reversed gains made over the past three decades as 9 out of 10 countries fall backwards in human development.

Emergency Relief Coordinator

The Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) is the highest-ranking United Nations official responsible for humanitarian affairs. The ERC reports directly to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and serves as a focal point for governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on humanitarian issues. In this capacity, the ERC may be called before the UN Security Council in humanitarian emergencies.

IASC

IASC stands for Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee is the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian coordination forum of the UN system, bringing together the executive heads of 18 UN and non-UN organizations to ensure coherence of preparedness and response efforts, formulate policy, and agree on priorities for strengthened humanitarian action.

OCHA

OCHA is the acronym for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. OCHA coordinates the work of UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other national and international actors in humanitarian emergencies. It is the principal international player on humanitarian assistance issues. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is led by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

Glossary

The DONARE Glossary provides definitions of basic terms relevant to humanitarian assistance and the work of aid organizations worldwide, as well as explanations of important common acronyms such as CERF, ECHO, ERC, GBV, HC, HCT, HDI, HRP, IASC, IDP, IHL, IPC, OCHA, RRP, SGBV, UNHAS, or WASH. The Glossary also contains key terms related to International Humanitarian Law.

By SDK, 5 September, 2022

Burkina Faso: Almost two million people displaced amid worsened food crisis

Nearly one in ten people in Burkina Faso have been displaced by conflict. Most worryingly, the rate of severe food insecurity has nearly doubled compared to last year, with over 600,000 people in emergency hunger levels during this lean season, warn 28 international aid organizations operating in the country. In a joint statement released today, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) say an urgent increase in funding for humanitarian assistance is required to respond to the current situation in Burkina Faso.

By SDK, 1 September, 2022

Pakistan floods: Over three million children at risk

More than three million children are in need of humanitarian assistance and at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition due to the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s recent history, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned today. UNICEF says it is working with Government and non-government partners to respond to the urgent needs of children and families in affected areas.