GENEVA, Switzerland, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 17th February a cargo plane chartered by IOM carrying relief supplies from the South Sudanese capital Juba to Bentiu in Unity State crashed on landing at the Rubkona airstrip.The wing of the plane collided with two vehicles parked on the runway, resulting in a fire. One crew member from the charter company was killed and three were injured. The surviving crew members have been evacuated by UNMISS – the UN peace keeping force – to Juba.“We are very saddened by this tragic accident,” said IOM South sudan Chief of Mission…
Author: apofeed
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A group of United Nations human rights experts today urged Kenya to repeal sections of the Marriage and Property Act which effectively deny women the right to marital property upon divorce or death of their spouse, unless they can prove they made a contribution to the acquisition of the property during their marriage. “It is expected that very few women will be able to demonstrate such a contribution under the new provisions, since few Kenyan women have land title deeds in their own names and even less hold deeds jointly with…
WASHINGTON, February 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As a country and a people, the United States has consistently stood for the protection of fundamental freedoms and universal human rights. We believe that people everywhere should be treated equally, with dignity and respect, and that they should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, no matter who they are or whom they love.That is why I am so deeply disappointed that Uganda will shortly enact legislation that would criminalize homosexuality. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, once law, will be more than an affront and a danger to the gay…
KAMPALA, Uganda, February 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative/Joint Chief Mediator Mohamed Ibn Chambas met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on 12 February during a three-day visit to the country, as part of the JSR’s efforts to mobilize regional support for an inclusive peace agreement in Darfur. The Head of UNAMID apprised the Ugandan President of his engagements with the hold-out Darfur movements so far to bring them on board for a political settlement of the conflict in Darfur; these engagements included a workshop on humanitarian cessation of hostilities held in Addis Ababa last…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, February 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — William Hague marks anniversary of Libyan Revolution: “I pay tribute to those Libyans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of freedom”Speaking on the anniversary of the Libyan Revolution, William Hague said:“On the third anniversary of the 17 February Revolution, I pay tribute to those Libyans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of freedom. The Revolution was a demonstration of people’s ambitions to build a better Libya in which all people are free to voice their opinions and play an active role in deciding the future of their country. The…
OTTAWA, Canada, February 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today made the following statement on the third anniversary of Libya’s pro-democracy revolution:“Canada salutes the courage of the Libyan people, who rid themselves of the brutal Qadhafi dictatorship three years ago. We welcome the Libyan government’s efforts to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Libya, including their quest for an inclusive, stable and secure country.“Canada also supports the Libyan government’s efforts to foster a meaningful national dialogue that provides for the active democratic participation of all citizens—including the February 20, 2014, elections for a constitution-drafting…
KHARTOUM, Sudan, February 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 15 February 2014, the African Union – United Nations Joint Special Representative (JSR) for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, addressed the Social Peace Conference organized by the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) in Zalengei, Central Darfur, and emphasized that the root causes of conflict in Darfur can only be addressed through genuine dialogue. The conference brought together various stakeholders of Central Darfur State to identify their role in the peace process and to come up with practical recommendations that will contribute to ending tribal conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence in Darfur. The…
NEW YORK, February 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Valerie Amos, has allocated US$10 million to support the most critical life-saving aid operations in the Central African Republic (CAR). This is an additional $10 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to Car in a short period, bringing total funding to the current crisis to $20 million. On 9 December, three days before a system-wide Level 3 emergency (the highest level of crisis response) was declared for CAR, the ERC approved $10 million from CERF. “Car has plunged into chaos and…
NEW YORK, February 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR VALERIE AMOS TO VISIT CENTRAL African REPUBLIC WHO: Emergency Relief Coordinator and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos WHAT: Mission to the Central African Republic WHEN: 18-20 February 2014 WHERE: Bangui and field visits The Emergency Relief Coordinator and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, is scheduled to visit the Central African Republic from 18 to 20 February. ERC Amos will be accompanied by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr. Michel Sidibe, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aicha L. Abdullahi, and Assistant…
CONAKRY, Guinea, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the third review of Guinea’s economic performance under the program supported by an Extended Credit Facility arrangement (ECF). The Board’s decision, which was taken without a meeting,1 enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 18.36 million (about US$28.2 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to an amount equivalent to SDR 73.4 million (about US$112.8 million).The Executive Board approved the three-year ECF arrangement for Guinea on February 24, 2012, for an amount equivalent to SDR 128.52 million…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Independent Expert on minority issues, Rita Izsák, will carry out her first official visit to Nigeria between 17 to 28 February 2014, to examine the situation of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. “Nigeria is a richly diverse country which hosts a great variety of minority groups. While it has well documented problems associated with that diversity that require attention and solutions, Nigeria is also one of Africa’s most dynamic and vibrant societies with much to share that is positive,” Ms. Izsák stated. “My visit will allow me to better…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — During his first ever visit to the country EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, announced €55 million of new support for Cape Verde during the period 2014 – 2020. The funding will focus specifically on the areas of the fight against poverty, sustainable and inclusive growth and good governance.The Commissioner will take part in a seminar on renewable energy, during which he will announce the first deployment of the EU’s Technical Assistance Facility for Sustainable Energy for All in Cape Verde; a new instrument on energy cooperation which will cover…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, Suliman Baldo, will undertake his second information-gathering mission to the country from 17 to 26 February 2014. “I will assess the authorities’ response to a number of key challenges, including the fight against impunity, the restoration of security and the authority of the state, as well as the issue of inter and intra community violence in the north of the country,” the expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council said. “My visit will provide an opportunity to…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 418th meeting held on 11 February 2014, was briefed by the Commission on the Conclusions of the High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, held at the ministerial level, in Algiers, from 8 to 10 December 2013, with a view to Assisting Incoming African Members on the UN Security Council in Preparing to Address Peace and Security Issues on the Continent and adopted the following decision:Council, 1. Welcomes the Report of the High Level Seminar. In this…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM is expanding its activities to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) and affected communities in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through a new project: Human Security in Rutshuru and Nyiragongo Territories.The pilot project is part of IOM’s Dutch-funded DRC Recovery and Community Resilience programme launched in November 2013 following the withdrawal of M-23 rebels from Goma, the capital of the DRC’s North Kivu province. The project will assist in the return and reintegration of IDPs, invest in return communities and promote the return of key state functions in…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has distributed 560 non-food relief item kits at Bangui’s Military Airport Transit Site to help some of the over 3,000 stranded third country nationals and internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering at the site.The kits, donated by UNHCR, included blankets, mats, mosquito nets, soap, kitchen sets and jerry cans.IOM, which is managing the site at the request of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Humanitarian Cluster, is also organizing “wet feeding” for site residents.Beans, super cereal plus, oil, salt, and sugar provided by WFP and ICRC are distributed to volunteers…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees return to Somalia’s Jowhar and Balad districts, IOM is working to facilitate their reintegration by strengthening the absorption capacity of the two communities.The IDPs are Somalis who have mostly been displaced from the Middle Shabelle region by floods and clan conflicts. Others have come from Mogadishu due to the lack of job opportunities in the capital.The relative stability in some areas of South Central Somalia has seen some 31,200 refugees spontaneously return to the area from Kenya and Ethiopia since the beginning of 2013.…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Unusually heavy rains over the past two months have led to severe flooding across Zimbabwe, notably in Masvingo province close to the partially constructed Tokwe Murkosi dam.The flooding has affected over 2,230 families who are in the process of being evacuated from the dam basin. A further estimated 60, 000 people downstream are reported to be at risk of flooding if the rain persists.The government, which is appealing for nearly USD 20 million in aid, has declared a state of disaster and IOM Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Department of Civil…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif has condemned the attack outside the Villa Sultan Restaurant in Mogadishu today.Around 1240 HRS, a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) went off outside the restaurant located next to the Aden Abdulle International Airport injuring and killing innocent civilian passersby.Emergency services and AMISOM security personnel immediately deployed to the area assisting in the evacuation of the injured and securing the area.“I send my heartfelt condolence to the bereaved friends and families and join the Somali…
NEW YORK, February 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The members of the Security Council are outraged by today’s terrorist attack which targeted a UN convoy in Mogadishu, for which Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility and which has caused numerous deaths and injuries. The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the victims and their families, as well as to the people and the Government of the Republic of Somalia. The members of the Security Council underscored their determination to stand by the people of Somalia as they seek peace and stability. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed…