Oscar

To what extent has the COVID-19 outbreak, and the augmented use of health surveillance technology that has resulted from it, altered international conceptions of civil liberties, privacy, and democracy? This article examines how global patterns of liberal democracy have been and could be affected by the pandemic. In China, the outbreak has strengthened a pre-existing techno-authoritarian project aimed at prevention and control of threats to both public health and public order. Certain features of the international system such as China's major power status, its global economic role, and its leadership in international organizations suggest that China's model of illiberal pandemic response could diffuse worldwide. Other factors, however—such as the incomparability of China's political system to many other countries in the contemporary international system—suggest more limited diffusion potential. To date, the pandemic has largely augmented existing trends, meaning that autocracies have been likely to respond in ways that infringe upon citizen rights, and weak democracies have exhibited some risk of democratic erosion and pandemic-associated autocratization. In these cases, however, factors other than surveillance have been central to processes of democratic decay. Conversely, a large number of consolidated democracies have employed surveillance, but have managed to navigate the initial stages of crisis without significantly compromising democratic standards. In these cases, surveillance technology has been fenced in by democratic institutions and rule of law, and norms, institutions, and public opinion have worked together to facilitate pandemic responses that are (on balance) proportional, limited in time and scope, and subject to democratic oversight. This suggests that international relations may need to separate the pandemic's effects on democracy from its effects on liberalism, and that care must be taken to identify the precise mechanisms that link pandemic response to various components of liberal democracy.

Cúcuta (sep. 14/18). Diariamente el Obispo Víctor Manuel Ochoa brinda atención humanitaria en alimentación a 3.500 migrantes venezolanos. Esta iniciativa es liderada por la Diócesis de Cúcuta.

La delegación internacional liderada por el Canciller Carlos Holmes Trujillo, en la que participan el Secretario General de la Organización de Estados Americanos, OEA, Luis Almagro; el coordinador del equipo técnico de la OEA, David Smolansky, y el Director para las Américas de Human Rights Watch (HRW), José Manuel Vivanco, visitaron el comedor Divina Providencia.

El Ministro Trujillo expresó “Esta es una visita que hacemos en compañía del señor Secretario General de la OEA para reiterarles que nuestro propósito es seguir trabajando con toda intensidad, con todo afecto y solidaridad para efecto de fortalecer las capacidades precarias que tiene Colombia al fin de hacerle frente a la crisis migratoria proveniente de Venezuela”.

Asimismo, aseguró que “Hemos venido tocando a las puertas de la región y se abrió la puerta de la OEA gracias a la decisión del señor Secretario General, quien tomó la determinación de integrar un grupo técnico que debe a la mayor brevedad posible presentar un informe del que se desprendan acciones tendientes a conseguir apoyo presupuestal y apoyo institucional”.

Marking World Malaria Day, the head of the United Nations health agency on Wednesday stressed the need to get the global response against the disease back on track while acknowledging progress that had helped avert millions of malaria deaths, especially among children, since 2000.

“The latest data from WHO World Health Organization show that the global malaria response is at a crossroads,” the agency’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in his video message for the Day, explaining that the declining trend in malaria cases and deaths has stalled, and vital funding for malaria programmes has flatlined.

“If we continue along this path, we will lose the gains for which we have fought so hard,” he added.

This year's theme of the Day is “Ready to Beat Malaria.”

Although more and more countries have eliminated the disease, challenges remain.

In 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of 5 million cases over 2015, and malaria deaths reached 445,000, a slight decrease from 446,000 in 2015 but still a significant number.

Watch video: Ready to beat malaria - Statement by WHO Director-General on World Malaria Day

The UN health chief called on countries and the global health community to close the critical gaps in the malaria response, and urged all partners to unite around a common goal: accelerating the pace of progress.

“Together, we must ensure that no one is left behind in accessing life-saving services to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria,” he said.

Key Facts

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.

• In 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of five million cases over 2015.

• Malaria deaths reached 445,000 in 2016, a similar number (446,000) to 2015.

• The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2016, the region was home to 90 per cent of malaria cases and 91 per cent of malaria deaths.

• Total funding for malaria control and elimination reached an estimated $2.7 billion in 2016. Contributions from governments of endemic countries amounted to $800 million, representing 31 per cent of funding.

8 November 2017 – As the number of people displaced worldwide due to climate change-related events continues to grow, the United Nations and its partners are focusing on regional approaches, framed by existing international practice, to respond to the issue of ‘climate refugees.’

The number of disaster displacements on annual average between 2008 and 2016 amounted to 25.3 million, according to figures released by the Norwegian Refugee Council. The five countries globally that have the highest proportion of their population affected by displacements are all island States: Cuba, Fiji, Philippines, Tonga and Sri Lanka.

“During this hurricane season alone for example, we saw the displacement of 1.7 million people in Cuba – that’s the equivalent of 15 per cent of its population,” said Camila Minerva, Humanitarian Programme Manager with Oxfam in the Dominican Republic, during a press conference on ‘human mobility and climate change’ at the UN Climate Conference (COP23), in Bonn, Germany.

“The poorest and the most marginalized are five times more likely to be displaced and to remain so for longer time than people in higher income countries and it is increasing with climate change,” she added.

Mariam Traore, Migration, environment and climate change specialist with the UN Migration Agency (IOM) said that it is also important to remember that the slow onset effect of climate change makes people move and migrate, sometimes in a forced way.

“In a country like Bangladesh, we did a survey last year and 40 per cent of the households we interviewed told us that climate change contributed directly to their decision to migrate,” she added.

In this context, some have suggested to create a climate refugee status, protecting those forced to leave their country because of the impacts of climate change.

“The refugee legal status is provided by the 1951 Refugee Convention, which is very clear on what [basis refugee status is conferred], which is basically persecution,” said Marine Franck, Programme Officer (climate change), Division of International Protection, in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“In the context of climate change displacement, there might be cases where there is persecution involved where this refugee status could apply but in most cases, it doesn’t,” she added.

She recalled that in 2011, States had suggested that UNHCR create a new status of refugee for people displaced because of climate change. “But some States were not ready at all for that,” she stated.

Ms. Franck stressed that this issue of broadening the scope of refugee protection “is not necessarily desirable, because there is a risk of undermining the refugees fleeing persecution and violent conflict.” Moreover, she explained: “We would need also to renegotiate the Convention and there is no appetite for that from States and it might not be the most effective protection tool.”

UNHCR thinks it is better to look at what exists at the regional level and try to have a bottom-up approach with broadening at the regional level using practices that are effective. She mentioned humanitarian protection visas, temporary protection and stay arrangements, as well as migration laws that can provide real protection.

“It is much more effective because States are going to look at what their neighbours are doing and may adopt the same kind of procedures, rather than if we adopt a global convention or a new category […] it might not be easy to negotiate and it is not also sure that States will then implement it properly,” Ms. Franck said.

Al menos un centenar de estudiantes podrían haberse quedado atrapados después del derrumbe de su colegio en la Ciudad de México. Dos escuelas se han derrumbado por el terremoto de magnitud 7.1 que ha destruido parte de la capital mexicana. El equipo de Save the Children en Ciudad de México ha comprobado cómo miles de personas han perdido sus hogares y actualmente están alojados en refugios. “Los mexicanos han mostrado una enorme solidaridad. Los voluntarios están trayendo agua, comida, ropa y máscaras para el polvo. El equipo ha estado ayudando con la remoción de escombros y rocas porque hay gente atrapada bajo los edificios”, afirma Hanna Monsivais, coordinadora de Programas de Save the Children en México. "De vez en cuando las autoridades piden silencio para que puedan escuchar a las personas que aún están atrapadas. Es increíble lo que la gente está haciendo por los demás, pero algunas personas siguen en estado de shock ", añade.

Recordamos que en este tipo de emergencias los niños y niñas son los más vulnerables y estamos muy preocupados porque, en el momento del temblor, muchos estudiantes estaban en clase.

El edificio donde está situada la oficina de Save the Children fue sacudido por el temblor. “Las ventanas se rompieron y todos caímos al suelo. Nuestro personal está a salvo y ayudando ya a las víctimas. Nuestros pensamientos se dirigen a las miles de familias que han quedado rotas por este horrible desastre”, señala Jorge Vidal, director de operaciones de Save the Children en México.

Save the Children trabaja en México desde 1973. Estas son las cuentas bancarias para ayudar en la emergencia:

Por transferencia o ingreso en cuenta bancaria (Concepto: FONDO DE EMERGENCIAS):

Santander ES13 0049 0001 5224 1001 9194

CaixaBank ES89 2100 1727 1202 0003 2834

BBVA ES83 0182 5502 5800 1002 0207

Bankia ES81 2038 1004 7168 0000 9930

Para donaciones a través de la página web: https://www.savethechildren.es/donacion-ong/fondo-emergencias

By Tony Redmond

Professor Tony Redmond is Director of The University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute

MANCHESTER, UK, Sep 21 2017 (IPS) - Until this week, it had been 32 years since Mexico City suffered its last major earthquake. That was of 8.0 magnitude, which was approximately tenfold greater than Tuesday’s 7.1 magnitude. Over 5000 people died, and outside assistance was offered and received.

Much has improved in the local, regional and international responses worldwide since then, particularly in strengthening the local capacity to respond. Mexico is no exception, and will have significant capacity to respond, fully supported by its neighbours and the Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) disaster response.

It’s possible that specific outside help, beyond the region may not be asked for, but if it is, the medical help will be through the Emergency Medical Teams system at WHO/PAHO, coordinated through its Emergency Medical Teams Coordination Cell.

This will embed with the national ministry of health, and through its online ‘virtual on-site operations coordination centre’, will liaise with those registered international teams who have indicated their willingness to deploy and with government, choose who is best suited to the needs they have identified.

This ensures that assistance is targeted on identified need, coordinated, and in the case of medical practitioners, that they are appropriately trained, qualified and can be officially authorised to practice in Mexico.

The WHO registration and classification system ensures minimum/core standards are adhered to and that all teams are fully self-sufficient, in order not to add a further burden to the affected country.

When thinking about what might be needed to assist, international teams must consider how long it will take to get there and become fully operational. This will shape the type of assistance they can give.

For example, lifesaving surgery is done in the first few hours, so surgical assistance that takes days to arrive will be too late for this. However, it can be focused on the further management of complex injuries in the survivors if the local surgical capacity for this has been overwhelmed.

Rehabilitation is often overlooked, but providing this type of support can free up beds by facilitating the early discharge of patents and provide much-needed support to them and their families in their homes.

Any major disaster diverts health care personnel from their day-to-day tasks, but unrelated emergencies still continue to occur, and other non-disaster related health conditions still require care and treatment. Support to this less glamorous aspect of disaster response and maintaining essential emergency health care is still important to those affected.

When thinking about international search and rescue, bear in mind that most victims of earthquakes are rescued by their fellow survivors and some by local and regional teams. Very few are rescued by international teams, as it simply takes them too long to get there.

There were hundreds of international search and rescue personnel who responded to the earthquake in Nepal – and they saved 13 people. Everyone else was saved by the Nepalese.

Addressing Global Inequalities is one of The University of Manchester’s research beacons – examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet.

UN Security Council acknowledges conflict as a major cause of famine

17 August 2017, Rome - The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) welcomes the UN Security Council's recognition of conflict as a major cause of famine, and the call to enhance longer-term recovery and resilience of conflict-affected countries. FAO's response comes after the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement acknowledging the link between conflict and famine. 

"We know through our work that countries with the highest levels of food insecurity are also those most affected by conflict," said FAO Director-General José Graziano Da Silva. "FAO reaffirms our commitment to work with the UN system and Member Nations to address conflict-related food insecurity, and we echo the Security Council's call for greater access in conflict-affected countries so we can reach those in need," he said. 

The world faces one of the largest food crises in 70 years, with 20 million people in four countries - northeastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen - at risk of famine. If no action is taken, an additional 10 million will be threatened by famine. In fact, civil conflict is the driving factor in nine of the 10 worst humanitarian crises, underscoring the strong linkage between conflict and hunger. Post-conflict countries with high food insecurity are 40 percent more likely to relapse into conflict within a 10-year timespan. 

FAO has long raised awareness on the link between conflict and hunger, including when the Director General addressed the Security Council in July. FAO, with the European Union, the World Food Programme and other partners, provides regular updates on food security to the UN Security Council and publishes an annual Global Report on Food Crises. 

Clear link between conflict and famine

In a marshland area of South Sudan, the link between conflict and famine is clear. Families have fled violence to seek safety in the swamp, but they have very little means to feed themselves and hunger levels have soared. They are surviving on life-saving deliveries of food and fish they catch themselves using emergency fishing kits provided by FAO. 

Agriculture is often the main livelihood for the majority of people in conflict-affected situations, even as violence rages around them. For this reason FAO works with its partners in often extremely challenging security contexts to provide rural livelihood support. In Syria, for example, an FAO survey in 2016 found that over 75 percent of households in rural areas still grow food for their own consumption, even if at a reduced scale. 

Investing in sustainable food production can also be a pathway to peace. FAO has developed a corporate peacebuilding policy to amplify its contribution to conflict prevention. In Colombia, FAO has partnered with the country's Rural Development Agency to support policies aimed at restoring rural areas that were affected by armed conflict, to bolster the peace process by rebuilding rural communities, and to increase the country's agricultural competitiveness.

Combining efforts to restore and support resilient livelihoods with peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts is critical for sustainable development and food security. Equally, investing in food security may strengthen efforts to prevent conflict and achieve sustained peace.    

We face the greatest displacement of humanity in decades - more than 60 million people forced from their homes by war, misery or oppression from places like Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, or Eritrea. A tiny percentage of these desperate men, women and children have risked their lives on overcrowded boats and knocked on Europe’s front door. Faced with this crisis, European leaders were given a choice – to work together to provide asylum and help those in need, or push people out of sight to other countries, where the European public cannot see their suffering and where European leaders can more easily hide their shame.

They chose the latter. Signed in March, the EU-Turkey deal compensates Turkey financially and politically to block people from Europe’s shores and accept deportees from squalid prison camps in Greece. For MSF, this dirty deal marks a historic abdication of Europe’s moral and legal responsibilities to provide asylum to those in great need.

Whilst the concept of outsourcing migration management is sadly not new, this is the most organised and collective attempt so far to pursue the cruel logic of pushing people back instead of taking them in. Europe is sending a troubling signal to the rest of the world: countries can buy their way out of providing asylum. If replicated by many nations worldwide, the concept of refugee will cease to exist. People will be trapped in warzones unable to flee for their lives, with no choice but to stay and die. The recent bombing of a camp hosting displaced people near Idlib that killed at least 28 people shows that the concept of “safe spaces” in Syria is not viable.

Through this deal, EU leaders have made a choice that should raise serious questions for the citizens of affluent Europe. In 2016 who still counts as human? Whose lives matter? What happened to empathy? And where has solidarity gone when faced with the anguish and despair of those whose lives have been shattered?

Urgent questions arise too for aid organisations like mine, Médecins Sans Frontières, where we have been assisting refugees and migrants in Europe for more than 15 years. Unsatisfied with deterrence measures like their layers of razor wire, their sniffer dogs and their construction of ever higher walls, European leaders have resorted to now abusing humanitarian and development aid as a tool for border control. Betraying the humanitarian principle of providing aid based on need alone without political strings attached, the EU-Turkey deal instead makes aid conditional on shipping suffering offshore. Humanitarian aid must be separated from the political deal and delivered to those in need, not on the basis of how many people arrive in the EU from Turkey.

Europe is proffering billions of euros to implement this deal, hanging a dilemma over the heads of the humanitarian community. Should aid agencies provide desperately needed aid in service of an anti-humanitarian policy that has the ultimate goal of keeping people away from European soil?

There are undoubtedly needs in Turkey, a country already struggling to offer effective protection to nearly 3 million refugees within its borders, but aid cannot be reduced to a political bargaining chip. Refugees are not merchandise to be bought and sold and Europe cannot walk away from its responsibility to provide asylum. Rather than push people back into danger, Europe should use its considerable resources to welcome and protect those in need instead of paying Turkey to keep them away.