In a speech made on March 22, 2012 in honor of World Water Day, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the issue of clean water’s integral role in promoting international vitality and well-being, and revisited some of her most prominent points in a speech that she made on the same day two years ago, in March of 2010. Secretary Clinton asserted that clean water and a sustainable water supply are necessary to feed the hungry, run businesses and produce energy.  In addition, Secretary Clinton discussed the progress that has been made, since her last speech regarding the topic, on this journey towards assuring a clean and reliable water supply for all. The fight for clean water has become a supreme concern for many non-governmental organizations and humanitarian action groups throughout the United States due to the positive development that a clean water supply can produce as well as the protection of human rights that correlates with water security.

Secretary Clinton addressed the work USAID has done in the realms of research on the issues and development within the international community. USAID is collaborating with NASA to evaluate information provided by satellite in order to assess both water security and challenges in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Secretary Clinton also discussed the development of a new partnership between a program entitled WASH for Life and the Gates Foundation which “will identify, test, and scale up evidence-based approaches for delivering these services to people in some of the poorest regions of the world.” The acronym WASH stands for water, sanitation and hygiene. These programs, that have been introduced by USAID, serve to improve global health by implementing access to clean drinking water, preventing the spread of water-borne diseases, promoting healthful practices such as hand-washing, and restructuring irrigation systems.

The accomplishments that have been made in order to promote water security are extremely substantial when considering water’s affect on the process of sustaining human rights.  In her speech on World Water Day 2010, Secretary Clinton spoke to the devastation that water can bring and the human rights that may be violated as a result of a lack of a clean or sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene. She also touched on the geo-political implications that encapsulate water insecurity: “…Water challenges are most obvious in developing nations, but they affect every country on earth. And they transcend political boundaries. As water becomes increasingly scarce, it may become a potential catalyst for conflict among – and within – countries.” The solidity of many governments depends on their ability to provide water for their people. In addition, a lack of a sustainable water supply can lead or economic decline and a lack of clean water can leads to epidemics of disease, as was the case in Haiti with the spread of water-borne cholera. Furthermore, by providing access to sanitation and clean water, many women are able to tend to their families and communities by relinquishing the duty of locating and carrying water. Thus, the endeavors of USAID and other international organizations that work to promote water security simultaneously advocate for the advancement of human rights by allowing people to fulfill their basic human needs of food, water, shelter, education, and liberty.

In addition to official agencies of the United States taking measures to promote and ensure water security, various non-governmental and international organizations have made progress in the same battle. Global Water is an international, non-profit organization that works to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in developing countries. They believe that their successful projects “utilize water and sanitation as a tool to create sustainable socioeconomic development in these poor rural communities.” The organization believes that providing clean water is the most significant way to affect the developing world by preventing and ceasing cycles of disease, hunger and poverty. Furthermore, Global Water asserts that by creating water security, they are also allowing education and commerce to prosper.

Thus, when a community lacks clean and/or sustainable water, outbreaks of hunger and disease may result, which can lead to violations of human rights. However, the measures that Secretary Clinton discussed in both of her World Water Day speeches have certainly contributed to the encouragement and advancement of water security throughout the world. NGO’s and non-profit organizations have also made accomplishments in this sphere. Furthermore, as students we have the capacity to affect change.  In addition to donating monetary aid to humanitarian action organizations, Global Water suggests that we may start promoting water security at a more basic level. We can start discussions about the impact and effects of water on developing countries. We can start school-wide clean water fundraising efforts. We can also initiate campaigns to save water. By simply sparking the conversation, it is possible to affect change, no matter how far removed we may be from these water crises.

Sources:

http://www.globalwater.org/students_get_involved.html

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/03/186640.htm

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/03/138737.htm

After remaining under house arrest for more than 14 years, Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Laureate was finally elected to the Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of the Burmese parliament on 1 April, 2012. Among the contested seats in the parliament, her party swept 40 out of 45 seats, making Mrs. Suu kyi the leader of the opposition in the lower house. The Nobel laureate hopes the victory will be the dawn of new era in Burma.

Mrs. Suu kyi’s road to the political victory was not an easy one. Following her parents’ influential political careers, Mrs. Suu kyi founded the National League for Democracy in 1988. Around the same time, General Ne Win, the long-time head of ruling military party in Burma,  stepped down and gave the Burmese people new hope for the democratic government they desired. To their great disappointment, the call for a democratic government failed when the new military junta party seized power in 1989. Following the military junta’s victory, Mrs. Suu kyi remained under house arrest until 2010 when the military party dissolved.

Many NGOs such as Burma Campaign UK, US Campaign for Burma, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have accused the junta regime of serious human rights violations. Murder and arbitrary executions, torture and rape, recruitment of child soldiers, forced labor, and political imprisonment are few examples. The dissolution of the military junta rule in 2010 gave the Burmese people hope for an end to these human rights issues., and the election of Mrs Suu Kyi reinforces these hopes.

There is much work to be done, however. The nation is still mainly under the rule of the military and retired generals, who occupy the majority of parliament seats. Mrs. Suu Kyi sees her victory as a seed just sown, and she explains, “there is lot of work [left] to do.” Her party hopes to be the victor of next election in 2015 and take control of Burma’s government.

It is very early to say what reforms are possible to enact under the rule of the new government. However, the Burmese people are reassured to have Mrs. Suu Kyi represent their voice in the parliament in opposition to the military leaders. Burma is definitely  taking necessary steps to creating a completely Democratic government.

Sources:

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/04/06/burma-road-2015

http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/569/news56902.html

www.wsj.com

www.nytimes.com

“Disasters do not occur by accident – they are the convergence of hazards and vulnerable conditions. Disasters not only reveal underlying social, economic, political and environmental problems, but unfortunately contribute to worsening them, hindering economic and social progress.

On the other hand, healthy ecosystem services that protect lives from natural hazards, support livelihoods and other crucial aspects of human well-being, as well as effective environmental management and environmental information, offer opportunities to reduce risk, decrease poverty and achieve sustainable development.”  –UNEP

The environmental aspect of humanitarian crises and aid is often overlooked, and even seems unimportant when the priority in disasters is saving lives, but the relief operations that take place after conflicts and crises can have substantial environmental impacts. Failure to address environmental issues such as water sanitation, camp citing, and unsustainable use of timber can hinder recovery processes, and even exacerbate the conflicts. According to the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), 40% of all internal conflicts over the last 60 years have had a link to natural resources. Examining the relationship between the environment and humanitarian crises is especially important in light of recent and ongoing crises like Hurricane Katrina, the famines in the Sahel and Yemen, and the earthquake in Japan. Additionally, global climate change has already had some observable effects on earth, with regions experiencing heat waves, rising sea levels and shifts in seasonal precipitation patterns. These issues disproportionally affect poorer nations and communities who are not equipped to deal with the results of this change.

In the following entry, I will briefly outline the four relationships between humanitarian crises and the environment, as laid out by Irish Aid to accompany its Environmental Policy for Sustainable Development. In my next post, I will outline the relationship between humanitarian crises, aid, and sustainable development regarding the issues currently facing the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.

“The poor are disproportionately dependent on the environment — and thus particularly vulnerable to its degradation, which can worsen acute human suffering at times of crisis.”

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, most natural disasters are climate or weather-related, and climate change will disproportionately affect poor countries and poor communities because many poor families depend directly on the environment for farming, fishing, hunting, fuel, and other means of sustenance. Furthermore, “over 90% of deaths from natural disasters occur in countries of low or medium development that have a limited capacity to adapt to or prepare for these events” (Irish Aid, Environmental Policy for Sustainable Development).

“Crises often arise from, or are perpetuated by, human mismanagement of the environment.”

Irish Aid divides environment-related crises into three categories:

Human: Crises that result directly from human mismanagement, such as collapses, industrial accidents (like Chernobyl, or the toxic gas leak in Bhopal), extended refugee situations, and chronic food insecurities that are the results of unsuccessful or unsustainable food/social policies.

Natural: Sudden events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and hurricanes.

Human-Natural Connections: Humanitarian crises either caused or exacerbated by human interaction with the environment. An example is the flood in Gonaives, Haiti in 2004, which was exacerbated by deforestation.

“Badly planned humanitarian aid can damage the environment during a crisis and increase the risk of future crises.”

During humanitarian crises, it is often difficult to make environmental considerations, especially when the primary goal is to save lives, but failure to take the environment into consideration can lead to damage that can lead to even more negative effects. An example given by Irish Aid is the humanitarian efforts in Aceh, Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami. Deforestation concerns led to encouragement of building with bricks instead of wood, until it was discovered that the volume of wood needed to fire the bricks was greater than the volume needed to make wooden houses.

“Good humanitarian assistance can improve current environmental conditions and reduce environmental damage in the future, thus reducing the risk of future crises.”

Irish Aid highlights the link between better environmental management and a reduction in the intensity of disasters.

If you’re interested in learning more about the relationship between the environment and humanitarian crises, you can check out UNEP or UNEP’s post-conflict and disaster management branch in addition to the links above.

During spring break I had the privilege of traveling to New Orleans with the Georgetown University Alternative Spring Break Program. I specifically worked on rebuilding a home that was condemned due to the poor structure of the levee system during Hurricane Katrina. It is over six and half years since Hurricane Katrina and there is still so much work available for volunteers to do.

The house I worked on, through the St. Bernard Project, was located in a wealthy neighborhood and was owned by an older couple. When the homeowners returned after Hurricane Katrina they found that looters had taken all off their possessions and were squatting in the upstairs portion of the house. The male homeowner previously operated a successful business and had paid a contractor one hundred thousand dollars to repair the damage. In turn, the contractor took the money and never completed any of the work. It was impossible to recover the money and the perpetrators weren’t fully held accountable, largely due to the commonality of this type of fraud post-Katrina. The husband has since experienced serious health conditions and requires continual hospitalization.

So many New Orleans residents are homeless or were forced out of their homes without any compensation or hope of returning. A recurring theme is deciphering where the line of responsibility is drawn. New Orleans residents have been strategically disadvantaged and prevented from regaining their belongings, possessions and for many New Orleans natives, their lives. The neighborhoods are now attracting younger populations and altering the traditional dynamic. Historically and culturally significant landmarks are still boarded up and broken down, which signifies to the community the lack of support and interest. Houses still have FEMA marks on their exterior, indicating the presence of toxic water damage and the number of lives lost. The Lower Ninth Ward has been described as a jungle because of the overgrown vegetation, dumping, and abandoned lots.

So how is success being measured? Getting people off the street doesn’t indicate that progress has occurred. Although there is a large homeless population in New Orleans, many of the individuals that government officials did not want in New Orleans were forced to live in other states and regions. After the evacuation of New Orleans, the projects were shut down and those residents who returned to their homes were not allowed to reenter. Additionally, the lack of medical care and credible school systems has hindered the return of many New Orleans natives.

Because of the horrific circumstances of Hurricane Katrina and the BP Oil Spill, many people have experienced set back after set back. At a certain point those setbacks become institutionalized and extremely difficult to counter without adamant assistance. Individuals have a right to their property, but many residents did not have the proper home and flood insurance needed to receive compensation. However, earlier this month the Army Corps of Engineers was found liable for shoddy construction on one of the shipping channels.

New Orleans has attracted and relied on the dedication of individuals to make an impact. The participation of groups like AmeriCorps and Brad Pitt’s Make it Right Foundation are sustaining the rebuilding effort. Many visitors and vacationers have fallen in love with the city and dedicated their time to help rebuild. One of the main problems surrounding the New Orleans rebuilding effort is people have lost sight of the city. Katrina occurred over six years ago and it is often assumed that a recovery has already been achieved. The long-term effects of the massive BP Oil Spill are still unknown. Students and individuals can contribute to these efforts through volunteering their time to organizations like AmeriCorps and the St. Bernard Project. It is also easy to donate funds or organize a fundraising event. More information about the St. Bernard Project and their dedication to rebuilding can be found by clicking here.  The Make it Right Foundation’s progress in the Lower Ninth Ward can be tracked here. The simplest was to contribute and propel reconstruction is to increase awareness about the difficulties New Orleans is still experiencing. Updates and current events can be followed via the Nola news website found here.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/magazine/the-lower-ninth-ward-new-orleans.html?pagewanted=4&ref=hurricanekatrina

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/senate_approves_amendmend_givi.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/03/us/louisiana-army-corps-is-found-liable.html?ref=hurricanekatrina

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/us/new-orleans-evacuteers-promote-hurricane-awareness.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=new+orleans&st=cse

Following Tapey, a Tibetan monk who set himself on fire on February 27, 2009 in Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, 23 Tibetans have since self immolated across Tibet. Among them, there were 20 men and 3 women, 11 of whom were teenagers. These gruesome acts of self-immolation in a land whose exiled leader, the 14th Dalai Lama is internationally known for his advocacy on ideals such as peace and non-violence, demonstrate the sheer desperation of Tibetans to take action against more than fifty years under Chinese rule. So far, 15 out of 23 have died right after their protests while the whereabouts and the wellbeing of the remaining 8 are still unknown.

In reaction to the whole situation, the Chinese government has placed a total media blackout on Tibet. As a result, communications between Tibetans in Tibet and Tibetans in exile have been impossible to maintain in the last few weeks. However, some bold journalists and foreign tourists were able to break in and report the current status of Tibet to the outside world. According to a testimony by a non-Tibetan eyewitness, Lhasa, the former capital city of Tibet, appeared like the Warsaw Ghetto. He writes, “Soldiers, S.W.A.T. teams, and police patrols fill the city streets 24 hours a day. All Tibetans have to carry identification at all times.” In January 2012, around 7000 Tibetans travelled to India to attend the Kalachakra ceremony presided on by the 14th Dalai Lama. According to reports, hundreds of Tibetans who were returning through India, Nepal, and Hong Kong have been detained to “complete a period of ‘patriotic education,’ at the end of which they would be forced to denounce the Dalai Lama.”

Tibetans in diaspora have been carrying out constant non-violent processions, hunger strikes, and campaigns all over the world. World leaders, who recently visited Mainland China or welcomed Chinese officials in their country, were petitioned to raise the Tibet issue. There are other important personalities who have raised their concerns. The democratic progressive party chairperson Tsai Ing-wen has expressed her worries over increasing reports of self-immolation protests in Tibet. Maria Otero, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights addressed “the US Government’s ‘grave concern’ at the current situation in Tibet” in UN human rights session on March 2, 2012. In reaction to the global concerns, the Tibetan parliament in exile expresses appreciation, yet asks the UN and world leaders to do more than simply express their concerns.

As the China lock-down seals off the Tibetan unrest, the chances of doing something for the Tibetan cause appears slim. However, there is, in fact, much one can do. Learning about and understanding the Tibetan cause, signing petitions, writing letters, becoming a contributing member of non-profit organizations such as International Campaign for Tibet and Students for Free Tibet are all great ways to create a positive change. People residing in the US who would like to write letters to their senators can access the link here. For those who want to so something for the cause, Students for Free Tibet has listed here how one can get involved. People who want to know more about the Tibet issue can follow the Phayul, which covers news on Tibetans both in Tibet and in diaspora.

Sources

www.phayul.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16908985

http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ (Students for Free Tibet)

http://www.savetibet.org/ (International Campaign for Tibet)

The northern region of Nigeria has recently been under attack from Boko Haram, a Nigerian Sunni Muslim militant group. Boko Haram is translated “no to western education” and is threatened by the domineering west and the largely Christian population in southern Nigeria. Boko Haram members call for the establishment of Islamic Sharia law in Nigeria in order to alter the roughly half Christian and half Muslim religious structure. The group parallels the Taliban and has targeted police, the government, Christians, and non-extremist Muslims. Allegations of Boko Haram’s ties to al-Qaeda’s north African group have not yet been disproved.

President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathon, has revealed the possibility that Boko Haram has infiltrated the government. Boko Haram members allegedly hold positions in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and in the armed forces. Last month, Boko Haram killed almost 200 individuals living in Nigeria’s second most populous city of Kano. The impossibility of identifying Boko Haram members fuels insecurity and has intimidated the other 160 million Nigerian residents. Violence can erupt at any time and widespread fear permeates as the small number of Boko Haram members has instilled a sense of looming threat. The group killed more than 500 people last year, of which the majority were Christian. This year alone 250 people have been killed through bomb and gun assaults that have been concentrated in northern cities of Nigeria.

Boko Haram’s native area is in the far northeast of the country near the borders of Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. Although the sect previously focused its attacks in this region, it is expanding its scope to other northern cities. Boko Haram typically targets public areas like police stations, banks, and even churches. More recently, Boko Haram has been linked to a jailbreak that occurred last week in the central state of Kogi, which freed 119 prisoners from the Koton Karifi prison that held a total of 120 prisoners. The Boko Haram members used bombs to reach the entrance of the prison and then opened fire. Boko Haram regained 7 of their members who were being detained and killed one prison warden.

The insurgent group is motivated by continual government corruption and the poor economic conditions experienced by northern Muslim residents. Deprivation is prevalent in Nigeria but extreme poverty is more prominent in the north. “Years of corruption have meant that 70% of the population lives in extreme poverty despite an oil industry that produces 2m barrels per day”.

The prospect of the radical group gaining control of the country could lead to a breakout of uncontainable violence. Some experts have predicted an imminent civil war in Nigeria that could have devastating effects for Africa’s most populated nation.

Sources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17059895

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/27/boko-haram-nigeria-fundamental-issues?intcmp=239

http://news.yahoo.com/nigerias-sect-boko-haram-says-killed-12-soldiers-201646529.html

http://www.christianpost.com/news/dozens-of-christians-killed-in-new-wave-of-bombings-in-nigeria-66646/

http://www.france24.com/en/20120216-more-100-freed-after-gunmen-storm-nigerian-prison-kogi-state-koton

“What Syria is witnessing is not racist, nor sectarian, nor guerrilla war, but a mass purge without any humanitarian considerations.” –Prince Saud al-Faisal, Saudi Foreign Minister

According to the most recent estimates from the United Nations, the death toll in Syria has reached over 6000 since March 2011, and as the death toll increases, the United States, the Arab League, the UN and their partners are struggling to pressure dictator President al-Assad and the Syrian government to step down from power.

According to Rami Jarrah, a Syrian activist who helped start the Activist News Association, a new organization based in Cairo, the active resistance in Syria has “long since stopped,” but “the government is using the excuse of ‘armed resistance’…to continue this bombardment.”

On Friday, February 24th, both western and Arab powers, as well as other nations from the Friends of Syria contact group are to meet in Tunisia to pressure al-Assad to relinquish his power. Russia announced that it would not participate in the meeting. Meanwhile, President al-Assad is preparing to proceed with his plans for a referendum on February 26^th. The referendum, which most states in the Arab and western world have dismissed as “laughable,” would allow for multi-party elections within 90 days.

The Syrian government’s bloody crackdown on the pro-democracy protests has been centered on the city of Homs in western Syria since March 2011. Activist groups in the area have reported intensified attacks for the past two weeks. Almost 4000 of the 6000+ deaths are from Homs alone.

The UN Security Council proposed a resolution for the Syrian crisis, but China and Russia vetoed the resolution on February 4^th. On Tuesday, China, Iran, and Russia made declarations of their support for the Syrian government.

“The situation in Homs is critical, and is turning into a major humanitarian crisis,” explained Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International. “Russia has blocked international efforts to stop the massive human rights violations in Syria, stating that they have a better plan for resolving the crisis…Russia, and other countries with influence must use water means they have to restrain the Syrian military in Homs and ensure it stops using heavy weaponry in residential areas.”

The Syrian Revolution is part of the greater Arab Spring movement that started in January last year. The protests in Syria began in Damascus in March, and have, since then, spread throughout the country, including Homs, where the majority of the resistance movement is taking place. Syrian protestors have used marches, hunger strikes, rioting, and other forms of civil resistance against the government, demanding the resignation of the dictator President Bashar al-Assad.

In April 2011, the Syrian government lifted emergency law after 48 years, which had allowed the government to suspend constitutional rights. Almost immediately after, however, President al-Assad launched brutal attacks against the civilians. The violence continues to escalate.

Thousands of people around the globe have shown solidarity with Syrian people through protests, demonstrations, petitions, and Facebook groups calling on the Syrian government to step down. Many nations have publicly condemned the actions of the Syrian government. Amnesty International released a petition calling on Russia, the Syrian government’s strongest supporter, to help end the bloodshed. It can be accessed and signed here.

The events and decisions made in the next few days will have important consequences for the people of Syria, as well as other involved nations. You can follow the crisis in Syria through several interactive timelines that can be found here, here, and here. They are updated daily.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/world/middleeast/iranian-ships-reported-to-leave-syria.html?_r=1&ref=world

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/world/middleeast/arab-league-requests-un-peacekeepers-for-syria.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/syria-death-toll_n_1210656.html

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/syria-brutal-assault-homs-must-end-2012-02-08

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/syria/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/world/middleeast/iran-warns-us-over-syria-as-crackdown-intensifies.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10097731

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/8088bb66-5c18-11e1-bbc4-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1mzH81yZF

My name is Maria Clinton and I am a junior at Fairfield University. Going to the 2010 JUHAN Conference at Georgetown University was an experience that has greatly changed my perspective on life and the world. Being surrounded by so many students and faculty dedicated to helping both the people and places affected by humanitarian crises inspired me. It made me realize that no matter how small the act, a difference could be made in the world. In the words of Mother Teresa, “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.”

Being a part of JUHAN has truly been a blessing for me and has allowed me to be among people who deeply care for those often forgotten. With this said, watching my student peers pioneer programs and events for JUHAN prompted me to create a news program named Stand For. Stand For is in no way a one-man show. Rather, it is a student-led group that uses the creative skills of all the members involved to bring awareness about humanitarian crises to the greater college community. Overall, our main goal as a group is to create a news programs about humanitarian crises that often receive little or no attention at all. Each show of Stand For is dedicated to one particular crisis that the group has chosen to cover. Through interviews with faculty members and/or experts in the field who can provide insight about the crisis we cover, we are able to use the information to help structure our program. As a group, we also find it necessary to include our student peers’ perspectives on the particular crisis covered. We realize that often students, their family, and/or friends are directly affected by crises and their opinion is extremely valuable to us.

I gladly report that we are in the last stages of editing our first pilot project titled, Stand For: Pakistan. In 2010 and 2011, some provinces of Pakistan experienced devastating monsoon flooding, which left land damaged and the livelihood of many affected. The goal of Stand For: Pakistan has been to find out the effect and magnitude of the floods in the provinces hit, how the livelihood of the people and youth have been affected, and what college students can do to help. We were able to interview the recently retired CEO of Save the Children, Charlie MacCormack and Erika Thrasher the Associate Director of Asia Operations, as well as a Pakistani student from the freshman class and a member of our group Sohail Sumra, who has family members living in Pakistan. They all provided their insights as to what happened and provided advice for ways college students could help. In addition to this, the group set up an awareness table in our main campus center where were able to hand out candy with facts about the floods to people who walked by. All members played an important role in the project with Nargis Alizada serving as the producer and both Ashley Dessources and Glorivette Rodriguez serving as the cinematographers as well as helping in the editing process of the project. Sohail Sumra and Angelina Morisi also greatly helped in planning and creating the facts for the awareness table.

I am very grateful for all the support we have received from the JUHAN staff and group members as well as HAM Channel the student run television station on campus. I look forward to posting our first news program, Stand For: Pakistan on the JUHAN Blog so be sure to check us out!

Register for the JUHAN 2012 Conference today!

JUHAN2012_Invitation

JUHAN2012_Conference_Brochure

The Call for Proposals has been extended until March 5th
The early bird discount for registration ends March 21st

On December 18^th the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee (UNIASC) warned that in 2012 Yemen will be facing a significant humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of recent political and economic upheaval. According to the UNIASC statement, “About four million people will be affected by the crisis in Yemen in 2012 and will require immediate humanitarian support.”

One of the biggest issues Yemen faces is food security. According to the UN, a third of the population of Yemen (or 7 million people) are food insecure, going to bed hungry or not knowing when they will next have a meal. Food insecurity and malnutrition have a disproportionate affect on young children; Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population conducted a survey on children under five in conjunction with UNICEF and found that nearly a third of these children suffered from moderate or severe malnutrition. This is more than double the rate of 15% that the international community recognizes as an emergency threshold.

The severity of the food crisis comes in the wake of months of political violence and unrest in Yemen, as anti-government demonstrations have flared up and been violently suppressed. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 33 years, has agreed to resign in February 2012 and an interim transitional government has already been sworn in. Despite this political progress, however, the violence and political upheaval has contributed significantly to rising rates of food insecurity and malnutrition.

Thousands of Yemenis have fled their homes, and those who remain face fuel shortages and skyrocketing food prices. According to Mercy Corps, in the past year “the cost of primary food commodities has increased by 46%” in Yemen. The primary health care system is also suffering, and UNICEF estimates that 40% fewer children have been immunized in certain areas of the country. This combination of food insecurity and lack of medical care could lead to a humanitarian disaster of massive proportions.

Naveed Hussain, a representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), warned that Yemen is on its way to a crisis on the scale of that in Somalia. “We are most concerned about the humanitarian situation which is very close to catastrophic,” he said. “There are millions of people who are close to starvation.”

You can read more about this issue by checking out my sources for this post: IRIN Humanitarian News and Analysis, Yahoo News / AFP, and the Mercy Corps website.

It is clear that the international community needs to come together to help ameliorate this humanitarian crisis. Right now you can help Yemeni children facing malnutrition by donating to UNICEF, which is on the ground in Yemen. JUHAN will be monitoring the situation, and we will let you know about other opportunities to help Yemen through your campus communities.