MYANMAR FLOODS: CROPS DESTROYED, LIVESTOCK LOST

U Kyaw Thein, 61, lives a simple life in the quiet Bauk Ywar village, located in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State. He has engaged in subsistence farming to support his family, planting rice in the wet season, and alternating it with maize during the dry season.

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More than 120 humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies issued a joint appeal today urging the world to raise their voices and call for an end to the Syria crisis and to the suffering endured by millions of civilians. The appeal also outlines a series of immediate, practical steps that can improve humanitarian access and the delivery of aid to those in need inside Syria. You are invited to “sign” the appeal simply by liking, sharing, and retweeting it.

Three years ago, the leaders of UN humanitarian agencies issued an urgent appeal to those who could end the conflict in Syria. They called for every effort to save the Syrian people. “Enough”, they said, of the suffering and bloodshed.

That was three years ago.

Now, the war is approaching its sixth brutal year. The bloodshed continues. The suffering deepens.

So today, we — leaders of humanitarian organisations and UN agencies — appeal not only to governments but to each of you — citizens around the world — to add your voices in urging an end to the carnage. To urge that all parties reach agreement on a ceasefire and a path to peace.

More than ever before, the world needs to hear a collective public voice calling for an end to this outrage. Because this conflict and its consequences touch us all.

It touches those in Syria who have lost loved ones and livelihoods, who have been uprooted from their homes, or who live in desperation under siege. Today, some 13.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance. That is not simply a statistic. These are 13.5 million individual human beings whose lives and futures are in jeopardy.

It touches the families who, with few options for a better future, set out on perilous journeys to foreign lands in search of refuge. The war has seen 4.6 million people flee to neighbouring countries and beyond.

It touches a generation of children and young people who — deprived of education and traumatized by the horrors they have experienced — increasingly see their future shaped only by violence.

It touches those far beyond Syria who have seen the violent repercussions of the crisis reach the streets, offices and restaurants closer to their homes.

And it touches all those around the world whose economic wellbeing is affected, in ways visible and invisible, by the conflict.

Those with the ability to stop the suffering can — and therefore should — take action now. Until there is a diplomatic solution to the fighting, such action should include:

– Unimpeded and sustained access for humanitarian organizations to bring immediate relief to all those in need inside Syria

– Humanitarian pauses and unconditional, monitored ceasefires to allow food and other urgent assistance to be delivered to civilians, vaccinations and other health campaigns, and for children to return to school

– A cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure — so that schools and hospitals and water supplies are kept safe

– Freedom of movement for all civilians and the immediate lifting of all sieges by all parties

These are practical actions. There is no practical reason they could not be implemented if there is the will to do so.

In the name of our shared humanity… for the sake of the millions of innocents who have already suffered so much… and for the millions more whose lives and futures hang in the balance, we call for action now.

Now.

21 January 2016

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Chairperson, BRAC, Bangladesh

Zairulshahfuddin bin Zainal Abidin, Country Director, Islamic Relief Malaysia

Ryoko Akamatsu, Chairperson, Japan Committee for UNICEF

Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO, Plan International

Richard Allen, CEO, Mentor Initiative

Dr. Haytham Alhamwi, Director, Rethink Rebuild

Steen M. Andersen, Executive Director, Danish Committee for UNICEF

Barry Andrews, CEO, GOAL Ireland

Nancy A. Aossey, President and CEO, International Medical Corp

Bernt G. Apeland, Executive Director, Norwegian Committee for UNICEF

Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO, Islamic Relief Worldwide

Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General, CEO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Lina Sergie Attar, co-founder and CEO, Karam Foundation

Carmelo Angulo Barturen, President, Spanish Committee for UNICEF

Ileana Bello, Executive Director, Defence for Children International

Gudrun Berger, Executive Director, Austrian Committee for UNICEF

Tomaž Bergoč, Executive Director, Slovenian Foundation for UNICEF

David Bull, Executive Director, United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF

Marie-Pierre Caley, CEO, ACTED

Adriano Campolina, Chief Executive, Actionaid

CARE Netherlands

Tineke Ceelen, Director, Stichting Vluchteling, Netherlands

Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization

Jonny Cline, Executive Director, The Israeli Fund for UNICEF

Sarah Costa, Executive Director, Women’s Refugee Commission

Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Programme

Emese Danks, Executive Director, UNICEF Hungarian Committee Foundation

Maryanne Diamond, Chair, International Disability Alliance

Hisham Dirani, CEO, BINAA Organization for Development

Edukans, Netherlands

Jan Egeland, Secretary-General, Norwegian Refugee Council

Patricia Erb, President and CEO, Save the Children Canada

Sanem Bilgin Erkurt, Executive Director, Turkish National Committee for UNICEF

Pierre Ferrari, President and CEO, Heifer International

Amy Fong, Chief Executive, Save the Children Hong Kong

Justin Forsyth, CEO, Save the Children UK

Michel Gabaudan, President, Refugees International

Meg Gardinier, Secretary General, ChildFund Alliance

Global Call to Action against Poverty

Mark Goldring, Chief Executive, Oxfam Great Britain

Pavla Gomba, Executive Director, Czech Committee for UNICEF

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Madalena Grilo, Executive Director, Portuguese Committee for UNICEF

Noreen Gumbo, Head of Humanitarian Programmes, Trócaire

Handicap International, Belgium

Abdullah Hanoun, CEO, Syrian Community of the South West UK

Heather Hayden, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children New Zealand

Dr. Dirk Hegmanns, Regional Director Turkey/Syria/Iraq, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe

Anne-Marie Helland, General Secretary, Norwegian Church Aid

Anne Hery, Director for Advocacy and Institutional Relations, Handicap International

International Organization for Migration, Netherlands

W. Douglas Jackson, President and CEO, PROJECT C.U.R.E.

Wolfgang Jamann, Secretary General, Care International

Kevin Jenkins, President and CEO, World Vision International

Bergsteinn Jónsson, Executive Director, Icelandic National Committee for UNICEF

Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Director, DEI-Belgique

Thomas G. Kemper, General Secretary, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church

Neal Keny-Guyer, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps

Kerk in Actie, Netherlands

Marja-Riitta Ketola, Executive Director, Finnish Committee for UNICEF

Peter Klansoe, Regional Director, Danish Refugee Council, Middle East North Africa region

Pim Kraan, Director, Save the Children Netherlands

Marek Krupiński, Executive Director, Polish National Committee for UNICEF

Dr. Hans Kuenzle, Chair, Swiss Committee for UNICEF

Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF

Jane Lau, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF

Lavinia Limón, President and CEO, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Jonas Keiding Lindholm, CEO Save the Children Denmark

Rosa G. Lizarde, Global Director, Feminist Task Force

Olivier Longue, CEO, Accion Contra el Hambre

John Lyon, President, World Hope International

Sébastien Lyon, Executive Director, French Committee for UNICEF

Dominic MacSorley, Chief Executive Officer, Concern Worldwide

Dirk Van Maele, Director, Plan België

Cécil Van Maelsaeke, Director, Tearfund, Belgium

Vivien Maidaborn, Executive Director, The New Zealand National Committee for UNICEF

Blanca Palau Mallol, President, Andorran Committee for UNICEF

Rev. John L. McCullough, President and CEO, Church World Service

Carolyn Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children USA

David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee

Mr. Juraj Mišura, President, Slovak Committee for UNICEF

James Mitchum, Chief Executive Officer, Heart to Heart International

David Morley, President and CEO, Canadian UNICEF Committee

John Nduna, General Secretary, ACT Alliance

Stephen O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund

Ignacio Packer, Secretary-General, Terre des Hommes International Federation

People in Need

Dato Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, President, Mercy Malaysia

Plan, Norway

Peter Power, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland

Sarina Prabasi, Chief Executive Officer, WaterAid America

Chris Proulx, President and CEO, LINGOS, United States

Dr. Jihad Qaddour, President, Syria Relief and Development

Red Cross, Netherlands

Curtis N. Rhodes Jr., International Director, Questscope

Michel Roy, Secretary General, Caritas International

Paolo Rozera, Executive Director, Italian Committee for UNICEF

Dr. Tessie San Martin, President and CEO, Plan International USA

Christian Schneider, Executive Director, German Committee for UNICEF

Rev. Thomas H. Smolich, S.J. International Director, Jesuit Refugee Service

Janti Soeripto, Interim CEO, Save the Children, International

SOS Kinderdorpen, Netherlands

Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO, United States Fund for UNICEF

Marie Soueid, Policy Counsel, Center for Victims of Torture

John Stewart, President, Australian Committee for UNICEF Limited

Odd Swarting, Chair, Swedish Committee for UNICEF

William L. Swing, Director General, International Organization for Migration

Florence Syevuo, Global Call to Action against Poverty, Kenya

Daigo Takagi, Association for Aid and Relief, Japan

Tearfund, UK

Terre des Hommes International Federation

Constantine M. Triantafilou, Executive Director and CEO, International Orthodox Christian Charities

Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches

Monique van ‘t Hek, Director, Plan Nederland

Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

Pierre Verbeeren, Director, Medecins du Monde, Belgium

Damien Vincent, Executive Director, Belgium Committee for UNICEF

Sandra Visscher, Executive Director, Luxembourg Committee for UNICEF

Vrouwen tegen Uitzetting, Netherlands

Tove Wang, CEO, Save the Children Norway

David A. Weiss, President and CEO, Global Communities

Kathrin Wieland, CEO, Save the Children Germany

Jan Bouke Wijbrandi, Executive Director, Dutch Committee for UNICEF

Nancy E. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Relief International

Carolyn Woo, President and CEO, Catholic Relief Services

Daniel Wordsworth, President and CEO, American Refugee Committee

Samuel A. Worthington, CEO, InterAction

Leila Zerrougui, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

Mohammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Chief Executive, AwazCDS and Pakistan Development Alliance

ACT Alliance today joined top international charities, human rights campaigners, women’s rights groups, green groups, civil society organisations and trade unions in a statement decrying the level in inequality in the world today. The organisations committed themselves to fight the growing crisis of inequality together. The statement was launched as some of the world’s richest and most powerful gather in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.

“Fighting inequality is one of the most urgent priority for ACT Alliance, and it should very well be the priority of all governments, civil society and all sectors of society, “ says John Nduna, ACT General Secretary.

Read the press release here: Inequality Alliance Press release

The current food insecurity crisis in Ethiopia appears to be a result of a combination of factors, including the pre-El Niño failure of the spring rains and the El Niño induced late onset, erratic and early cessation of the main summer rains.

Click on the image to see the infographic

The current food insecurity crisis in Ethiopia appears to be a result of a combination of factors, including the pre-El Niño failure of the spring rains and the El Niño induced late onset, erratic and early cessation of the main summer rains.

Click on the image to see the infographic

The current food insecurity crisis in Ethiopia appears to be a result of a combination of factors, including the pre-El Niño failure of the spring rains and the El Niño induced late onset, erratic and early cessation of the main summer rains.

Click on the image to see the infographic

Communiqué de presse

Le réseau international humanitaire et de développement ACT Alliance a accueilli favorablement l’accord mondial sur le climat aujourd’hui à Paris après des années de négociation entre tous les pays.

« Des centaines de villes, régions, entreprises et Eglises ont prouvé leur engagement déterminé à sortir des énergies fossiles d’ici le milieu de ce siècle. C’est une étape clé dans l’histoire humaine de la lutte contre le changement climatique qui nous donne de l’espoir pour un futur écologique, résilient et plus équitable », dit l’ambassadeur global et archevêque Thabo Makgabo, d’Afrique du Sud.

L’accord universel de Paris inclut pour la première fois l’engagement de tous les Etats à garder le réchauffement global bien en dessous des 2 degrés. Avec l’objectif d’atténuation de long terme, un mécanisme pour rehausser l’action de chaque pays au fil du temps, des règles de transparence communes et un paquet de soutien pour les vulnérables, tous les instruments nécessaires à l’avancée sont présents.

« Nous appelons à présent les gouvernements nationaux à combler les lacunes qui ont fait leur entrée dans l’accord du fait de certains pays ne voulant pas prendre leur responsabilité », dit Mattias Söderberg, qui mène la délégation d’ACT Alliance.

Mattias Söderberg poursuit : « Une action climat plus importante et plus rapide est nécessaire pour s’attaquer de façon adéquate aux enjeux qui concernent les populations pauvres et vulnérables. La mise en œuvre de l’accord de Paris doit être accélérée par l’action nationale et une coopération internationale approfondie. »

L’archevêque Thabo Makgabo dit : « Nous faisons partie de la création et bien qu’elle nous inspire de la reconnaissance, nous devons aussi reconnaître notre responsabilité de prendre soin de la Terre. Cette responsabilité nous a été donnée par Dieu, c’est pourquoi nous, en tant que groupes de foi partout dans le monde, devons montrer la voie. »

Les délégations d’ACT Alliance, de la Fédération Luthérienne Mondial et du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises, comprenaient ensemble plus de cent personnes durant les deux semaines du sommet climat.

FIN

Pour des questions supplémentaires, merci de contacter le responsable de la délégation d’ACT Alliance, Mattias Söderberg : msd@dca.dk +45-29700609.

PRESS RELEASE

International humanitarian and development network ACT Alliance has welcomed the final global climate agreement adopted today in Paris after years of negotiations among all countries.

“The Paris agreement has delivered the universal Paris Accord and a support package,” said ACT Alliance global climate ambassador Archbishop Thabo Makgabo, from South Africa. “Hundreds of cities, regions, companies and churches have proven their strong commitment to phase out fossil energies by mid-century. This is a milestone in the human story to tackle climate change and gives us hope for a climate friendly, resilient and more equitable future.”

“The universal Paris agreement includes for the first time the commitment of all states to keep global warming well below 2 degrees,” he continued. “With the long term mitigation goal, a mechanism to dynamically scale up each country’s action over time, common transparency rules and a support package for the vulnerable, all necessary instruments are on board to move forward.”

“Now we call on all national governments to close the remaining loopholes, which were included in the agreement due to countries not willing to take on their responsibility,” said Mattias Söderberg, head of the ACT alliance delegation at the negotiations in Paris. “More and faster climate action is needed to adequately address the core concerns of poor and vulnerable people. The implementation of the Paris Accord must be accelerated by national action and deepened international cooperation.”

Archbishop Thabo Makgabo concluded: “We are all part of Creation, and while we are thankful for this, we also need to acknowledge our responsibility to take care of the earth. This responsibility was given to us by God, and thus we, as faith groups around the world need to lead the way.”

The joint faith-based delegations of ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches, included more than 100 people during the two week long climate summit.

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

El red international de desarollo ACT Allianza, bienvenida el borrador del Acurdo Global de cambios climáticos que es adoptado ahora en Paris despues de anos de negociasiones entre los países.

” Cientos de ciudades, regiones, empresas e iglesias han demostrado un fuerte compromiso para eliminar las energías basadas en fósiles para mediados de siglo. Esto marca un hito histórico en la lucha contra el cambio climático y nos muestra un futuro esperanzador, más sostenible, resiliente y equitativo”, dice el Arzobispo y el embajador mundial de la Alianza ACT Thabo Makgabo, de Sudáfrica.

El acuerdo de París universal incluye por primera vez el compromiso de todos los estados para mantener el calentamiento del planeta por debajo de 2 grados. Con el objetivo de mitigación a largo plazo, un mecanismo para aumentar dinámicamente los compromisos de cada uno de los países con el tiempo, las normas comunes de transparencia así como un paquete de apoyo a las personas más vulnerables, están todos los elementos necesarios a bordo para seguir adelante en la lucha contra el cambio climático.

“Ahora hacemos un llamamiento a todos los gobiernos nacionales para cerrar los flecos que quedan todavía y aquellas cuestiones que aparecen indebidamente en el acuerdo debido a los países que no están dispuestos a asumir su responsabilidad”, dice Mattias Söderberg, jefe de la delegación alianza ACT.

Mattias Söderberg continúa: “Se necesita mayor acción contra el cambio climático y que ésta sea más rápida para abordar adecuadamente las preocupaciones fundamentales de las personas más pobres y vulnerables. La aplicación del Acuerdo de París debe ser aumentada e incrementada por medidas a nivel nacional y la cooperación internacional”.

Arzobispo Thabo Makgabo dice: “Todas las personas somos parte de la Creación, y mientras estamos agradecidas por esto, también tenemos que reconocer nuestra responsabilidad de cuidar de la tierra. Esta responsabilidad nos fue dada por Dios, y por lo tanto nosotros y nosotras, como los grupos religiosos de todo el mundo tienen que liderar el camino ”

Las delegaciones religiosas conjuntas de la Alianza ACT, la Federación Luterana Mundial y el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias han estado formadas por más de cien personas durante las dos semanas cumbre contra el cambio climático.

Para más preguntas: Jefe de la delegación de la Alianza ACT, Mattias Söderberg, en msd@dca.dk o + 45-29.700.609.

The President of France Francois Hollande today praised the efforts of campaigners and faith leaders who personally delivered to him a collection of petitions containing over 1.8 million signatures calling for climate justice.

François Hollande received the international petitions at a special reception held at the Presidential Palace in Paris. They were presented by a delegation that included the Philippines’ leading climate activist Yeb Saño, Bishop of Salisbury (UK) the Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, Auxiliary Bishop of Brasília the Most Rev Leonardo Steiner and Dr Ghaleb Bencheikh, President of Religions for Peace – France,

The 20 guests at the event represented the four faith-based networks who led the petition campaign – ACT Alliance, OurVoices, Religions for Peace and the Global Catholic Climate Movement – as well as other organisations that helped to gather the 1,833,973 signatures worldwide.

At the ceremony, François Hollande thanked the group, saying he was pleased to receive them “just a few hours before the end of the climate conference”. “We must protect the planet… Through the petitions, through the walks and pilgrimages, you have committed to defend life,” he said.

The President then spoke of the importance of bringing together religious leaders of all faiths to protect the world’s “common heritage”. He said: “It is necessary that all citizens engage and mobilise, like you have done. 

“This is the least we should hope for… Your example has paved the way, through all the walks and pilgrimages, together with these petitions. I hope they will have as much influence as possible while we’re still negotiating the agreement.”

Mr Hollande reminded the inter-faith group that that the primary role of the conference negotiators was to “deal with the future of the planet.” He told them: “It is a responsibility that we can’t walk away from… Your message, your petitions, must be heard, and this voice you’re bringing, must be listened to.”

Climate pilgrims from across the world were represented by Yeb Saño, leader of the People’s Pilgrimage and an ambassador for OurVoices. He told the President: “As a way to express faith communities’ deep sense of urgency regarding the climate crisis, we embarked on pilgrimages from all over the world … spreading hope for the future of humanity and hope for COP21, carrying the message of climate justice and our solidarity as one human family. 

“Altogether we journeyed the distance of close to 300,000 kilometres, including a group that I personally joined from the Vatican to Paris. We also cycled over 7,000km from Mozambique to Kenya, pushing the climate justice flag high and collecting thousands of signatures on the way… As pilgrims we walked and cycled together out of sense of justice, love, faith and hope that we can build a better future together. We are honoured to be walking with you on this journey.”

On behalf of ACT Alliance, the Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam explained why the groups had united to call for a fair and ambitious deal. He remarked: “People of all faiths urge all partiers to agree on a Paris deal applicable to all. Following the acts of terrorism in this city we want the world to act together, in care of our common home.

“For it to be ambitious, the agreement must include a long-term goal drastically cutting the world’s carbon footprint and making the transition to clean energy. The island states in particular need a limit of 1.5 Celsius. It must also have a tool to review and increase countries’ contributions, to review and increase ambitions as gaps arise.

“When they go home, governments must actually start to deliver a low-carbon future. On this, Human Rights Day, a fair deal must provide robust transparency rules, make a firm commitment to deliver $100bn climate finance to the poor, with the anchoring of the Warsaw International Mechanism on loss and damage in the Paris agreement.”

Representing the Global Catholic Climate Movement the Most Rev Leonardo Steiner, Secretary General of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, voiced his solidarity in the wake of the Paris attacks and highlighted the success of the petition campaign. “As faith representatives we are very happy to be here to bring to you our firm petition for climate justice,” he said.

“Through the campaigns of the organisations, we collected more than 1.8 signatures of believers around the world. We are extremely concerned by the common crisis, but we know that everything is not lost… thank you very much for listening to our plea for climate justice.”

Dr Ghaleb Bencheikh, President of Religions for Peace – France, spoke about the need to work for an end to conflict, in order to “build a future with a sound environment for mankind”. He said: “Religious tradition brings hope within misery. Now we are facing a climate challenge, we are acting for peace and for the future of mankind.”

He then told the President: “We admire you for what you are doing because, under your auspices, we hope that this negotiation will bring about a future for coming generations.”

Also present at the Paris ceremony were representatives from the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, We Have Faith, the Lutheran World Federation, and the ‘Bhumi Project’ at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, as well as climate pilgrims from Britain, Scandinavia and Germany.

The petitions were originally presented to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres and the French President’s Special Envoy for the Protection of the Planet, Nicolas Hulot, on November 28 in Saint-Denis, northern Paris. Delivering the opening remarks today, Mr Hulot told the delegation: “The President did not hesitate at all to receive you, as you bring the fruits of your pilgrimages”.

END

Notes to Editors:

High-res images are available from www.oikoumene.org/cop21photos. (Credit: Sean Hawkey/WCC)
For more information please contact Tomilola Ajayi: Tajayi@christian-aid.org

About the four networks who organised the petitions:

Religions for Peace, est. 1970, is the world’s largest multi-religious coalition that works to advance peace.

ACT Alliance is a coalition of 137 churches and affiliated organisations: it runs the ACT Now For Climate Justice campaign.

OurVoices is run under the auspices of The Conservation Foundation in the UK and GreenFaith in the USA.

Global Catholic Climate Movement represents thousands of Catholics responding to the Papal encyclical.