28 January 2015 – Conflicts and high level of violence continues throughout the Syrian Arab Republic, aerial bombings by government forces and attacks by armed opposition, extremist and designated terrorist groups continue to result in death, injury and displacement. It is estimated that 10.8 million people in Syrian Arab Republic remain in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, many of them trapped in hard to reach areas. Over 3 million Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries. Around 6.5 million people have been internally displaced by violence. Humanitarian needs remain enormous.

Appeals SYR151_JSL_Humanitarian_Response

10 January 2015 – Heavy rains and heavy stormy rains devastated the country from 5th January to date and the weather
forecast is indicating that the heavy down pours will continue. This has caused swelling of the many streams and rivers and consequently flooding of many rivers in Chikwawa, Nsanje and Karonga; and in Karonga this was combined with heavy stormy rains which have destroyed so many houses. A total of 24,938 people have been affected, with more than 8 people dead and several other people have been seriously injured.

The floods and heavy stormy rains have greatly damaged crops, food items in homes, household assets, livestock, road networks, houses, boreholes and toilets have been heavily damaged in those districts. In total the floods have destroyed 1,200 hectares of cultivable land in Chikwawa while other districts are still doing assessments to establish the extent of the damage. A total of 1,760 houses have been destroyed and affected people are being been evacuated to primary schools, churches and other houses from trading centres. Official reports from the affected districts with actual figures and realistic magnitude of damage will be shared in a situation report as soon as possible once comprehensive assessment has been done by the Area Civil Committees.

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 9 January 2015 – In July 2014, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge against the Gaza Strip, following. This has resulted in an aggravated protection crisis in Gaza with serious and negative humanitarian consequences. To date, more than 2145Palestinians have been killed, and more than 11231were injured, in which 501were children. Most of the victims are reported to be civilians. More than 500,000 people were forced to leave their homes in Gaza and find shelter in UNRWA and governmental schools, mosques and health facilities. The psychosocial and health conditions, especially of children living in Gaza, are a major concern which needs to be addressed. ACT members are planning to continue supporting the neediest people in terms of health, food and non‐food items, psychosocial, and economic support. In addition to supporting the work on advocating for ending the blockade to reduce and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Appeals_01_2015_Support to Gaza and the West Bank_PSE141_Rev. 2

9 January 2015 – The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in Assam state of India warned of retaliation when the state police launched an operation against them on 21 December 2014 which resulted in the death of two of their members. The NDFB attacked on 23 December 2014 in three districts of Assam ? Kokrajhar and Sonitpur which resulted in the deaths of 85 people (73 Adivasis and 12 others). The ethnic violence has resulted in the displacement of 72, 675 people who are sheltering in 61 relief camps. Most of the displaced are women and children belonging to the tribal communities in Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, Chirag, Baksa, Bongagaon and Udalguri. In retaliation, three Bodo people in a village near Behali in Sonitpur  district were killed. Both communities have burned houses and damaged properties in different parts of the state. Fresh violence erupted again in Assam in the bordering districts of Kokrajhar (Bhutan border) and Sonitpur (Arunachal Pradesh border) on 26 December.

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