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	Food, seed and tools for nearly half a million people in Darfur by International Committee of the Red Cross Sudan   30-07-2013   Khartoum/Geneva (ICRC) – Around 450,000 people in Darfur are being provided with food, seed and farming tools by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Most of the aid is going to families in and around Jebel Marra and Jebel Si, and in areas near Zalingay. The distributions, many carried out with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, will be completed in the coming days.   "In Darfur, sporadic violence between communities, and between armed opposition groups and government forces, continues to make it hard for people to lead normal lives," said Mulan Giovannini, deputy head of the ICRC"s delegation in Sudan. “Most people receiving this aid depend on farming for their livelihoods. The seed and tools will enable them to take advantage of the planting season that begins with the onset of the rainy season.”   Over 54,000 families are being given groundnut, sorghum, tomato, okra and onion seed, out of which 46,000 families will also receive tools such as ploughs and hoes. A further 21,000 families will only receive farming tools.   In addition, food items such as sorghum, beans, sugar, and cooking oil are being distributed to some 50,000 families. "Farmers often have no choice but to use any seed they have to feed their families," said Guive Rafatian, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Zalingay. "That is why food aid is crucial, since it enables them to save the seed for planting."   "A good harvest depends mostly on good rains," said Hawa Abdallah, a farmer from Sullil in Central Darfur. "But the support we received from the ICRC will also have an impact. We"re hoping for a good harvest that will give us not only the food that we need but also some cash income."   The ICRC has been working in Sudan since 1978. In 2004 it extended its operations to Darfur, where it helps people suffering the effects of armed conflict and other violence.   http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2013/07-30-sudan-darfur-aid-for-half-million-people.htm Visit the related web page
	UN human rights office underscores civilian protection amid ongoing fighting in Homs by Rupert Colville Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights Syria   2 August 2013   Frustrated by the dire plight of civilians in Syria, the United Nations humanitarian chief today reiterated her call for an end to the fighting, access for aid workers, and respect for international human rights and humanitarian law.   “The continued failure by parties to the conflict to protect civilians across Syria means that women, men, and children continue to be killed, injured and displaced across the country,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said in a statement.   She urged commitment by all parties “to stop actions that result in loss of civilian lives, to allow access for aid organizations, and to respect their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law,” Ms. Amos noted, adding that she and colleagues in the humanitarian and human rights community have publicly and frequently called for the violence to stop.   Ms. Amos noted that hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, injured or taken hostage in attacks in Homs, Aleppo and other areas of Syria in the last two days alone.   Aid officials – at risk to their own lives – are trying to get to civilians caught in the fighting, Ms. Amos said.   “They need our support to be able to safely reach all people in need, wherever they are in Syria,” she urged. “Their job is to be neutral and impartial and it remains vital that efforts to provide humanitarian aid are separate from political agendas.”   Meanwhile, the head of the UN Children''s Fund (UNICEF) urged “immediate safe access” to families caught in the fighting in Al Waer neighbourhood of Homs where some 400,000 people are believed to be living in partially constructed buildings, schools and other public buildings.   UNICEF has been aiding partners to distribute nutrition and basic hygiene supplies and clean water, but new checkpoints are preventing more supplies from entering the area.   “We call on all parties to facilitate immediate safe access to these families so we can provide life-saving assistance, and to allow those families currently trapped in Al Waer who wish to leave to do so in safety and in dignity,” UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said in a statement.   “Cannot all those involved agree that the innocent women and children in Homs, and across Syria, should be spared all possible suffering?”   Mr. Lake said the situation of women and children in Homs “is rapidly deteriorating” with reports of intense daily clashes, and rocket and mortar strikes causing many casualties.   5 July 2013   The United Nations human rights office today said it is “extremely concerned” about up to 4,000 civilians who may be trapped by heavy fighting in and around the Syrian city of Homs, where a major Government offensive has been underway for more than a week.   “We call upon all parties to respect their obligations under international law, avoid civilian casualties and allow trapped civilians to leave without fear of persecution or violence,” the spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), Rupert Colville, told journalists in Geneva.   “We also call for unrestricted and immediate humanitarian access to all conflict-affected populations in besieged areas,” Mr. Colville added.   OHCHR believes up to 4,000 civilians, including women and children, are still trapped in and around Homs facing shortages of food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel.   “According to information just received, the Al-Khaldiya neighbourhood has been experiencing heavy shelling since the early hours of this morning,” said Mr. Colville.   Armed opposition groups are operating inside residential areas increasing the risk for civilians, he added citing recent reports.   The siege began 13 months ago but has escalated since June 28 following a major offensive launched by the national forces and affiliated militias to retake several opposition-controlled districts.   Out of 16 residential districts affected by the siege, shelling and ground attacks in Homs and in the surrounding area, Al-Khaldiya and Baba Houd districts appear to be the worst hit.   According to the UN, more than 93,000 people have been killed since fighting began in March 2011 between the Syrian Government and opposition groups seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad.   Meanwhile, UN food and agriculture agencies today reported that Syria"s food security situation has “significantly” deteriorated over the past year with four million people unable to produce or buy enough food, and the situation will further decline over the next 12 months if the conflict continues.   The food insecurity driven up by massive displacement of people, disruptions to planting and harvests, economic sanctions, currency depreciation and high food and fuel prices, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).   “There is a limited window of opportunity to ensure crisis-affected families do not lose vital sources of food and income,” the UN agencies said in a report issued after a Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission visited Syria between May and June.   Syria"s wheat production is 40 per cent less than the annual average and about 1.5 million tonnes of wheat will need to be imported for the 2013/2014 season, the report said.   In addition, the price of wheat more than doubled between May 2011 and May 2013 in parts of the country, while other parts do not have any bread at all.   The conflict, including a lack of access to vets and to vaccines, has also impacted husbandry. Poultry production is down more than 50 per cent compared with 2011, with sheep and cattle numbers also lower than the average.   The United Nations has launched a $4.4 billion humanitarian appeal – the largest aid request in the Organization"s history – to assist the growing number of people suffering the effects of the crisis in Syria.   The appeal includes $1 billion that would enable the World Food Programme (WFP) to scale up its distribution of food both inside and outside Syria. The agency currently distributes food to more than 800,000 people outside Syria and an additional 2.5 million inside the country. With additional resources, the agency said it hopes to reach a total of 7 million Syrians by late 2013.   FAO said is seeking $41.7 million to assist 768,000 people with seeds, fertilizer and veterinary supplies, as well as cash-for-work programmes. Only $3.3 million or less than $10 per cent has been funded, the UN agency said today.   “Support for the coming planting season will be critical,” the Rome-based agency added.   Funding must be secured by August to provide farmers with fertilizers and seeds to plant in October. Without this support, many wheat farmers will not be able to harvest until mid-2015.   http://www.wfp.org/countries/syria http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4f86c2426.html http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/syriancrisis_68134.html http://reliefweb.int/country/syr http://www.unocha.org/crisis/syria Visit the related web page
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