Day: November 2, 2022

Responses to climate change must also consider its link to both conflict and the displacement it causes, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said in a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday.

Mr. Grandi expressed hope that these dimensions “will be in clearer focus” at the COP27 UN climate change conference, opening this weekend in Egypt, and at its successor conference in a year’s time. 

The climate emergency is ravaging resources and creating tensions, including between communities, particularly in already fragile contexts where authorities do not have the means to support adaptation and resilience.

Fear of more fighting

“I fear that without more attention and much greater financing for prevention, adaptation, and development and governance support – tensions, frustrations, competition will grow and spark wider conflict, with deadly consequences – including displacement,”  he said.

The UN refugee chief was in Somalia last week where he met emaciated women, men and children affected by conflict and the historic drought in the Horn of Africa.

Refugees from the country have been pushed into drought-affected areas of neighbouring Kenya.

More international support

“The confluence of climate change and conflict has created very protracted displacement: therefore, inclusion and where possible integration, both in refugee contexts and situations of internal displacement, are important peacebuilding measures requiring greater international recognition and support,” Mr. Grandi told the Council.

This “spiral” is evident in several other hotspots, including Africa’s Sahel region, he added.  Three million people there have been uprooted by climate change, poverty, weak governance and armed group activities, as well as “the often brutal reaction of governments”.

Mr. Grandi said he used the climate emergency, and its connection to conflict and displacement, to convey the “enormous complexity” of refugee crises today.

Globally, roughly 103 million people have been forcibly displaced by persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and other factors.

Harsh winter for Ukrainians

UNHCR staff have responded to 37 emergencies around the world in the past 12 months alone, in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Syria.

Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced some 14 million people to flee their homes, sparking the fastest and largest displacement crisis in decades.

“Ukrainians are about to face one of the world’s harshest winters in extremely difficult circumstances. Humanitarian organizations have dramatically scaled up their response, but much more must be done, starting with an end to this senseless war,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we see the opposite, and the destruction caused by strikes at civilian infrastructure, which happens as we speak, is quickly making the humanitarian response look like a drop in the ocean of needs.”

Safeguard humanitarian action

Mr. Grandi concluded his remarks by stressing the need for action in four areas, starting with resources.  Despite a record level of income, UNHCR is facing a major funding gap in some crucial areas, such as food aid for refugees. 

He also called for “seriously strengthening peacebuilding” in fragile countries, for example by reinforcing police, judicial and local government capacity, and overall rule of law.  This is critical to both resolve displacement, by allowing refugees to return home, and to prevent conflict from recurring.

For his third point, Mr. Grandi stressed that humanitarian action must be better safeguarded, as threats are increasing, with deadly consequences. Warring parties must protect humanitarian work and enable access to people in need. 

“Furthermore, everyone must uphold international humanitarian law and contribute to preserving the civilian character of refugee settings – an increasing challenge in many parts of the world. Armed elements must be separated from refugees, and those displaced and those needing protection must not be conflated with combatants,” he said.

Overcome your differences

The UN refugee chief also presented another side of the duty of care issue, as millions of displaced and vulnerable people are living in areas under the control of non-State actors, or in countries under sanctions.

He said no matter how polarised the context, aid workers must be able to operate wherever they are needed, which at times may involve “uncomfortable interactions” with those who control territory they need access to. 

“If I raise this…it is because we are often forced to negotiate humanitarian carve-outs, as they call them, case by case. I therefore welcome the current efforts in this Council to ensure greater predictability in these matters,” he added. 

His final point was a call for the international community, and countries on the Council, to overcome their divisions and disagreements “at least when you discuss humanitarian issues, and hopefully when you address or strive to address the root causes that are displacing people around the world.” 

Source: United Nations

DAR ES SALAAM— The Chief of Defence Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) General Jacob John Mkunda has ordered the deployment of troops on Mt Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain – to help curb the raging flames.

“Officers and men of TPDF have already arrived in Siha and Mwika areas in Kilimanjaro Region ready to start the fire fighting operation,” said a statement by TPDF.

The statement added: TPDF will fully cooperate with other Defense and Security Agencies, various stakeholders and citizens to ensure that the fire is controlled early before it causes serious damage to the Park.

The statement which was issued on Nov 1, did not say exactly how many men and women had been deployed in the area by the TPDF

This comes days after the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) officials claimed that the fires had been contained.

Reports say that the fire which broke out on Africa’s highest peak Mouth Kilimanjaro, is still raging despite extensive efforts to bring them under control since Oct 21 near one of the most popular climbing routes.

There are also reports that another fire has also broken out on the eastern side of the mountain, near Mawenzi Peak.

Infra-red hotspots showed flames were still burning on Sunday in these two areas. People living near the mountain say they could see the fires burning at night from their villages.

A tour guide who live in Moshi almost 40 kilometers away shared pictures of the flames that continues to consume the moorland area of the mountain

More than 500 people, including firefighters, national park staff, tour guides and civilians, have been battling to put out the fire.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

A new U.N. report finds agricultural automation can boost global food production and be a boon for small-scale farmers in developing countries.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, has just released The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 report. The report’s authors said automation is rapidly changing the face of agriculture. New technologies, they say, are quickly leaving behind some of the old larger-type tractors and large machinery in ways that could benefit small holders in developing countries.

Parallels can be drawn with the introduction of cellphones. The World Bank, among other observers, notes African and other developing countries can harness digital technologies to boost their economies by advancing from landlines to smartphones.

FAO said automation can play an important role in making food production more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

Chief FAO economist Maximo Torero said many emerging technologies would have been unimaginable years ago. He cited as examples fruit-picking robots that use artificial intelligence and sensors that monitor plants and animals.

“Automation allows agriculture to be more productive, efficient, resilient, and sustainable and can improve working conditions,” Torero said. “However, as with any technological change, automation also implies disruption to the agricultural systems. The risk is that the automation could exacerbate inequalities if we are not careful on how it is being done and developed and deployed.”

The report looks at 27 case studies from all over the world. They represent technologies at different stages of readiness suitable for large or small agricultural producers of varying levels of income.

Torero said the report investigates the drivers of these technologies and identifies barriers preventing their adoption, particularly by small-scale producers. The report, he said, also looks at one of the most common concerns about automation — that it creates unemployment.

“While it concludes that such fears are overblown, it acknowledges that agricultural automation can lead to unemployment in places where rural labor is abundant, and wages are low,” he said. “It is important to understand that in a continent like sub-Saharan Africa, where there is an enormous amount of youth population, we can build the skill sets of these people to be able to have access to these technologies.”

In areas where cheap labor is abundant, the FAO urges policymakers to avoid subsidizing automation while creating an enabling environment for its adoption. At the same time, the report said governments should provide social protection to the least skilled workers who are likely to lose their jobs during the transition.

Source: Voice of America