MAI JA YANG,  – As the winter winds sweep across Myanmar’s northern Kachin State, there is little to celebrate this Christmas for the estimated 45,000 civilians in some 30 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) along the Burmese-Chinese border.

A 17-year ceasefire between Myanmar government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) was broken in June, and the number of IDPs is rising.

Biting winds, low temperatures and depleted food resources are taking their toll on the young and elderly in this rugged mountainous terrain.

Just this week, in central Kachin’s Bhamo District, two village women, aged 64 and 63, died from respiratory infections brought on by the cold. A one-year-old baby in the same camp died from exposure, local aid workers say.

The normally bustling border town of Mai Ja Yang, controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political arm of the KIA, is eerily quiet: Many of the Chinese businesses have shut up shop and crossed back over the border, worried the conflict will escalate.

However, in one corner of the city, a group of volunteers is busy loading food parcels onto motorcycles for delivery to IDPs outside the city in KIO-controlled areas of Kachin State. The parcels contain rice, corn and cooking oil as well as cough medicines and antibiotics.

“The cold weather is taking its toll on the people and there is a need for more nutritional food,” said May Li Aung, director of WunPawng Ninghtoi (WPN – “Light of Kachin”), a volunteer group.

For residents in the camps, bamboo structures with plastic sheeting for a roof provide only limited protection; straw is spread over the cold hard ground.

“As soon as a child gets sick, it spreads quickly. because there are so many people in small cramped quarters and the ground is getting very cold.”

May Li Aung, 40, heads a collective of eight humanitarian organizations set up on 14 June, just five days after the ceasefire collapsed.

Currently more than 50 WPN volunteers are delivering aid to the camps.

More than 3,000 displaced have turned up at government-run camps in eastern Kachin State over the past two weeks, putting a strain on limited food supplies, mostly from local donors. 

Photo: Contributor/IRIN

A woman and her children at the Warabung IDP camp

UN efforts

According to the Office of the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, a UN inter-agency mission to Laiza - comprised of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – managed to bring in about six truckloads of essential household items to IDPs from 12 to 14 December, as well as carry out an initial assessment.

More help is needed. It is hoped this initial visit will lead to greater access and assistance.

“The UN and its humanitarian partners look forward to being able to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to all those in need,” said a UN statement on 15 December.

One KIA soldier’s family, which recently arrived in Warabung IDP camp in Kachin State’s Bhamo District, has a new mouth to feed – a baby boy – but the father, KIA doctor Seng Myu, is worried: “It’s difficult trying to find a balance between a new mouth to feed and returning to the front lines where the wounded need to be treated.”

In the past month Seng Myu has treated three amputees for landmine injuries.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is currently assisting 10,000 IDPs in Burmese government-controlled areas.

“For further distributions we will need to complete an assessment to independently evaluate food needs and prepare the most appropriate response,” said spokesman Marcus Prior.

On 21 December, Human Rights Watch (HRW) commended the Myanmar government’s decision to allow initial access, but says more is needed.

“That Burmese authorities granted UN aid agencies access to displaced people in Kachin State is an important step, but it demands a long-term commitment from the government and foreign donors alike,” said Elaine Pearson, HRW’s deputy Asia director, adding: “The government and Kachin forces should ensure that the tens of thousands of displaced people in remote camps get the food and shelter they need.”

ss/ds/cb source.www.irinnews.org

BAGHDAD,  – Every day, the bleak concrete blast walls circling Baghdad’s northern neighbourhood of Adhamiya trigger flashbacks in the mind of Sahib Awad Maarouf of the violence which plagued Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion.

“It annoys me and others to see them every day,” said Maarouf, a 69-year-old Sunni construction engineer. “They serve as a reminder of the US occupation, the violence we witnessed over the past years and a source of worry for our future,” he said.

As US troops withdraw from Iraq, capping a nearly nine-year war, the future of the battered nation has been thrown into doubt by fears that Iraqis are still not ready to handle their future alone.

The stakes are high in a country with more than 1.2 million internally displaced people and another 177,000 Iraqis registered as refugees in neighbouring countries – a symbol of the lingering humanitarian dimension of the conflict.

More than 20 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line. An estimated 2.1 million Iraqis are undernourished: on average, they spend more than one third of their total expenditures on food, and nearly three quarters of the population depend on a public distribution system as their primary source for wheat flour. The vast majority of the population does not have electricity 24 hours a day; and access to clean water is still limited in rural areas.  

In 2009 there were about 140,000 US troops in the country. Today there are only 200 – to train Iraqi security forces and protect US diplomats.

In 2007, Maarouf, a father of four, was abducted by Sunni militants belonging to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a group which controlled many of the Sunni areas at the height of the insurgency. He was freed after about 24 hours when he paid a US$80,000 ransom.

His son was shot in his left leg by thieves who tried to steal the money he withdrew from the bank for the ransom.

Yet, he still sees these blast walls – many erected to prevent Shia and Sunni militants from attacking each others’ neighbourhoods – as a “heavy” legacy of the war weighing on Iraqis’ hearts.
 
A resurgence of sectarianism?

Since the ousting of Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated regime in 2003, Iraq’s two main Muslim sects, Shias and Sunnis, have been at loggerheads. Iraq’s majority Shia community has dominated political life in Iraq, leaving many Sunnis feeling marginalized.

Violence between members of the two sects killed tens of thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more, bringing the country to the brink of civil war. The tit-for-tat killings stopped in late 2007, only after US forces pushed tens of thousands of their troops into the streets with Iraqi forces to chase down militants.

On 19 December, one day after the last US troops withdrew, sectarian tension rose when Iraq’s Shia-led government issued an arrest warrant for the country’s Sunni Vice President, Tariq Al-Hashimi, over “terrorism” charges described by some Sunnis as politically motivated. The arrest warrant followed a round-up of hundreds of former Baathists amid concern they would try to regain power after the departure of US troops.

The Sunni minority has accused Shia political factions – mainly the prime minister’s Dawa Party – of trying to remove all their political rivals to gain absolute power over the political process.

“The government has spoiled our joy over the troops’ withdrawal,” said Sunni businessman Laith Younis from the northern province of Ninevah. “The timing means the consequences of the withdrawal will be grave,” the 34-year old father of three added.
 
Incapable security forces

Despite a sharp decrease in violence since the height of sectarian warfare from 2006 to 2007, Iraq is still fragile, and has not resolved many politically explosive issues that could lead to renewed fighting.

There are persistent fears that Iraqi security forces are still not capable of handling the security challenges on their own. That could lead to a resurgence of Sunni militant groups, mainly Al-Qaeda in Iraq, which has suffered major blows since 2007 because of the US presence.

On the flip side, the top US General in Iraq, Lloyd Austin, has warned that Shia militias, namely the followers of firebrand cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, will seek to climb the stage again by trying to create “a government within a government”, similar to Lebanon’s powerful and Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement.

In a sign that more violence may be in the offing, militants have upped their attacks against civilians and military attacks since 24 November, claiming the lives of at least 56 people and injuring dozens of others.
 
The most brazen attack came on 28 November when a suicide car bomber managed to enter Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, which houses the parliament, key government offices and foreign embassies and is supposed to be one of the country’s most secured areas.
 
“I have fears inside me mainly over the training and arming of our security forces,” said Saied Jassim Moussa, 54, a Shia who heads the Baghdad-based Peoples’ Institution for Democracy Culture.
 
“Politicians should distance themselves from security so that security forces can work independently,” Moussa added. “I believe that Iraq’s main problem is with the politicians and their struggle for power.”
 
Iraqi officials have acknowledged that shortcomings still exist in terms of protecting their skies and borders, and mostly important in intelligence gathering.

Photo: US Embassy New Zealand

US President Barack Obama announcing the end of the war in Iraq

Lt-Gen Babakir Zebari, the Ministry of Defence’s chief of staff, told the Special Inspector-General for Iraq Reconstruction that his military will not be ready to fully provide for its external defence until 2020 to 2024.

Fawzia Al-Attia, a professor of sociology at the University of Baghdad, said the US administration should have prepared the stage for this day.

“Until now, security is absent. Citizens still suffer from bad security and stumbling economy, industry and agriculture,” Al-Attia added. “The US should have found ways to give a bright picture for their support after toppling the previous regime to rebuild this society,” she said.
 
Ethnic tension

The country faces another threat in the north, where ethnic Kurds want to annex territory to their northern self-ruled region. Former President Saddam Hussein had tried to play with the demographics of several provinces in the area to make Arabs the majority. A plan to redraw the borders was adopted after the US invasion, but a referendum for the people in these disputed areas – due to take place in 2007 – never happened. On some occasions, Kurds took over some of these areas by moving in their troops and only withdrew after US military mediation.

Kurdish Kirkuk resident Ibrahim Salam Raheem said the US forces should have solved the issue of the disputed territories before their withdrawal.

“They didn’t do anything in this regard and they just left the issue as it is. The conflict between Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen will be increased,” the 35-year old employee in the Oil Minstry’s Oil Products Distribution Directory said. “The situation is getting worse day by day and it will be disastrous in the future.”

Also on the table is the expected meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs by its neighbours.

Iraq’s Sunni community and the USA accuse Shia Iran of training and financing Shia militias and securing their interests in the region through Shia politicians harboured in Iran during the Saddam era. Meanwhile, Shias accuse Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey of supporting Sunni militants and financing Sunni political parties.

Some senior Iraqi politicians, including the parliament speaker Osama Al-Nijaifi, have worried outside meddling could rise in post-pullout Iraq. “Iraq now suffers from weakness points and whenever neighbouring countries see that Iraq is weak and can’t protect its borders and internal security they will interfere more,” he told a press conference in October.

“It is our future”

Still, many Iraqis acknowledge that the US withdrawal had to come sooner or later.

“If you want to learn how to swim you have to get into the swimming pool by yourself – not only take lessons outside it,” said Jamal Tawfiq, a 44-year old father of three from Baghdad.

“Keeping US troops more years in Iraq means complicating our problems more and more,” he said. “It is our future and we have to build it.”

“It is an exam for Iraqis… and it could be a tough one,” added Ameer Hassan Al-Fayadh who lectures in politics at the University of Baghdad.

“The best way to deal with [the post-withdrawal challenges] is for influential political groups to set their differences aside and work together.”

sm/ha/cb/bp

source www.irinnews.org

Guest Post: By James Lander 

Africa can sometimes look like a showcase for all the complicated problems that have plagued humanity throughout history: famine drought, poverty, outbreaks of disease, armed conflict. When it comes to getting involved with the process of solving these problems, it’s hard to even know where to begin. But you can get involved, by assisting charities. These five in particular are all trustworthy in their work and have records of providing effective aid to Africa:

 American Red Cross: This organization deserves mention because of the scope of its activities and its track record alone. Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, Red Cross has provided many forms of emergency aid—as well as educational and development programs—for billions of people around the world. The organization’s particular work in East Africa is based on programs that emphasize a sustainable disaster management cycle of preparedness, response, and recovery. Other programs address specific problems: The Measles Initiative has vaccinated more than 700 million children in more than 60 countries, and as a result measles deaths in Africa declined 92 percent from 371,000 to 28,000 between 2000 and 2008. Red Cross also maintains programs that promote HIV/AIDS education and support children and orphans affected by HIV/AIDS.

Africare Founded in 1970: Africare represents over 2500 projects in 36 African countries, making it one of the widest and deepest organizations working on the continent. Its projects place communities at the center of development and focus on the key areas of agriculture and food security, health and HIV/AIDS, and water and sanitation. Since its founding Africare has provided more than $1 billion in community-led programs. The organization focuses singularly on Africa, ensuring that the staff has great experience and knowledge of the area’s specific issues and ensuring that your donation goes to the right place.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF):  MSF is an international medical humanitarian organization founded in France in 1971 based on the humanitarian principles of medical ethics, impartiality, and neutrality. The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. It employs more than 27,000 individuals worldwide, and in 2009 it raised $133.9 million. In Africa MSF runs vaccination campaigns and water-and-sanitation projects, provides basic medical care and mental health support, builds and repairs hospitals, and responds to armed conflicts, natural disasters, and epidemics as they arise. MSF also works to develop and implement new vaccines and new methods for dealing with long-problematic diseases like meningitis A.

Against Malaria Foundation: AMF is an effective charity because of the unique simplicity and specificity of its program. Donations all go to the same place: insecticide-treated nets, for protection against malaria. AMF provides these nets in bulk to other organizations which then distribute them in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. A single long-lasting net costs $5 and is the most effective means of prevention against the disease which kills 1-3 million per year. GiveWell ranks AMF as the #1 charity and praises its transparency and accountability—100% of every donation goes directly to buy nets.

Schistosomiasis Control Initiative: Another organization with a very specific program and goal, the SCI aims to control or eliminate the seven most prevalent NTDs (Neglected Tropical Diseases) from sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2002 and 2007 the SCI facilitated delivery of about 40 million treatments. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), treating NTDs is a public health ‘best buy’ at as little as 50¢ per person per year. GiveWell also ranks the SCI as one of its top two charities based on the organization’s track record, cost-effectiveness, and demonstrated results.

End

Photo: Natalie Bailey/IRIN

UN report says women and children in Indonesia bear the brunt of HIV’s economic impact

The number of reported HIV cases has tripled in Indonesia in recent years, curtailing productivity and trapping affected girls and women, especially, in poverty, according to a recent UN Development Programme (UNDP) report.

Women, representing a quarter of all people living with HIV in Indonesia, shoulder family finances when their partners can no longer work, or when they face education and employment discrimination, said the report.

“Discrimination against people with AIDS is still very strong in Indonesia, especially for women. Many HIV-positive women are being called ‘bad women’ or ‘bad girls’, but at the same time, many of them have to work more after their husbands were diagnosed with HIV,” said Chya Wibisono, an HIV-positive officer at the local NGO, Indonesia Women’s Positive Network.

Women in HIV-affected households put in longer hours but were less likely to own their homes, livestock and vehicles. They were also more likely to be widowed and denied inheritance rights – the case for 71 percent of all HIV-affected widows.

Across all countries covered by the study (Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam), HIV-affected households experienced significant drops in incomes, savings, assets, and ability to buy protein-rich food.

Compared with non-HIV-affected families, affected families in Indonesia were 38 percent more likely to live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 per person per day – the second highest of all the countries surveyed – with more than a quarter of these households reporting having to sell assets to pay medical costs, the report says.

While antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is provided free, the medication has reached about half of patients in need, compared with 94 percent in Cambodia, where free ART coverage has proven to be effective in reducing households’ financial burden, according to the UNDP report.

“Real [progress] has been made to improve ART coverage in Indonesia. The percentage of coverage has increased significantly from 25 to 50 percent over the last three years, but this is still far from enough,” said Nancy Fee, country coordinator of UNAIDS in Indonesia.

As of December 2009, some 18,000 people had reported HIV at an advanced stage, of whom 6,653 were receiving ART, according to the government.

People were going without medication mostly because they had not tested for HIV and did not know their status; in addition, continuity and availability of ART stock as well as availability of certified health workers to administer the drugs were challenges, according to the government.

Different for girls

Daughters in HIV-affected families were also more likely to be pulled out of school than sons to take care of their sick family members.

“It is most often [girls] who are removed first. This is both to save resources spent on schooling, as well as to utilize the girl child for labour,” said Clifton Cortez, health and development practice leader at the Bangkok-based UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre.

The UNDP report suggested conditional cash transfers – paying children based on their school enrolment and attendance – to encourage parents to keep children in school.

According to the World Bank, the risk of HIV infection is more than halved for young people, particularly girls, who stay in school and complete a basic education.

In Indonesia, 28 percent of women surveyed between the ages of 15-24 had not heard of HIV and had little knowledge of condom usage, said the UNDP report.

“No discrimination”

However, Nafsiah Mboi, secretary of the government’s National AIDS Commission, dismissed concerns that women and children bore the economic brunt of HIV.

“There is no specific scheme for HIV-affected families or women, but everyone who is poor can ask for assistance. There is no discrimination,” she said.

While a National Social Security System (SJSN) has been in place since 2004 – a basic framework for reforming the country’s social security programme covering health insurance, employment injury, pensions and death benefits – the International Labour Organization estimated 54 percent of the country’s population (mostly workers in the informal economy, employees without contracts and their families) were still excluded in 2011 from the national social health protection scheme.

Instead of small government-funded isolated projects, Fee from UNAIDS said the country needed a “universal social protection floor” – a minimum level of essential social services and income security for all in times of economic and financial crisis – to ensure everybody, including those affected by HIV, had equal access to healthcare and other social services.

Parliament approved legislation on 28 October that aims to implement SJSN and provide universal health insurance coverage by 2014.

sh/pt/mw
source www.irinnews.org