News archive: August 2014
15 August 2014
The UN has designated its highest level emergency for the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, citing the scale and complexity of the situation, which is impacting tens of thousands of people that have been forcefully displaced by the armed group, Islamic State (IS). The ‘Level 3 Emergency’ designation will ‘facilitate mobilization of additional resources in goods, funds and assets to ensure a more effective response to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by forced displacements’. UN officials are particularly concerned about the situation on Sinjar Mountain, where are at least several thousand people remain trapped and the health conditions are quickly deteriorating. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | UN declares Iraq ‘Level 3 Emergency’ to trigger more resources, speed up aid delivery
Source: UN News Centre | Amid spread of ‘hatred and brutality,’ Ban urges countries to do more to help Iraqi civilians
4 August 2014
On 24 July 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that Poland violated its obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) by cooperating with the United States in the running of so-called “CIA black sites” on Polish territory. (more…)
Source: Al Nashiri v. Poland | App. No. 28761/11 | Judgment | ECtHR | 24 July 2014
1 August 2014
At the closing of a conference in Benin, ministers, senior government officials and United Nations representatives called on donor countries to fulfil their commitments and go even further, by allocating at least 50 per cent of their overseas development assistance (ODA) and ‘aid for trade’ disbursement, to the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). The LDCs represent 48 countries in total. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | At UN-backed summit, least developed countries urge enhanced partnerships, aid commitments
1 August 2014
Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, warned that attacks on civilians by all parties to the conflict and human rights abuses continue ‘in flagrant violation of the most basic principles of … international law’. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | ‘Flagrant’ violations of international law continue in Syria, top UN relief official warns