http://news.linktv.org Link TV News Videos (Filtered by topics: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) en-us Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:34:00 -0700 Copyright 2011 Link Media, Inc. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-october-29-2012?start=3208 Much of the East Coast is shut down today as residents prepare for Hurricane Sandy, a massive storm that could impact up to 50 million people from the Carolinas to Boston. The storm has already killed 66 people in the Caribbean, where it battered Haiti and Cuba. Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:34:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-october-29-2012 Hurricane Sandy, East Coast of the United States, Extreme weather, United States, Hurricane, Port-au-Prince, Severe weather, Bill McKibben, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Haiti As Hurricane Sandy makes its way to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, it has already left behind a trail of destruction in Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba. Government officials have reported 65 storm-related deaths across the Caribbean, with 51 of those in Haiti, which had three days of continuous rainfall that ended only on Friday. Flooding has since ravaged the southwestern areas of the impoverished country, and given the extent of the damage, the death toll may rise. Haiti is still suffering from the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac, which battered the country in late August, resulting in heavy flooding in the camps where some 400,000 survivors of the 2010 earthquake still live. We're joined from the capital of Port-au-Prince by Haitian pro-democracy activist Patrick Elie. I want to turn south for a moment to Patrick Elie. He's a pro-democracy activist in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The death toll in Haiti is the worst of any place right now as a result of this superstorm. Patrick, welcome to Democracy Now! Can you describe what has happened in Haiti? What are the effects of the storm? I'm going to see if we're able to get him on. We keep losing him through the show. Yes, you know, it's been devastating, even though the eye of the storm did not go through Haiti, but it dumped a lot of rain, especially on the western department and all the southern peninsula. And given the vulnerability of Haiti's environment, it has created tremendous devastation. You mentioned the death toll, but also, you know, roads have been destroyed. Whole villages have, for all intent and purposes, disappeared. So, it's a very serious situation. The storm left a trail of destruction in making its way to the Eastern Seaboard in the United States, already leaving this destruction—Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, government officials reporting 65 storm-related deaths across the Caribbean, 51 of those in Haiti, which had three days of continuous rainfall that ended only on Friday. Flooding has since ravaged the southwestern areas of your country of Haiti. This is Johan Peleman, the head of the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti. So, the entire southern peninsula, including the province, the county where Port-au-Prince is, had been—has been very heavily affected with flooding. Rivers have burst out of their banks, the canals running through Port-au-Prince, because Port-au-Prince lies in a valley surrounded by hills. What we fear most is that there might be spikes in waterborne diseases, especially cholera, which we always see after flooding or rains in Haiti. So the death toll may clearly rise in Haiti, which is still suffering from the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac, which battered the country in late August, resulting in heavy flooding in the camps, where some 400,000 survivors of the 2010 earthquake still live. And I saw you, Patrick Elie, in Haiti after the earthquake. What about this coming together of these crises over the last years? Yes, it's been, as you say, like a string of crisis, for which, I think, you know, no one can be held responsible. But certainly, the way these crises have been handled has been less than optimal. And, for example, you mentioned the refugees, the people in the camps. And what this government has done is cleared the camps that were the most visible, you know? It's—it was mostly a cosmetic affair. And nobody knows what happened to these people who were in the main square of Champs de Mars or Pétionville. You know, they've been removed from eyesight, but to go to what kind of life? And that does not seem to preoccupy the authorities. Now, to come back to Sandy, nobody can hold the government responsible for the vulnerability of Haiti, but certainly this is a government that has done all it could to create a political and social tension in the country. And that weakens us to face this new challenge. And I think that's the main obstacle. And also, you have to realize that already people were starting to protest the way this government has been handling the affairs of this country, and now it's going to get only worse, because this is a government that is— http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-090512?start=1467 <p>Violence rages across Syria as battered Aleppo loses 115 lives, mass anger erupts on Bahrain's streets after uprising leaders lose appeal, Israel's expansion policies separate Palestinian children from schools across the West Bank, and more.</p> Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-090512 Israel, West Bank, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Human rights, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Syrian Civil War, Human rights in Bahrain, Logar Province, Avigdor Lieberman, Palestinians Presenter, Male #1 In addition to the security and political crisis in Mali, the food shortage is threatening millions of Malians. The situation there is increasingly looking like a humanitarian crisis. Reporter, Male #2 Lax security brought about a dire humanitarian situation: this is what is happening in Mali, where the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that the nation is facing a severe food crisis as some five million people are suffering from food shortages. Among them are nearly 270 thousand refugees, and over 170 thousand displaced individuals. Reporter, Male #2 The deteriorating security situation forced them to abandon their lands, and that has had negative repercussions on the agricultural sector. The outbreak of cholera that caused the death of 12 people is an additional problem they are facing. Reporter, Male #2 Humanitarian agencies are working to extend a helping hand. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, is participating in planting rice seedlings north of Mali. UNICEF and its World Food Programme are working to protect children and assist those suffering from severe malnourishment. These programs help alleviate the food crisis; however, the ongoing deteriorating security situation may hinder that progress, and even its efficiency, leaving the Malian citizen in a spiral of security and food crises. ** Contact Mosaic News: mosaicnews{at}linktv{dot}org http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-042512?start=36 Two UN agencies confirmed that 67 Palestinians in the West Bank near Jerusalem were forcibly displaced in one week, violating international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, Al Jazeera reports. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-042512 Israel, Nuclear program of Iran, Human rights in Bahrain, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran-Israel relations, Bahrain, Bahrain Uprising, United Nations, Israeli-occupied territories, Palestinian prisoners in Israel Presenter, Male #1 The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian territories, confirmed that 67 Palestinians in the West Bank were forcibly displaced in one week, violating international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. Presenter, Female #1 In the neighborhood of al-Khalayleh, north of occupied Jerusalem, seven families were displaced after their homes and civilian structures they own were demolished. One week earlier, settlers protected by the occupation forces seized two homes in the neighborhood of Beit Hanina in eastern Jerusalem, in anticipation of establishing a settlement. Reporter, Female #2 For the third time in six months, this family finds itself on the street. Israeli bulldozers came here to the neighborhood of al-Khalayleh, north of occupied Jerusalem, to destroy homes and shacks, displacing seven families. Half of their members are children. These families came to this neighborhood dozens of years ago. But that wasn't enough for the Israelis. Guest, Male #2 (Salim Jahalin, Owner of Destroyed Home) The Red Cross gave us each a tent. We put up our tents and they attacked us again. The Red Cross was here, and the UN was here. They took all of our tents. Five tents. Reporter, Female #2 As for the neighborhood of Beit Hanina, one of the largest Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem, the Natche family also finds itself without a home. Eleven family members, most of them children, are now living with their relatives. A week ago, settlers protected by occupation forces expelled them from their home under the pretext of having bought the land from its original owner. The family has been trying to annul the eviction notice in Israeli courts for 14 years. The fear is not only over losing this family's home and a nearby house, but from the construction of a settlement in the heart of an Arab neighborhood. Guest, Female #3 This land doesn't belong to the Jews. My dad bought it in 1953. They forged the papers. Reporter, Female #2 The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian territories, both condemned the displacement and expulsion, confirming they are a violation of international law. Guest, Male #4 (Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Forced displacement must be avoided at all costs. It is essential to keep them on their land and in their homes. They must be able to develop their communities where they already live. Forcefully displacing them increases their hardship and humanitarian needs, and prevents them from being self-sufficient. Reporter, Female #2 The two UN agencies confirmed that over 1,500 Palestinians have lost their homes in such destruction and expulsion operations since early 2011. International organizations confirm that continuing settlement construction and the destruction of Palestinian homes exacerbate humanitarian hardship, an admission that places the Israeli government in the spotlight. A government that accuses the Palestinians of evading negotiations, while in reality it deploys its bulldozers everywhere to continue its Judaization campaign and its attempt to end the presence of the Palestinians. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-031912?start=217 A report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs accused Israeli authorities of using threats and intimidation to prevent Palestinians from accessing 56 water springs in the West Bank, Al Jazeera reports. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-031912 Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Israel, United Nations, Palestinians, Gaza–Israel conflict, Gaza, Syria, 2003 invasion of Iraq, Bahrain Uprising, Jews Presenter, Male #1 A report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories confirmed that 56 water springs in the West Bank are now targeted by Israeli settlers. The international organization accused the occupation authorities of using threats and intimidation to prevent Palestinians from accessing these water springs, in addition to seizing their land. Reporter, Female #1 A United Nations report showed that depriving Palestinians from reaching water springs could constitute one of the most notable examples of settlement activity. The report said that 56 water springs in the West Bank are located near Israeli settlements, and for this reason, Palestinians are prevented from reaching them. Even worse, 84 percent of the affected springs are on private Palestinian land, while Israelis use 86 percent of the ground water resources of the mountain region. Guest, Male #2 (Yeheskel Lein, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Research Director) Under international law and Israeli law, the Israeli authorities have to return the land to its owners and allow the Palestinians to freely access their springs. They also have to prosecute the settlers, and force them to leave the private Palestinian lands they've seized. Reporter, Female #1 We then headed to the villages of Nablus. We walked in the woods that Palestinians are deprived from entering. We arrived with the delegation of the UN office to al-Khawaneq spring in Wadi Ali. Settlers changed its name to the spring of Eli, the name of the settlement that encircles the water spring. Settlers have turned it into a tourist attraction. Reporter, Female #1 Hajj Abu Ala'a was encouraged by the presence of UN officials, so he came to inspect his land and the spring. And as soon as we arrived, a settlement guard came to confirm that Palestinians can reach their land. But the discourse was different. Guest, Male #3 I come here twice a week to pick the fruits, but I can't trim the leaves, plow the land, or do anything else. I can't reach the water. It's forbidden! How can I reach it? Reporter, Female #1 The United Nations says the settlers who are protected by the occupation soldiers adopt a policy of intimidation and threats in an attempt to rush the increase of settlers in the occupied territories. Guest, Male #4 It is one more example of the settlers' attempt to expand their control of regions classified in area C. It is possible to see that through the takeover of trees, woods, and streets. They are trying to take control of all the territories outside the settlements. Reporter, Female #1 Controlling a water spring, then the land that surrounds it, then the mountain, then the valley completes the scene of full domination of the land and the expulsion of a people.