peace and security

A military offensive in northern Mali would have serious humanitarian consequences and requires serious safeguards to be put in place warns a coalition of ten non-governmental organizations today.

More than one million people are at risk of militia, rebel and army attacks, with little or no protection from the government or UN peacekeepers.

As the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo grows, with thousands of people fleeing new fighting in the past 48 hours, Oxfam is stepping up the supply of life-saving aid to more than 80,000 people in and around Goma.

As the M23 armed group fights to take control of yet more territory in eastern DRC, and a multitude of other armed groups terrorize communities, there is a risk of complete collapse of state authority and worsening humanitarian crisis.

An Israeli airstrike has destroyed one Oxfam supported, left another damaged in North West Gaza City.

In the context of rapidly escalating violence in and around Gaza and southern Israel, the international aid and development agency Oxfam has called for an immediate halt to rocket attacks towards I

Sally Chin of Oxfam said:

After an opening week, characterized by procedural delays and wrangling, this past week delegates finally got down to content discussions. However they still do not have the basis for negotiation on most of the key elements of the treaty.

Twenty leading international and Afghan NGOs today called on NATO and the Afghan government to agree to commitments to ensure Afghan National Security Forces are able to protect civilians and are held accountable if they commit abuses or violate international law.

Seasonal rains due in Sudan and South Sudan will exacerbate already dire conditions in refugee camps, restrict travel and access, and heighten the risk of disease, a group of leading humanitarian agencies warned today.