Armenian Christians need a Humanitarian Airlift

Today, John Eibner, the president of Christian Solidarity International, and the Baroness Cox of Queensbury, a member of the UK’s House of Lords, wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to seek a resolution at the United Nations Security Council to end Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region home to 120,000 Armenian Christians.If Azerbaijan does not comply, they wrote, the resolution should authorize a humanitarian airlift into the region.On December 12, Azerbaijani activists and soldiers closed the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting the Armenian-majority region of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Republic of Armenia, and thus to the outside world. Azerbaijan has also moved to cut off electricity, gas, and internet access to the region.As a result, food, fuel and essential medicines are running out in Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, with electricity and fuel for heating increasingly scarce, many people, especially the poor and the elderly, are at risk of dying from cold in the freezing winter temperatures.The blockade follows an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijan on the Republic of Armenia in September 2022, and a 44-day war of aggression by Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Sept-Nov 2020. In both wars, Azerbaijani forces committed well-documented war crimes against Armenians, and the 2020 war resulted in the ethnic cleansing of tens of thousands of Armenians from their homes.Azerbaijan’s 1989-1994 ethnic cleansing campaign against Armenians in the region also began with a blockade of the region.On December 19, Christian Solidarity International (CSI), the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) and seven other NGOs issued a Genocide Warning for the Armenian Christians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Humanitarian aid alone is not enough to address hunger, says new Vice President of UN agency IFAD

Rome. We are failing in our response to increasing hunger levels by focusing predominantely on humanitarian aid, said Dominik Ziller, the new Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) who took office today.
According to the report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World released last month, hunger has increased in the past five years, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to leave an additional 83 to 132 million people hungry by the end of the year.IFAD is an international financial institution and specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger in developing countries. Ziller, a German national and the former Director General for International Development Cooperation at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), starts his new role at IFAD at a pivotal time.The majority of the world’s poorest and hungriest people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods. As the second in command of the Fund, Ziller will provide counsel and support on IFAD’s strategic direction and all aspects of its operations and activities, and will help strengthen the political and financial support for IFAD among Member States. In his previous role at BMZ, Ziller’s responsibilities included the European Union’s development cooperation, and the development pro­cesses of the G7 and the G20. During Germany’s G20 Presidency, he chaired the Development Working Group. He previously worked for the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), where he was a member of the Executive Management Committee.

Million People Benefit from the UAE-based Big Heart Foundation’s Humanitarian Efforts in 2018

Humanitarian aid worth US$ 15.8 million (AED 58 million) to 1,091,000 million refugees, internally displaced and acutely disadvantaged people in 12 conflict-laden nations worldwide has been offered by The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a leading international humanitarian organisation based in Sharjah, UAE. Operating under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, UNHCR Eminent Advocate and TBHF Chairperson, the humanitarian non-profit operating out of Sharjah – the third largest emirate in United Arab Emirates (UAE) – has mobilised the funds to support and initiate 20 projects in collaboration with UNHCR, Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) in vital sectors of food security, healthcare and education.
Their 2018 efforts spanned 12 countries, namely, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Tanzania, Mauritania, Somalia and South Sudan, and were focused not only on the deployment of emergency aid, but also looked into longer-term rehabilitation and community redevelopment through increasing people’s access to better healthcare, education and employability.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF, has elaborated on the humanitarian strategy that TBHF adopted in 2018 and will continue to execute in the future, saying: “Our efforts are based on two key principles. Immediate assistance, followed by community-building and rehabilitation through education, vocational training and employment. This has helped underprivileged groups to access the necessary tools they need to secure their future, and will strengthen the global march towards realising UN Agenda 2030.” TBHF deployed its projects through six funds operating under its umbrella. In 2018, The MENA Fund facilitated the development of National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s main building in Cairo, Egypt. The Refugees and IDP Fund has intensified healthcare services for 24,000 Syrian refugees at the ‘Big Heart Clinic’ in Jordan’s Zaatari Camp, and facilitated the construction of a 100-bed hospital in Cox’s Bazar for Rohingya refugees.The Palestinian Children Fund enabled the establishment of the first secondary school for 45,000 children with hearing disabilities in Palestine. It also supported UNRWA’s urgent medical assistance for children.
TBHF’s Zakat Fund established a community centre for 3000 internally displaced students in Aleppo to support UNHCR’s efforts to provide long-term protection activities. Their Emergency Fund extended urgent aid to vulnerable communities in South Sudan, in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The Ameera Fund contributed to 16% of TBHF’s overall contribution in 2018 through several projects and campaigns to promote cancer awareness.

Humanitarian visas would reduce refugees’ death toll

Access to EU territory for the sole purpose of requesting international protection. To be issued at EU embassies and consulates abroad 90% of those granted international protection in the EU arrived via irregular means Around 30 000 people have died trying to reach Europe since 2000. Asylum-seekers should be able to request humanitarian visas at EU embassies and consulates abroad, allowing them to access Europe safely, say Civil Liberties MEPs.
With 37 votes to 10 and 3 abstentions, the Civil Liberties Committee agreed on Monday to ask the European Commission to table, by 31 March 2019, a legislative proposal establishing a European Humanitarian Visa. Holders would be allowed into Europe – only to the member state issuing the visa – for the sole purpose of submitting an application for international protection.MEPs stress that the EU lacks a harmonised framework of protected entry procedures for people seeking international protection and point out that, due to insufficient legal options, an estimated 90% of those granted refugee status or subsidiary protection reached the European Union through irregular means.
According to the committee, humanitarian visas would help to address the intolerable death toll in the Mediterranean and on the migration routes to the EU (at least 30 000 persons have died at EU borders since 2000), to combat human smuggling, and to manage arrivals, reception and processing of asylum claims better.This tool should also contribute to optimising member states’ and the EU’s budget for asylum, law enforcement procedures, border control, surveillance and search and rescue activities, MEPs say.They stress, however, that the decision to issue European humanitarian visas should remain a responsibility solely of the member states.
Beneficiaries will have to prove well-founded exposure to or risk of persecution and not be in a resettlement process already. The assessment of the application should not involve a full status determination process, but before issuing the visa, each applicant should be subject to a security screening, through the relevant national and European databases, “to ensure that they do not pose a security risk”.Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) , rapporteur for the proposal, underlined that “after more than four years of very tough negotiations, we have before us a new and possibly last opportunity to approve European Humanitarian Visas. We need to do more to help people in need, as there are currently clearly not enough legal and safe pathways to the EU for those seeking international protection.”
This legislative initiative will be put to a vote by the full House in the December plenary session. If adopted by plenary by qualified majority, the Commission will have to give a reasoned reply to Parliament’s request.

Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Awarded Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award

Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund is the recipient of the 2017 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson presented the award to members of the organization’s board of directors in a ceremony at the Pentagon on October 22, 2018. Secretary of the United States Air Force, Heather Wilson (left), presents Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund president, MaryEllen Picciuto, with the 2017 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award, given annually to an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional patriotism and humanitarian concern for members of the Armed Forces or their families. Since 2014, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund has awarded more than $10 million in scholarships to military veterans and their family members, especially children of the fallen or disabled. Credit: Wayne Clark.Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund was established in 2014 by a group of West Point classmates to honor service and sacrifice by providing scholarships and education opportunities to veterans and military family members, especially children of the fallen or disabled. Their inspiration was their classmate Colonel John “Johnny Mac” McHugh, killed in action on May 18, 2010 while deployed to Afghanistan. Colonel McHugh left behind a family of five children.
“Since 2014, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund has awarded over $10 million in scholarships to deserving military children. Those kids need to know that when their military parents deploy—and some do not return—that we have their backs,” commented Tony Guzzi, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund co-founder and Chairman, President, and CEO of EMCOR Group, Inc.Established in 1996 by the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award is a multi-service award designated to recognize and reward an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional patriotism and humanitarian concern for members of the Armed Forces or their families. Presented annually, the award is named in honor of Fisher House founders Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, both of whom contributed extensively in support of service members and their families.MaryEllen Picciuto, President, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, accepted the award and credited the board of directors and the Fund’s supporters for their passion and dedication to advancing the organization’s mission.

Humanitarian emergencies in the Mediterranean and solidarity: debate in plenary

MEPs will discuss with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and the Council how to deal with humanitarian emergencies in the Mediterranean, following the decision by the Italian and Maltese governments not to allow the MV Aquarius, a ship operated by French NGOs SOS Mediterranée and Medecins sans Frontières, to land more than 629 people after rescuing them in the open sea.The migrants and asylum-seekers will be brought to Spain, after the Spanish Government announced it would welcome them on humanitarian grounds.

Gene E. Phillips Offers Plane and Donations in Humanitarian Flight to USVI St. Thomas

Dallas real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist, Gene E. Phillips offered his private plane for a humanitarian flight to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands last week. St. Thomas was recently damaged by Category 5 Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was the first non-military large aircraft to land on the island since before the storm. The final 300 mile approach to the island was made without air traffic control assistance.“Once we received notice that the flight was approved, we had 72 hours to coordinate donation items to fill the plane,” commented Don Phillips, brother of Gene Phillips. “I enlisted the help of a few coworkers, and by Monday night we had 10,000 pounds of cargo.”Trusted World’s CEO and Founder, Michael Garrett’s response and turnaround time was less than 24 hours. His organization donated pallets of baby items, cleaning supplies, general hygiene products, flashlights, and batteries. The Hart family of Arlington and the Dwyer family of Dallas also provided a truck full of water and food.Three firefighters helped unload the plane at St. Thomas’s Cyril E. King Airport. “They were shocked at the amount of useful items that we had carried in, and commented on how much thought had gone into what was sent,” said Joanna McDonald, Flight Attendant. “While unloading, we learned that the firefighters didn’t have much of what they needed either. They didn’t even have toothpaste. There was much excitement and a couple of tears when we shared some of the necessities with them and pulled any extra cokes and snacks off of the plane for them to have.”In total, the effort was able to bring 21 people from St. Thomas to Atlanta, Georgia and Dallas, Texas. Several passengers were in St. Thomas after Hurricane Irma to help with infrastructure repairs, insurance claim assistance, and general relief when they got stranded due to Hurricane Maria. The other passengers were all St. Thomas residents who lost everything in the storm and were leaving to live with relatives. One special passenger needed immediate evacuation to be able to continue her much needed medical treatments.“I was happy to lend my resources to get much needed donations to the people of St. Thomas,” stated Gene Phillips. “We were also approved to help people leave the island. Our ability to transport people otherwise unable to leave was such an honor. St. Thomas and its residents still need so much relief and support.”Gene E. Phillips of Dallas, Texas is the patriarch of one of the Southwest’s most prominent and respected families. Not only are they known for their accomplishments in business, but also for their philanthropic commitment to their community. They give generously to both educational and cultural institutions. Gene has been in commercial real estate for more than 40 years and has purchased, managed, developed and sold billions of dollars’ worth of real estate during this time. His philosophy is simple: identify and acquire undervalued or under-performing properties, adding capital improvements, aggressive leasing, and management programs in order to achieve long-term, above-market returns, and produce high quality real estate developments that are economically sound. (photo: business wire)

AidEx 2016 Humanitarian & Development Journalism Award open for entries

Brussels, 18 May 2016: AidEx, the leading forum for the international aid and development community, is happy to announce that the 2016 edition of the AidEx Humanitarian & Development Journalism Award, supported by NRS International, is now open for submissions and nominations.Launched last year, this award aims to celebrate the best of humanitarian and development reporting and photojournalism. In 2015, the winners of the award were Holly Young, from The Guardian’s Global Development Professionals Network (for reporting) and Victor Lacken, of Lensman Media Services (for photojournalism). Other finalists in both categories included individuals from IRIN, Plan International, EurActiv, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Learn more about last year’s finalists and winners here.
Speaking about his win, Victor Lacken noted that it has “motivated me to seek new challenges in photojournalism and I expect it will inspire other photographers to tell their stories.” Holly Young said winning the reporting award has “given me more confidence to pursue stories that I really believe in”.The AidEx Humanitarian & Development Journalism Award is run in partnership with NRS International, a leading international manufacturer of innovative products for the humanitarian aid, public health and development sectors.The award will be conferred in-person at the AidEx Brussels exhibition and conference on 17 November 2016 and will recognise exceptional work in the following two categories:
Photojournalism: for a photograph or set of photographs published in 2015, portraying the work of international aid organisations or NGOs, or the situation of those in need of humanitarian aid or development assistance.
Reporting: for print, radio, broadcast or digital reporting published in 2015. This should have investigated humanitarian and development issues; recognised unsung heroes in the sector; highlighted the plight of affected communities; or encouraged greater understanding of humanitarian and development work.
Nominations for the Award will be judged by an independent panel of experts and by an online public vote. One winner will be selected from each category to receive a trophy and cash prize of €2,500, conferred in person at AidEx in Brussels on 17 November 2016.
To enter your own work or to nominate someone for the AidEx Humanitarian & Development Journalism Award, please visit the AidEx website, where full Terms and Conditions are also available. The deadline for entries is 29 July 2016. Follow #HDJA and @AidEx2016 on
Now in its 6th year, AidEx is a major international conference and exhibition for humanitarian and development professionals of all stripes. Its fundamental aim is to engage the sector at every level and provide a forum for the visitors to meet, source, supply, and learn.
NRS International is a family-run company that develops and manufactures products for the humanitarian aid, public health and development sectors. It aims to improve the everyday lives of people in need by providing cost-effective aid essentials. Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The EU should avoid trapping asylum-seekers in Greece, says Civil Liberties Chair

The new humanitarian assistance tool to help refugees stranded in Greece will provide much needed help to alleviate pressure faced by the country as a result of increasing arrivals, said Civil Liberties Committee Chair Claude Moraes (S&D, UK), underlining that “trapping asylum-seekers in Greece is not a policy that member states should be pursuing in 2016”.Mr Moraes welcomed this sign of solidarity intended to help Greece tackle with the raising migration and refugees influx and warned that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as a result of the failure of member states to show solidarity and effectively implement the necessary EU measures.Speaking after the Commission´s announcement, Mr Moraes said:“I welcome the Commission’s announcement to create a new humanitarian assistance tool to help refugees in Europe. This is a welcoming sign of solidarity with member states on the periphery that have experienced significant pressures as a result of increasing arrivals; so far this year, over 100,000 migrants have arrived to Europe by sea. The new funds for humanitarian assistance will provide much needed help to alleviate pressure faced by Greece in response to the increasing amount of asylum-seekers trapped in the country. A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the EU as a result of the failure of Member States to show solidarity and implement the necessary EU measures to address the refugee crisis. Relocation figures still remain in the hundreds and the recent plans to seal the border between Macedonia and Greece and along the ‘Balkan route’ draw attention to the failure of member states to show solidarity in response to the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war.Trapping asylum-seekers in Greece is not a policy that member states should be pursuing in 2016, this is a European crisis that requires European solutions. The European Parliament will continue to call on member states to respond in an organised and compassionate way with full respect of human dignity”.

Greece: IFRC Secretary General calls for increased response to humanitarian and health needs for vulnerable migrants

More must be done to respond to the needs of vulnerable migrants in Greece and across Europe as the scale of humanitarian needs increase, urged Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), at the end of a two-day visit to Greece.“Deteriorating health on the migratory route is a major concern. The chain of immunization for children is broken, people on the move are exposed to many health challenges. We have a double duty to respond to humanitarian needs and basic health needs,” said Mr Sy. “We need – the Red Cross and Red Crescent, governments and humanitarian partners – to maintain our efforts and respond effectively and efficiently, to save lives and protect people’s dignity.”More than 600,000 people have arrived in Greece this year, making it the primary entry point into Europe for vulnerable migrants. The Hellenic Red Cross has been responding to the needs of people since the onset of the emergency, supporting people as they arrive on islands, as they transit through Athens, and as they continue their journey north.
The Secretary General met with the leadership of the Hellenic Red Cross, and visited the Eleonas accommodation centre in Athens where the Red Cross is delivering relief items. He praised the response of the Red Cross and its volunteers.“The Red Cross volunteers and staff who I met are tremendously dedicated, and are treating people with empathy and care,” he said. “In a complex context they are demonstrating every day a commitment to our humanitarian principles. Volunteers are however overwhelmed, and we all must do more and do it faster to respond at the level which is commensurate to the magnitude of the challenges.”Dr. Avgerinos, President of the Hellenic Red Cross, said that: “The places where humanitarian needs are greatest shift on any given day. We are constantly adapting our response to evolving needs and are committed to a flexible, long-term approach. We count on the support of the IFRC and express appreciation for the help we have received from the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network to enable our humanitarian response.”On 23 October, the IFRC quadrupled its Emergency Appeal for Greece, and is now seeking 12.6 million Swiss francs to support the Hellenic Red Cross in reaching 200,000 people with a range of interventions including first aid, emergency medical care, psychosocial support and search and rescue services.During his visit, Mr. Sy met with Dr. Ioannis Mouzalas, Alternate Minister for Immigration Policy; Mr. Ioannis Amanatidis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Dr. Andreas Xanthos, Minister of Health; and Minister of Labour: H.E. Mr. Yiorgos Katrougalos. They discussed the ongoing situation and the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. The Hellenic Red Cross and the IFRC are working closely with the Ministry of the Interior and Administrative Reconstruction, the Ministry of Health and authorities to ensure a coherent response.Across Europe, more than 25,000 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are providing support and protection to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people on the move. The IFRC has launched six country-specific Emergency Appeals totalling over 70 million Swiss francs to aid these efforts.The Red Cross and Red Crescent has launched a call to make universal the responsibility to protect vulnerable people and respect their dignity in any place, under any circumstances, regardless of their legal status: Sign the petition at http://www.ifrc.org/protecthumanity. Help make the responsibility to #ProtectHumanity universal.

The Syrian Coalition Condemns the Attacks in Al-Mazraa and Expresses its Deep Condolences to the Families of the Victims

Cairo, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt, March 22, 2013 – The Assad regime media has reported the death of twenty civilians in an explosion that targeted a mosque in Al-Mazraa neighborhood on the evening of March 21, 2013. The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces expresses its deepest condolences and solidarity with the families of the innocent victims of this grave calamity. It is clear that the terrorist Assad regime is behind this criminal incident, especially while considering that Assad officers heavily guarded the area where the explosion took place, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.The Syrian Coalition condemns, with the strongest possible terms, the terrorist explosions, which have repeatedly reflected the style of the Assad regime, as a means to achieve their deplorable objectives. He, who does not hesitate to bomb mosques, universities, and bakeries, and target residential areas with scud missiles, cannot be expected to refrain from carrying out terrorist explosions that kill innocent Syrian civilians.This tragic incident, once again, calls upon the international community to assume their humanitarian, legal, and political responsibilities, and to act immediately. The international community must adopt the measures necessary to restrain the regime and to stop the daily massacres. We ask the international community to support the aspirations of the Syrian people to live freely, with dignity and justice.
الائتلاف الوطني يدين الهجمات في حي المزرعة و يعرب عن تعازيه العميقة لذوي الضحايا الأبرياء
القاهرة 22/ 3/ 2013 – يعرب الائتلاف الوطني لقوى الثورة والمعارضة السورية عن تعازيه العميقة لذوي الضحايا الأبرياء، ويعبر عن تضامنه الكامل معهم في مصابهم الجلل. كما يعتبر أن نظام الأسد الإرهابي هو المسؤول المباشر عن هذا الحادث الآثم، خاصة عند أخذ الطبيعة الأمنية والحراسة المشددة المطبقة في المنطقة التي جرى فيها التفجير والأحياء المجاورة له.
إن الائتلاف الوطني السوري يدين دون أي تردد، وبأشد العبارات أسلوب التفجيرات الإرهابية التي طالما برع نظام الأسد في تنفيذها للوصول إلى مآربه القذرة. إن من لا يتورع عن قصف المساجد والجامعات والمخابز واستهداف المناطق السكنية بصواريخ السكود، لا يردعه شيء عن القيام بتفيجرات يذهب ضحيتها أبناء الشعب السوري دون ذنب.
وهذا ما يضع العالم مجدداً أمام مسؤولياته السياسية والقانونية والإنسانية والعمل فوراً على اتخاذ الإجراءات الكفيلة بلجم النظام ووقف المجازر اليومية وتحقيق تطلعات الشعب السوري للعيش بحرية وكرامة وعدالة.
الرحمة لشهدائنا والشفاء لجرحانا والحرية لمعتقلينا،

Situation in southern Somalia

Rising threats and attacks on humanitarian operations, as well as the imposition of a string of unacceptable demands from armed groups, have made it virtually impossible for the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue reaching up to one million people in need in southern Somalia. WFP’s humanitarian operations in southern Somalia have been under escalating attacks from armed groups, leading to this partial suspension of humanitarian food distributions in much of southern Somalia. WFP is deeply concerned about rising hunger and suffering among the most vulnerable due to these unprecedented and inhumane attacks on purely humanitarian operations. WFP is continuing to provide life saving food distributions in the rest of the country, including the capital, Mogadishu, reaching more than two-thirds of the hungry it has been targeting – or 1.8 million people. In addition, resources and relief workers are being re-deployed from southern areas in the event that people start moving away from areas where food distributions have been suspended. Even in good years, Somalia is only able to meet 40 per cent of the food needs of its population through internal production. In the last five years, local production has averaged only about 30 per cent of food needs in Somalia. WFP’s operation in Somalia is fully funded in the coming months to reach all the projected beneficiaries.