Aid for Myanmar, Rohingya refugees, economic slowdown, Wagner Group… The news on Tuesday

Myanmar: UN calls on international community for more humanitarian aid

The disruption of Myanmar’s democratic transition by the military over the past two years caused enormous damage and sparked a crisis with serious humanitarian, socio-economic and human rights consequences creating serious regional repercussions.

The special envoy of General secretary of the United Nations for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, recalled that at the end of last year more than 15 million people were food insecure Y there were a million and a half internally displaced, while some 34,000 civilian structures had been destroyed since the military took power.

In addition, members of the Rohingya minority, both those living in refugee camps and those who remain in the country, as well as other marginalized communities, are at greater risk. In fact, 2022 was one of the deadliest years for people forced to undertake dangerous sea voyages.

Heyzer urgently called for greater commitment and unity on the part of the international community in three key areas: expanding the delivery of humanitarian aid, establishing a common position in the face of a possible call for elections by the military, and taking measures to increase the protection of the civilians in the country and refugees in the rest of the region.

The number of Rohingya refugees is growing at a dizzying rate

precisely, the International Organization for Migration The IOM reported today that the number of Rohingya refugees arriving in Southeast Asia by sea and land has increased exponentially in recent months.

During 2022, the Organization recorded nearly 3,300 arrivals in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, which represents an increase of approximately 290% compared to about 850 arrivals recorded in 2021. The trend continued in January with almost 300 arrivals in 23 days.

The Organization works closely with the Indonesian government, local NGOs and the UN Refugee Agency facilitating protection, health services, including mental health, as well as the remodeling of temporary shelters.

It also guarantees water supply, access to food, sanitation and waste management.

IMF forecasts less economic slowdown by 2023

Despite the ballast that the rise in interest rates by central banks to combat inflation and the war between Russia and Ukraine entails for economic activity, the International Monetary Fund increased its expansion forecasts by 0.2% this Monday for 2023.

The body indicated that the growth of the world economy will slow down from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023to subsequently rebound to 3.1% in 2024.

From the Fund, they point out that “the rapid spread of COVID-19 in China slowed growth in 2022”, but that the recent reopening of the Asian giant “has cleared the way for a faster recovery than anticipated”.

The slowdown will be more pronounced in advanced economies, which will go from growth of 2.7% last year to 1.2% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024. The Fund points to the probability that nine out of ten advanced economies slow down.

Mali: They ask to investigate the possible crimes committed by the “Wagner group”

A group of UN human rights experts is calling for the immediate opening of an independent investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mali by government forces and the private military contractor known as the “Wagner Group.”

Since 2021 and in the framework of the ongoing hostilities, the experts received testimonies of horrible executions, the appearance of mass graves and acts of torture, among other human rights violations perpetrated by the Malian armed forces and their allies. in the Mopti area and other areas of the African country

The experts were particularly concerned by reports that Malian forces, allegedly accompanied by members of the Wagner Group, had executed several hundred people in Moura, a town in central Mali at the end of March 2022.

Most of the victims belonged to the Peuhl minority, they noted.

Victims of the so-called Wagner Group face many difficulties in accessing justice and obtaining reparations for human rights abuses, especially in light of the secrecy and opacity surrounding the military contractor’s activities in Mali.

Jarbas Barbosa, new director of PAHO

The Executive Board of the World Health Organization today appointed Dr. Jarbas Barbosa of Brazil as the new director of the Pan American Health Organization from February 1

Barbosa joined PAHO in 2007 as Area Manager for Health Surveillance and Disease Management. In 2011, he rejoined the Brazilian Ministry of Health as Secretary of Sanitary Surveillance, and later became Secretary of Science, Technology and Strategic Supplies.

Before becoming deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization in mid-2018, he was director-president of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).

Dr. Barbosa succeeds Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, from Dominica, who led the Organization from 2012 to 2022.