Cover Image: New York Times

Latest News for November 5 – November 12, 2021

Afghanistan

The number of Afghans living on the edge of famine has risen by 5.7 million, causing hospitals to expand in order to meet the need of malnutrition cases. At least 25 children have died in The Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul during the past two months and the hospital is receiving 30 cases per week. New rules and appointments by the Taliban have further complicated access to care. Overall, almost 60% of the population suffers from acute hunger. (ABC)

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Bangladesh/ Myanmar 

Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee and 223,000 have been internally displaced in Myanmar amidst the ongoing crisis. There are around 3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance as COVID-19, conflict, and the economic crisis continue to worsen. Aid groups are facing difficulties accessing vulnerable groups. (UN News)

Weeks after the murder of activist Mohib Ullah, Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar remain unprotected from further violence. Though Bangladesh authorities provide some security during the day, there is little to no protection from gang activity at night. Families are being relocated to avoid further attacks as they continue to report threats from armed groups. (NDTV)

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Colombia/ Venezuela 

Venezuelan migrants continue to be extremely vulnerable in host countries. One in five people have left behind their homes since 2015. In other words, 20% of the Venezuelan population has been displaced. Despite the urgency to provide protection to this population, the Venezuelan migrant crisis still lacks funding to address people’s needs. (Amnesty International)

Data finds an uptick in the number of Venezuelans migrating through the dangerous Darien Gap route. There are widespread reports of assault, killings, and robbery along this route. The number of children migrating along this route has also been record-breaking, with more than 150 children arriving in Panama without parents this year. (Caracas Chronicles)

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Gaza/ Palestinian Territories

Millions of Palestinian refugees may lose access to essential services due to lack of funding. UNRWA provides services for around 5.7 million Palestinians across the Middle East and is entering a critical moment. The organization is attempting to prioritize schools and health centers amongst budget cuts. (Al Jazeera)

Three missing, one confirmed dead after the collapse of a “death boat” carrying Gazan’s to Western countries. Youth in Gaza face a 60-70% unemployment rate and the ongoing blockade makes daily life difficult. This has forced many to attempt to take dangerous routes in order to find opportunities elsewhere. (The Media Line)

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Haiti  

Since the earthquake, Haiti has faced gang violence, food insecurity, repatriations, and slow reconstruction. Around 19,000 people have been displaced by violence and 40% of Haiti’s population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The recovery plan requires around $2 billion to be completed. (UN News)

The earthquake depleted services and centers for pregnant women, leaving thousands without access to care. More than 72,000 pregnant women have been affected and 15,000 are expected to give birth in the next 3 months. These types of conflicts leave women and children particularly vulnerable due to lack of safe accommodation. (UNFPA)

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India  

While India reaches an important milestone with its one billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose, the road ahead is long and many remain vulnerable. Progress threatens to stall due to overconfidence despite only one-quarter of the population being fully vaccinated. Just a few months ago, thousands of people were dying daily in India. (NYTimes)

The heaviest rains since 2015 recorded in Chennai have caused heavy flooding and destruction. Relief centers and medical camps have been opened across the city and food distribution is being carried out as the rain is expected to continue. (CNN)

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Lebanon  

The economic crisis has resulted in a 90% value drop for the Lebanese pound in the last two years. This drop has forced ¾ of the population into poverty with stacks of money that are worthless. The government has tripled wages for employees, but most salaries have not been adjusted. (Reuters) 

Businesses and workers in Beirut’s port continue to lack support from the Lebanese government. Damages to businesses, housing, and other institutions in the port amount to about 5 billion US dollars. Around ⅓ of employees have been laid off since the port explosion, leaving many without jobs amidst the economic crisis. (Equal Times)

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Pakistan

Inflation in Pakistan has caused petrol, diesel, and sugar prices to skyrocket. Some initiatives have been provided by the government to support Pakistanis, but critics claim these efforts fall short of meeting people’s needs. (Hindustan Times)

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Sudan

Since the military coup, more than 300 civilians have been injured and 13 have been killed. This violence has been attributed to the Sudan Armed Forces and other security forces. Groups are calling for accountability for these human rights violations. There are currently 13 million people in need in Sudan. (UN News)

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Syria

Syrian migrants along Poland’s border with Belarus are facing deadly conditions as winter nears. Many are spending their days hiding in the forest from border police due to fears of being beaten or imprisoned. At least 10 people have died in this passage. Thousands of asylum seekers have arrived in Belarus in the past few months and are facing this reality. (Radio Free Europe)

At least five civilians, including three children, were killed and 10 were injured by airstrikes in Idlib. Idlib’s population is extremely vulnerable. There are about 3 million people and 75% rely on humanitarian aid. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and violent attacks have exacerbated conditions for these vulnerable communities. (Daily Sabah)

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Yemen

More than 2,500 people have been killed around Marib since October due to daily bombings. Ongoing violence in the country has displaced millions and killed tens of thousands of people. On Monday, The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said, “Again, as elsewhere in Yemen, it is the civilians that bear the burden of this conflict.” (France 24)

Yemenis face mental health challenges due to the ongoing conflict. Conditions range from anxiety, insomnia, or other severe pathologies at times leading to suicide attempts. Being exposed to constant stress caused by armed conflict has severely affected people’s mental health. (MSF)