Changes in Mortality Rates and Humanitarian Conditions in Darfur, Sudan 2003–2007

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 496-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Garfield ◽  
Jonny Polonsky

AbstractThe Darfur region of Sudan has been an intense focus of humanitarian concern since rebellions began there early in 2003. In 2004, the US Secretary of State declared that conflict in Darfur represented genocide. Since 2003, many sample surveys and various mortality estimates for Darfur have been made. Nonetheless, confusion and controversy surrounding mortality levels and trends have continued. For this project, results were reviewed from the highest quality field surveys on mortality in Darfur conducted between 2003 and 2008. Trend analysis demonstrated a dramatic decline in mortality over time in Darfur. By 2005, mortality levels had fallen below emergency levels and have continued to decline. Deaths directly due violence have declined as a proportion of all of the deaths in Darfur. Declining mortality in Darfur was not associated with other proximate improvements in well-being, such as improved nutrition. Without large-scale, humanitarian intervention, continuing high rates of mortality due to violence likely would have occurred. If mortality had continued at the high rate documented in 2004, by January 2009, there would have been 330,000 additional deaths. With the humanitarian assistance provided through the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, these people are alive today. A focus on excess deaths among non-combatants may draw attention away from other needs, such as establishing better security, improving service delivery to the displaced, and advocating for internally displaced persons to be reached today and to re-establish their lives and livelihoods tomorrow.

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Leaning

In the last 35 years, the disaster and humanitarian communities have evolved rapidly in two parallel cohorts. The disaster enterprise in the US and Latin America grew up in the 1970s in response to a series of major earthquakes, hurricanes, and forest fires, culminating with the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island and the formation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1979/80. The Disaster Program at the Pan-American Health Organization also took form in the 1980s.The humanitarian enterprise can be traced to the Biafran War of 1968/69, where a range of international, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) converged to respond to support a population that was fleeing a civil war and famine. In the years since, drawn to refugees and internally displaced persons in war circumstances as varied as Angola, Afghanistan, and Bosnia, the humanitarian community has expanded in numbers, reach, and budget.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 154-164
Author(s):  
A. N. Gutorova

Non-state factors begin to play more and more significant role in processes of global management. The international non-governmental organizations are on a special place among them (INGO). In the last decade they are growing noticeably. In this regard it is necessary to study the role and the meaning of international non-governmental organizations in the process of global management. It is a vital need of modern science. Attempts to elaborate definition of the concept "international non-governmental organization" were made repeatedly but all developed concepts have certain shortcomings (don't reflect the legal nature of INGO, membership, activity purposes, etc.). The bulk of non-governmental organizations are created for the solution of specific problems or work within a certain perspective. Today these organizations actively deal with issues connected with humanitarian assistance, protection of human rights and environmental protection, providing peace and safety, participate in educational programs, sports projects. They provide analysis and expert assessment of various problems, including global problems, act as mechanism of "early notification" and promote control of international agreements execution. But, without looking, for rather positive role of MNPO in their activity there are also certain problems. INGO is often accused in internal state affairs. Their activity often has politized character.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402198973
Author(s):  
Kathleen Ford ◽  
Aree Jampaklay ◽  
Aphichat Chamatrithirong

Aim: The objective of this paper is to examine the level of psychiatric symptoms and associated factors among Thai migrants from the southernmost Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narithiwat who are working in Malaysia. Comparisons will be made with the sending population in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. Methods: Data are drawn from survey and in-depth interviews with Thai migrants who are working in Malaysia. Comparisons are made with a probability sample of working age adults in Thailand. The twenty item Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) was the measure of mental health. Results: The study found that the migrants, on average, have normal levels of psychiatric symptoms. However, although about 24% of migrants reported more eight or more symptoms that may indicate a need for evaluation. There are many stressors in their lives including distance from families, reduced social support, legal matters surrounding immigration, and discrimination/exploitation of migrant groups. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for policy makers and non-governmental organizations to give attention to migrants’ mental health, well-being and sustainable livelihoods.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (26) ◽  
pp. 266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nkonge Kiboro

Social capital is increasingly recognized as important in influencing economic development, establishment of safe neighborhoods and wellfunctioning communities. There is growing evidence that communities with relatively higher stocks of social capital in form of grassroots associations appear to achieve higher levels of growth compared to societies with low stocks of social capital. This study sought to investigate the influence of social Capital on the livelihood outcomes for the internally displaced persons in Kenya. Membership to local level associations was used as a predictor of social capital. The study revealed that majority of the households that were affiliated to local level associations obtained essential services that influenced their livelihoods positively. Overall, the findings reveal that memberships in local associations (social capital) tend to insulate households from risks and other exigencies. The study recommends that government and other stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations should formulate projects and programs that seek to promote wider participation in local level associations particularly by the poor and those whose livelihoods are vulnerable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-54
Author(s):  
A Sangamithra ◽  
S Thilagavathy

Vaccination and the impact on health on the world’s people is very difficult to exaggerate. The main aim is to treat people with mental health issues and substance use of disorder. Vaccination is crucial in terms of ensuring the overall health conditions and well–being. The development of vaccines is an expensive and lengthy process. Depreciation is high and takes multiple candidates and long years to produce a licensed vaccine. The access to vaccines that prevent life-threatening infectious diseases remains not equal to all the population. The benefits of vaccination derive from health and economic benefits and the health benefits have diminishing returns as a result of high-risk individuals been vaccinated first. Economic benefits depend both on the health benefits and on how reduced risk of infection and death translates into a leading general economic activity. Department of Government is required to perform a systematic economic analyses of vaccines and to justify their given pressure on both private and public finances on a global level; provoke in the year 2008 financial crash. Mostly, the government supports charities and non-governmental organizations, where people invest in these, with the hope of improving the health conditions.


Revizor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (93) ◽  
pp. 55-70
Author(s):  
Željko Rička ◽  
Anita Šadić

Relevant governmental bodies and organizations, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and institutions, especially the media, show increased interest in corruption related to the public procurement. Public procurement is the most frequently cited area in the context of systemic corruption for the simple reason that it directly represents the spending of public money on a large scale, which according to OECD data represents about 7-15% of GDP. One of the possible approaches to prevent corruption in public procurement is the systematic building of the integrity of all entities and institutions involved in the public procurement process. Due to the fact that the internal audit way of organization and work is closest to practical issues of public procurement it has the opportunity to achieve the largest coverage of cases for which public funds are engaged.


Author(s):  
Olivier Peyroux

Children and young people are often trafficked for financial gains as a consequence of trafficking for physical and sexual abuse. The number of such refugees and asylum seekers is almost impossible to determine accurately. Children can be used to smuggle drugs across countries. Although small networks for local crime built around drug dealing, cigarette sales, or the resale of stolen goods use children and young people, there are also highly evolved and structured organizations specializing in drug and sexual trafficking. These challenges require new and different ways of approaching them so that mental health and well-being of children and young people can be maintained. Furthermore, it will be helpful to change the terms of child protection, strengthening structures of support, creating community and street teams with appropriate linguistic competencies, better links between countries of origin and European countries, and better cooperation between police, justice, social workers, and non-governmental organizations. Better approaches are indicated.


Author(s):  
Malose Langa ◽  
Steven Rebello ◽  
Linda Harms-Smith

Abstract This article reflects on the Marikana massacre of August 2012, subsequent violent strikes and responses by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a case study, and provides an analysis about whether these interventions bring transformative change or maintain the status quo in times of crisis. Events associated with Marikana are seen to be embedded in social structures of the time and part of deeper frictions and fractures of social transformation. The role that NGOs might play in this context must be interrogated as to their facilitation or hinderance of such social transformation. Interviews were conducted with representatives of NGOs intervening in Marikana that provided services of humanitarian assistance, and legal and psychosocial interventions and with mine workers and residents of Marikana about their experiences and views of these services. Findings from the study are illustrative of how NGOs were not primarily motivated to bring about lasting, transformative change but rather attempted to address immediate or short-term needs which, while important, did not account for underlying causes of the crises that they set out to address. Both ideological underpinnings of NGOs and structural conditions produced by state and capital impact on outcomes of interventions. Given these limitations, it is argued that there is a need for deep critical interrogation through praxis, for NGOs to intervene differently in times of crisis to bring ‘real’ change and transformation in the lives of those who are marginalized.


1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (288) ◽  
pp. 228-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Torrelli

While States ever more ardently defend their sovereignty, which does little to improve international cooperation, and as the application of humanitarian law in armed conflicts declines, men of good will throughout the world are doing their utmost to reverse these trends. The century now drawing to a close has witnessed a plethora of private initiatives taken in an effort to temper reasons of State by more humane considerations. Many non-governmental organizations, some symbolically styling themselves “without borders”, have taken over where governments can no longer cope, organizing relief, combating drought, preserving the environment or improving sanitary conditions. These voluntary organizations whose vocation is to serve mankind are without question pursuing humanitarian aims as defined in the first Red Cross principle, which is “to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found”, and whose “purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being”. Emergency medical assistance organizations, stating that they wish to remain independent of the powers that be, demanding freedom of action to help all victims and encouraged by the example set by Henry Dunant and the ICRC, do not hesitate to claim that their activities fall within the terms of an as yet unwritten body of law entitling them to bring assistance to needy civilian communities, even against the will of the government. Indeed, they believe that receiving proper care is one of the basic human rights of the individual, wheresoever and whosoever he may be. Such basic rights know no national boundary. While awaiting recognition of their activities, the duty to intervene is created by moral considerations.


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (324) ◽  
pp. 463-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Goldman

This past April the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis M. Deng, presented to the UN Commission on Human Rights, at its 54th session, a report with an addendum entitled Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (hereinafter “Guiding Principles”). The Commission adopted by consensus a resolution co-sponsored by more than 50 States which, inter alia, took note of the decision of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee welcoming the Guiding Principles and encouraging its members to share them with their Executive Boards, and also of Mr. Deng's stated intention to make use of these principles in his dialogue with governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. These principles are an important milestone in the process of establishing a generally accepted normative framework for the protection of the estimated 20 to 25 million internally displaced persons worldwide.


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