The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has reported alarming figures regarding the ongoing refugee crisis, highlighting that the majority of new arrivals in Chad are women and children. These vulnerable groups are escaping dire situations as they flee from areas like the Zamzam camp and the city of El Fasher, locations that have been targeted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. For more than two years, these forces have been in conflict with the military government, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation.
Exhausted and Victimized
Many refugees arriving in Chad are reported to be utterly exhausted, having traversed great distances on foot. Due to financial constraints, they often cannot afford basic transportation. Tragically, these individuals report being subjected to targeted attacks, looting, and sexual violence during their arduous journeys. Disturbingly, numerous children have been injured, families have been separated, and many remain missing, according to the UN agency.
The immediate needs in Chad are substantial, encompassing shelter, food, medical care, and psychological support. However, the refugee response appeal, which seeks $409 million, is only 20% funded. This stark financial shortfall poses serious challenges to the humanitarian efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of these vulnerable populations.
Syria’s Returnees Desperately Need Help to Start Over
In a separate yet poignant crisis, Syrian refugees attempting to rebuild their lives amid the wreckage of their war-torn country urgently require global support, as underscored by UN agencies. Recent developments, including Donald Trump’s decision to lift certain sanctions, have sparked hopes, particularly in Damascus. Yet, after over 13 years of civil strife and the fall of the Assad regime last December, communities are grappling with severe challenges, including unreliable access to electricity, clean water, and healthcare.
Records Destroyed
The destruction of public records has created additional barriers for returnees, preventing them from accessing essential services or claiming housing and land rights. Amy Pope, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), emphasized that while Syrians possess incredible resilience and innovation, they need assistance to return to a path of stability. “Enabling them to return to a country that is on the path to stability and progress is critical for the country’s future,” she asserted.
A new IOM report covering over 1,100 communities across Syria reveals that job opportunities are scant, primarily because agriculture and markets have yet to recover. Additionally, urgent shelter reconstruction is necessary, while unresolved property issues continue to hinder community reintegration. Since January 2024, over 1.3 million individuals displaced within Syria have returned, alongside nearly 730,000 arrivals from abroad.
WHO Issues Warning Over Deadly MERS Outbreak in Saudi Arabia
In a concerning public health development, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in Saudi Arabia has prompted warnings after two fatalities occurred between March and April. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated guidelines aimed at containing the outbreak, which has confirmed nine cases — seven of them identified in the capital, Riyadh. Alarmingly, some of those infected are healthcare workers who contracted the virus from patients.
MERS, a zoonotic virus related to COVID-19, has a high fatality rate estimated at around 36%, although the real figure could be lower due to undiagnosed mild cases. WHO assesses the risk of wider transmission as moderate on both regional and global scales. The primary carriers of MERS are dromedary camels, and human-to-human transmission mainly occurs in healthcare settings, usually through respiratory droplets or close contact.
No Vaccine, No Cure
Similar to COVID-19, MERS can manifest in a range of symptoms, from none at all to severe respiratory illness, including acute respiratory distress, and can even result in death. Currently, no vaccine or specific treatment exists for the virus. To mitigate its spread, WHO has urged hospitals and clinics to enhance infection prevention and control measures, particularly in areas treating suspected cases. Since its identification in 2012, MERS has caused 858 deaths across 27 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Call for Venezuela to End Secret Detention of Political Opponents
Amidst these humanitarian and health crises, top independent human rights experts have called on the Venezuelan authorities to halt the reported practice of holding political opponents incommunicado. In an alert issued Wednesday, they described these “targeted detentions” as illegal and indicative of enforced disappearances, a serious human rights violation that could potentially constitute an international crime.
These experts assert that such secret detentions are part of a deliberate governmental strategy designed to silence opposition figures and instill fear within the broader population. They highlighted a pervasive lack of legal protection for civil society in Venezuela, accusing state security forces of collusion with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Lack of Legal Protection
The mission has implicated several agencies, including the national intelligence service, national guard, and military counterintelligence, in these unlawful detentions. Furthermore, they assert that criminal courts and the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice are complicit, effectively enabling these alleged crimes to go unpunished. The Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela was established by the Human Rights Council in 2019, and its members operate independently, outside of UN staff accountability.
