EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: IRIN Digest - February 2015

	humanitarian news and analysis

Table of contents 1. The invisible lesson of Invisible Children 2. South Sudan peace: Deal? What deal? 3. Drones for good? 4. Why democracy may have to wait in the Central African Republic 5. Why South Sudan's children are fighting again 6. Life after combat in CAR 7. A map of hunger in 2015 - where to watch 8. Three words of advice for WHO Africa's new chief 9. The World Humanitarian Summit: Talking shop or game changer? 10. IRIN's Top Picks: Cats, Celebrities, Cold War and Climate Change 11. Why was the UN sidelined in "joint" DRC operation against rebels? 12. Working to keep the peace: The impact of job schemes on ex-rebels The invisible lesson of Invisible Children LONDON, 3 February 2015 (IRIN) - In the second of his columns for IRIN, Paul Currion reflects on the lessons to be drawn from the news that Invisible Children, the activist NGO, is winding down its operations. Widely criticised for its over simplified view of the Lord's Resistance Army - a Ugandan rebel group - IC managed to harness the power of digital media in a way mainstream humanitarian agencies could only envy. Read report online South Sudan peace: Deal? What deal? NAIROBI, 2 February 2015 (IRIN) - Expectations were low after more than a year of catastrophic conflict in South Sudan, but even so, some analysts and activists say they are disappointed at how little this weekend's peace talks achieved. Read report online Drones for good? DUBAI , 9 February 2015 (IRIN) - Most commonly associated with spying and military missions, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - or drones - for humanitarian purposes is the subject of both hype and caution, but experts argue they could play an important role in disaster relief as well as having other useful civilian applications. Read report online Why democracy may have to wait in the Central African Republic BANGUI, 9 February 2015 (IRIN) - Insecurity and a lack resources could derail elections in the Central African Republic, crucial for the return to normality after almost two years of intense conflict. Already delayed once, the parliamentary and presidential polls - now scheduled for July and August - are provoking a debate over what should come first: national security or democratic process. Read report online Why South Sudan's children are fighting again NAIROBI, 12 February 2015 (IRIN) - Thousands of children are fighting with government and rebel forces in South Sudan, reversing a painstaking demobilization program and fanning calls for war crimes trials as a better way to protect minors from recruitment. Read report online Life after combat in CAR BANGUI, 17 February 2015 (IRIN) - Helping thousands of fighters in the Central African Republic return to civilian life presents a dilemma for aid workers: offer too many incentives and risk rewarding violence; offer too few and potentially fail to stem it Read report online A map of hunger in 2015 - where to watch LONDON, 17 February 2015 (IRIN) - An interactive map of countries that are likely to face major food shortages in 2015. Read report online Three words of advice for WHO Africa's new chief DAKAR, 24 February 2015 (IRIN) - WHO's new regional director for Africa faces a tough road ahead, as she attempts to restore confidence in the organization following failures to act more quickly during the Ebola outbreak. Read report online The World Humanitarian Summit: Talking shop or game changer? LONDON, 25 February 2015 (IRIN) - With just over one year to go until the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, aid workers say the consultations so far have broadly succeeded at engaging an unprecedented spectrum of voices, but many fear the process still lacks any clear framework for turning talk into action. IRIN takes a look at the WHS preparations and some of the key issues emerging from the consultation process. Read report online IRIN's Top Picks: Cats, Celebrities, Cold War and Climate Change DUBAI, 26 February 2015 (IRIN) - Our global network of specialist correspondents share some of their top picks of recent must-read research, interviews, reports, blogs and in-depth articles to help you keep on top of global crises. Read report online Why was the UN sidelined in "joint" DRC operation against rebels? GOMA, 26 February 2015 (IRIN) - This week, a long-awaited military offensive began against a Rwandan rebel group based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It had been planned as a joint operation between Congolese government forces and a unique combat unit of United Nations peacekeepers. But by the time the gunfire began on Tuesday, the partnership had broken down and the UN had been side-lined. Read report online Working to keep the peace: The impact of job schemes on ex-rebels NAIROBI, 27 February 2015 (IRIN) - Job-creation schemes are the traditional way to tackle the post-conflict problem of unemployed ex-fighters and to reduce the threat they can pose to peace and stability in fragile states. Read report online

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WEST AFRICA: IRIN Digest - February 2015

	humanitarian news and analysis

Table of contents 1. Sex crimes up amid Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone 2. Softly, softly: the humanitarian schemes aimed at countering Boko Haram 3. How UK detention policy worsens migrants' mental health 4. Drones for good? 5. Fleeing Boko Haram - survivors' stories 6. Who celebrity advocates are really targeting. And it's not you. 7. Unloved but unyielding: Burkina's presidential guard could derail transition 8. AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Ebola: Back to school, but is it safe? 9. No longer at ease: Tackling the trauma of Boko Haram 10. Game of Drones 11. The World Humanitarian Summit: Talking shop or game changer? 12. Boko Haram takes aim at Nigeria's elections 13. Will Washington surrender in the War on Drugs? 14. Working to keep the peace: The impact of job schemes on ex-rebels Sex crimes up amid Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone KENEMA, 4 February 2015 (IRIN) - Reports that rates of sexual assault and teenage pregnancy have soared in Sierra Leone since the start of the Ebola outbreak have prompted the government to plan a raft of measure to protect girls and the UN to investigate the scale of the increase. Read report online Softly, softly: the humanitarian schemes aimed at countering Boko Haram ABUJA , 6 February 2015 (IRIN) - Northeast Nigeria faces the dual challenges of tackling Boko Haram and deeply ingrained poverty. Now the government and some private philanthropists are implementing programmes to counter both, creating economic opportunities and providing humanitarian support as antidotes to the appeal of militancy. Read report online How UK detention policy worsens migrants' mental health LONDON, 6 February 2015 (IRIN) - This month, the UK parliament is due to release findings of an inquiry into the detention of migrants and asylum seekers, prompted by high profile incidents of sexual abuse and deaths. Unlimited immigration detention contributes to - and can even cause - lasting mental health problems among detainees. Read report online Drones for good? DUBAI , 9 February 2015 (IRIN) - Most commonly associated with spying and military missions, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - or drones - for humanitarian purposes is the subject of both hype and caution, but experts argue they could play an important role in disaster relief as well as having other useful civilian applications. Read report online Fleeing Boko Haram - survivors' stories MAIDUGURI, 10 February 2015 (IRIN) - Around one million Nigerians have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast. Many seek refuge in the city of Maiduguri, choosing to stay with relatives rather than live in government run camps. They witnessed the harrowing brutality of Boko Haram before escaping to relative safety. IRIN has been hearing their stories. Read report online Who celebrity advocates are really targeting. And it's not you. LONDON, 13 February 2015 (IRIN) - In recent years, aid agencies have increasingly used celebrities to raise awareness and money for their causes. There's just one problem: It doesn't actually work. Read report online Unloved but unyielding: Burkina's presidential guard could derail transition WASHINGTON DC, 13 February 2015 (IRIN) - The potential for widespread civil unrest in Burkina Faso could grow if the country's Presidential Security Regiment continues to remain a powerful and largely unanswerable force. Read report online AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Ebola: Back to school, but is it safe? MONROVIA/FREETOWN, 20 February 2015 (IRIN) - Millions of students in Liberia and Sierra will soon be back in school for the first time in more than six months, but concerns over Ebola remain. Read report online No longer at ease: Tackling the trauma of Boko Haram KANO, 23 February 2015 (IRIN) - Nigerian society celebrates resilience - the ability to cope with adversity. But the growing number of people coming through the doors of the Crisis and Trauma Counselling Centre (CTCC) in the northern city of Kano suggests people sometimes need a little help to get by. Read report online Game of Drones BELGRADE, 24 February 2015 (IRIN) - In his latest column, recovering aid worker Paul Currion asks whether the debate over the use of drones misses a fundamental point: Does their very nature compromise humanitarian principles? Read report online The World Humanitarian Summit: Talking shop or game changer? LONDON, 25 February 2015 (IRIN) - With just over one year to go until the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, aid workers say the consultations so far have broadly succeeded at engaging an unprecedented spectrum of voices, but many fear the process still lacks any clear framework for turning talk into action. IRIN takes a look at the WHS preparations and some of the key issues emerging from the consultation process. Read report online Boko Haram takes aim at Nigeria's elections NAIROBI, 25 February 2015 (IRIN) - Three bomb explosions in the space of two days in northern Nigeria signal a resumption of urban terror tactics by Boko Haram, a jihadist group that wants to demonstrate it is still a force to be reckoned with despite recent military setbacks, according to analysts. Read report online Will Washington surrender in the War on Drugs? NAIROBI, 26 February 2015 (IRIN) - The news this week that Jamaica is decriminalizing marijuana for personal use is the latest step in a global trend towards rethinking drug policy. For decades the international consensus has focused on criminalization and interdiction, but the approach has not only failed to stem drug production and use, it has also had a devastating impact on communities and individual lives. Read report online Working to keep the peace: The impact of job schemes on ex-rebels NAIROBI, 27 February 2015 (IRIN) - Job-creation schemes are the traditional way to tackle the post-conflict problem of unemployed ex-fighters and to reduce the threat they can pose to peace and stability in fragile states. Read report online

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