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News from the field

Published 16. May 2016
Expert Deployment NORCAP

Latest news from the field

People are crossing from Turkey to Greece in overcrowded boats and with lifejackets of varying quality. A lot of lifejackets and swimming rings are now covering the beaches in Lesvos. Nov.2015 (Photo: NRC/Tiril Skarstein)
Europe|Greece |

Greek winter may claim refugee lives if Europe does not act now

Unless Europe urgently steps up its support to tens of thousands of refugees in Greece, harsh winter conditions may claim lives of vulnerable families living in squalid conditions.

A voter casting his ballot in Sarajevo during the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12 October 2014. (Photo: OSCE/Thomas Rymer)
Bosnia & Herzegovina |

Bosnia elections: the significance of NORDEM election observers

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will go to the polls to choose three presidents and members of the country’s lower legislative body on October 7th. With the very survival of the country and regional stability teetering at the brink, the presence of election observers such as NORDEM, has psychological and social importance, according to three experts on the Balkans and elections.

Local fishing boats on the beach in Senegal (Photo: NORCAP/Mina Weydahl 2018)
Senegal |

Messages for safe fishing in Senegal

Voice and text messages are widely used in Senegal to alert fishing communities about bad weather. One NORCAP expert is working to reach more people with the service, and provide them with a safer way to fish.

DR Congo |

Scaling up in DRC

DRC’s conflict escalated and spread in 2017, creating one of the world’s largest displacement crisis. To reduce needs and vulnerabilities in the long run, the humanitarian response plan recommends stronger synergies between humanitarian and development work.

Gunn Mariann Aase, child protection specialist, UNICEF (photo: Åshild Falch/NORCAP) 2014
Syria |

Challenges of a cross-border response

The response to the crisis in Syria is one of the most complex and challenging in the world. NORCAP has deployed experts to improve protection and strengthen coordination.

"If the Rohingya can get equality, I will go back. I hope that happens. If not, it is better to stay in Bangladesh", says Faisal*, a day worker in the cash for work programme by IOM. (Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC)
Bangladesh|Myanmar |

Collaborating to protect Rohingya refugees

More than 655,000 Rohingya fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and sought safety in neighbouring Bangladesh between late August and early November 2017. Despite concerted humanitarian efforts and a recent repatriation deal, their future is highly uncertain.

A young boy runs with his tyre past buildings damaged by airstrikes in Saada's Old Town. Up until August 2015, this area was home to Saada's oldest market with thousands of people selling vegetables, spices and fabrics in stores and street stalls. (Photo: Giles Clarke/UNOCHA)
Yemen |

Making markets work in a crisis

Yemen has been shattered by three years of civil war, and eight million people are on the brink of famine. In a country devastated by conflict and economic collapse, cash assistance is the best option to reach more people in need.

The community is also helping with data collection. Here is NORCAP expert Bintou Diallo with local community representatives putting in place a rainwater-measuring device. This enables the community to track rainfall and report to the National Meteorology Office. (Photo: NORCAP/Mina Weydahl)
Niger |

Climate theatre in the Nigerien countryside

Climate experts in the Sahel region use radio, mobile phones and theatre to reach vulnerable communities with lifesaving climate and weather information.

First experts with the Lake Chad Basin project. From left: Slim Bacha, Eliane Uwera Bukuzagara , Karolina Olofsson and Janvier Ntalindwa. Back: Felix Muhigana, NORCAP Project Manager. (Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NORCAP)
Chad|Niger |

Empowering the first responders

In most countries, civil society organisations are the first to respond to a crisis. For the first time, NORCAP joins forces with the Civil Society Network in the Lake Chad basin and resident UN agencies, to build capacity and empower local organisations in crisis response. The project is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ukraine |

On the frontline of Europe’s forgotten conflict

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has cost more than 10,000 lives. Unarmed internationalobservers monitor the ceasefire, but the parties to the conflict continue to disregard it.

DR Congo |

We are failing DR Congo - again

The international community has failed to help and protect the people of DR Congo. 13.1 million people need humanitarian assistance, more than a double since 2014. Despite the situation getting worse, donors have reduced funding to the country.

Makeshift shelters in Kutupalong camp where the majority of Rohingya refugees have settled after fleeing violence in Myanmar. (Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC)
Bangladesh |

Rohingya refugees bracing for another disaster

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have nowhere to evacuate if a cyclone hits their overcrowded camps. The monsoon and cyclone season is fast approaching and aid workers are struggling to make improvements, but admit that it will not be enough.

Henry Renna Gallano, education in emergencies expert, with Rohingya refugee children in a learning centre in the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. (Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC)
Bangladesh|Myanmar |

Lifelong learning in a refugee camp

"Our challenge is to guarantee the right to education, lifelong learning and wellbeing of more than 370.000 refugee children”, says education in emergencies expert, Henry Renna Gallano. He is one of 20 NORCAP deployees currently working in the Bangladesh refugee camps.

Bangladesh |

Bangladesh refugee crisis poised for massive health epidemic

“The crisis facing 800,000 refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazaar today is alarming, but we’re on the brink of a large-scale health catastrophe if the situation isn’t turned around,” warned Benedicte Giæver, Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council’s expert deployment roster, NORCAP.

NORCAP Climate Information Services Expert, Philip Omondi (right) with a local representative showing impacts of prolonged drought in Tana River County. The drought was exacerbated by 2016/2017 La Niña phenomenon (Photo: Philip Omondi/ICPAC/NORCAP)
Africa|Asia and Oceania |

Preparedness key to tackling El Niño

The last El Niño phenomenon brought droughts and floods that increased humanitarian needs around the world. NORCAP experts have worked in some of the hardest hit areas, putting preparedness in the priority seat, to increase national and regional ability to cope with future events.

Bangladesh|Iraq|Kenya|Pakistan |

Addressing broken promises: education for all

Around the world, millions of children and youth are deprived of the right to education. Every day, NORCAP experts work hard to support our partners to reach the global goal of education for all by 2030. Meet four of our deployees who have dedicated their lives to fighting for children’s right to education.

Site planner Shyam Sundar is one of three NORCAP experts contributing to building a new camp for the refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh. (Photo: Shyam Sundar/NORCAP/IOM)
Bangladesh |

Building a city in a matter of days

Close to 800, 000 refugees in Bangladesh need shelter urgently. Our NORCAP experts are involved in constructing what might become one of the world's largest refugee camps.

The Nigerian election delegation speaking to a representative from the Conservative party, the largest party in government in Norway, during the campaign. (Photo: NORCAP/Ida Sem Fossvik)
Europe |

Learning about Norwegian elections

What can the Norwegian parliamentary elections learn from countries with far less experience in democratic election processes? Election observers from seven countries gave their recommendations to Norway after the parliamentary elections earlier this month.

Bidibidi settlement in northern Uganda was established in August 2016 and has quickly become one of the world's largest refugee settlements. (Photo: NRC/Tiril Skarstein)
Uganda |

Uganda: Inadequate response for women and girls

Ahead of the ‘Uganda Solidarity Summit on Refugees’ on June 22-23, NORCAP experts stress the urgent need for more funding to Uganda’s refugee situation. The humanitarian response particularly fails to address the needs of women and girls.

NORCAP expert Hari Prasad Vajja (left) with a UNOSAT colleague looking at flood maps connected to the UNOSAT Flood finder tool. (Photo: UNOSAT)
Global |

Using satellite technology for humanitarian relief

With the assistance of satellite technology, NORCAP deployees to UNOSAT in Geneva develop new tools and initiatives in disaster risk reduction and climate services.

Representatives from several EU countries have participated in the EU meeting in Oslo. (Photo: NORCAP/Ida Sem Fossvik)
Global |

Discussing challenges in election observation

Social media, accusations of fake news, and nations trying to influence elections in other nations are crucial challenges for election observers to handle on future missions, says Emanuele Giaufret, Head of Division, Democracy and Electoral Observation in the European External Action Service. Giaufret is in Oslo for the EU focal point meeting for election observation, organised by NORDEM.

Myanmar |

"Not just paying lip service to humanitarian ideals"

“We can see exciting new developments in Myanmar, both economically and politically. However, there are further humanitarian needs and human rights violations, including in Rakhine State, that should be addressed to ensure all people in Myanmar enjoy peaceful coexistence and prospects for prosperity,” says Ingvill Tveite, NORCAP deployee in Myanmar.

Protection expert Helene Ruud, deployed to WFP in Haiti after hurricane Matthew in October 2016, talking to an affected family in Jeremie, Grand Anse province. (Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC)
Haiti |

"Communication is key to protection"

“The most important thing is to make sure people get information about what, when and where. That takes a way a lot of frustration”, says NORCAP protection expert, Helene Ruud. She recently finished her first mission to the World Food Programme, in Haiti.

Landslide in Mocoa, Colombia. NORCAP and GenCap expert Devanna de la Puente, currently deployed to OCHA in Colombia.
Colombia |

Fear of increased emergency in Mocoa

The upcoming rainy season in Mocoa, Colombia, could increase the vulnerability of women and girls in the area, fears GenCap adviser, Devanna de la Puente. Heavy rains and mudslides resulted in over 300 deaths in Mocoa earlier this month. Women and children are in particular need of help and attention.

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