This report analyses the nexus between the protection of civilians and the environment in humanitarian operations. The study focused on examining the type of harms that come out of this nexus, as well as reviewing best guidance and practices existing in the field. Finally, it underlines how the protection sector… Read More
An explosion of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate occured at the port of Beruit. This incident left hundreds dead, thousands injured, and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. In the prevailing COVID-19 context many complications emerged and a more sophiscated examination response to this incident was required.
Ariel shot of explosion at Port of Beirut (@BBC News)
Below are two presentations presented by Mr. Muralee Thummarukudy and Margherita Fanchiotti, PhD on the linkage between the environment and COVID-19 and environmental reponse to the explosion. Read More
A growing number of people need humanitarian assistance (UNOCHA, 2020), which is intended to save lives, alleviate suffering and restore human dignity during and after manmade crises and disasters caused by natural hazards (Good Humanitarian Donorship, n.d.). At the same time, solid waste management (SWM) is a rising development challenge… Read More
Motivation On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This global crisis has been a very powerful reminder of the links between environment and emergencies. Disasters, crises and the environment are intrinsically interconnected. Therefore, a key element of emergency response is the rapid identification and mitigation of… Read More
This report presents the results of an environmental scoping mission using the Nexus Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT+) by the UNEP / OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to the Integrated Assistance Centre (Centro de Atención Integral, or CAI) in Maicao, northeastern Colombia. Read More
Prevention, preparedness and response are key pillars of the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents which will celebrate its 20th anniversary of entry into force on 19 April 2020. The Convention was negotiated in response to the 1986 Sandoz chemical spill, which put Switzerland… Read More
This article by Wim Zwijnenburg (PAX for Peace) reflects on the growing interest and visibility of the environment during the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week 2020 (HNPW) in Geneva and stresses the need to address environmental issues in humanitarian response. Photo: Oil slick in the… Read More
