Jeg er sikker på at Saint-Exupéry ville ha satt stor pris på å ha møtt en naturlig versjon av slangen og elefanten på Godøya utenfor Ålesund. Helt seriøst, Norge, du er utrolig vakker.

The situation in the Middle East is both deeply concerning and, frankly, embarrassing. Embarrassing because the international community, despite decades of commitments, tools, and lessons learned, continues to fall short of preventing predictable civilian suffering.

The UN Security Council has, of course, had its limitations. The lack of laser-focused diplomacy and the responsible use of voting to prevent and limit the expansion and intensity of armed conflicts will continue to be felt (and remembered) by innocent civilians and aid workers on the frontlines.

Mercy Corps and other members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) urge Israeli authorities to revoke their plan to ban many of the international NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

It was an honor to pay a courtesy visit to the Ambassador of Türkiye to Norway and Iceland, H.E. Ms. Gülin Dinç, and the Second Secretary, Mr. Mert Öz.

“I’ll believe in improvement when I see meat on the shelves,” a colleague in Gaza said recently. Fair point - there’s only so much a ceasefire can do. Trucks can look nice to the outer world, but they can’t replace functional markets or resurrect a gutted economy.

1 in 5 people in Gaza are at risk of starvation for reasons that are entirely man-made. Humanitarians have continuously warned that the politicisation of aid will only lead to the mass suffering of civilians. The lack of action is unconscionable.

The aftereffects of war don’t end when the guns fall silent. Without a deliberate effort to include civilian-centered provisions in peace agreements, we risk rebuilding politics on foundations of suffering. Food for thought: www.linkedin.com/posts/samcha...

Between Politics and Peace: The Humanitarian Void | Samir Chalhoub

The aftereffects of war don’t end when the guns fall silent. Trauma lingers. Infrastructure is shattered. Livelihoods disappear. Displacement becomes protracted. Without a deliberate effort to include...

linkedin.com

Politics and competing narratives can shape how military actions are justified. Is there really a way around international humanitarian law? Let’s break it down by its principles. 🧵

Can talks genuinely progress if the protection of civilians is treated as secondary? It's unconscionable how many lives have already been lost in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere.

Over 600,000 people - including our staff - have returned to Gaza City in recent weeks, hoping to rebuild their lives. Instead, they now face the risk of another siege with families entirely cut off from assistance.

Yes the world is spinning fast, and then there’s this… my mother back in Lebanon sent me pictures telling how she and her friends in the village came together to clean up the roads and give back to nature. And just like that, things feel a little bit lighter, a little bit better.

I'm curious about the discourse surrounding arms financing and military buildup, particularly in relation to peace scenarios. Have you encountered any prominent politicians raising humanitarian concerns, civilian protection issues or hum. access in their statements/discussions?

With at least 120 conflicts raging around us, world leaders had choices to make: ❌ Intensify diplomacy to prevent & resolve conflicts. ❌ Use every tool to protect civilian lives & dignity. ❌ Expand legal pathways for asylum seekers & migrants. ❌ Invest at scale in tackling climate-driven conflict.

Today’s announcement of cuts to Oversees Development Assistance (ODA) brings the UK’s contribution to global development efforts to its lowest level since 1999. europe.mercycorps.org/en-gb/press-...

Mercy Corps Statement on UK Government’s Decision to Slash Aid Funding

LONDON - Today’s announcement by Prime Minister Keir Starmer of cuts to Oversees Development

europe.mercycorps.org

It was a pleasure to reconnect on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum with Dr. Hana Omar, Director of International Relations at King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

Think of a woman trapped in an abusive home. A child who won't resume their school year. A patient needing medicine that no longer arrives. Another year of drought. Local responders on the frontlines, left without the resources to carry on...

At the sidelines of the fifth humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting on Ukraine organised by @eu_echo, I had a very good exchange with HE Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al-Malki, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the EU and NATO

Important work by the @ICRC, and a good reminder that without the will of both parties and access being granted, the ICRC and other aid actors cannot carry out their work, let alone force their way in to bring a glimmer of hope to affected people and their loved ones. arab.news/459k4

Hamas frees four Israeli hostages to Red Cross in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas militants on Saturday handed over to the Red Cross four Israeli women hostages under a truce deal in the Gaza war that is also expected to see a second group ...

arab.news

In Ukraine, humanitarian aid will remain essential as long as the war rages. Yet, it’s clear that aid alone cannot provide a sustainable path forward, and people expect more from humanitarian and recovery actors - and rightfully so.

Let’s be clear: the suffering in Gaza will not end with a ceasefire alone. Civilians are facing unimaginable hardships and urgently need aid at scale, their homes, schools, and hospitals rebuilt, and their livelihoods restored. www.mercycorps.org/press-room/r...

Ceasefire in Gaza Must Propel Urgent Humanitarian Action

Statement by Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer, Tjada D'Oyen McKenna

mercycorps.org

Urging all governments to prioritise the safety, dignity, and informed decision-making of Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers. They must not be rushed or pressured into returning to Syria under current conditions of uncertainty. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Syrian asylum seekers in limbo as countries halt applications

Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Greece have all said they will suspend asylum decisions for now.

bbc.com

Syria is far from safe. The escalation of violence in the North has left thousands displaced and struggling to meet basic needs.

We said it in the 1990s. We said it in the 2000s. We stand by it in 2024. Anti-personnel mines kill and maim indiscriminately. There’s only one way to be safe: To get rid of them. We urge states to uphold the prohibitions of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention.

After a tense night, the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel is finally in effect. Humanitarian organisations need immediate, safe access to deliver life-saving aid and kickstart recovery, despite immense challenges ahead. Full statement: www.mercycorps.org/press-room/r...

What do we know about the humanitarian situation in Gaza? - Civilians besieged in N. Gaza have been facing diminishing conditions for survival - Hum. actors estimate that 100-131K people have been displaced since 6/10 - Restricted critical delivery of food, med aid, fuel supplies shorturl.at/F61ec

The continuous attacks across Ukraine are inflicting devastating harm on civilians, resulting in tragic fatalities and injuries, including among innocent children. This is happening during a winter season that adds considerable hardships for those already suffering.

Nearly a month after the Paris conference for Lebanon, humanitarian funding has been slow to reach people in need and the organisations trying to help. With over 800,000 people displaced, many living on the streets and winter looming, only 23% of the UN Flash Appeal has been received as of Nov 14.

Hello, Bluesky! 🦋

IHL sets clear conditions applicable to evacuation orders: the displacement must be temporary, sufficient time must be given, and adequate conditions for hygiene, health, safety, and nutrition must be provided. t.co/z9wWo8Zyhr