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EPACHA Foundation's

Humanitarian / Environmental

and OTHER . . .

Emergency Announcements

July - December 2 0 2 3

Reminder:

Disasters and Emergencies Continue

to Occur Around the World

Keep informed here:

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GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations,

the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide

to improve alerts, information exchange and

coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

Disaster Relief / Humanitarian Aid

Continues to be Needed!

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Russia's Illegal War Against 

Ukraine Continues 

with Death and 

Destruction Endangering

The Whole of Humanity!

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  UPDATES: 2023

Ukraine Zaporizhzya Nuclear Power Station 

29 September 2023

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is preparing to once again use reactor unit 4 to generate steam for various safety functions at the facility, following repairs that put it out of action for several weeks, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

 

After the plant conducted hydraulic pressure tests on the primary and secondary cooling circuits of this unit, IAEA experts at the site said the ZNPP this week began transitioning it from cold to hot shutdown. Once this is done, the ZNPP plans to return unit 6 to cold shutdown. Unit 6 has been providing steam in hot shutdown since mid-August, after a water leak was detected in one of unit 4’s four steam generators.

While unit 4 was in cold shutdown, the ZNPP identified that the cause of the water leak was a hairline crack in the weld of the steam generator’s primary header vent pipe, which has now been repaired and tested

As previously reported, Ukraine’s national regulator, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), has issued regulatory orders to limit the operation of all six units to a cold shutdown state. In addition, the IAEA has been strongly encouraging the ZNPP to find an alternative source of steam generation to cover the plant’s needs, including for processing liquid radioactive waste, and allow for all its six reactors to be maintained in a cold shutdown state.

The IAEA experts were informed this week that the ZNPP had ordered the equipment needed to generate enough steam to meet the site’s requirements. The installation of this equipment is expected in the first part of next year, provided there are no supply chain delays, the ZNPP said.

“The IAEA has repeatedly been calling for an alternative steam solution so that all six reactors can be put in cold shutdown, as instructed by Ukraine’s regulator. I hope that the plant will implement this change as soon as possible,” Director General Grossi said.

In the latest indications of military activities some distance away from the ZNPP, the experts continue to hear explosions almost every day and have also heard machine gun fire, highlighting the risks to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP) during the military conflict in Ukraine.

The IAEA team is continuing to look at the situation regarding ZNPP staffing, which has declined significantly since the beginning of the conflict and remains complex and challenging. This week, the IAEA experts have been gathering further information, including visiting main control rooms and the training centre where they discussed training and licensing.

As part of their walkdowns over the past week, the IAEA experts visited the turbine hall of unit 6, observing no military equipment there. The team noted during a walkdown within the site perimeter that some of the mines previously observed had been removed while some work was being performed on the interior fences.

The IAEA team is continuing to request access to all six turbine halls, one after the other, to be able to confirm the absence of any materials and equipment that may contravene the five concrete principles for the protection of the ZNPP.  So far, this request has not been approved and the team can only confirm the status of one turbine hall at a time.

The IAEA experts are also continuing to request access to the rooftops of reactor buildings 1, 2, 5 and 6, which they had expected to be granted last month. The IAEA is now awaiting approval for such access next week.

“As I have said repeatedly in recent months, we will continue requesting the access we need to implement our important mission, including for monitoring compliance with the five concrete protection principles designed to prevent a nuclear accident at the site,” Director General Grossi said.

Regarding the site’s water situation, the IAEA experts said the ZNPP had completed drilling another groundwater well to supply the site’s sprinkler ponds used for reactor cooling and other nuclear safety and security functions, bringing the total to 11 new wells as part of efforts to find alternative sources of water following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam almost four months ago.  

 

The 11 wells are supplying around 250 cubic metres per hour, which the site had estimated would be sufficient to maintain the level of all 12 sprinkler cooling ponds.

However, the IAEA experts observed during a walkdown on Wednesday that the level of water in three of the ponds had fallen since the previous visit a few days earlier. At the time, the site was re-plenishing the three sprinkler ponds to return the water levels to normal. Today, the team conducted another walkdown of the sprinkler ponds and confirmed that the water levels of all ponds were within the operational limits. The IAEA experts are looking into the cause of the temporary water decline.

IAEA teams at Ukraine’s three other NPPs and the Chornobyl site report safe and secure operations of these nuclear facilities despite the continuation of the armed conflict. The IAEA conducted successful rotations of its teams at Chornobyl, and the Rivne, Khmelnitsky and South Ukraine NPPs earlier this week.

The IAEA today completed its 25th delivery of equipment and other items designed to enhance nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, providing medical equipment and consumables to the Chornobyl site. This delivery was made possible using extrabudgetary contributions from the European Commission.

Separately, the second delivery of spare parts and rubber products for the emergency diesel generators of the South Ukraine NPP, envisaged under arrangements agreed on 5 May between the IAEA, France and Ukraine’s Energoatom, arrived at the site this week. These spare parts are essential for the maintenance and functionality of the diesel generators, ensuring they would work if the site were to lose off-site power. The first delivery took place in June.

In total, the Agency has now facilitated deliveries of nuclear safety and security equipment of more than 6.8 million euros to different organizations in Ukraine since the start of the armed conflict as part of its overall assistance programme.

-  Text, IAEA -

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Emergency Announcements: Jul - Dec 2023

- Continued -

Continue scrolling down for additional announcements.

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STATE OF EMERGENCY

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Libya - Derna Flood:

Catastrophic Devastation!

DATE: SEPTEMBER 10 - 11, 2023

11,000 CASUALITIES:  10,000 MISSING

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EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED NOW!

MUST SEE VIDEO:

Video Courtesy, DW News

THE WORLD CANNOT IGNORE

THE MAGNITUDE AND . . .

SCALE OF EMERGENCY

HELP NEEDED!

See why Libya’s floods were so deadly in maps and videos on the following web page:

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Click on following web link for 

WAYS TO HELP!

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STATE OF EMERGENCY

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Marrakesh, Morocco:

6.8M EARTHQUAKE

DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

As of 9/10/2023

2,000+ CASUALITIES:  2,421+ INJURED

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EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED NOW!

MUST SEE VIDEO:

Video Courtesy, DW News

Morocco's King Mohammed VI directs country to pray as EARTHQUAKE

death toll rises to 2,012

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Courtesy, HM King Mohammed VI

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Read more on the following web pages:

Click on following web link for 

WAYS TO HELP!

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FLORIDA: U.S.A.

AUGUST 30, 2023

MUST SEE VIDEO:

Video Courtesy, NBC News

MUST SEE VIDEO:  

Video Courtesy, MSNBC

MUST SEE VIDEO:  

Video Courtesy, FOX 13 Tampa Bay

For More Updates:  Click on the following web link:

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 BE PREPARED!

Extreme Weather Conditions

are manifesting the reality of

CLIMATE CHANGE!

WE CAN ALL HELP!

DONATE ON THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:

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Courtesy, American Red Cross

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Courtesy, CNN

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Six years on, still no justice for Myanmar’s Rohingya

"In the face of competing crises, the international community must not forget the Rohingya people or their host community in Bangladesh. Humanitarian appeals for supporting the Rohingya, both in Myanmar and in the camps in Bangladesh, need greater support and funding. At the same time, third countries should expand Rohingya resettlement programmes or provide temporary protection, particularly in the region. And international efforts must be redoubled to reverse course in Myanmar and to ensure accountability and justice."                                      - Volker Türk -

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24 AUGUST 2023

Rohingya refugees walk ashore at Shamlapur beach in Cox's Bazar district in Bangladesh, af

Courtesy, UNICEF/Patrick Brown

Friday, 25 August, marks the sixth anniversary of the start of a massive offensive by Myanmar’s military against the mainly Muslim minority in Rakhine state.

Some 10,000 Rohingya men, women, children and newborns were killed, more than 300 villages burnt to the ground, and over 700,000 forced to flee to Bangladesh in search of safety, joining tens of thousands who fled earlier persecutions.

The then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra‘ad al-Hussein called the brutal campaign to drive the community from their homes a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

In all, over a million Rohingya fled persecution and systematic discrimination to seek international refugee protection in Bangladesh, and approximately 600,000 remain within Rakhine state, where they continue to suffer severe rights restrictions and the threat of further violence.

In a sign of their desperation, thousands more continue to attempt dangerous sea crossings from Myanmar and Bangladesh, too often ending in tragedy.

Text Courtesy, United Nations

WE CAN ALL HELP!

Demand an END to

"HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES!"

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See Also: 

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Courtesy, OHCHR

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INDIA: MASSIVE FLOODS

Himachal Rain Fury: 60 killed, Structures Collapsed’ 

17 AUGUST 2023

MUST SEE VIDEO:

Video Courtesy, Al Jazeera English

MUST SEE VIDEO:  

IS THERE A NEED FOR CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS 

CONCERNING GLOBAL WARMING IN TERMS

OF POTENTIAL GEOLOGICAL, 

ENVIRONMENTAL & INFRASTRUCTURAL CONSEQUENCES WITH REGARD

TO LAND MANAGEMENT?!

COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?!

Video Courtesy, MIRROR NOW

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 REMINDER:

Climate Change is happening

EVERYWHERE!

Extreme Weather Conditions

are Coming . . .

BE PREPARED!

Read more on the following web page:

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ASIA-PACIFIC

Disaster Emergency’ 

Warns UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and 

the Pacific (ESCAP)

25 JULY 2023

UN A family takes refuge on a roadside in Sindh province in Pakistan, after fleeing their

Text Courtesy, United Nations: A family takes refuge on a roadside in Sindh province in Pakistan, after fleeing their flood-hit home. (file)  Image: UNICEF/Asad Zaidi

According to a new report from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in 2022 alone, over 140 disasters struck the region, leading to over 7,500 deaths.

They impacted 64 million people, and caused economic damage estimated at $57 billion.

Under a 2°C warming scenario, the ESCAP projects an increase in deaths and potential economic losses of more than $1 trillion, if there is no adequate response.

“As temperatures continue to rise, new disaster hotspots are emerging, and existing ones are intensifying,” Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, said.

“A disaster emergency is underway, and we must fundamentally transform our approach to building resilience.”

 

The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2023, ESCAP’s flagship study on the changing patterns of disasters, their impacts, and building resilience, was launched at its Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, which convenes governments, experts and stakeholders in the region.  

WE CAN ALL HELP!

Make Your Mark in Humanitarian History!

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Funding ‘simply not enough’ for Rohingya refugees

20 JULY 2023

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Text Courtesy, United Nations: For many Rohingya refugees, WFP assistance is the only reliable source they can count on to meet their food needs.  / Image, WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud

In March, the value of the food vouchers for camp residents was reduced from $12 per person per month to $10, and in June, to just $8; the equivalent of 27 cents a day.

“The ration cuts are our last resort. Many donors have stepped forward with funding but what we have received is simply not enough,” Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh, said in a release on Wednesday.  

It is absolutely critical that we give the Rohingya families back the full assistance they deserve. The longer we wait, the more hunger we will see in the camps – already we are seeing more children being admitted into malnutrition treatment programmes.”

Over 950,000 Rohingyas remain stranded in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, southern Bangladesh. Most of them fled their homes in northern Myanmar following widespread and systemic attacks in August 2017 by the country’s armed forces that former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. 

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which has been assisting the Rohingya refugees since the crisis erupted, said that the WFP food assistance is the “only reliable source they can count on to meet their basic food and nutrition needs.”

“But since the start of the year, this lifeline has been under severe pressure due to reduced donor funding.”

Alongside fresh food assistance, WFP implements nutrition programmes for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five years of age.  

Despite this additional support, vulnerable households are still struggling to make ends meet. The only solution to prevent the situation from deteriorating further is to restore the full rations for the entire Rohingya population immediately, UNHCR said.

WE CAN ALL HELP!

Must See Video:

Text - Video Courtesy, USA for UNHCR

Make Your Mark in Humanitarian History!

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WMO:

Health risks on the rise as heatwave intensifies across Europe

18 July 2023

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Courtesy, United Nations / WMO / Image: Unsplash/Raphael Wild

In an alert, the agency emphasized that heatwaves are amongst the deadliest natural hazards and WMO Senior Heat Advisor, John Nairn, told reporters that extreme temperatures are poised to grow in frequency, duration and intensity.

“Repeated high night-time temperatures are particularly dangerous for human health because the body is unable to recover from sustained heat”, he said. “This leads to increased cases of heart attacks and death.”

According to a recent report by the UN agency, 60,000 additional people died due to extreme heat in Europe last summer - despite the continent's strong early warning and health action plans. 

WMO said that it was urgent to adapt infrastructure to withstand prolonged high temperatures and to raise vulnerable people’s awareness of the risks.

The agency warned of the increased risk of death through heatwaves in Asia, North Africa and the United States too.

Heat is a rapidly growing health risk due to increased or rapid urbanization, the increasing extreme temperatures and an ageing population”, said Mr. Nairn.

According to WMO, this year’s extensive and intense heatwaves are alarming - but not unexpected - as they are in line with forecasts. 

Text Courtesy. United Nations-WMO

LEARN MORE ON THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:

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VISIT EPACHA'S WMO WEB PAGE AT:

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UKRAINE: RUSSIA WITHDRAWS

FROM GRAIN DEAL

17 JULY 2023

Developing Countries to Suffer

MUST SEE VIDEO:

Text-Video Courtesy, United Nations

The Black Sea initiative was agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye and the UN in Istanbul last July along with a parallel accord between the UN and Russia on grain and fertilizer exports from that country.

By its decision, Russia has also withdrawn security guarantees for ships navigating in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.  

 

“Ultimately, participation in these agreements is a choice.  But struggling people everywhere and developing countries don’t have a choice,” Mr. Guterres said.

MUST SEE VIDEO:

Video Courtesy, United Nations

WE CAN ALL HELP!

Make Your Mark in Humanitarian History!

Learn more on the following web pages:

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Courtesy, United Nations

SEE ALSO:

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ISRAEL-PALESTINE:

UN chief strongly condemns mounting violence, acts of terror

6 JULY 2023

Secretary-General António Guterres briefs the press on his recent visit to Haiti and Trini

Text Courtesy, United Nations:  Image, UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in a crowded refugee camp were the worst violence in the West Bank in many years,” said António Guterres, referring to the two-day-long military assault in Jenin, which began on Monday morning, involving the use of airstrikes and missiles fired from drones.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, 12 people were killed, including three children, during what Israel described as a counter-terror operation. At least 120 were wounded, including 20 still in critical condition.

Gun battles broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, with some roads torn up and many homes and properties damaged. At least 3,000 people were reportedly forced to flee their homes.

A car ramming attack in Israeli’s largest city, Tel Aviv, in apparent retaliation for the Jenin operation left nine injured. The Palestinian man who drove the vehicle into pedestrians was shot dead at the scene.

On Thursday, Israel said it had responded with artillery fire after a rocket was launched into Israeli territory from southern Lebanon.

WARNING: REMINDER:

Acts of military strikes [and/or]

the violence of terrorism

against civilians are

"Crimes Against Humanity!"

Such heinous, horrific acts

must be halted!

- EPACHA Foundation -

"CHILDREN" HAVE RIGHTS:

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Courtesy, United Nations: A boy runs past damaged buildings, defaced by shelling during the conflict, on his way home from shopping, in the city of Sirte.   Image, UNICEF/Giovanni Diffident

HISTORY SHALL NOT FORGET!

JUSTICE SHALL NOT FAIL!

Read more on the following web pages:

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Trinidad and Tobago: July 3 - 5

At Caribbean Summit (CARICOM), UN

Chief Calls for Climate Action,

Debt relief, and

Urgent Aid for Haiti

3 JULY 2023

António Guterres (left) is greeted by Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago w

Text Courtesy, United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres (left) is greeted by Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago where he came to address the 45th meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).   Image, UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The security situation in Haiti “is appalling,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, recalling his recent visit to the fragile nation. He called for swift action at a time when the humanitarian needs are soaring. And although “there is not yet the political solution in sight”, the UN chief expressed hope and optimism.

“It is impossible to look at the crisis without seeing the long shadow of centuries of colonial exploitation, extortion, dictatorship, and other screaming injustices,” he said. “We must help ease the suffering of the Haitian people.”

 

Commending the critical efforts of CARICOM leaders in addressing the situation in Haiti, Mr. Guterres called for increased support from the international community.

He stressed that lasting security requires strengthened democratic institutions, emphasizing the need for drastic improvement in the security situation.

In this vein, he reiterated his call to the Security Council to authorize a "robust international security force" to help Haiti's National Police in combating and dismantling gangs wreaking havoc across the country.

HAITI

‘Generations of Haitians’ at risk, warns Guterres, calling for international

force to help quell gang violence

1 JULY 2023

UN Secretary-General António Guterres holds a press conference during his visit to Port-au

Text Courtesy, United Nations: UN Secretary-General António Guterres holds a press conference during his visit to Port-au-Prince in Haiti.   Image, Oldy Joël Auguste/BINUH

The UN chief expressed deep concern at the extreme vulnerability faced by the Haitian people – especially women and girls – because of brutally violent and “predatory” armed gangs, like those encircling the capital, blocking main roads and controlling access to water, food, health care.

 

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the widespread sexual violence which the armed gangs have used as a weapon to instil fear,” he said, calling on the entire international community to urgently “put the victims and the civilian population at the centre of our concerns and priorities.”

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‘The world is failing the Haitian

people’ warns UNICEF chief

29 JUNE 2023