civilians

Ioulia Shukan is a Ukraine specialist. She was on the ground during the big mobilizations of winter 2013/2014 and when the events turned into an armed conflict. Since then, this Eastern European country has become her dominant field of study. She looks back on her research and sociological studies.

Libya recorded its first case of COVID-19 on March 24, 2020, since then there are 4,063  confirmed cases and 93 deaths (according to the National Centre for Disease Control – NCDC – data as of August 4, 2020). Since the start of the pandemic, the Première Urgence Internationale teams have decided to maintain their health activities to meet the needs of the vulnerable population and to include a COVID-19 component to limit the spread of the virus in the two areas of Benghazi and Al Kufra where the NGO operates. Indeed, the already fragile health system before the outbreak of COVID-19, fears a real threat for the country, in case the virus will spread throughout the country.

In the East of Afghanistan, Première Urgence Internationale has been taking action for four decades to respond the emergency health needs and contribute to the improvement of public services. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NGO is implementing several activities and adapting its usual programs. Dedicated resources and special extra supply have been delivered, through a humanitarian air bridge connecting Europe and Afghanistan.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing a large-scale measles epidemic. In the DRC in 2019, 6,000 people died from this disease. It remains one of the leading causes of death among young children, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Première Urgence Internationale is working in the Kasaï and Kasaï-Central provinces to help with the care, the response, and the training of medical staff and community supporters.

Joint statement - "As aid agencies working in Yemen, we are outraged that after almost five years, Yemenis continue to suffer from an incalculable humanitarian crisis fuelled by conflict. We call on all conflict parties to work together and speed up implementation of the Stockholm Agreement."

In the West Bank, Israelis settlements keep growing despite the UN resolution adopted at the end of 2016. Première Urgence Internationale continues its activities for the victims of settlers attacks, through emergency response and advocacy actions. The teams accompany Palestinian farmers in the area of restricted access, such as Sami, who has seen his land being swallowed up by Israeli settlers.