On 23 March, the World Water Day was celebrated under the theme: “Better water for better jobs”. During the celebration refugees demonstrated importance of water for human life through local songs and dramas. UNHCR urged refugees to manage water in sustainable manner and to ensure that all people including those living with disabilities have access to safe water.

From 14-15 March, the UNHCR Representative, Ms. Clementine Nkweta Salami visited the UNHCR operation in Gambella to get first-hand information on the prevailing security situation and the way forward to ensure staff safety and to keep humanitarian activities running smoothly. Interethnic clashes broke out in the region on 28 January and lasted for a few weeks.

From 10_13 March 2016, UNHCR supported a WFP mission that was evaluating the impact of WFP Ethiopia operations for the period 2014-2015 in Gambella. The mission visited Jewi and Tierkidi refugee camps and interviewed different refugee groups including key informants from food, nutrition, WASH and livelihoods sectors.

On 8 March the International Women’s Day was colourfully celebrated in refugee camps in Gambella region. The occasion was marked with traditional dancers, songs by school children, drama and speeches that focused on gender equality promotion. The Refugee Central Committee (RCC) chairpersons spoke of the need for the refugee community to change some of the cultural habits that deny women opportunities to participate in leadership. Among few things mentioned were early marriage which prevent girls from completing higher education.

803 Syrians returned to Syria through Peshkabour border crossing in Feb 2016. This corresponds to an increase of 8%, as compared to the previous month.

803 سوري عادوا الى سوريا عن طريق معبر فيشخابور الحدودي خلال شهر اذار 2016 مما يشير الى زيادة بنسبة 8% باعداد السوريين العائدين الى موطنهم مقارنة بالشهر الماضي

2,964 Syrians arrived to KR-I in Feb 2016, using Pheshkabour border crossing point; bringing the total number of new-arrivals in Jan 2016 to 6,936 persons.

2,964 سوري وصلوا الى كوردستان العراق في شهر اذار 2016 عن طريق معبر فيشخابور الحدودي مما يجعل العدد الكلي للقادمين الجدد 6,936 منذ بداية العام

Au Nigeria, les habitants de Chibok réclament la réouverture du lycée (AFP)

Commemoration of World Health Day (WHD), 2016 theme “Beat Diabetes” on 6 April 2016