Tag Archives: political

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Haiti: New grant to help UNICEF strengthen efforts to tackle cholera

22 February 2017 – A new grant from the Government of Japan will allow the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help reduce cholera-related morbidity and mortality in Haiti in 2017 and 2018, the UN agency said in a news release.

“With this gift from the Japanese people, we will strengthen the axes of the fight against cholera in the protection of the Haitian population, especially children,” said Marc Vincent, UNICEF Representative in Haiti, welcoming the contribution.

“Japan is a key partner and we thank the Japanese people for their continued support,” he added.

Haiti has been dealing with a cholera outbreak since October 2010, some nine months after it suffered a devastating earthquake. The outbreak has affected an estimated 788,000 people and claimed the lives of more than 9,000. Concerted national and international efforts, backed by the United Nations, have resulted in a 90 per cent reduction in the number of suspected cases.

The $2.6 million grant (nearly 300 million Japanese yen) will help strengthen the island nation’s epidemiological coordination and surveillance; and support conducting timely surveys, rapid response teams and case management, as well as improving and increasing awareness of cholera-related hygiene.

According to UNICEF, the cholera epidemic in Haiti continues to be the largest in the western hemisphere. More than 41,000 suspected cases of cholera have been reported throughout Haiti in 2016.

With the new funds, interventions will be implemented across the island nation with an emphasis on the cholera-prone departments of Center, North, West, Grand’Anse, Sud (South), and Artibonite.

Two of these departments – Grand’Anse and Sud – were where Hurricane Matthew made landfall in early October, inflicting much devastation as it cut a path of destruction though country.

In the news release, the Ambassador of Japan to Haiti, Yoshiaki Hatta, said that the grant had been decided upon a resurgence in suspected cholera cases resulting from the deterioration of the sanitary and hygiene situation caused by rainy seasons or natural disasters.

Japan considers that this issue should be addressed in collaboration with the Government of Haiti and the international community, the Ambassador added, expressing appreciation for UNICEF, and calling on all stakeholders to strengthen their collaboration in the fight against cholera.

Meanwhile, a Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) for the UN Haiti Cholera Response has been set up to enable Member States, other partners and individuals (including UN staff) to contribute. To date, it has received funds from five Member States: Chile ($250,000); France ($638,000); India ($100,000); Republic of Korea ($1 million); and Liechtenstein ($50,000).

As for other resources provided outside of the Trust Fund, Canada has made a $4,600,000 parallel contribution in support of the UN Haiti Cholera Response – with some of the funds going to UNICEF & PAHO.

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UN – Top News Stories • • • •

News story: UK government funds City of Derry air link

Government announces £3.8 million for a Londonderry to London air route to begin at the end of March.

The UK government has today announced £3.8 million for a Londonderry to London air route, following the decision by current operator Ryanair to stop serving the air link at the end of March.

BMI Regional has been chosen as the preferred operator for the route between City of Derry Airport and London Stansted, following a competitive tender process by Derry City & Strabane District Council.

Flights will begin on Sunday 26 March and the government will fund the route over the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years.

The new service will include two return flights each day, except for Saturdays which will have one flight each way.

Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

The UK government has worked closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council to protect this important route to City of Derry Airport. £3.8 million UK Government funding will allow 13 return flights to connect Londonderry to London every week. The new service will allow business passengers to get to central London and complete a full day’s work before returning home.

This is the first ever government backing for a public service obligation (PSO) in Northern Ireland. The government maintains regional airport links through the Regional Air Connectivity Fund, which can be used to protect important regional air connections to London which may otherwise be lost.

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HM Government • • •

Press release: Pioneering property programme drives efficiency savings across the public sector

Councils and government agencies from the early phases of the Cabinet Office and Local Government Association’s One Public Estate (OPE) programme have worked in partnership to raise over £25 million in capital receipts and deliver £7.7 million in running cost savings since its inception in 2013.

Speaking today at the launch event for the latest round of OPE funding in Liverpool, Ben Gummer, Minister for the Cabinet Office, encouraged councils to apply for the next round of funding allocations, which opens on 7th April 2017.

Ben Gummer, Minister of the Cabinet Office, said:

Seeing such substantial savings being delivered from the very first councils that participated in One Public Estate is hugely encouraging. These councils have raised millions of pounds through initiatives that not only deliver capital receipts, but also increase efficiency and improve public services.

There is enormous potential for these savings and public benefits to be even greater, and I encourage councils to work on bids for the next round of funding.

OPE is a joint initiative run by the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association, which encourages councils to work with central government and the wider public sector to use land and property to boost economic growth, unlock regeneration, and create more integrated public services.

Councils apply to the programme to receive funding and both practical and technical support to help solve issues and deliver ambitious transformational projects.

The total number of councils participating in OPE is over 250 – almost three quarters of all councils in England. OPE remains on track to achieve the ambition of 95% of councils on the programme by 2018.

Lord Porter, LGA Chairman, said:

I’m really pleased to see the continued expansion of One Public Estate.

The programme has made great strides up and down the country supporting our councils to work more collaboratively with our central government partners, ensuring public land and property is put to the best possible use for our communities.

I hope to see all councils on the programme by 2018.

Further information

One Public Estate is a national programme initially launched in 2013.

It is jointly delivered by the Government Property Unit within the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association. It supports joint working across central and local government to use land and property to boost economic growth, unlock regeneration, and create more integrated public services. It encourages public sector partners to share buildings, transform services, reduce running costs, and release surplus and under-used land for development. Partnerships joining the programme will receive funding and both practical and technical support from our team to help solve issues and deliver ambitious transformational projects.

To find out more about the programme, email onepublicestate@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

On 27 January the Cabinet Office and Local Government Association announced that a further 79 councils would join the One Public Estate (OPE) programme.

The latest funding round means that by 2019/20 the partnerships on OPE expect to:

  • create 44,000 jobs
  • release land for 25,000 homes
  • raise £415 million in capital receipts from land and property sales
  • cut running costs by £98 million

The funding will support public sector partnerships to work collaboratively on land and property initiatives, generating new jobs and homes, creating more joined up public services to local communities, and delivering savings for the taxpayer.

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HM Government • • •

Business rates

I have been lobbying the government along with other MPs to do more to alleviate high business rate increases hitting some firms in our areas under the revaluation proposals. The government has offered substantial rate relief to many small businesses, but there remain numerous businesses that will experience rises in their rates bills at a time when they can ill afford the extra money.

Today the Communities and Local Government Secretary announced that he is working on a scheme with the Chancellor to offer more help, which will be welcome.

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John Redwood MP • • •