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Tunisia: African Migrants Intercepted at Sea, Expelled
(Tunis) - The Tunisian National Guard collectively expelled over 100 migrants from multiple African countries to the border with Algeria on September 18 and 20, 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. Those expelled, which included children and possibly asylum seekers, had been interce.....»»
France evacuates five Afghan women ‘threatened by Taliban’
Paris, France — France on Monday was due to receive five Afghan women “threatened by the Taliban” after repeated requests it create a humanitarian corridor for women shut out of public life, an official said. Since returning to power in August 2021, Taliban authorities have imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women bearing the brunt of laws the United Nations has labelled “gender apartheid.” Women and girls have been banned from attending high school and university as well as barred from visiting parks, fairs and gymnasiums. They have also mostly been blocked from working for UN agencies or NGOs, with thousands sacked from government jobs or paid to stay at home. French immigration authority chief Didier Leschi told AFP that by presidential order, “special attention is being paid to women who are primarily threatened by the Taliban because they have held important positions in Afghan society... or have close contacts with Westerners.” “This is the case for five women who will arrive today,” Leschi said. The women include a former university director, an ex-NGO consultant, a former television presenter, and a teacher at a secret school in Kabul. One of the women was accompanied by three children. The women had been unable to leave Afghanistan on airlifts to Western countries when the Taliban returned to power in 2021. They fled to neighboring Pakistan where they sought temporary refuge. From there, the French authorities organized their evacuation, Leschi said. Once they arrive in France, they will be registered as asylum seekers and given housing while their applications for refugee status are considered, Leschi said. Leschi said that such evacuations were “likely to be repeated” for other Afghan women with a similar profile. However, Delphine Rouilleault, the head of the France Terre D’Asile NGO working for refugees, said the evacuations were “not the fruit of a political decision” but gained “after a hard fight” to obtain visas for them. The women will be initially housed in a center run by her organization, which has been rallying for months for the evacuation of more Afghan women facing a similar situation. Rouilleault said “hundreds” of Afghan women were “hiding” in Pakistan. In the middle of 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron had pledged that France would “be by the side of Afghans.” French authorities say nearly 16,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since then. An NGO working for Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, Accueillir les Afghanes, in April deplored that Afghan women, especially those who were single, had been largely abandoned and asked Paris to put in place an “emergency” program to take them in. The post France evacuates five Afghan women ‘threatened by Taliban’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants — HRW
Saudi border guards fired "like rain" on Ethiopian migrants trying to cross into the Gulf kingdom from Yemen, killing hundreds since last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report Monday. The allegations, described as "unfounded" by a Saudi government source, point to a significant escalation of abuses along the perilous route from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work. One 20-year-old woman from Ethiopia's Oromia region, interviewed by HRW, said Saudi border guards opened fire on a group of migrants they had just released from custody. "They fired on us like rain. When I remember, I cry," she said. "I saw a guy calling for help, he lost both his legs. He was screaming; he was saying, 'Are you leaving me here? Please don't leave me'. We couldn't help him because we were running for our lives." HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said, "Saudi officials are killing hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers in this remote border area out of view of the rest of the world," according to a statement. "Spending billions buying up professional golf, football clubs, and major entertainment events to improve the Saudi image should not deflect attention from these horrendous crimes," she said. Longtime Saudi ally the United States urged "a thorough and transparent investigation". "We have raised our concerns about these allegations with the Saudi government," a State Department spokesperson said. "We urge the Saudi authorities... to meet their obligations under international law," the spokesperson added. A Saudi government source told AFP that the allegations were unreliable. "The allegations included in the Human Rights Watch report about Saudi border guards shooting Ethiopians while they were crossing the Saudi-Yemeni border are unfounded and not based on reliable sources," said the source, who requested anonymity. 'Concerning allegations' The New York-based group has documented abuses against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia and Yemen for nearly a decade, but the latest killings appear to be "widespread and systematic" and may amount to crimes against humanity, it said. Last year, United Nations experts reported "concerning allegations" that "cross-border artillery shelling and small-arms fire by Saudi Arabia security forces killed approximately 430 migrants" in southern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen during the first four months of 2022. In March of that year, the repatriation of Ethiopians from Saudi Arabia began under an agreement between the two countries. Ethiopia's foreign ministry said about 100,000 of its citizens were expected to be sent home over several months. The HRW report said there was no response to letters it sent to Saudi officials. But the Huthi rebels who control northern Yemen alleged "deliberate killings of immigrants and Yemenis" by border guards, in response to a letter from HRW. According to the rights group, migrants said Huthi forces worked with people smugglers and would "extort" them or keep them in detention centers where they were "abused" until they could pay an "exit fee". The Huthis denied working with people smugglers, describing them as "criminals". In 2015, Saudi officials mobilized a military coalition in an effort to stop the advance of the Iran-backed Huthis, who had seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa from the internationally recognized government the previous year. Yemen's war has created what the UN describes as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions dependent on aid. Mortar fire Many of the abuses described by HRW would have occurred during a truce that took effect in April 2022 and has largely held despite officially expiring last October. The HRW report draws from interviews with 38 Ethiopian migrants who tried to cross into Saudi Arabia from Yemen, as well as from satellite imagery, videos, and photos posted to social media "or gathered from other sources". Interviewees described 28 "explosive weapons incidents" including attacks by mortar projectiles, the report said. Some survivors described attacks at close range, with Saudi border guards asking Ethiopians "in which limb of their body they would prefer to be shot", the report said. "All interviewees described scenes of horror: women, men, and children strewn across the mountainous landscape severely injured, dismembered, or already dead," it said. Other accounts described forced rape and beatings with rocks and iron bars. HRW called on Riyadh to end any policy of using lethal force on migrants and asylum seekers and urged the UN to investigate the alleged killings. The post Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants — HRW appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Judge outlaws hotel housing for solo child asylum seekers
A British court has declared illegal the government’s long-term hotel accommodation for lone child asylum-seekers. Judge Martin Chamberlain said the hotel housing for child migrants should only be used for “very short periods in true emergency situations.” He noted it had become “systematic and routine” since December 2021 and that interior minister Suella Braverman had “exceeded the proper limits of her powers” in allowing it. “It cannot be used systematically or routinely in circumstances where it is intended, or functions in practice, as a substitute for local authority care,” the judge said. Earlier, the charity Every Child Protected Against Trafficking sued the interior ministry over the practice of housing unaccompanied youngsters in department-run hotels. ECPAT had sued the ministry over the practice of housing unaccompanied youngsters in department-run hotels, arguing that the arrangements are “not fit for purpose.” Under United Kingdom immigration law, central and local governments are required to provide accommodation to all asylum-seekers, who are not allowed to work while they await decisions on their cases. That includes thousands of children who have arrived unaccompanied across the Channel in small boats in recent years, with the government’s increasing use of interior ministry-run hotels widely reported. WITH AFP The post Judge outlaws hotel housing for solo child asylum seekers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Don’t pee or poop here’
No orinar ni defacar aqui por favor!! The Spanish message on a sign in an alleyway of downtown El Paso, Texas, United States, which translates to “don’t pee or poop here, please,” is just one indication of the migrants crisis confounding US southern border cities. Migrants waiting for the processing of their asylum application in the US have been camping on sidestreets of El Paso and their number is expected to increase with the expiration on 11 May of Title 42, a US pandemic regulation restricting entry of asylum seekers as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19. The campers are posing sanitation and health problem aside from being exposed to danger like the running over of eight migrants by an SUV in Brownsville, Texas on Sunday. The fatalities were waiting at a bus stop outside a migrant aid center when they were hit. Aside from the signage, an alleyway dumpster in El Paso was seen overflowing and people were cutting hair next to it despite the smell of feces, KTSM reported. Laura Cruz Acosta, a spokesperson for the City of El Paso, said restrooms have been closed and the number of portable toilets and washing stations have been increased to address the sanitation problem, according to KTSM. The Texan cities of El Paso, Brownsville and Laredo have declared a state of emergency, as they struggle to cope with hundreds of people — most from Latin America, some from China, Russia and Turkey — who are already there. In El Paso, people sleep on the streets, cowering from the sun under sheets, or sleeping on cardboard. Grubby children beg for change. The city’s mayor, Oscar Leeser, said his officials were readying for many more on Friday, judging by a recent tour of the neighboring Mexican city of Cuidad Jaurez. “On the street we estimated somewhere between eight to 10,000 people,” he said. “There is a caravan... that will be here probably close to 11 May, so I say the real number that we’ll be dealing with is between 12 to 15,000 people.” WITH AFP The post ‘Don’t pee or poop here’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PH media slam Chinese foreign ministry’s claims of manipulating WPS reports
Philippine media groups criticized the Chinese foreign ministry for suggesting that recent reports on Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea involved video manipulation and sensationalism to portray the Philippines as a victim. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed offense.....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
Hope for more survivors from Baltimore bridge collapse fades
BALTIMORE – The coast guard announced on Wednesday that hope of finding more survivors of the Baltimore bridge collapse has dimmed, and efforts have switched to searching for the bodies of the missing persons, as well as seeking more answers as to why a container ship crashed into the span. The coast guard announced on.....»»
Israel bombs Gaza, fights Hamas around hospitals
Israeli forces pounded besieged Gaza on Wednesday and fought Hamas around several hospitals, despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire. Talks in Qatar towards a truce and hostage release deal involving US and Egyptian mediators have brought no result so far, with Israel and the Palestinian militant group blaming each other. READ: Israel.....»»
Pertussis or whooping cough: 40 child deaths so far this year – DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Assistant Health Secretary Albert Domingo reported on Wednesday that as of March 16 this year, some 40 children had died of whooping cough — a respiratory infection also called pertussis. An increase in new pertussis cases nationwide had been observed nationwide, with 28 cases reported from March 10 to 16. READ: What.....»»
Marian Rivera takes on projects that her children can watch
With her upcoming primetime show, “My Guardian Alien,” Marian Rivera has added sci-fi to the growing array of genres — from drama, fantasy, romance, and action to historical and comedy — that the Kapuso actress has successfully ventured into thus far......»»
Cebu Pacific books P8 billion profit in 2023
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific found itself landing on solid ground in 2023, as it booked a profit of nearly P8 billion on the back of a resurgent demand for air travel......»»
Marcos Jr. eyes stronger maritime ties with India
The Philippines is seeking stronger maritime security cooperation with India to ensure the safety of seafarers from both nations as the world’s oceans are becoming more dangerous for commercial shipping, President Marcos said......»»
Lalamove empowers aspiring women entrepreneurs to start their small businesses in PangNegosyo program
Lalamove, a leading on-demand delivery platform, has launched the Panalong PangNegosyo program for its thousands of women partner drivers to give out a business-starter package to three lady riders or drivers......»»
EDITORIAL — An endangered lake
In January this year, President Marcos directed the Department of Agriculture to increase fish production to meet the national demand......»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
DENR defends LLDA on lake sharing
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources defended yesterday the decision of the Laguna Lake Development Authority to increase the share of commercial operators in Laguna de Bay, saying it was the local government units who recommended to President Marcos the modification in the sharing agreement as small fisherfolk could not meet the required supply of fish......»»
Marcos admin eyes building 20 new dams by 2028
To meet the country’s growing demand for water and power, the government is eyeing to build 20 medium and three to five large dams by 2028, the end of President Marcos’ term, according to National Irrigation Administration head Eduardo Guillen......»»
Urbanization fuels high demand for furniture
Urbanization fuels high demand for furniture.....»»
200 brgy workers, children affected by DavNor floods receive assistance
200 brgy workers, children affected by DavNor floods receive assistance.....»»