Communicating Agencies＇ Humanitarianism in Natural Disaster and Armed Conflicts＂ Differences, Challenges, and Dilemmas

The literature on disasters mainly focuses on natural disasters and looks at their coverage by the media. The paper argues that armed conflicts are also disasters and that Western relief agencies intervening in natural disasters and conflict are also proactive communicators. Taking a different approach from much of the available research, it explores agencies＇ communication work in these two types of crises and analyses the differences, challenges and dilemmas that they face in communicating their humanitarianism. It outlines the distinguished inherent characteristics of natural disasters and conflicts, and examines their impact on the understanding of the crises, the perception of affected populations, and the implementation of agencies＇ actions. It also investigates how, in turn, all these features influence agencies＇ communication practices that in natural disasters emergencies and conflict-related crises perform a different role and show different parameters. In this sense, the paper distinguishes between ＂humanitarian communication＂ to refer to the former, and ＂humanitarian advocacy＂ to refer to the latter. The paper briefly explores the operational challenges engendered by the contested interpretations of humanitarian advocacy, shows that the use of the parameters of humanitarian communication in conflict-related crises to overcome these problems caused additional concern, and presents two forms of humanitarian advocacy engendering less challenges and dilemmas.

Obstetrical Emergencies in Ouahigouya Regional Teaching Hospital (Burkina Faso) in the Context of Insecurity Linked to Armed Groups: A Comparative Study between Patients from Precarious Security Zones and Those from Safe Areas

Introduction: Insecurity can be an obstacle to access to emergency obstetric and newborn care, that is why we proposed to study obstetrical emergencies in Ouahigouya Regional Teaching Hospital, a referral hospital in a region plagued by insecurity linked to armed groups. Method: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection over a 4-month period, from June 10 to October 10, 2020. Patients from precarious security areas were compared to those from safer areas. The Chi squared and Fisher tests were used for comparison of variables. Results: Obstetric emergencies accounted for 38.62% of admissions, from which 25.59% came from precarious security zones. Age was similar in both comparison groups. However, patients from unsafe areas were more likely to reside in rural areas (p 0.001) and more likely to be in unpaid occupations (p 0.001). Prenatal visits were less frequent (p 0.01) and women were more often multigravidae (p 0.01) in the precarious security group of patients. Apart from the more frequent uterine rupture (p = 0.02) in the group from precarious security zones, diagnosed complications and maternal mortality were similar in the 2 groups, while perinatal mortality was higher in the group of patients from precarious security zones (p 0.01). Conclusion: The precarious security situation has negative consequences on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Further studies are needed for better understanding of these consequences, and improvement of health system resilience strategies, to reduce related maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

The Russian‐Ukrainian armed conflict will push back the sustainable development goals

The Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict is a dramatic world event. Apart from the loss of life, the present conflicthas tremendous impacts on the environment, economy, and society. The conflict provoked a ripple of events withimplications at the global level, especially in energy and food. The escalation of this conflict is imposing severethreats to achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) not only to the countries di-rectly involved in the conflict but also to other countries, especially the developing ones that are more vulnerableto the economic crisis. In this editorial, we assessed the impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on BiophysicalSDGs, Social SDGs, Economic SDGs and Partnership for the Goals SDG that consider all the previous dimensions.The Russian-Ukrainian conflict’s impact on the SDGs is variable. Biodiversity SDGs are mainly affected at theregional level (Russia, Ukraine, surrounding and European Union countries). Society SDGs are affected at local(e.g., SDG3 good health and wellbeing;SDG4 quality education) and global (e.g., SDG2 zero hunger) levels. Fi-nally, the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict has world-level implications for the economic SDGs. Nevertheless,the ongoing conflict’s impacts are not entirely understood, and several uncertainties exist. Peace is needed toachieve the UN’s SDGs in 2030.

The impacts of armed conflict on vegetation cover degradation in Tigray,northern Ethiopia

Efforts made to restore the degraded landscape of the Tigray region,Northern Ethiopia,over the last three decades have been relatively successful.However,an armed conflict that broke out in the region in November 2020 has significantly destroyed the restored vegetation,either directly associated with conflict(environment,pollution,fire)or indirectly(agricultural abandonment).This study aimed at assessing spatio-temporal changes in vegetation cover in a 50 km radius zone centered on Mekelle city,Tigray.Vegetation cover dynamics was evaluated using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus(ETM+)and Operational Land Imager(OLI)datasets for the years 2000,2020,and 2022 and analysed using ENVI 5.3 and ArcGIS 10.8.1 software.These data were analysed using the Modified Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(MNDVI),Optimized Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index(OSAVI),and Moisture Adjusted Vegetation Index(MAVI).Based on the MNDVI,results show that vegetation cover increased in the period 2000-2020 by 179 km^(2)or 2%of the area,whereas in the period 2020-2022,there was a decrease in vegetation cover by 403 km^(2)or 5%of the area.This was accompanied by a decrease in vegetation density.These vegetation changes in 2020-2022 are attributed to the impact of armed conflict on the land surface which can include farmlands and village abandonment,spread of weeds and scrub vege-tation,or failure to harvest crops.Monitoring vegetation change using Landsat data can help understand the environmental impacts of armed conflict in rural agricultural landscapes,including potential food security risks.

Quantifying the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and the armed conflict with Russia on Sentinel 5P TROPOMI NO_(2)changes in Ukraine

This study investigated variations in nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2))levels in Ukraine during two significant periods:the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020 and the armed conflict with Russia in 2022.Original and reprocessed Sentinel 5P data products were utilized for the analysis.A machine learning model was employed to generate a business-as-usual NO_(2)time series that accounted for meteorological variability.For the nine most populous cities in Ukraine,during the lockdown in 2020 we observed a moderation of increases in NO_(2)levels during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown levels.Looking at the same months during the conflict period in 2022,we identified much more significant reductions in NO_(2)level in these cities,averaging 12.1%for original and 18.1%for reprocessed datasets.Besides our examination of major urban areas,we observed reductions in NO_(2)levels in areas surrounding coal power plants damaged or destroyed by the conflict.For the major urban areas in Ukraine,we conclude that changes in daily anthropogenic activities due to the conflict-related events had more substantial impacts on NO_(2)levels than did COVID-19 lockdown.

Reasons and Aims Behind the Islamic State Destruction of Ancient Mesopotamian Cultural Heritage Sites

This paper deals with the problem of devastation of cultural heritage by the Islamic State.The great emphasis is put on distinguishing reasons and aims of such behaviours and devastation performed on the ancient Mesopotamian artefacts,monuments,and artistic relics of the past civilization.The focus was put on Akkadian,Assyrian,and Sumerian heirloom due to its immense impact on the consecutive cultures of the region,neighbouring lands,and several distant societies.Problem of destruction is presented alongside with the short history of the Islamic State group emergence and its characteristics.Furthermore,this paper recalls the UNESCO definition of the term“cultural heritage”.

Malaysia as the Crossing Point for Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons {：SALW） to Indonesia： Issues and Challenges

Indonesia, as the largest archipelagic state in the world, shares maritimeborders with many countries including Malaysia in the Straits of Malacca, the South China Sea and the Celebes Sea. Because of its geopolitical location these borders are very porous and, as a consequence, are highly difficult to monitor and control, making it vulnerable spots for illegal activities such as arms smuggling. This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by Indonesia and Malaysia in dealing with the main security border issues. The paper then concludes that Malaysia has become the main route for small arms illicit trafficking from other Southeast Asian countries to Indonesia＇s conflict areas. Indonesia and Malaysia face an enormous challenge, particularly in view of the recent happenings in conflict zones and the increasingly need to secure their common borders.

Protecting health facilities:design options for armed conflict and climate change disasters

Hospital facility designs are essential to maintaining function during times of disaster.For hospitals to remain open during emergencies,their structuresmust resist forces frommany types of hazards such as earthquakes,hurricanes,flooding,and even societal hazards,such as war.Natural disasters are becomingmore dangerous with the advent of global climate change.In this article,we investigate health care building design interventions to protect facilities.Ultimately,amulti-hazard approach is the best way to prepare hospitals for resiliency in the face of disaster.

The complexity of providing humanitarian surgical care in armed conflict: a framework to help categorize needs

Armed conflicts are increasing globally due to political unrest and the broader effects of climate change.Without resources to provide quality surgical care,it becomes nearly impossible to provide quality emergency surgery and trauma care similar to that in high-income countries.To understand and help aid organizations provide resources and address the surgical needs of populations facing armed conflict,a matrix to identify variables and help with interventions was envisioned.Apreviously published global surgery matrix based on the PIPES(Personnel,Infrastructure,Procedures,Equipment and Supplies)surgical capacity tool was adapted to this context.The novel matrix incorporates 108 variables.These variables are grossly divided into local and international agency components to address the issue of who is providing care.Using a time continuum of pre-conflict,conflict,and post-conflict allows organizations to concentrate on when during the conflict to target their intervention.In addition to the previously used personnel,infrastructure,procedures,equipment,and supplies categories,a sixth category called standards was included that addresses the issues such as information technology,data systems,quality improvement programs,and patient safety.Pilot testing of this matrix to obtain feedback from end users is the next step in development.Ultimately,peri-conflict preparedness should increase and improve surgical outcomes and reduce in death and disabilities around the world.

An Economic Model of the Wartime Economy： An Application to a Possible Sino-Japanese Conflict

This paper introduces a new economic model of a wartime economy, the war economic capability model--WEC-Model. The WEC-Model assesses the eco- nornic impact of an armed conflict in three different stages： （1） initial armed conflict and diplomatic negotiations; （2） military armed conflict; and （3） winners and losers in the post-armed conflict stage. The analysis makes use of new indicators such as economic desgrowth （-δ）, armed conflict intensity （αi）, armed conflict losses （-π）, economic wear （Л）, level of armed conflict tension （ζ）, level of diplomatic nego- tiations （η）, and total economic leaking （Ωt. To illustrate the model, we apply it to evaluate an imaginary armed conflict between the People＇s Republic of China and Japan.