The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that initial reports indicated that hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland have been inundated. In the hardest-hit areas, urgent needs include basic food, drinking water, and sanitation. The emergency compounds the dire situation across vast areas of Myanmar more than three years since a military coup that has led to escalating fighting, surging displacement and extreme protection threats. Initially, WFP plans to assist some 35,000 people now sheltering in evacuation centres in Ayeyarwady. Food packs include rice and fortified biscuits, along with nutrition support for mothers and children, to prevent acute malnutrition.…
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For more than a year maize prices in Kenya and Malawi have been much higher compared with other countries in the east and southern Africa (ESA) region. Several factors explain this. In Malawi, high fertiliser prices which resulted in lower fertiliser usage affected maize supply. This was compounded by adverse weather and trade bans, leading to lower-than-usual production. In Kenya, high maize prices have been driven up by excessive margins. Sellers are charging prices that are more than the import parity price – the maize price from surplus producing countries, plus transport costs for importing into Kenya. This is particularly…
The ongoing humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses in Burma exacerbate difficulties faced by members of many of Burma’s ethnic and religious minority groups, and Rohingya in particular. The United States stands with the survivors of the Rohingya genocide and is committed to providing life-saving assistance to affected members of Rohingya communities and those affected by the crisis in Burma, Bangladesh, and the region. Over the past seven years, the United States has contributed nearly $2.4 billion in humanitarian assistance. We also conduct extensive documentation of the atrocities and abuses committed against Rohingya and all civilians. Our support for the…
That’s the highest number of civilian casualties in a single month since June 2023, Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council. Over half of the casualties occurred in Kharkiv during a new Russian offensive, with numerous attacks in other locations killing civilians and causing widespread destruction. “The escalation of attacks impacting Ukrainian civilians is unconscionable,” Ms. DiCarlo said. “Since February 2022, OHCHR has recorded 11,126 civilians killed, and 21,863 civilians injured. The actual figures are likely significantly higher,” she added. Russian casualties In the same period, Russian authorities have reported that at least 91…
Finds La Tolteca Authentic Mexican Restaurant unlawfully retained workers’ tipsWILKES-BARRE, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment to recover $1.3 million in back wages, withheld tips and liquidated damages for 51 workers employed by a Wilkes-Barre restaurant and its owner, whose pay practices illegally deprived workers of their full wages. Entered in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the judgment follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division and lengthy litigation by the department’s Office of the Solicitor, that found several violations of federal wage regulations by La Tolteca Wilkes-Barre Inc., operator…
Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces and elements of the Armed Struggle Movements in El Fasher have left civilians in the crossfire of a conflict that was triggered in April 2023 by rival militaries. “These clashes have devastating consequences for the civilian population,” Farhan Haq said in a statement. “The fighting will also further exacerbate humanitarian needs in and around El Fasher at a time when famine conditions have been confirmed in Zamzam camp south of El Fasher and is likely prevailing in other displacement sites in the city.” The global food monitoring initiative, the Integrated Food…
Employer: Swahili Village Bar and Grill, 2 Center St., Newark, NJ 07102Investigation findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found that Swahili Village Bar and Grill in Newark, New Jersey willfully failed to pay 84 servers, cooks and bussers overtime pay when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Back Wages Recovered: $62,335 in overtime wages for 84 employees Liquidated Damages Recovered: $62,335 in liquidated damages for 84 employeesCivil Money Penalties Assessed: $44,100 in civil money penalties for willful violationsQuote: “Restaurant industry workers too often fall victim to employers who shortchange their wages…
Posting on X, Tor Wennesland said he had met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa following “intense exchanges” between the Israeli military – which said it had carried out large-scale pre-emptive strikes – and the militant group Hezbollah based in southern Lebanon which said it had carried out an attack which has now been “completed and accomplished.” In a statement released later in the day the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was deeply concerned over the “significant increase in exchanges”. “These actions put both the Lebanese and Israeli populations at risk as well as threatening regional security and stability”, the…
WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico conduct a review based on its finding that a denial of workers’ rights occurred at the Pirelli Neumáticos rubber tire manufacturing facility in Silao, Guanajuato.The Rapid Response Labor Mechanism request follows a July 22, 2024, petition filed by the Liga Sindical Obrera Mexicana and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network alleging the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining are being denied at Pirelli. The petition alleges the company is unlawfully applying a facility-specific collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the incumbent Miguel…
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial award of $2.8 million to California in dislocated worker grant funding to support cleanup and recovery activities in eight counties in response to severe winter storms the state experienced between Jan. 31, 2024, and Feb. 9, 2024.The storms caused river and urban flooding, mud and landslides, sinkhole formations, downed trees and damaged roadways, bridges and levee systems, as well as damage to public and private lands.On April 13, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a major disaster declaration enabling the state to request federal assistance for recovery efforts in…