The growing inability of the international community to restore peace in countries like Yemen, Libya and Ethiopia is forcing humanitarian and refugee organizations to work increasingly during conflicts which they can’t solve despite the expectations of many people caught up in these crises, the U.N. refugee chief warned Tuesday.

Filippo Grandi reminded the U.N. Security Council that in the absence of political solutions to conflicts -- “and those political solutions seem to be more and more scarce and far apart” -- the consequences on people caught in these violent confrontations “continue to become more and more serious.”

The U.N. high commissioner for refugees said his office and other organizations are dealing with about 84 million refugees who fled across borders and people displaced within their own countries, trying to provide humanitarian support, shelter and safety.

Grandi spoke to the council and U.N. correspondents from Geneva where donors pledged a record of more than $1 billion Tuesday to support UNHCR’s work in 2022. While he welcomed their crucial support, Grandi said the pledges won’t be enough to support the growing challenges the agency foresees next year, largely driven by conflict, climate change and COVID-19.

The high commissioner said UNHCR is appealing for nearly $9 billion to cover its operations in 136 countries and territories next year. Almost half the money is for emergencies to assist a record number of forcibly displaced people, especially in the Middle East and Africa as well as millions who have fled their homes in places like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Venezuela and beyond, he said.

Asked whether he saw any hope for the many millions of refugees and displaced people in 2022, Grandi said “I see glimmers of hope everywhere -- if certain things are done.”

“The question is will these things be done?” he asked. “Will states cooperate more to try and solve these issues? Will more resources be put into responses? Will be will the neutrality and safety of humanitarian operations be granted?”

“I remain not terribly optimistic about progress on these matters, especially on cooperation and the search of solutions,” he said.

Grandi said if it took “excruciating negotiations” in the Security Council to get approval to continue delivery of humanitarian aid through a single crossing point from Turkey into Syria, “then we are in trouble, then we cannot really aim at moving forward.”

“So yes, I think the prospects, unfortunately, are rather grim in terms of the size of the problem and the complexity of the causes,” he said.

Grandi said UNHCR works in highly politicized situations, and increasingly it has to deal with “de facto authorities” who are not internationally recognized but control areas in many countries where it operates because people need help. These situations are very often complicated by political difficulties, sanctions and other restrictions on dialogue and engagement which aggravate the provision of humanitarian needs, he said.

Grandi said he is often warned by countries that UNHCR should not politicize humanitarian action, but “I keep reminding states that if anybody politicizes humanitarian action it is the states, not the United Nations as an institution, not UNHCR for sure.”

Nonetheless, he said, UNHCR is being accused by all sides in Ethiopia, for example, of supporting the other side which he warned is not safe for its staff or conducive to effective humanitarian action.

“We operate in context in which there is more burden, expectation that humanitarian actors can solve problems, when in reality, the space is reduced even for us to save lives,” he said.

Grandi said he just returned from a tour of Mexico and northern Central America where he saw “the incredible complexity of the causes of displacement” -- conflict, human rights abuses, violence by criminal gangs, poverty, inequality, climate change and an inadequate response by states.

He said the complexity of causes in Central America, Africa’s Sahel region, and elsewhere leads to “increasingly complicated forced displacement.”

Grandi said his message to the Security Council was to focus on one of the causes -- conflict -- because if progress can be made toward stability then perhaps “the vicious circle” leading to the displacement of millions of people can be unblocked.

He also appealed to the council to provide “the widest scope for humanitarian exception” to U.N. sanctions on Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers to help the 23 million Afghans facing extreme levels of hunger and other humanitarian challenges.

Grandi warned that a widespread implosion of the Afghan economy will almost inevitably trigger a much bigger exodus of Afghans seeking a better life in neighboring countries and beyond.

“This is something that can still be prevented at this point, but it requires quicker action” to ensure that the economy functions including the flow of cash and services, he said. this with its leaders.

The growing inability of the international community to restore peace in countries like Yemen, Libya and Ethiopia is forcing humanitarian and refugee organizations to work increasingly during conflicts which they can’t solve despite the expectations of many people caught up in these crises, the U.

The growing inability of the international community to restore peace in countries like Yemen, Libya and Ethiopia is forcing humanitarian and refugee organizations to work increasingly during conflicts which they can’t solve despite the expectations of many people caught up in these crises, the U.N. refugee chief warned Tuesday. Filippo Grandi reminded the U.N. Security Council that in the absence of political solutions to conflicts -- “and those political solutions seem to be more and more scarce and far apart” -- the consequences on people caught in these violent confrontations “continue to become more and more serious.” The U.N. high commissioner for refugees said his office and other organizations are dealing with about 84 million refugees who fled across borders and people displaced within their own countries, trying to provide humanitarian support, shelter and safety. Grandi spoke to the council and U.N. correspondents from Geneva where donors pledged a record of more than $1 billion Tuesday to support UNHCR’s work in 2022. While he welcomed their crucial support, Grandi said the pledges won’t be enough to support the growing challenges the agency foresees next year, largely driven by conflict, climate change and COVID-19. The high commissioner said UNHCR is appealing for nearly $9 billion to cover its operations in 136 countries and territories next year. Almost half the money is for emergencies to assist a record number of forcibly displaced people, especially in the Middle East and Africa as well as millions who have fled their homes in places like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Venezuela and beyond, he said. Asked whether he saw any hope for the many millions of refugees and displaced people in 2022, Grandi said “I see glimmers of hope everywhere -- if certain things are done.” “The question is will these things be done?” he asked. “Will states cooperate more to try and solve these issues? Will more resources be put into responses? Will be will the neutrality and safety of humanitarian operations be granted?” “I remain not terribly optimistic about progress on these matters, especially on cooperation and the search of solutions,” he said. Grandi said if it took “excruciating negotiations” in the Security Council to get approval to continue delivery of humanitarian aid through a single crossing point from Turkey into Syria, “then we are in trouble, then we cannot really aim at moving forward.” “So yes, I think the prospects, unfortunately, are rather grim in terms of the size of the problem and the complexity of the causes,” he said. Grandi said UNHCR works in highly politicized situations, and increasingly it has to deal with “de facto authorities” who are not internationally recognized but control areas in many countries where it operates because people need help. These situations are very often complicated by political difficulties, sanctions and other restrictions on dialogue and engagement which aggravate the provision of humanitarian needs, he said. Grandi said he is often warned by countries that UNHCR should not politicize humanitarian action, but “I keep reminding states that if anybody politicizes humanitarian action it is the states, not the United Nations as an institution, not UNHCR for sure.” Nonetheless, he said, UNHCR is being accused by all sides in Ethiopia, for example, of supporting the other side which he warned is not safe for its staff or conducive to effective humanitarian action. “We operate in context in which there is more burden, expectation that humanitarian actors can solve problems, when in reality, the space is reduced even for us to save lives,” he said. Grandi said he just returned from a tour of Mexico and northern Central America where he saw “the incredible complexity of the causes of displacement” -- conflict, human rights abuses, violence by criminal gangs, poverty, inequality, climate change and an inadequate response by states. He said the complexity of causes in Central America, Africa’s Sahel region, and elsewhere leads to “increasingly complicated forced displacement.” Grandi said his message to the Security Council was to focus on one of the causes -- conflict -- because if progress can be made toward stability then perhaps “the vicious circle” leading to the displacement of millions of people can be unblocked. He also appealed to the council to provide “the widest scope for humanitarian exception” to U.N. sanctions on Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers to help the 23 million Afghans facing extreme levels of hunger and other humanitarian challenges. Grandi warned that a widespread implosion of the Afghan economy will almost inevitably trigger a much bigger exodus of Afghans seeking a better life in neighboring countries and beyond. “This is something that can still be prevented at this point, but it requires quicker action” to ensure that the economy functions including the flow of cash and services, he said. this with its leaders.

UN refugee chief warns of world’s inability to restore peace

Even as Kashmir&#39;s chief minister Mehbooba Mufti made a passionate plea for the revival of dialogue and the application of a &#39;healing touch&rsquo; on the wounds of Kashmir, the Indian Army is set to deploy its troops on patrolling duty on the streets of the state to help quell the more than month-long unrest in the Kashmir Valley and bring it back to normalcy. 
 
This is the second time in five years that the army has been called in to assist security forces in the restoration of order in Kashmir following a spate of violent protests that has seen the deaths of 60 civilians so far this year and has paralysed normal life with over 30 days of curfew. 
 
Army sources both at headquarters and at northern command confirmed to DNA that a decision in this regard has been finalised. 
 
&quot;Army will be deployed on major highways and at the sensitive points in support of the state police and paramilitary forces based on an elaborate plan worked out at the headquarters level (in Delhi),&quot; said an official who did not wish to be identified. 
 
The army has already moved in to secure crucial roads near Sopore and Narabal to protect the strategic Srinagar-Baramulla-Kupwara highway in north Kashmir. Sources here said the army may be deployed to patrol the streets and stage flag marches if the unrest continues beyond Independence Day (August 15) and the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra (pilgrimage) on August 18. 
 
This issue was apparently conveyed to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday, when she met India&#39;s central government leaders including interior minister Rajnath Singh. Sources close to her told DNA that she pleaded political options be explored rather than the military be used to curb the current unrest in Kashmir. She stressed the need for the taking of bold and tangible initiatives to reach out to the people, including the revival of dialogue with Pakistan and stakeholders (read the separatists) in Kashmir. 
&nbsp; 
The earlier decision to bring in the army - primarily engaged in counter-insurgency operations and the guarding of sections of the disputed border with Pakistan - to help restore order was taken by the Omar Abdullah government in 2010 when the Valley erupted in a three-month long cycle of violence. Back then, 116 youth were shot dead by security forces in the protests that followed a fake encounter in Macchil in which the army tried to pass off three villagers it had killed as militants. &nbsp; 
 
Mufti, who was an opposition leader at the time, had then called for Abdullah&rsquo;s resignation. But while in power, she seems to lack the ability to come up any new initiatives to deal with the resentment of the Kashmiris, and has resorted to following in the footsteps of her predecessor. &nbsp; 
 
Shortly after the top brass of the army visited Mufti and assured her &quot;all possible assistance to the state government to bring peace at the earliest&rsquo;&rsquo; would be provided, a meeting was held at the 15 Corps Headquarters in Badami Bagh, Srinagar on August 5. Discussions were held at length on these options by the army, Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF (deployed in Srinagar), J&amp;K Police, and the civil administration. The move to deploy the army to assist the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) Police is being considered in view of growing apprehensions of militant attacks or violent protests organised by the locals close to Independence Day - observed as a black day in Kashmir - and the conclusion of the Amarnath yatra next week. 
 
A major deterrent to bringing the army out onto the streets remains the conditions of its rules of engagement. The army&#39;s Victor Force which &nbsp;operates in Awantipora (south Kashmir) and Kilo Force which operates in Kupwara (north Kashmir) have both been working out a coordination plan between them so as to prevent the mobilisation of protesters. &quot;Army has been tasked to take over what is called in security parlance the Highway Domination and Corridor Protection,&quot; a source added.&nbsp; 
 
In turbulent south Kashmir -- the districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Tral and Anantnag -- young men and boys have taken control of the streets and entry is restricted. Roads are blocked with large stones, burnt tyres, and tree logs that act as barricades while local youth take turns to patrol the streets and keep a vigil against nocturnal raids. 
 
The killing of the local Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the village of Bemdoroo on July 8 led to a spontaneous outpouring of grief and rage against the security forces. News reports and rumours of security personnel opening fire on unarmed civilians, abusing women, children and the elderly on the suspicion of having participated in the protests has created deep resentment against the men in uniform. &nbsp; 
 
The state government is under mounting pressure to calm the enraged population and put a stop to the rising casualties. Restoring stability, restarting schools, colleges, government offices, and trade - which has been hampered since the beginning of the protests - is also an immediate priority. Flag marches by the army in the affected areas will no doubt project its domination and put it in charge of security. However, deployment of troops in civilian areas could trigger a deadly backlash, if there are any fatalities of protesters. 
 
Some of the worst violence in the early days of the unrest took place in parts of south Kashmir with the police shooting over 20 and retaliatory mobs setting fire to police stations and military outpost. That the region is also the bastion of ruling People&#39;s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Mufti family has added constraints on the ruling administration, to ensure that that situation does not arise. 
 
Sections favoring the army&rsquo;s deployment argue that the strict enforcement of curfew will bring down violent clashes and minimise casualties, and that it would cause fatigue among the protesters like in the previous cycle of violence. 
 
A senior CRPF official, on the condition of anonymity, said the presence of the army will help in resuming daytime traffic on the national highway and restoring connectivity. &quot;Stone pelters and protesters are a major concern for us. For now, we are forced to carry the vehicle movement only at night that includes escorting the Amarnath yatris.&quot; 
 
(DNA) 
&nbsp;

This is the second time in five years in Kashmir that the Army has been called in to assist police and paramilitary forces restore order

Even as Kashmir's chief minister Mehbooba Mufti made a passionate plea for the revival of dialogue and the application of a 'healing touch’ on the wounds of Kashmir, the Indian Army is set to deploy its troops on patrolling duty on the streets of the state to help quell the more than month-long unrest in the Kashmir Valley and bring it back to normalcy. This is the second time in five years that the army has been called in to assist security forces in the restoration of order in Kashmir following a spate of violent protests that has seen the deaths of 60 civilians so far this year and has paralysed normal life with over 30 days of curfew. Army sources both at headquarters and at northern command confirmed to DNA that a decision in this regard has been finalised. "Army will be deployed on major highways and at the sensitive points in support of the state police and paramilitary forces based on an elaborate plan worked out at the headquarters level (in Delhi)," said an official who did not wish to be identified. The army has already moved in to secure crucial roads near Sopore and Narabal to protect the strategic Srinagar-Baramulla-Kupwara highway in north Kashmir. Sources here said the army may be deployed to patrol the streets and stage flag marches if the unrest continues beyond Independence Day (August 15) and the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra (pilgrimage) on August 18. This issue was apparently conveyed to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday, when she met India's central government leaders including interior minister Rajnath Singh. Sources close to her told DNA that she pleaded political options be explored rather than the military be used to curb the current unrest in Kashmir. She stressed the need for the taking of bold and tangible initiatives to reach out to the people, including the revival of dialogue with Pakistan and stakeholders (read the separatists) in Kashmir. The earlier decision to bring in the army - primarily engaged in counter-insurgency operations and the guarding of sections of the disputed border with Pakistan - to help restore order was taken by the Omar Abdullah government in 2010 when the Valley erupted in a three-month long cycle of violence. Back then, 116 youth were shot dead by security forces in the protests that followed a fake encounter in Macchil in which the army tried to pass off three villagers it had killed as militants. Mufti, who was an opposition leader at the time, had then called for Abdullah’s resignation. But while in power, she seems to lack the ability to come up any new initiatives to deal with the resentment of the Kashmiris, and has resorted to following in the footsteps of her predecessor. Shortly after the top brass of the army visited Mufti and assured her "all possible assistance to the state government to bring peace at the earliest’’ would be provided, a meeting was held at the 15 Corps Headquarters in Badami Bagh, Srinagar on August 5. Discussions were held at length on these options by the army, Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF (deployed in Srinagar), J&K Police, and the civil administration. The move to deploy the army to assist the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police is being considered in view of growing apprehensions of militant attacks or violent protests organised by the locals close to Independence Day - observed as a black day in Kashmir - and the conclusion of the Amarnath yatra next week. A major deterrent to bringing the army out onto the streets remains the conditions of its rules of engagement. The army's Victor Force which operates in Awantipora (south Kashmir) and Kilo Force which operates in Kupwara (north Kashmir) have both been working out a coordination plan between them so as to prevent the mobilisation of protesters. "Army has been tasked to take over what is called in security parlance the Highway Domination and Corridor Protection," a source added. In turbulent south Kashmir -- the districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Tral and Anantnag -- young men and boys have taken control of the streets and entry is restricted. Roads are blocked with large stones, burnt tyres, and tree logs that act as barricades while local youth take turns to patrol the streets and keep a vigil against nocturnal raids. The killing of the local Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the village of Bemdoroo on July 8 led to a spontaneous outpouring of grief and rage against the security forces. News reports and rumours of security personnel opening fire on unarmed civilians, abusing women, children and the elderly on the suspicion of having participated in the protests has created deep resentment against the men in uniform. The state government is under mounting pressure to calm the enraged population and put a stop to the rising casualties. Restoring stability, restarting schools, colleges, government offices, and trade - which has been hampered since the beginning of the protests - is also an immediate priority. Flag marches by the army in the affected areas will no doubt project its domination and put it in charge of security. However, deployment of troops in civilian areas could trigger a deadly backlash, if there are any fatalities of protesters. Some of the worst violence in the early days of the unrest took place in parts of south Kashmir with the police shooting over 20 and retaliatory mobs setting fire to police stations and military outpost. That the region is also the bastion of ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Mufti family has added constraints on the ruling administration, to ensure that that situation does not arise. Sections favoring the army’s deployment argue that the strict enforcement of curfew will bring down violent clashes and minimise casualties, and that it would cause fatigue among the protesters like in the previous cycle of violence. A senior CRPF official, on the condition of anonymity, said the presence of the army will help in resuming daytime traffic on the national highway and restoring connectivity. "Stone pelters and protesters are a major concern for us. For now, we are forced to carry the vehicle movement only at night that includes escorting the Amarnath yatris." (DNA)

Kashmir unrest: Indian Army set to deploy troops, restore normalcy

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