Human Rights

UN agency chief warns that northern Iraq is facing 'cultural cleansing'

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UNHCR distributing aid near Duhok in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region.

Ugandans Celebrate Gay Pride After Anti-homosexual Law Overturned

Ugandans celebrating the repeal of the country's controversial anti-homosexuality act gathered on the shore of Lake Victoria Saturday for a gay pride parade and rally – in sharp contrast to a similar rally two years ago that was broken up by police, this year the country's LGBT community was promised protection.

Iraq's Displaced Top One Million

The International Organization for Migration reports fighting in Iraq between Islamic State rebels and Kurdish Peshmerga military has pushed the number of internally displaced people in Iraq to over one million. IOM says this is the highest number of IDPs in Iraq since the Islamist advance began in January.

Cambodia: Khmer Rouge Convictions ‘Too Little, Too Late’

Political Interference, Delays, Corruption Make Tribunal a Failure

The convictions of two former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity are welcome but are long overdue and do not make up for the fundamental failures of the Cambodian-controlled and United Nations-assisted Khmer Rouge tribunal, Human Rights Watch said. On August 7, 2014, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) convicted Nuon Chea, 88, and Khieu Samphan, 83, and sentenced them to life in prison.

Northern Iraq: UN voices concern about civilians’ safety, need for humanitarian aid

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The Khazair checkpoint between Iraq and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has seen hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) cross into Kurdistan following the takeover of large swathes of Iraq by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

Zimbabwe: Protesters Beaten, Arrested

Thousands Flee After Crackdown on Camp for Displaced People

Anti-riot police on August 3, 2014, beat and arrested hundreds of people at a camp housing approximately 20,000 displaced people in southern Zimbabwe. A humanitarian crisis is developing as thousands fled in fear and may be living in the open without access to food or health facilities.

West Africa: EU boosts its immediate aid to contain Ebola outbreak

The European Union is increasing by an additional €8 million its efforts to contain the spread of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This is the fourth increase of EU assistance for this crisis. It brings the Commission's aid in 2014 to fight the Ebola epidemic, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has just declared a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern", to €11.9 million. In addition, a second "European mobile laboratory" will be deployed in the coming days, most likely to Sierra Leone, to provide essential support to diagnostics and testing.

Syrian children 'torn apart as 16 killed in Aleppo violence

Curtailed Sewage Treatment, Food and Water Supply, Hospital Operations

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Palestinian firefighter tries to put out a fire at Gaza's main power plant.

Reality of Gaza destruction haunts families and children amid ceasefire

As the three-day ceasefire in Gaza draws to a close, families are struggling to cope with the aftermath of 28 days of violence and destruction that has left an estimated 65,000 people homeless.

Jordan: Palestinians Escaping Syria Turned Away

Others Vulnerable to Deportation, Living in Fear

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Refugees at the Cyber City refugee camp near Ramtha, Jordan, July 21, 2012. Jordan has prevented Palestinians from Syria from entering Jordan since 2012, and is holding 190 Palestinians at the closed Cyber City refugee camp, where they have the unenviable choice of remaining in the camp indefinitely or returning to Syria.

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