Daily Hadith and Ayat, 30-04-2012

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Peace and blessings be upon the Beloved Prophet Muhammad,
As-salamu-alaikum your daily hadith from ahadith.co.uk

Daily Hadith, 30-04-2012

Narrated: Hisham bin Urwa
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that his father said, "The tribe is not obliged to pay blood-money for intentional murder. They pay blood-money for accidental killing." Yahya related to me from Malik that Ibn Shihab said, "The precedent of the sunna is that the tribe are not liable for any blood-money of an intentional killing unless they wish that." Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said the same as that. Malik said that Ibn Shihab said, "The precedent of the sunna in the intentional murder is that when the relatives of the murdered person relinquish retaliation, the blood-money is owed by the murderer from his own property unless the tribe helps him with it willingly." Malik said, "What is done in our community is that the blood-money is not obliged against the tribe until it has reached a third of the full amount and upwards.

 Whatever reaches a third is against the tribe, and whatever is below a third, is against the property of the one who did the injury." Malik said, "The way of doing things about which there is no dispute among us, in the case of someone who has the blood-money accepted from him in intentional murder or in any injury in which there is retaliation, is that that blood-money is not due from the tribe unless they wish it. The blood-money for that is from the property of the murderer or the injurer if he has property. If he does not have any property, it is a debt against him, and none of it is owed by the tribe unless they wish." Malik said, "The tribe does not pay blood-money to anyone who injures himself, intentionally or accidentally. This is the opinion of the people of fiqh in our community. I have not heard that anyone has made the tribe liable for any blood-money incurred by intentional acts. Part of what is well-known of that is that Allah, the Blessed, and the Exalted, said in His Book, 'Whoever has something pardoned him by his brother, should follow it with what is accepted and pay it with good will' (Sura 2 ayat 178) 

The commentary on that - in our view - and Allah knows best, is that whoever gives his brother something of the blood-money, should follow it with what is accepted and pay him with good will." Malik spoke about a child who had no property and a woman who had no property. He said, "When one of them causes an injury below a third of the blood-money, it is taken on behalf of the child and woman from their personal property, if they have property from which it may be taken. If not, the injury which each of them has caused is a debt against them. The tribe does not have to pay any of it and the father of a child is not liable for the blood-money of an injury caused by the child and he is not responsible for it." Malik said, "The way of doing things in our community about which there is no dispute, is that when a slave is killed, the value for him is that of the day on which he was killed.

 The tribe of the murderer is not liable for any of the value of the slave, great or small. That is the responsibility of the one who struck him from his own personal property as far as it covers. If the value of the slave is the blood-money or more, that is against him in his property. That is because the slave is a certain type of goods."
hadith Source »
Source For Mobile Devices »

Ayat of the Quran

Verse No: 66

فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ

And lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith.
As-Saaffat (Those Ranging in Ranks) »
English Quran »

Daily Remembrance

الْمُِمیتُ
Al-Mumeet: The Inflictor of Death
Meaning: The Creator of Death, The Destroyer, The One who renders the living dead.
Found In Quraan Ayah(s): (3:156)(7: 158)(15:2 3)(57:2)

--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

Ayat of the Quran and Daily Remembrance

Ayat of the Quran

Verse No: 126

وَهَٰذَا صِرَاطُ رَبِّكَ مُسْتَقِيمًا ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

This is the path of thy Lord, a straight path. We have detailed Our revelations for a people who take heed. 
Al-Anaam (The Cattle) »
English Quran »

Daily Remembrance

الْغَفَّارُ
Al-Ghaffaar: The Great Forgiver
Meaning: The Forgiver, The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.
Found In Quraan Ayah(s): (20:82)(38 :66)(39:5) (40:42)(71 :10)

--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

HADITH OF THE DAY

HADITH OF THE DAY

Narrated: Maimuna
I placed water for the bath of Allah's Apostle and he poured water over his hands and washed them twice or thrice; then he poured water with his right hand over his left and washed his private parts (with his left hand). He rubbed his hand over the earth and rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and blowing it out. After that he washed his face, both fore arms and head thrice and then poured water over his body. He withdrew from that place and washed his feet.

--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

SYRIA: SECURITY COUNCIL URGES RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY OBSERVERS

SYRIA: SECURITY COUNCIL URGES RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY OBSERVERS

The Security Council today emphasized the need for a speedier deployment of UN military observers to Syria and the implementation of a proposed peace plan to end the violence in the Middle Eastern country.

Council members were briefed on developments regarding Syria by the Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria, Kofi Annan, via video-teleconference from Geneva, and, earlier Tuesday, by the head of UN peacekeeping operations, Under-Secretary-General Hervé Ladsous.

Addressing the media after Mr. Annan's briefing, Ambassador Susan Rice of the United States, which holds the Council's presidency this month, said the envoy had told Council members that the situation in Syria "continues to be unacceptable" and expressed concern that attacks resumed in locations directly following the departure of members of a UN observer team.

The envoy described the attacks as "unacceptable and reprehensible, if true," Amb. Rice said.

The violence in Syria, which began in March 2011 as a protest movement similar to those across the Middle East and North Africa, has claimed over 9,000 lives, mostly civilians, and displaced tens of thousands.

"Several council members expressed their scepticism of the Syrian government's intentions and the veracity of statements contained in the Syrian Foreign Minister's recent letter to the Joint Special Envoy," Amb. Rice said. "All Council members underscored the need for more rapid deployment of observers and stressed the importance of full and immediate implementation of all aspects of the six-point plan."

Last weekend, the Security Council authorized the establishment of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) – made up of up to 300 unarmed military observers and deployed for an initial period of 90 days – to monitor the cessation of violence, as well as monitor and support the full implementation of a six-point peace plan, put forward by Mr. Annan.

Ahead of UNSMIS' deployment, an advance team of 30 unarmed military observers was dispatched to liaise with the parties and to begin to report on the implementation of a full cessation of armed violence. The six-point proposal calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, and the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people.

According to Ambassador Rice, Under-Secretary-General Ladsous told the Council that 11 military observers are currently on the ground in Syria, and that UNSMIS' Chief Military Observer will be deployed by the end of the week, with 30 observers expected by 30 April, and 100 observers within a month.

The peacekeeping chief also said that the Syrian Government had refused one observer based on his nationality; and authorities there have indicated that they will not accept UNSMIS staff members from any nations are that members of the so-called Friends of Democratic Syria.

"He [Hervé Ladsous] underscored that, from the UN's point of view, this is entirely unacceptable," Amb. Rice said.

IRAQI LEADERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES, UN ENVOY STRESSES

IRAQI LEADERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES, UN ENVOY STRESSES

The top United Nations envoy to Iraq today underscored the need for the country's leaders to work together to resolve outstanding issues, including the holding of a national dialogue, disputed internal boundaries and the human rights situation.

Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), told the Security Council that the withdrawal of United States armed forces in December 2011 and the recent hosting by Iraq of the League of Arab States Summit were important recent developments for the country.

At the same time, domestic political issues and the potential fallout from regional crises, including the one in Syria, "continue to pose obstacles for Iraq as it marches on the road to full recovery," <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/sc10604.doc.htm">stated Mr. Kobler.

"The continued delays in convening the national conference underscore the urgent need for Iraqi leaders to summon the requisite political will and courage to work together to solve the country's problems through an inclusive dialogue," he added.

In his latest report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the need to tackle outstanding issues to achieve national reconciliation, warning that if they are not addressed in a meaningful way, through an inclusive dialogue, they could lead to renewed political tensions and adversely impact the security situation.

In this context, he said the national conference proposed by President Jalal Talabani could provide "an important opportunity" to bring the current stalemate to an end and set in motion a dialogue that could address outstanding political differences. "I urge all concerned to redouble their efforts to make this conference a success and ensure that it is held in a spirit of inclusiveness, compromise and partnership, within the framework of the Constitution," he stated.

Mr. Kobler reported in his briefing that until today there was no agreement on an agenda for such a conference. "An inclusive forum, however, is needed as a first step to end the political impasse. I call upon all Iraqi leaders to sit together to address all their differences in a meaningful way."

He also highlighted specific concerns about human rights in the country in terms of civilian casualties, gender-based violence and the situations of minorities and internally displaced persons. He noted in particular that Iraq's political situation is heightening communal tensions and leading to an increase in the number of attacks on civilians.

The envoy also welcomed several developments, including the recent steps taken by Iraq and Kuwait to normalize their relations and to resolve all remaining issues, and the endorsement by the Council of Representatives of the commissioners to serve on Iraq's first independent High Commission for Human Rights.

In a related development, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called for an investigation into the murder of Iraqi TV presenter Kamiran Salaheddin.

A journalist in his mid-30s and father of two, Mr. Salaheddin presented a news and current events programme on Salahaddin TV. He was killed by a bomb placed under his car in his home city of Tikrit on 2 April.

"His killing is not only a crime against an individual, but also against the universally recognized human right of freedom of expression," Irina Bokova stated in a <"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/director_general_condemns_murder_of_iraqi_tv_journalist_kamiran_salaheddin/">news release.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

IRAQI LEADERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES, UN ENVOY STRESSES

IRAQI LEADERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES, UN ENVOY STRESSES

The top United Nations envoy to Iraq today underscored the need for the country's leaders to work together to resolve outstanding issues, including the holding of a national dialogue, disputed internal boundaries and the human rights situation.

Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), told the Security Council that the withdrawal of United States armed forces in December 2011 and the recent hosting by Iraq of the League of Arab States Summit were important recent developments for the country.

At the same time, domestic political issues and the potential fallout from regional crises, including the one in Syria, "continue to pose obstacles for Iraq as it marches on the road to full recovery," <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/sc10604.doc.htm">stated Mr. Kobler.

"The continued delays in convening the national conference underscore the urgent need for Iraqi leaders to summon the requisite political will and courage to work together to solve the country's problems through an inclusive dialogue," he added.

In his latest report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the need to tackle outstanding issues to achieve national reconciliation, warning that if they are not addressed in a meaningful way, through an inclusive dialogue, they could lead to renewed political tensions and adversely impact the security situation.

In this context, he said the national conference proposed by President Jalal Talabani could provide "an important opportunity" to bring the current stalemate to an end and set in motion a dialogue that could address outstanding political differences. "I urge all concerned to redouble their efforts to make this conference a success and ensure that it is held in a spirit of inclusiveness, compromise and partnership, within the framework of the Constitution," he stated.

Mr. Kobler reported in his briefing that until today there was no agreement on an agenda for such a conference. "An inclusive forum, however, is needed as a first step to end the political impasse. I call upon all Iraqi leaders to sit together to address all their differences in a meaningful way."

He also highlighted specific concerns about human rights in the country in terms of civilian casualties, gender-based violence and the situations of minorities and internally displaced persons. He noted in particular that Iraq's political situation is heightening communal tensions and leading to an increase in the number of attacks on civilians.

The envoy also welcomed several developments, including the recent steps taken by Iraq and Kuwait to normalize their relations and to resolve all remaining issues, and the endorsement by the Council of Representatives of the commissioners to serve on Iraq's first independent High Commission for Human Rights.

In a related development, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called for an investigation into the murder of Iraqi TV presenter Kamiran Salaheddin.

A journalist in his mid-30s and father of two, Mr. Salaheddin presented a news and current events programme on Salahaddin TV. He was killed by a bomb placed under his car in his home city of Tikrit on 2 April.

"His killing is not only a crime against an individual, but also against the universally recognized human right of freedom of expression," Irina Bokova stated in a <"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/director_general_condemns_murder_of_iraqi_tv_journalist_kamiran_salaheddin/">news release.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA’S SAHEL REGION

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA'S SAHEL REGION

Senior United Nations officials today made impassioned appeals to the international community to make more resources available to assist millions of people affected by the severe food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, cautioning that global inaction could lead to a humanitarian disaster.

"We are appealing, all of us, for an end to global indifference that we have found so far," said Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), at a joint news conference in Geneva with his counterparts from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"I know that there is a certain fatigue. I have read comments in blogs and elsewhere that 'here we go again; once more a famine; once more African children are dying; once more there is an appeal for help.'

"By acting vigorously and properly now, we can head off future crises… by building now in this crisis, health systems, community nutrition centres, more water bore holes… we can build capacity for the future," he said.

Mr. Lake, who had just returned from a visit to Chad, noted that of the estimated 15 million people affected by the drought and conflict-related crisis in the region, about 1.5 million are children who face the prospect of severe acute malnutrition.

"I was in a town called Mao in central Chad a few days ago and visited a nutrition centre and they reported that admission rates at the nutritional centre for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are already higher than at any point in last year's lean season.

"This could be very bad and we are now across the region entering the so-called lean season, when families are drawing down the grains that they were able to harvest last year, but these families are in particular peril because in the drought of 2010 they had already sold off livestock, taking their kids out of school… therefore they are in a weakened position for this year's crisis," said Mr. Lake.

He said UNICEF and partners have been ramping up their response, but needed to accelerate the relief effort further.

UN agencies and partners last December appealed for $724 million to fund the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Sahel, but only 50 per cent of that funding requirement has so far been received, Mr. Lake said.

"To those who are fatigued, we would say that people and children, of course, are not simply statistics. All these are families fighting courageously in circumstances that few of us can imagine," he said.

He spoke of meeting Fatuma, a young girl in a tent in Chad, who the previous week was among other children who were on the verge of death. "As I spoke to her mother I kept thinking about this not only being a life saved, but this is a whole future that was saved."

"Let's not look at them as objects of pity and charity, let's look at them as people we need to support in their brave struggle for survival," he said. He stressed that taking action immediately will be more cost-effective than waiting for the situation to deteriorate further.

"In the earthquake in Haiti, and even in the floods of Pakistan, the international community had very little warning. So we had to react as quickly as we could, but almost by definition we were always going to be too late.

"Here we've warnings for the last few months. Here we are working to try to stop it from getting worse. Some day there will be no excuse for looking back and saying why did we not do more, more quickly," said Mr. Lake.

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said the situation in the Sahel was the result of the combined effects of drought, food insecurity, water scarcity, environmental degradation and conflict.

An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced by the political upheaval in Mali, half of the number internally. Some 48,000 sought refuge in Mauritania, 28,000 in Niger and 32,000 in Burkina Faso. A few thousand have gone to Algeria.

"The truth is that there is very little attention to the crisis in the Sahel," said Mr. Guterres. "Most of the focus of the international community has been on the Syrian crisis."

He said that too much attention was also paid to the coup and the military situation in Mali at the expense of humanitarian needs, and urged the international community to show solidarity with people in neighbouring countries who are sharing their meagre resources with the Malian refugees. "The response of the international community is very, very insufficient," he said.

Describing the food and nutrition situation in the Sahel as a public health crisis, Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO, urged the world to turn the situation into a window of opportunity to improve conditions there.

"We need to ask ourselves, can we turn this peril into an opportunity? That is why we would like to bring this crisis to the attention of the international community," she said.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA’S SAHEL REGION

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA'S SAHEL REGION

Senior United Nations officials today made impassioned appeals to the international community to make more resources available to assist millions of people affected by the severe food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, cautioning that global inaction could lead to a humanitarian disaster.

"We are appealing, all of us, for an end to global indifference that we have found so far," said Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), at a joint news conference in Geneva with his counterparts from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"I know that there is a certain fatigue. I have read comments in blogs and elsewhere that 'here we go again; once more a famine; once more African children are dying; once more there is an appeal for help.'

"By acting vigorously and properly now, we can head off future crises… by building now in this crisis, health systems, community nutrition centres, more water bore holes… we can build capacity for the future," he said.

Mr. Lake, who had just returned from a visit to Chad, noted that of the estimated 15 million people affected by the drought and conflict-related crisis in the region, about 1.5 million are children who face the prospect of severe acute malnutrition.

"I was in a town called Mao in central Chad a few days ago and visited a nutrition centre and they reported that admission rates at the nutritional centre for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are already higher than at any point in last year's lean season.

"This could be very bad and we are now across the region entering the so-called lean season, when families are drawing down the grains that they were able to harvest last year, but these families are in particular peril because in the drought of 2010 they had already sold off livestock, taking their kids out of school… therefore they are in a weakened position for this year's crisis," said Mr. Lake.

He said UNICEF and partners have been ramping up their response, but needed to accelerate the relief effort further.

UN agencies and partners last December appealed for $724 million to fund the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Sahel, but only 50 per cent of that funding requirement has so far been received, Mr. Lake said.

"To those who are fatigued, we would say that people and children, of course, are not simply statistics. All these are families fighting courageously in circumstances that few of us can imagine," he said.

He spoke of meeting Fatuma, a young girl in a tent in Chad, who the previous week was among other children who were on the verge of death. "As I spoke to her mother I kept thinking about this not only being a life saved, but this is a whole future that was saved."

"Let's not look at them as objects of pity and charity, let's look at them as people we need to support in their brave struggle for survival," he said. He stressed that taking action immediately will be more cost-effective than waiting for the situation to deteriorate further.

"In the earthquake in Haiti, and even in the floods of Pakistan, the international community had very little warning. So we had to react as quickly as we could, but almost by definition we were always going to be too late.

"Here we've warnings for the last few months. Here we are working to try to stop it from getting worse. Some day there will be no excuse for looking back and saying why did we not do more, more quickly," said Mr. Lake.

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said the situation in the Sahel was the result of the combined effects of drought, food insecurity, water scarcity, environmental degradation and conflict.

An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced by the political upheaval in Mali, half of the number internally. Some 48,000 sought refuge in Mauritania, 28,000 in Niger and 32,000 in Burkina Faso. A few thousand have gone to Algeria.

"The truth is that there is very little attention to the crisis in the Sahel," said Mr. Guterres. "Most of the focus of the international community has been on the Syrian crisis."

He said that too much attention was also paid to the coup and the military situation in Mali at the expense of humanitarian needs, and urged the international community to show solidarity with people in neighbouring countries who are sharing their meagre resources with the Malian refugees. "The response of the international community is very, very insufficient," he said.

Describing the food and nutrition situation in the Sahel as a public health crisis, Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO, urged the world to turn the situation into a window of opportunity to improve conditions there.

"We need to ask ourselves, can we turn this peril into an opportunity? That is why we would like to bring this crisis to the attention of the international community," she said.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

LIBYA: NO DEATHS OR INJURIES REPORTED AFTER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THROWN AT UN CONVOY

LIBYA: NO DEATHS OR INJURIES REPORTED AFTER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THROWN AT UN CONVOY

No one was hurt today when an explosive device was thrown at a United Nations convoy travelling through the Libyan city of Benghazi, a spokesperson for the world body said.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. local time, according to Hua Jiang, spokesperson for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The convoy was carrying the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Ian Martin, who was in Benghazi for various engagements.

"Luckily nobody was hurt but the SRSG cut short his visit and has returned to Tripoli," Ms. Jiang told UN Radio.

She added that it is not known who the perpetrators were.

"The matter now is handled by the local authorities. As far as we understand, an investigation has been launched," said Ms. Jiang.

Among Mr. Martin's activities in Benghazi was an address at the University of Benghazi, where he spoke about issues related to UN assistance to Libya in its democratic transition, including the electoral process, public security and human rights.

UNSMIL was established by the Security Council last year to assist the North African nation in its post-conflict efforts following the toppling of the regime of Muammar Al-Qadhafi.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA’S SAHEL REGION

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA'S SAHEL REGION

Senior United Nations officials today made impassioned appeals to the international community to make more resources available to assist millions of people affected by the severe food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, cautioning that global inaction could lead to a humanitarian disaster.

"We are appealing, all of us, for an end to global indifference that we have found so far," said Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), at a joint news conference in Geneva with his counterparts from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"I know that there is a certain fatigue. I have read comments in blogs and elsewhere that 'here we go again; once more a famine; once more African children are dying; once more there is an appeal for help.'

"By acting vigorously and properly now, we can head off future crises… by building now in this crisis, health systems, community nutrition centres, more water bore holes… we can build capacity for the future," he said.

Mr. Lake, who had just returned from a visit to Chad, noted that of the estimated 15 million people affected by the drought and conflict-related crisis in the region, about 1.5 million are children who face the prospect of severe acute malnutrition.

"I was in a town called Mao in central Chad a few days ago and visited a nutrition centre and they reported that admission rates at the nutritional centre for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are already higher than at any point in last year's lean season.

"This could be very bad and we are now across the region entering the so-called lean season, when families are drawing down the grains that they were able to harvest last year, but these families are in particular peril because in the drought of 2010 they had already sold off livestock, taking their kids out of school… therefore they are in a weakened position for this year's crisis," said Mr. Lake.

He said UNICEF and partners have been ramping up their response, but needed to accelerate the relief effort further.

UN agencies and partners last December appealed for $724 million to fund the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Sahel, but only 50 per cent of that funding requirement has so far been received, Mr. Lake said.

"To those who are fatigued, we would say that people and children, of course, are not simply statistics. All these are families fighting courageously in circumstances that few of us can imagine," he said.

He spoke of meeting Fatuma, a young girl in a tent in Chad, who the previous week was among other children who were on the verge of death. "As I spoke to her mother I kept thinking about this not only being a life saved, but this is a whole future that was saved."

"Let's not look at them as objects of pity and charity, let's look at them as people we need to support in their brave struggle for survival," he said. He stressed that taking action immediately will be more cost-effective than waiting for the situation to deteriorate further.

"In the earthquake in Haiti, and even in the floods of Pakistan, the international community had very little warning. So we had to react as quickly as we could, but almost by definition we were always going to be too late.

"Here we've warnings for the last few months. Here we are working to try to stop it from getting worse. Some day there will be no excuse for looking back and saying why did we not do more, more quickly," said Mr. Lake.

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said the situation in the Sahel was the result of the combined effects of drought, food insecurity, water scarcity, environmental degradation and conflict.

An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced by the political upheaval in Mali, half of the number internally. Some 48,000 sought refuge in Mauritania, 28,000 in Niger and 32,000 in Burkina Faso. A few thousand have gone to Algeria.

"The truth is that there is very little attention to the crisis in the Sahel," said Mr. Guterres. "Most of the focus of the international community has been on the Syrian crisis."

He said that too much attention was also paid to the coup and the military situation in Mali at the expense of humanitarian needs, and urged the international community to show solidarity with people in neighbouring countries who are sharing their meagre resources with the Malian refugees. "The response of the international community is very, very insufficient," he said.

Describing the food and nutrition situation in the Sahel as a public health crisis, Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO, urged the world to turn the situation into a window of opportunity to improve conditions there.

"We need to ask ourselves, can we turn this peril into an opportunity? That is why we would like to bring this crisis to the attention of the international community," she said.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA’S SAHEL REGION

UN WARNS LACK OF FUNDS THREATENS RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS IN AFRICA'S SAHEL REGION

Senior United Nations officials today made impassioned appeals to the international community to make more resources available to assist millions of people affected by the severe food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, cautioning that global inaction could lead to a humanitarian disaster.

"We are appealing, all of us, for an end to global indifference that we have found so far," said Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), at a joint news conference in Geneva with his counterparts from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"I know that there is a certain fatigue. I have read comments in blogs and elsewhere that 'here we go again; once more a famine; once more African children are dying; once more there is an appeal for help.'

"By acting vigorously and properly now, we can head off future crises… by building now in this crisis, health systems, community nutrition centres, more water bore holes… we can build capacity for the future," he said.

Mr. Lake, who had just returned from a visit to Chad, noted that of the estimated 15 million people affected by the drought and conflict-related crisis in the region, about 1.5 million are children who face the prospect of severe acute malnutrition.

"I was in a town called Mao in central Chad a few days ago and visited a nutrition centre and they reported that admission rates at the nutritional centre for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are already higher than at any point in last year's lean season.

"This could be very bad and we are now across the region entering the so-called lean season, when families are drawing down the grains that they were able to harvest last year, but these families are in particular peril because in the drought of 2010 they had already sold off livestock, taking their kids out of school… therefore they are in a weakened position for this year's crisis," said Mr. Lake.

He said UNICEF and partners have been ramping up their response, but needed to accelerate the relief effort further.

UN agencies and partners last December appealed for $724 million to fund the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Sahel, but only 50 per cent of that funding requirement has so far been received, Mr. Lake said.

"To those who are fatigued, we would say that people and children, of course, are not simply statistics. All these are families fighting courageously in circumstances that few of us can imagine," he said.

He spoke of meeting Fatuma, a young girl in a tent in Chad, who the previous week was among other children who were on the verge of death. "As I spoke to her mother I kept thinking about this not only being a life saved, but this is a whole future that was saved."

"Let's not look at them as objects of pity and charity, let's look at them as people we need to support in their brave struggle for survival," he said. He stressed that taking action immediately will be more cost-effective than waiting for the situation to deteriorate further.

"In the earthquake in Haiti, and even in the floods of Pakistan, the international community had very little warning. So we had to react as quickly as we could, but almost by definition we were always going to be too late.

"Here we've warnings for the last few months. Here we are working to try to stop it from getting worse. Some day there will be no excuse for looking back and saying why did we not do more, more quickly," said Mr. Lake.

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said the situation in the Sahel was the result of the combined effects of drought, food insecurity, water scarcity, environmental degradation and conflict.

An estimated 250,000 people have been displaced by the political upheaval in Mali, half of the number internally. Some 48,000 sought refuge in Mauritania, 28,000 in Niger and 32,000 in Burkina Faso. A few thousand have gone to Algeria.

"The truth is that there is very little attention to the crisis in the Sahel," said Mr. Guterres. "Most of the focus of the international community has been on the Syrian crisis."

He said that too much attention was also paid to the coup and the military situation in Mali at the expense of humanitarian needs, and urged the international community to show solidarity with people in neighbouring countries who are sharing their meagre resources with the Malian refugees. "The response of the international community is very, very insufficient," he said.

Describing the food and nutrition situation in the Sahel as a public health crisis, Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO, urged the world to turn the situation into a window of opportunity to improve conditions there.

"We need to ask ourselves, can we turn this peril into an opportunity? That is why we would like to bring this crisis to the attention of the international community," she said.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

LIBYA: NO DEATHS OR INJURIES REPORTED AFTER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THROWN AT UN CONVOY

LIBYA: NO DEATHS OR INJURIES REPORTED AFTER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THROWN AT UN CONVOY

No one was hurt today when an explosive device was thrown at a United Nations convoy travelling through the Libyan city of Benghazi, a spokesperson for the world body said.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. local time, according to Hua Jiang, spokesperson for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The convoy was carrying the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Ian Martin, who was in Benghazi for various engagements.

"Luckily nobody was hurt but the SRSG cut short his visit and has returned to Tripoli," Ms. Jiang told UN Radio.

She added that it is not known who the perpetrators were.

"The matter now is handled by the local authorities. As far as we understand, an investigation has been launched," said Ms. Jiang.

Among Mr. Martin's activities in Benghazi was an address at the University of Benghazi, where he spoke about issues related to UN assistance to Libya in its democratic transition, including the electoral process, public security and human rights.

UNSMIL was established by the Security Council last year to assist the North African nation in its post-conflict efforts following the toppling of the regime of Muammar Al-Qadhafi.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

BAN CONDEMNS LATEST ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN SYRIA

BAN CONDEMNS LATEST ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN SYRIA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the latest escalation of violence in Syria despite the Government's commitments to withdraw troops, and called on authorities to immediately cease all military action against the Syrian people.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson last night, Mr. Ban deplored "the assault by the Syrian authorities against innocent civilians, including women and children, despite the commitments by the Government of Syria to cease all use of heavy weapons in population centres."

On Monday, the Syrian Government informed the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan, that it would complete the withdrawal of troops by 10 April. However, Mr. Ban stressed that this timeline, as endorsed by the Security Council, "is not an excuse for continued killing," adding that this violates the consensus position of the Council for a peaceful politic
al settlement to the crisis to be ushered in by the full implementation of Mr. Annan's six-point proposal.

"The Secretary-General demands that the Government of Syria immediately and unconditionally cease all military actions against the Syrian people. He reiterates that it is the responsibility of the Syrian authorities to now deliver on what they have promised, and to implement, fully and unconditionally, all the commitments under the six-point plan of Joint Special Envoy Annan," the statement said.

Yesterday Mr. Annan told the General Assembly that, as agreed with the Syrian authorities, a UN team had arrived in the country to start technical preparations for the potential deployment of observers to monitor a cessation of armed violence, and the full implementation of his six-point peace plan.

Mr. Annan's proposal, which was submitted during his visit to Damascus last month, seeks to stop the violence and the killing, give access to humanitarian agencies, release detainees, and
kick-start an inclusive political dialogue.

In a telephone conversation last night, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu informed Mr. Ban about the stream of refugees arriving in Turkey, with Mr. Ban expressing his grave concern at the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, which is now affecting more than one million people.

"The Syrian authorities remain fully accountable for grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. These must stop at once," Mr. Ban said.

The UN estimates that more than 8,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed, and tens of thousands have been displaced since the protests in Syria -- part of the broader Arab Spring movement across North Africa and the Middle East -- began in March last year.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

SOUTH SUDAN: AS CIVILIAN DISARMAMENT TAKES PLACE, UN URGES RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

SOUTH SUDAN: AS CIVILIAN DISARMAMENT TAKES PLACE, UN URGES RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today urged South Sudanese security forces to ensure human rights are respected as the civilian disarmament process takes place in the country's Jonglei state.

While the disarmament process has largely been peaceful and orderly, there have been reports of human rights violations in a number of disarmament locations, UNMISS said in a news release.

"We are very concerned about these reports of human rights violations during disarmament and have conveyed this to the Government," said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to South Sudan, Hilde F. Johnson.

"We are nevertheless encouraged by the actions taken to make sure that the alleged perpetrators are held to account. UNMISS will be closely monitoring the follow-up to these incidents. Those responsible must be brought to justice," she said.

The reported v
iolations include alleged beatings, mistreatment and harassment of civilians when security forces have conducted house-to-house searches. There have also been cases of civilians arbitrarily detained, abuse in detention, and a few reported individual cases of sexual violence and individuals being shot.

UNMISS stated that the reports indicate that the human rights violations seem to be individual and random cases rather than systematic, but stressed that conducting the disarmament process in a peaceful manner is vital to end the cycle of violence in Jonglei. "This is even more important now that the process moves into a more challenging phase," said Ms. Johnson.

As part of its human rights and protection mandate, UNMISS is monitoring the disarmament process. So far, more than 27 monitoring missions have been conducted by UNMISS across the state.

>From its monitoring to date, UNMISS said that, overall, the process has largely been orderly. "I welcome the Government of South Sudan's le
adership and effort in this regard, and call for continued restraint," Ms. Johnson said, adding that UNMISS will continue to closely monitor the situation.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

UN COMMITTEE HEARS PROPOSALS ON THE ISSUE OF PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

UN COMMITTEE HEARS PROPOSALS ON THE ISSUE OF PALESTINIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

The head of a United Nations committee on Palestinian rights said today that it had heard the indignation of the world concerning the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centres.

The chair of the General Assembly's Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Abdou Salam Diallo, said that international law must be respected, noting that the committee had reaffirmed the right of Israel to live in security. Indiscriminate attacks against Israeli civilians must stop.

The Committee chair was speaking at the close of the International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, which aimed to raise awareness on the situation of Palestinian political prisoners and at mobilizing the international community to bring this issue to a solution by ensuring the prisoners' release and reintegration into society.

International law must be respected, Mr. Diallo said in his remarks, adding that the Committee reaffirmed the right of Israel to live in security and attacks against Israeli civilians must cease.

He added that international initiatives at the diplomatic level, together with civil society organizations' initiatives, would surely lead to improvement of the situation of Palestinian prisoners.

The two-day meeting in Geneva covered three thematic areas: the legal and humanitarian aspects of the arrests and detentions; the legal status of Palestinian prisoners under international law; and Palestinian political prisoners in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian political process.

Proposed measures to address the issue of Palestinian political prisoners included the use of existing remedial mechanisms, such as requesting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the issue of prisoners of war status, and the adoption of a General Assembly resolution on the issue.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

LIBYA: UN MISSION VOICES CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN NORTH-WESTERN TOWNS

LIBYA: UN MISSION VOICES CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN NORTH-WESTERN TOWNS

The United Nations mission in Libya today expressed deep concern over the recent intensification of violence in three towns in the north-west and deplored reports of a growing number of casualties.

The UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) urged parties involved in the fighting around the towns of Zuwara, al-Jumail and Regdalin to immediately cease hostilities while talks continue, and welcomed efforts by authorities and local leaders to broker a ceasefire and restore calm.

"The Libyan people sacrificed their lives to secure their freedom for a new, democratic Libya for all its citizens," said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Ian Martin, in a press release. "I call on all parties to recall this sacrifice and resolve their differences without resort to the use of force."

The latest clashes around Zuwara, coming on the heels of fighting in the south, underline the need for the authorities to accelerate efforts to build strong security institutions, including the integration of revolutionary fighters and the collection of heavy weapons from members of the public, the UNSMIL statement said.

The mission added that the clashes were a legacy of four decades of autocratic rule, stressing the need for all members of the Libyan society to recognize the need to work towards reconciliation.

Briefing the Security Council in January, Mr. Martin said security remains a major concern in Libya. Clashes in different parts of the country highlighted the risks associated with the abundance of weapons and the diverse armed "brigades" operating with unclear lines of command and control.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM PARABLE OF SURATUL SPIDER

What can we learn from the parable of - The Spider?

The word "Parable" comes from Greek and means "comparison". Parables are told in the Quran to illustrate a lesson from a religions point of view and to convey a moral wisdom. It is a teaching method that makes it easier to understand and to remember deep truths in an effective way. This kind of profound meaning can only be understood by those who seek true knowledge and attains it by the Grace of Allah.  One great comparison is mentioned in Chapter 29, Al Ankabut - The Spider. To get an in-depth view, the chapter also narrates the stories of Qarun, Firaun and Haman from the period of Musa's  Prophet hood. These were all tyrant people who oppressed the Children of Israel and committed great sins.  Click HERE to read full article.

--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo

SYRIA INFORMS UN-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY OF COMMITMENT TO TROOP WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE

SYRIA INFORMS UN-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY OF COMMITMENT TO TROOP WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE

The Syrian Government has informed the lead international envoy dealing with the crisis in that country that it will complete the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from population centres by 10 April, the President of the United Nations Security Council said today.

The Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan, briefed the Council via video-link in a closed-door session, telling the 15-member body that he was informed of Syria's decision in a letter he received yesterday from the country's foreign minister.

"Mr. Annan said he wished that he had this confirmation of action sooner," Ambassador Susan Rice of the United States, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council for this month, told reporters after the session.

Nonetheless, "he urged the Government of Syria to start immediately and to ensure that forces move no further into population centres," she said. "And as he related, that commitment was provided by the Syrian authorities."

Mr. Annan was appointed Joint Special Envoy earlier this year to try to resolve the crisis in Syria, where more than 8,000 civilians have been killed since March 2011 when a popular uprising began.

When he was in Damascus last month, Mr. Annan put forward a six-point proposal to end the crisis that seeks to stop the violence and the killing, give access to humanitarian agencies, release detainees, and kick-start an inclusive political dialogue.

Ms. Rice noted that Syria's commitment to complete the cessation of all forward deployment and use of heavy weapons, as well as its withdrawal from population centres, by 10 April, constitutes certain steps of that plan.

At the Friends of Syria meeting that took place in Turkey yesterday, Mr. Annan's deputy, Nasser Al-Kidwa, had constructive exchanges with the opposition to urge them to cease their operations within 48 hours of a complete cessation of Government hostilities, Ms. Rice reported.

She said the Joint Special Envoy said he is expecting details from the Syrian Government very shortly on the other aspects of his plan, including key requests for humanitarian access, the two-hour daily humanitarian pause, as well as access for the media and the political process.

In addition, a team from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), joined by some of Mr. Annan's staff, will travel again to Syria this week to continue preparations for a potential "monitoring and supervisory mission" of the UN.

"Mr. Annan asked the Security Council to support the April 10 deadline and, given the urgency of the situation, to begin consideration of a potential UN monitoring mission," said Ms. Rice, adding that the head of DPKO, Hervé Ladsous, also briefed the Council on the contingency planning for such a mission.

"All members of the Security Council expressed full support for Joint Special Envoy Annan and called for his six-point plan to be implemented immediately, including a political process leading to a transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people for democracy, a key point reiterated more than once by the Joint Special Envoy," Ms. Rice stated.

She added that some Council members expressed concern that the Syrian Government not use the next days to intensify the violence and expressed "some scepticism about the bona fides of the Government" in this regard.

"But in general, Council members expressed a willingness to consider Mr. Annan's plan for a monitoring mission if indeed a cessation of violence is achieved," she said.



--
Ahmed Hassan Arwo