Sep132017

Nigeria: Famine averted but millions still at risk, stresses top UN relief official

United Nations

13 September 2017 – Noting important progress in delivering life-saving aid to millions in north-east Nigeria, the top United Nations humanitarian official underscored that international assistance to people suffering amid the crisis must not dwindle.

&#8220We have averted famine, but millions of people are still at risk if more international help is not forthcoming,&#8221 said Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, at the end of a two-day mission to the country.

&#8220At next week’s General Assembly in New York, I will urge world leaders to maintain their financial and political support for the Lake Chad Basin crisis, and to work with the Nigerian authorities to bring stability to the north-east,&#8221 he added.

In particular, Mr. Lowcock, also the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, noted the Nigerian Government’s leadership and coordination of relief efforts and welcomed the Vice President’s assurance to extend the Government’s own food aid programme.

He also highlighted that the international system has also rapidly scaled up and saved millions of lives, reaching two million people with food assistance every month as well as providing life-saving nutritional support to hundreds of thousands of children.

However, the humanitarian situation remains precarious.

Since the beginning of the Boko Haram conflict, more than 20,000 people have been killed, thousands of women and children abducted, many forced into displacement, and subjected to violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. In north-east Nigeria, at least 8.5 million people are dependent on humanitarian assistance.

Recalling his visit to Gwoza &#8211 a town which the Boko Haram declared capital of its territory in 2015 before Government forces took it back the same year &#8211 and meeting Fatima, a nine-year-old girl who fled with her family to the town four years ago, Mr. Lowcock said that though many towns in the region are relatively safe, more needed to be done to bring safety to the rural areas.

&#8220In the meantime, Fatima and millions of others like her will rely on humanitarian assistance,&#8221 he noted.

Mr. Lowcock travelled to Niger and Nigeria from 9-12 September, shortly after beginning his roles as the top UN relief official on 1 September.

While in the two countries, he also held meetings senior government officials, UN humanitarian agencies, international non-governmental organizations and the diplomatic community.

Sep132017

News story: Hurricane Irma: UK government response in numbers, 13 September 2017

HM Government
From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development, and Ministry of Defence
Part of:
British nationals overseas, UK Overseas Territories, Humanitarian emergencies, Anguilla, Barbados

British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands, USA, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Curaçao, and Guadeloupe

Published:
13 September 2017

Facts and figures on the UK government’s relief work in the Caribbean and the British Overseas Territories in response to Hurricane Irma.

Military

  • RFA Mounts Bay, pre-stationed in the region, provided initial assistance to Anguilla to clear the runway. It then continued to British Virgin Islands to establish security of supplies, and fix basic infrastructure and shelter to people. After travelling to US Virgin Islands to resupply, she returned to Anguilla to deliver reconstruction materials and arrived in the British Virgin Islands on Tuesday with further supplies and will be delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief on Wednesday.
  • HMS Ocean is being deployed to the region after being loaded with 5,000 hygiene kits, 10,000 buckets and 500,000 aquatabs in Gibraltar.

Aircraft

  • Over 200 personnel arrived on Tuesday 12 September, including stabilisation advisers, medical support and military.
  • Over 200 military personnel will arrive in Barbados on Wednesday 13 September
  • We have one Wildcat Helicopter with Mounts Bay and two RAF Puma aircraft currently operating in the region. Another RAF Puma helicopter and Chinook will arrive tomorrow.
  • A C-130J and A400M has been making shuttles from Barbados to required destinations across the region to deliver key support, including BVI, Turks and Caicos and Anguilla.
  • One Antonov cargo plane with supplies arrived on Tuesday 12 September.

Personnel

  • There are now 1,000 UK military troops in the region helping with the relief effort with 200 more arriving in the next few days

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff and consular expertise  

  • An FCO Rapid Deployment Team (including Red Cross support) is in the region, with a team already deployed to BVI.
  • Consular staff have been deployed to assist British nationals being evacuated from Curacao and Guadeloupe.
  • Consular teams in Cuba and the US are working closely with tour operators and local authorities to ensure British nationals are getting the support they need.
  • The dedicated crisis hotline has so far taken over 2,500 calls.

Police

  • Over 60 UK police deployed to the region, in addition to 16 Caymanian police and 6 Bermudian Police  

Aid

  • £32 million already announced for disaster relief with a further £25million committed.  
    • The government has made £2.5 million available to the Pan American Health Organisation to ensure critical health services are provided in the region, and to reduce the risk of disease spreading. This is part of the £32 million it has so far pledged.
  • UK Government will aid match public donations to the Red Cross appeal up to £3 million.
  • Department for International Development (DFID) Field Teams have been sent to the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.
  • Over 40 metric tonnes of DFID aid has now arrived and is being distributed across the region, including 2,896 shelter kits, which can provide shelter for over 14,000 people and 4,990 solar lanterns (which can provide light and power for over 20,000 people).

  • HMS Ocean has been loaded 5,000 hygiene kits, 10,000 buckets and 500,000 aquatabs, all UK aid funded.

  • nine tonnes of food and water procured locally on Monday 11 September for onward delivery. Thousands more shelter kits and buckets are on the way from UK shortly.

  • The UK has helped to distribute water bottles to 700 of the most vulnerable households affected by Hurricane Irma on the British Virgin Islands.
  • The UK government is being supported by companies in the private sector, including:
    • Thomson and Thomas Cook who have delivered over 8,000 buckets on commercial flights
    • Virgin, who offered free transport to dispatch relief items including 1776 shelter kits, to Antigua yesterday. Today (Tuesday), we expect another 288 kits to fly the same route with them.

Breakdown by Islands

British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Military

  • Royal Marines from RFA Mounts Bay have got the airfield operating so we can get more aid and personnel in.
  • Over 200 troops are on the ground – including engineers, medics and marines are working with the local police to provide security

Police

  • 16 Caymanian police and 6 Bermudian deployed to assist with security.
  • There are currently 47 UK police officers on BVI to support law and order. They arrived Monday 11 September. 7 are planned to go.

Aid

  • 5 tonnes of food and water has been transferred to the BVI.
  • 640 shelter kits are in transit via the RAF.

FCO and consular support

  • The UK has now taken responsibility for providing support to affected people – of all nationalities – in BVI. FCO media officer on the ground to support the Governor’s office. Additional 4 consular officers and 1 IT Support officer on standby

Anguilla

Military

  • RFA Mounts Bay delivered 6 tonnes of emergency aid; rebuilt and secured the Emergency Operations Centre; restored power to the hospital. Over 70 military personnel are on the ground.

Aid

  • 9 tonnes of food and water will arrive over the next 48 hours.
  • DFID has deployed a team that includes two humanitarian advisors to support relief efforts.

Consular support

  • Anguilla has not requested UK consular support.  The local government is leading on this. One IT Support officer on the ground.
  • Cayman Islands Government is arranging a 736-100 aircraft to deliver personnel and equipment (including medical equipment) to Anguilla.

Turks and Caicos

Military

  • Over 70 military personnel are on the ground.

Aid

  • DFID has deployed a field team to support relief efforts. Two humanitarian advisors are already on the island.

Consular support

  • The UK has now taken responsibility for providing support to affected people of all nationalities.
  • FCO media officer, consular officer and IT support officer on route to support the Governor’s office.

USA

Consular support

  • We are regularly updating our travel advice.
  • The Foreign Secretary has spoken to Governor of Florida Rick Scott.

Document information

Published: 13 September 2017

Sep132017

News story: Hurricane Irma: UK government response in numbers, 13 September 2017

MOD

Military

  • RFA Mounts Bay, pre-stationed in the region, provided initial assistance to Anguilla to clear the runway. It then continued to British Virgin Islands to establish security of supplies, and fix basic infrastructure and shelter to people. After travelling to US Virgin Islands to resupply, she returned to Anguilla to deliver reconstruction materials and arrived in the British Virgin Islands on Tuesday with further supplies and will be delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief on Wednesday.
  • HMS Ocean is being deployed to the region after being loaded with 5,000 hygiene kits, 10,000 buckets and 500,000 aquatabs in Gibraltar.

Aircraft

  • Over 200 personnel arrived on Tuesday 12 September, including stabilisation advisers, medical support and military.
  • Over 200 military personnel will arrive in Barbados on Wednesday 13 September
  • We have one Wildcat Helicopter with Mounts Bay and two RAF Puma aircraft currently operating in the region. Another RAF Puma helicopter and Chinook will arrive tomorrow.
  • A C-130J and A400M has been making shuttles from Barbados to required destinations across the region to deliver key support, including BVI, Turks and Caicos and Anguilla.
  • One Antonov cargo plane with supplies arrived on Tuesday 12 September.

Personnel

  • There are now 1,000 UK military troops in the region helping with the relief effort with 200 more arriving in the next few days

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff and consular expertise  

  • An FCO Rapid Deployment Team (including Red Cross support) is in the region, with a team already deployed to BVI.
  • Consular staff have been deployed to assist British nationals being evacuated from Curacao and Guadeloupe.
  • Consular teams in Cuba and the US are working closely with tour operators and local authorities to ensure British nationals are getting the support they need.
  • The dedicated crisis hotline has so far taken over 2,500 calls.

Police

  • Over 60 UK police deployed to the region, in addition to 16 Caymanian police and 6 Bermudian Police  

Aid

  • £32 million already announced for disaster relief with a further £25million committed.  
    • The government has made £2.5 million available to the Pan American Health Organisation to ensure critical health services are provided in the region, and to reduce the risk of disease spreading. This is part of the £32 million it has so far pledged.
  • UK Government will aid match public donations to the Red Cross appeal up to £3 million.
  • Department for International Development (DFID) Field Teams have been sent to the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.
  • Over 40 metric tonnes of DFID aid has now arrived and is being distributed across the region, including 2,896 shelter kits, which can provide shelter for over 14,000 people and 4,990 solar lanterns (which can provide light and power for over 20,000 people).

  • HMS Ocean has been loaded 5,000 hygiene kits, 10,000 buckets and 500,000 aquatabs, all UK aid funded.

  • nine tonnes of food and water procured locally on Monday 11 September for onward delivery. Thousands more shelter kits and buckets are on the way from UK shortly.

  • The UK has helped to distribute water bottles to 700 of the most vulnerable households affected by Hurricane Irma on the British Virgin Islands.
  • The UK government is being supported by companies in the private sector, including:
    • Thomson and Thomas Cook who have delivered over 8,000 buckets on commercial flights
    • Virgin, who offered free transport to dispatch relief items including 1776 shelter kits, to Antigua yesterday. Today (Tuesday), we expect another 288 kits to fly the same route with them.

Breakdown by Islands

British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Military

  • Royal Marines from RFA Mounts Bay have got the airfield operating so we can get more aid and personnel in.
  • Over 200 troops are on the ground – including engineers, medics and marines are working with the local police to provide security

Police

  • 16 Caymanian police and 6 Bermudian deployed to assist with security.
  • There are currently 47 UK police officers on BVI to support law and order. They arrived Monday 11 September. 7 are planned to go.

Aid

  • 5 tonnes of food and water has been transferred to the BVI.
  • 640 shelter kits are in transit via the RAF.

FCO and consular support

  • The UK has now taken responsibility for providing support to affected people – of all nationalities – in BVI.
    FCO media officer on the ground to support the Governor’s office. Additional 4 consular officers and 1 IT Support officer on standby

Anguilla

Military

  • RFA Mounts Bay delivered 6 tonnes of emergency aid; rebuilt and secured the Emergency Operations Centre; restored power to the hospital. Over 70 military personnel are on the ground.

Aid

  • 9 tonnes of food and water will arrive over the next 48 hours.
  • DFID has deployed a team that includes two humanitarian advisors to support relief efforts.

Consular support

  • Anguilla has not requested UK consular support.  The local government is leading on this. One IT Support officer on the ground.
  • Cayman Islands Government is arranging a 736-100 aircraft to deliver personnel and equipment (including medical equipment) to Anguilla.

Turks and Caicos

Military

  • Over 70 military personnel are on the ground.

Aid

  • DFID has deployed a field team to support relief efforts. Two humanitarian advisors are already on the island.

Consular support

  • The UK has now taken responsibility for providing support to affected people of all nationalities.
  • FCO media officer, consular officer and IT support officer on route to support the Governor’s office.

USA

Consular support

  • We are regularly updating our travel advice.
  • The Foreign Secretary has spoken to Governor of Florida Rick Scott.

Find out more about the government’s response to Hurricane Irma.

Sep132017

Speech: The London links between high finance and the high seas

HM Government

Thank you, it’s great to be here for the opening event of London International Shipping Week 2017.

Three hundred and thirty years ago, and just a short walk from here, an entrepreneur by the name of Edward Lloyd opened a new coffee shop.

It soon became popular with London’s maritime community; its sailors, ship-owners and merchants.

Good coffee fueled good conversation, as the patrons debated the latest shipping and maritime business news.

Edward Lloyd’s shop was a great success.

So much so that it led to the creation of Lloyd’s of London, Lloyd’s Register, and Lloyd’s List.

That’s just one example of how the City of London’s success as a financial city is interwoven with its success as a maritime city.

There are others.

The Bank of England was established so that the government could fund a new navy.

The prices in this stock exchange have long been connected to the movement of the world’s trade by sea.

Today London remains the world’s leading supplier of shipbroking services.

More vessels are insured here than from any other location in the world.

English law is applied to more shipping disputes than that of any other country, with legal services often provided by the City’s commercial law firms.

Today London provides a home to many leading maritime bodies: the International Maritime Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, the Baltic Exchange – and many more.

And 330 years on from when Edward Lloyd opened his coffee shop, the combined expertise of the Lloyd’s market and the International Underwriting Association of London, make the City the best destination in the world for insuring complex risk.

So the City of London has a maritime economy as much as it has a financial economy.

And when one grows, often so does the other.

So today (11 September 2017) I am pleased to commit to a target.

I want to more-than double the size UK fleet – the ships flying the UK flag – from the 14 million tonnes it was 2 years ago to 30 million tonnes.

I have given the UK Shipping Register the resources it needs to achieve that target.

It will be a challenge, but a worthwhile challenge.

It’ll put us back into the top 15 shipping nations on earth.

And it’ll increase the number of ships brokered here, insured here and sailing from here.

So I am thrilled to open London International Shipping Week 2017 from the London Stock Exchange.

This is the week that brings the world’s shipping home to London.

A week that makes plain the unbreakable link between the high seas and high finance.

It’s a week for London, for shipping, and for the world.

Thank you.

Sep132017

Press release: Illegal Waste Carriers to be stopped in their tracks

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have officially agreed to carry out joint operations across England to cut the transportation of illegal waste and to improve road safety.

The memorandum of understanding signed today by chief executives, Sir James Bevan and Gareth Llewellyn will see the Environment Agency and the DVSA using their combined enforcement powers to tackle the transportation of waste to illegal or poorly-performing permitted sites.

The agreement will involve:

  • DVSA staff located within EA teams to ensure a coordinated and effective approach,
  • sharing of information to increase the effectiveness of roadside enforcement on waste industry vehicles up and down the country;
  • providing enforcement teams with intelligence relating to waste industry operators
  • identifying high risk or illegal goods vehicle operators involved in waste transport
  • reducing the number of seriously and serially non-compliant waste industry vehicles on England’s roads.

The Environment Agency and DVSA have worked together for a number of years to stop waste crime, making sure companies are operating legally and vehicle safety is improved. This agreement will enable the two organisations to tackle waste crime more efficiently by intervening earlier in the waste chain and using prevention tactics.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive, Environment Agency said:

We want to protect people and communities from the impact that vehicle and waste crime can have and create a level playing field for all operators.

This Memorandum of Understanding with the DVSA will help both organisations work with the waste industry to improve compliance and vehicle and driver safety standards.

To help us with this, we are encouraging people to check with the Environment Agency if the company they are employing to take their waste away is a fully registered waste carrier.

DVSA’s Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said:

DVSA priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles. I am delighted that we will be working with the Environment Agency to tackle those who illegally transport waste. By combining our enforcement powers and intelligence we’ll be able work with those who break the rules more effectively.

DVSA traffic examiners will issue fines to those waste carriers we find to be operating in and unsafe manner. These operators are putting themselves and other road users at risk and pose a danger to our environment.

Anyone who suspects that an operator is transporting waste in an unsafe manner should report their concerns to DVSA on 0300 123 9000 or enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk.

Members of the public can check if a waste company is registered with the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 and at www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration.