Geneva, Thursday 15 March 2018

Humanitarian access has deteriorated in seven countries over the past six months, according to the Humanitarian Access Overview report released today by ACAPS.

Out of the 37 countries included in the report, nearly half of them (18) are currently facing high humanitarian access constraints. Moderate humanitarian access constraints are an issue in nine countries and ten present low humanitarian access constraints.

“We are deeply concerned that in countries such as Myanmar and Mali that are already facing significant humanitarian challenges, it has become more difficult to operate. This means that even more people in need do not have access to critical humanitarian assistance” said Lars Peter Nissen, ACAPS Director.

This bi-annual analysis is the second released by ACAPS. The first publication was released in August 2017. What has changed in six months?

In comparison with the situation six months ago:

• Humanitarian access situation has deteriorated in 7 countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Turkey.

• Although some countries are categorised as ‘no change’ over six months, there may have been fluctuations during this period.

• Myanmar is the country where humanitarian access has deteriorated the most, as access for the Rohingya population has become increasingly difficult.

• In Cameroon, curfews, check-points and violence constrain access in the Anglophone regions where the security situation has worsened over the past six months.

• In Libya, insecurity deteriorated in 2017 and early 2018 when direct attacks against UNSMIL and abductions of humanitarian workers were reported in Southern and Eastern part of the country.

• In Mali, violence has been increasing and movement has become more restricted. Over 130 incidents against humanitarian workers were reported in 2017, more than double the previous year.

• In Pakistan, in the second half of 2017 over 20 INGOs had their permissions revoked, deteriorating the operating environment.

• Humanitarian access situation has improved in one country: The Republic of Congo where the end of hostilities in Pool department following the 23 December ceasefire point to improving humanitarian access.