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UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visits Bern

02.06.2016 — Press release EDA
Today there are more than 60 million people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflicts and humanitarian crises. Many of them receive assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The head of the UN agency, Filippo Grandi, was received on Thursday in Bern by Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and FDFA State Secretary Yves Rossier. Mr Grandi's visit provided an occasion to take stock of the relations between Switzerland and the UNHCR and to discuss current challenges.



Aid and prospects close to home for refugees: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter visits Swiss-sponsored projects in Lebanon

24.05.2016 — Press release EDA
Having attended the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul where he discussed measures to jointly tackle violent conflict, major humanitarian challenges and the refugee crisis, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, stopped off in Lebanon. In the capital, Beirut, he visited a number of projects in a show of support for the efforts being made by Switzerland and its partner organisations to improve the future prospects of people in Lebanon. There, he spoke among other things with young people about their tough living conditions and their ideas for the future.


Switzerland supports UNDP in crisis prevention and recovery

Malawian youths pledged to ensure peaceful General Elections.

23.05.2016 — Article DEZA

The United Nations Development Programme helps countries to prevent armed conflicts and violence, and to build better and stronger societies in the aftermath of crises. Switzerland will provide additional support to its crisis prevention and recovery programs. On 23 May 2016, Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter and UNDP Administrator Helen Clark have signed a partnership agreement of CHF 13.8 million at the margins of the World Humanitarian Summit.


New aid consignment on its way to Donetsk

23.05.2016 — Press release EDA
Since 22 May 2016, two Swiss Humanitarian Aid convoys carrying chemicals for water treatment and medical goods have been on their way to the conflict zone in Ukraine. Part of the consignment, containing medical supplies and medicines, will be delivered to the hospital in Kurakhove this morning. In addition, rail transport is being used for the first time.


How Switzerland comes to the aid of people forced to flee their homes

A family in a refugee camp

20.05.2016 — Article DEZA

What action can be taken to address the ever-increasing number and duration of humanitarian crises? The SDC’s Humanitarian Aid takes measures to make the most efficient use possible of the funds at its disposal. In addition to providing emergency aid it gives priority to enabling population groups forcibly displaced by conflicts or other disasters to take their lives in their own hands in the long term. Switzerland will contribute the results of several successful experiences it has had in this field to the discussions at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23-24 May 2016 in Istanbul.


Colombian peace deal to be deposited in Switzerland

19.05.2016 — Press release EDA
The Colombian government and FARC rebels have issued a joint statement stipulating that the final agreement on ending the conflict and building sustainable and long lasting peace in Colombia is to be deposited in Switzerland. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes this statement. The FDFA has been providing specialised expertise for the negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC rebels.


Food vouchers to ensure free choice for beneficiaries and a dynamic local economy

Stefan Bumbacher, accompanied by a WFP colleague, talking with a group of displaced persons.

18.05.2016 — Article DEZA

The World Food Programme is assisting four million people in Syria – the vast majority of them internally displaced – who are struggling to find enough food to feed themselves and their families. The SDC is supporting the WFP in Syria with CHF 1.3 million in 2016 and through the secondment of technical experts, one of whom is coordinating the cash transfer programmes devised by the WFP as an alternative to the direct distribution of food.


A milestone in the battle against arsenic- and fluoride-contaminated drinking water

28.04.2016 — Press release DEZA

Over 300 million people worldwide use groundwater contaminated with arsenic or fluoride as a source of drinking water. The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) has developed a method whereby the risk of contamination in a given area can be estimated using geological, topographical and other environmental data without having to test samples from every single groundwater resource. The research group’s knowledge is now being made available free of charge on an interactive Groundwater Assessment Platform (GAP). www.gapmaps.org enables authorities, NGOs and other professionals to upload their own data and generate hazard maps for their areas of interest.


Beyond one’s own four kitchen walls – the SDC gives an insight into development cooperation

The SDC stand dedicated Benin at BEA 2016.

26.04.2016 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) invites visitors to this year's BEA (Hall 1.1) to come smell, taste and discover. In its special exhibition entitled 'Beyond one’s own four kitchen walls' it shows by way of seven examples from different continents how it contributes to the reduction of poverty and hunger, and to ecologically sound agriculture. This year's BEA will be held in Bern from 29 April to 8 May 2016.


Mehrwert Swissness – wirksame Entwicklungszusammenarbeit im Kampf gegen Malaria

25.04.2016 — Article DEZA

Seit der Jahrtausendwende gibt es im Kampf gegen Malaria zwar einige Erfolge zu verzeichnen. So konnte die Todesrate weltweit um fast die Hälfte gesenkt werden. Dennoch rafft die Krankheit nach wie vor jedes Jahr 438‘000 Menschen dahin. Der 10. Weltmalariatag am (heutigen) 25. April 2016 richtet deshalb den Fokus auf die Bedrohung, unter der auch heute noch rund die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung in über 97 Ländern zu leiden hat. Obwohl die Krankheit vermeidbar und behandelbar ist, stirbt noch immer jede zweite Minute ein Kind an Malaria. Es ist daher dringend nötig, bei aller Befriedigung über die erzielten Fortschritte auch über die bestehenden Herausforderungen und über die Zukunft bei der Bekämpfung dieser tödlichen Krankheit nachzudenken.


Switzerland completes membership of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

25.04.2016 — Press release EDA
Switzerland today deposited its ratification document to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) thereby completing the membership process. As no referendum was sought, and the deadline for doing so expired on 11 April, Switzerland will be able to participate as a full member on the Board of Governors and have access to the bank’s Board of Directors. Thanks to its swift completion of the ratification process, it will be able to participate in the institution building process.

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