PROTECTION RISKS
Over the world, armed conflict continues to be characterized by high levels of civilian deaths, injury, displacement, psychological trauma and sexual violence. Alongside such widespread protection risks, we also know that particular groups shoulder disproportionate burdens – children living through conflict for instance are at risk of being separated from their families, recruited into armed groups and denied an education. Women and girls are particularly at risk of early / forced marriage and sexual violence. Elderly and persons living with disabilities are often left behind when faced in times of emergencies, underpinned by attitudinal, institutional, physical and communication barriers in the environment.
Protection Clusters active in 31 crisis affected countries describe gender-based violence as being amongst top concerns. Attacks on civilians or infrastructures, forced displacement and abduction/ forced disappearance are occurring in 92% of operations. All operations describe psychological/emotional abuse or inflicted distress amongst the affected populations.
You can find further guidance on the Protection Analytical Framework and the Protection Analysis Updates here.
The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) regularly monitors and tracks 15 protection risks across emergencies crisis.
During the second quarter of 2023
Gender-Based Violence
- Afghanistan
- DRC
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria (WoS)
- Syria (NW)
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- CAR
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- oPt
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Pacific
- Yemen
- Philippines
- N/A
Niger saw an increased number of child marriages occurring in the localities of Torodi, Makalondi and Goroual under the threat and ultimatum of armed groups. In Haiti, gangs continued to use sexual violence, including collective rape, to terrorize, subjugate and punish the population. Other forms of sexual violence, such as sexual slavery, was also reported as being used by gangs. Women are highly exposed to GBV in Burkina Faso, especially during the search for firewood, as shown by the kidnapping of women in Arbinda in 2023. Restrictions on women and girls’ presence in the public sphere in Afghanistan coupled with the issuance of a number of decrees have pushed people to succumb to negative coping mechanisms, including forced marriage. GBV cases increased by over 200% in the drought-affected Somali region of Ethiopia. By the end of February, 74 femicide were registered in Honduras. High rates of domestic violence and femicide in Venezuela are fuelled by economic instability. A significant presence of a human trafficking network within Venezuela is reported, with victims subjected to sexual exploitation and forced labour. In Ukraine, women and girls experience increased GBV—including intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, and conflict-related sexual violence. The risk of GBV has significantly increased in Syria due to inadequate shelters in the aftermath of the earthquake. Severe drought, protracted conflict and communal violence are driving increasing levels of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia.
Attacks on Civilians and Other Unlawful Killings, Attacks on Civilian Objects
- Cameroon
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Ukraine
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- DRC
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- oPt
- Somalia
- Syria (NW)
- Afghanistan
- Colombia
- Chad
- Honduras
- Syria (WoS)
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- N/A
- Pacific
- Philippines
Violence associated with armed groups in Haiti resulted in the deaths of at least 531 people and injured 300 others since the beginning of the year. Cameroon noted an increase of attacks on schools in the first quarter of 2023 – with around 54% of schools still closed in the North-West and South-West regions (NWSW). Protection incidents continue to raise serious concerns for the protection of civilians and violation of IHL/IHRL in Myanmar, stemming primarily from artillery and mortar shelling, air and drone strikes, remote explosives/landmines, security operations, and indiscriminate attacks. More than 30 civilians were killed in an attack in Mukdolo village in Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State in Nigeria. Attacks against civilians reduced in Tigray but increased in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. 85 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli Forces in the West Bank in the first three months of the year. In Ukraine, 22,734 civilian casualties have been recorded so far: 8,490 killed and 14,244 injured. The erupting fighting in Lascanood in Somalia has led to attacks on civilian facilities, including indiscriminate shelling affecting the main hospitals, destruction of property, markets, and water points. At least 413 people have been killed in Sudan and more than 3,500 people are injured as of 20 April.
Unlawful Impediments or Restrictions to Freedom of Movement, Siege and Forced Displacement
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- oPt
- Sudan
- Syria (NW)
- Cameroon
- CAR
- DRC
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Syria (WoS)
- Yemen
- Chad
- Colombia
- Haiti
- Somalia
- Ukraine
- Pacific
- South Sudan
- Philippines
- Venezuela
Violence-related internal displacement in Haiti is on the rise, with more than 160,000 people displaced, twice as many as in 2021. In January alone, more than 15,130 people were displaced in Cameroon due to violence and targeted attacks. Between January and February 2023, more than 20,000 people were displaced in the regions of Tillabéri and Tahoua in Niger, due to the activity of non-state armed groups (NSAGs). Conflict and other threats to the safety of civilians have intensified in Myanmar, with an estimated 258,000 individuals displaced during the first quarter of 2023. In Somalia, nearly 600,000 people were internally displaced during the first quarter of 2023 – 64% due to the conflict in Lascanood and the military offensive in Galmudug and Hirshabelle. With the rains starting, some 110,000 people were displaced by floods in Bardheere, Baidoa, Dhusamareeb and Cadaado, Burtinle and Garowe, as well as in Burco districts. More than 86,000 people in NW Syria were reportedly newly displaced after the earthquake. 2 million people had to leave their homes between January 2022 and 2023 due to fighting in the East of DR Congo. Attacks by non-state armed groups forced 17,000 people to move towards Menaka town and Kidal in Mali. Increased displacement is being reported in multiple locations across Khartoum state in Sudan, as well as to Aj Jazirah, Sennar, White Nile, River Nile and Gedaref states, due to fighting and lack of basic commodities.
Abduction, Kidnapping, Disappearance, Arbitrary Arrest, Detention
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- DRC
- Haiti
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- oPt
- Somalia
- Syria (WoS)
- Ukraine
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Syria (NW)
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- Colombia
- Pacific
- Philippines
Between 1 January and 15 March 2023, at least 277 people were abducted in Haiti through gang-related incidents that took place mainly in the capital. In an unprecedented mass kidnapping, armed men abducted 66 women and children on January 12 in the district of Arbinda, in northern Burkina Faso, while women were picking leaves and wild fruits in the bush due to food shortages. Abduction of young boys and men and execution by NSAGs in NWSW region of Cameroon were reported in the first quarter of 2023. On the border strip of the Maradi region in Niger, there has been an increase in kidnappings of children against demand for ransoms by NSAGs. Abduction and kidnapping of civilians and humanitarian workers have been a tactic used by NSAG in the Northeast of Nigeria since the beginning of the conflict. The oPt is reporting daily arrests of Palestinians, including children, by Israeli Forces and a high use of administrative detention. As verified by relevant entities, serious concerns remain about the arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture or ill treatment of conflict-affected individuals, including children in Ukraine. Insecurity and incursions of NSAGs in the Lac Chad province is causing kidnappings, looting and destruction of property, recruitment of children and challenges to humanitarian access. Kidnapping for ransom, including of children, is increasingly becoming the modus operandi of armed groups in CAR.
Psychological, Emotional Abuse or Inflicted Distress
- Cameroon
- South Sudan
- Syria (WoS)
- Syria (NW)
- Ukraine
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Myanmar
- Mali
- Niger
- oPt
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- CAR
- Colombia
- DRC
- Haiti
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Honduras
- Pacific
- Philippines
- N/A
The fear of attacks on women appearing in the public sphere in Afghanistan has increased psychological distress and desperation. The population in the oPt is experiencing a severe mental health crisis. War trauma, stress and anxiety continue to impact conflict-affected individuals in Ukraine. Children, caregivers, older persons and persons with disability are mostly affected. Levels of psychological distress are very high in Syria after the earthquake and translate into signs of excessive worrying and fear, nightmares, insomnia, disorientation and recalling incidents. Crisis-affected girls and boys faced with the consequences of the drought, disease outbreak and armed conflict in Somalia are highly exposed to numerous risks, including violence, psychosocial distress and trauma, and increased child labour and forced marriage.
Impediments and/or Restrictions to Access to Legal Identity, Remedies and Justice
- Syria (NW)
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Ethiopia
- Honduras
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- oPt
- South Sudan
- Syria (WoS)
- Ukraine
- Yemen
- CAR
- Chad
- DRC
- Haiti
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Venezuela
- Colombia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pacific
- Philippines
Inadequate legal framework and law enforcement in Venezuela is leading to impunity for perpetrators and a lack of justice for survivors. Lack of legal documentation in Ukraine hampers access to government assistance and services; access to government social benefits (pension) and the ability to apply for official employment. IDPs are the group who faces most restrictions in accessing specific mechanisms to remedies/compensations for conflict related injuries. The lack of identity cards and titles of tenure is hindering access to basic rights in Ethiopia.
Presence of Mines and Other Explosive Ordnance
- Ukraine
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- CAR
- Colombia
- Ethiopia
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- South Sudan
- Somalia
- Syria (NW)
- Syria (WoS)
- Yemen
- Cameroon
- DRC
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Mali
- Philippines
- Sudan
- Chad
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Pacific
- Venezuela
Thirteen IED incidents were reported in February in Cameroon, which represents double the number from January 2023. In March, IED killed 3 children and injured 8 in the NWSW region. Explosive remnants of war (ERW) are a major impediment for returns, access to livelihood and humanitarian operation in Northern Ethiopia, with increasing number of EWR-related incidents. Landmines and UXOs contamination remain one of the main issues affecting the safety and security of conflict affected individuals in Ukraine, with high concentration in the Eastern and Southern regions. Four children were already injured and 3 injured by explosive ordnances in CAR in 2023 compared to 3 children killed and 15 injured in 2022. Explosive ordnance used in indigenous territories as result of territorial disputes between non-state armed actors in Colombia remain of concern. A larger explosive threat is spreading south to Koulikoro, Sikasso, Kayes, Ségou, Mopti in Mali. The ongoing armed conflict and the renewed military offensive in Somalia have resulted in an increase in the use of IEDs, critically endangering civilian lives and resulting in extensive injuries, often leading to amputation and subsequent disability.
Discrimination and Stigmatization, Denial of Resources, Opportunities and Services
- Afghanistan
- oPt
- Sudan
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- South Sudan
- Syria (WoS)
- Syria (NW)
- Ukraine
- CAR
- DRC
- Ethiopia
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Mali
- Somalia
- Yemen
- Colombia
- Niger
- Venezuela
- Pacific
- Philippines
In Ethiopia, IDPs have started returning to their areas of origin despite limited availability of services and opportunities at their destination. Longstanding targeted stigmatization, severe movement restrictions and discriminatory planning regimes by Israel persists in the oPt. Women face increased vulnerability and reduced access to resources and support in Venezuela due to the financial crisis. Instances of discrimination in the provision of humanitarian assistance vis a vis IDPs coming from the east of Ukraine, including newly accessible areas (previously under the control of the Russian Federation), are reported. Humanitarian access to areas not under the control of the government of Ukraine remains significantly limited and possible only via local actors registered with Russian Federation de facto authorities – increasing the risk of impartiality in service delivery. With aid agencies unable to deliver critical assistance in Sudan, and communities’ resilience severely undermined by the ongoing conflict in multiple areas, the food security situation is expected to deteriorate in the coming period. Concerns persist over moves to close displacement camps in many parts of the Myanmar, while many IDPs remain worried about safety and livelihoods opportunities in their places of origin. This reporting period has seen the impact of two decrees issued by DFA in Afghanistan restricting women and girls from public spaces and depriving them of their basic rights and opportunities. The last decree issued banning female humanitarian aid workers, not only impacted the female workers, but also deprived people of critical lifesaving services.
