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| United Nations launches record $6.5-billion aid appeal for Syria - Los Angeles Times Posted: 16 Dec 2013 08:51 AM PST BEIRUT—With the Syrian humanitarian crisis worsening amid mounting fears of starvation and illness, the United Nations on Monday launched a drive for about $6.5 billion in aid, described as the largest amount ever sought for a single emergency. Speaking in Geneva, U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, who recently returned from a trip to Syria and Lebanon, cited the plight of "millions of Syrians who are displaced and in urgent need of food, shelter and healthcare both inside the country and across the region." Aid agencies are seeking donations from governments, private organizations and individuals. Last week saw the region's first severe seasonal storm, bringing snow and sub-freezing temperatures and dramatizing the plight of multitudes living in precarious circumstances as the Syrian conflict enters its third winter. PHOTOS: Rare snow blankets Middle East If the war continues, the number of Syrian refugees is expected to almost double during 2014, to more than 4 million, according to U.N. estimates. Most refugees have resettled in neighboring nations, including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, where the massive influx has taxed resources and aggravated social and political tensions. Inside Syria, the U.N. says more than 9 million people — more than a third of the population — are in need of assistance, including many forced from their homes by clashes, bombardments and threats. The 2 1/2-year-old conflict has caused a near-collapse of many basic services inside Syria, especially in contested zones and areas controlled by anti-government rebels. Relief groups say aid is often held up at Syria's borders or never reaches needy people living in battle zones and besieged communities. Syria recently experienced its first cases of polio since 1999, an alarming outbreak that has spurred a massive campaign to vaccinate more than 23 million children region-wide against the crippling disease. Basic medical items such as antibiotics, painkillers and gauze are in short supply in many areas, said the International Rescue Committee, a New York-based aid group. In addition, the group said Syria is now confronting a food crisis, with the cost of staples such as bread skyrocketing and limited access to clean water in many areas. "Starvation is now threatening large parts of the Syrian population," the group's president, David Miliband, said in a statement. "With polio on the loose and sub-zero weather already here, the people of Syria now face months of more death and despair. We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe that is receiving far too little attention and funding around the world." ALSO: China state media posts images from moon rover Heavy rain and snow cause deaths, evacuations in Middle East As Mandela's home village prepares for funeral, some are left out Twitter: @mcdneville |
| Harvard bomb scare cancels exams, evacuates buildings - Boston.com Posted: 16 Dec 2013 08:30 AM PST CAMBRIDGE — The evacuation at Harvard University this morning was triggered by an e-mail that warned explosives had been planted in four buildings at the heart of the storied campus, according to a law enforcement official. At 10:40 a.m., authorities reported that no explosive devices had been found in the Sever, Emerson, and Thayer halls, as well as the Science Center, although they stressed that the search was continuing by police from at least five different agencies assisted by bomb-sniffing dogs. "As of the writing of this message the report remains unconfirmed and the HUPD [Harvard University Police Department] has no reason to believe there is a threat to any other site on campus,'' Harvard posted on the emergency page on its website. Emerson and Sever are buildings that contain lecture halls, while Thayer is a freshman dorm. All are located inside the ancient Harvard Yard section of the campus. The Science Center stands just outside the Yard. According to the school's academic calendar, final exams are scheduled for this week for undergraduates. College officials said they were working to identify and reschedule exams that were scheduled for this morning in the buildings. Officials also plan to make an announcement about afternoon exams as soon as possible, a university spokesman said in an e-mail. President Obama was briefed this morning at the events taking place at his alma mater, a White House official said. Obama attended Harvard Law School, which has its own campus near the Science Center and the Yard. "We continue to encourage the public to follow directions from the local officials. The White House will remain in touch with our federal, state and local partners and the President will continue to receive briefings as needed," the official said. Nathan Pflueger, a graduate student, had just arrived at his office at the Science Center when the alarm went off, prompting a mass exodus. Police immediately told people it would be a while before the building would reopen. "My guess is someone is trying to cause mischief during finals week," said Pflueger. The alarm went off at 9:05 a.m., he said, just after exams were handed out. Rescheduling the exams will create many difficulties, he said. "It's going to be chaos," he said Police closed streets in the area, then reopened some. Shortly before noon, Cambridge police reported that Oxford Street at Everett Street, Quincy Street at Broadway, Kirkland Street at Quincy, remained closed. "We are certainly still actively engaged in looking, but we are opening a couple of streets up," said Cambridge Police Deputy Superintendent Steven DeMarco. Harvard alerted its students with text messages at 9:08 a..m. and then posted alerts on its Web pages shortly after 9:33 a.m. that required everyone to evacuate the four impacted buildings. Visiting scholar Chung Hao was puzzled when he arrived at the Science Center. "Excuse me, do you know what's going on with the Science Center?" asked Hao, who has an office in the building. Told that police were searching for possible explosives, he replied, "Never mind. I take one day off." Ben Forman, an employee at the Harvard Book Store on Massachusetts Avenue across from the Yard, said in a telephone interview that the atmosphere around Harvard's campus was not that tense this morning as police swept through the area. "It looks pretty relaxed out there, actually," he said. "There is a gate closed into the Yard, but it's not panicked." Bomb squad and other officers from the State Police, MBTA Transit Police, and the Cambridge, Boston, and university police responded to the campus, officials said. Cambridge firefighters are also at the scene. According to MBTA spokeswoman Kelly Smith, Red Line service has not been disrupted, but bus Routes 1, 68 and 69 are being diverted. Transit Police swept the Harvard Square subway station, but nothing was found, Smith said late this morning. © Copyright 2013 Globe Newspaper Company. |
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