fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Beyond windows.
By: Hannah Brincat
Tags: Thoughts, Windows, People

It started when I was quite young.

I remember being in the car with my uncle and playing this game where we’d watch people and make up stories about their lives.

Stories about their families and their jobs. Stories about anything and everything.

I never stopped doing that. I always found myself wondering what other people’s stories were. What made them the people they are.

As I grew older I found myself wondering what lies behind windows. I remember being at my own window, and thinking, for minutes on end, about all the lives that lie behind the windows in front of me. The hardships and battles the people behind them may be facing. The destructive or brilliant love they feel. The loneliness. The hate. The passion and the pain.

All of it, I remember thinking about all of it.

The more I thought, the smaller I felt. It never felt like insignificance, it felt more like being humbled. Humbled by the number of people that must exist, who are stronger than I am. Who’ve faced hardships harder than my own. Who’ve come out on top after every battle and those who haven’t. The number of people who must need help and simply never find it and the ones who are so terribly afraid of telling the people they love exactly who they are when they’re alone.

It feels like a sea full of waves. Crashing into each other, but never really becoming one.

I started to think of each person as a possibility. Either a possibility for bettering myself or the inevitable opposite. For, each person offers something. It might be a possibility for you to learn or to grow, to spiral, to hurt or to love. We miss out on so much because of fear. Because we’re terrified of knowing what’s beyond that one particular window that always catches our eye. The window that shines a bright blue hue. The window that’s always been there but we’ve always chose to look past. The window that holds behind it, the person who might be waiting for you, in particular, to open it and realise that they too have been looking past windows rather than into them.
WinDirStat review: Free up disk space in your computer manually
Tags: Windows, Software, Windirstat, Free Up Disk Space, Restore Disk Space

Restore vanishing Hard Disk space on Windows

WinDirStat, weird name right? Not really, welcome to the nerds and geeks world — Windows Directory Statistics. Hi, readers… been a long time. Allow me to wish you the Happiest New Year 2019. Now back to our today’s app/software review.

Restoring or getting space from your desktop or laptop’s hard disk can be very stressful, especially and even if you have a bigger capacity internal storage you also need to take care of your machine. Be stressed no more, WinDirStat is probably the best free disk space analyzer tool you can find that can fully sort you out.

Related Post: How to free up space on your Android phone or Tablet

WinDirStat is a free and open-source graphical disk usage analyzer for Microsoft Windows or in simple terms, its a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Windows Operating System. It is notable for presenting a sub-tree view with disk use percentage alongside a usage-sorted list of file extensions that is interactively integrated with a colorful graphical display (a treemap).

Continue reading: WinDirStat review: Free up disk space in your computer manually
Get installed/enabled Windows Features
Tags: Windows, Powershell, Microsoft, Featured, Windows Server

First you need to Import the ServerManager Module, then list the Modules:

PS C:\> Import-Module ServerManager

PS C:\> Get-WindowsFeature | Where-Object {$_.Installed -match “True”} | Select-Object -Property Name Name

—-

File-Services

FS-FileServer

Web-Server

Web-WebServer

Web-Common-Http

Web-Static-Content

Web-Default-Doc

Web-Dir-Browsing

Web-Http-Errors

Web-App-Dev

Web-Asp-Net

Web-Net-Ext

Web-ISAPI-Ext

Web-ISAPI-Filter

Web-Health

Web-Http-Logging

Web-Log-Libraries

Web-Request-Monitor

Web-Http-Tracing

Web-Custom-Logging

Web-Security

Web-Windows-Auth

Web-Digest-Auth

Web-Client-Auth

Web-Cert-Auth

Web-Filtering

Web-Performance

Web-Stat-Compression

Web-Mgmt-Tools

Web-Mgmt-Console

NET-Framework

NET-Framework-Core

RSAT

RSAT-Role-Tools

RSAT-Web-Server

Telnet-Client

PowerShell-ISE PS C:\>

Next, if you want to redirect the output to a file add a pipe and out-file to the above command/call

PS C:\> Get-WindowsFeature | Where-Object {$_.Installed -match “True”} | Select-Object -Property Name | Out-File C:\Temp\WindowsFeatures.txt

To ‘clone’ another server/add exactly the same feature-set to another Server, simple add Add-WindowsFeature in front of every Feature. it should look like that:
If your Windows wakes up at night
By: Vit Tertiumnon
Tags: Windows, Pstools

Solution 1

It’s really annoying when you wake up from the sound of turning on of your PC. I tried to set some options in Windows but with no results.

My last hope was an Internet and I found this solution:

Try to understand why is so happening:

powercfg -waketimers

You’ll see something like that:

Timer set by [SERVICE] \Device\HarddiskVolume2\Windows\System32\svchost.exe (SystemEventsBroker) expires at 7:26:28 PM on 11/29/2019.

Reason: Windows will execute 'NT TASK\Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Backup Scan' scheduled task that requested waking the computer.

Timer set by [PROCESS] \Device\HarddiskVolume2\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe expires at 7:26:28 PM on 11/29/2019.

In my case it was “\UpdateOrchestrator\Backup Scan”. And my next steps were:

Download PSTools.

Extract files.

Use a command-line in extracted directory to disable this disgusting service:

.\PsExec.exe -s schtasks /change /tn "\Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Backup Scan" /DISABLE

Solution 2

In the moment after your computer was awaked run:

powercfg /lastwake

You’ll see a name of device.

Go to Device Manager: Win + R, then print and press “OK”:

devmgmt.msc

Find the device and in it’s properties click the “Power Management” and untick “Allow this device to wake up the computer” and click OK.
TunesBro WinGeeker — Another Choice for Password Reset
Tags: PC, Windows, Software

Honestly speaking, forgetting Windows administrator password is not a big deal these days considering a person has numerous accounts with passwords that are hard to remember. Lots of people choose to format the computer to access it again which is a viable solution but with a lethal drawback of erasing everything from their primary hard disk. That’s right, thousands of data, pictures, documents, etc. are gone just like that.

But now, you can use TunesBro WinGeeker. It is an effective and life-saving Windows administrator password recovery program that not only resets the password of your PC but totally destroys the login screen so that you can access your PC without inputting any password at all. In addition, it allows you to make a password reset disk of your own so that you can reset your computer password whenever you forget it.

How does TunesBro WinGeeker work

You will be required to have a different Windows computer in which you can install the program to make the password reset disk. After having the spare computer with you.

Click here to read the step-by-step process of how you can use TunesBro WinGeeker.
Sharing keyboard & mouse across devices
By: Vishal Raj
Tags: Windows, Keyboard, Linux Tutorial, Mac, Sharing

As programmer, I often juggle between multiple computer systems, for various purpose. Personally, I own a Macbook Air, a Linux desktop and a Windows laptop from my office. Quite often I am juggling between all the three machines, moving my hands from one keyboard to another, a tedious and boring task. So I was googling for how to share single keyboard & mouse across devices. There were several paid solutions, but I was looking for a free and open source solution. That’s when I found out BARRIER.

The fantastic part about BARRIER is that it is available for Linux, Mac & Windows and can work across the combination of the OS. So, here is the procedure to setup BARRIER.

Visit the Github BARRIER page — https://github.com/debauchee/barrier

Based on the operating systems on your machines, download the appropriate versions and run the installer. If you are using Linux, use snap

sudo apt-get install snap snapd -y

sudo snap install barrier

Logout and login again

Start barrier first on the machine from where you want to share the mouse & keyboard. Choose to run barrier as server. It might take a while to boot up.

Now start Barrier on the machine(s) where you want to use the shared keyboard & mouse and click start. It will take a while for barrier to connect with server. First it will ask for confirmation about verification of the server finger print. Allow it.

The important thing to remember is that Screen name plays an important role here. Go back to Barrier server and click on configure. From the right top corner, drag the icon to the desired position in the grid. Rename the newly dropped icon to the same name as of the client. Save the settings and click reload for server.

When the client(s) are connected to the server, you see a connection successful notification. Wallah, now you can use the keyboard & mouse from your server device across the mesh of devices.

That’s all folks.

EDIT: The clipboard is shared across the devices.
Is It Worth Getting Windows 10 Pro?
Tags: Windows, Technology, Windows 10

Most PC users who build a PC choose between the Pro or Home version of the OS. Most people just don’t care about the selection and opt for a version that’s easily available to them.

On the other hand, some users can’t just make a random selection. If you are like these users, we suggest that you consider upgrading your OS.

So, should you go for this upgrade?

You need to consider a lot of factors. First of all, you should consider your budget. If you want to upgrade directly through Microsoft, you should be ready to spend $199.99. For an average user, Windows 10 Home can meet all the needs. Therefore, they don’t need to go for an upgrade.

Generally, the Pro version is designed for the business users in particular. The reason is that it comes with a lot of features that are quite useful for business users. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Connect to your domain: Windows 10 Pro allows you connect to your school or business Domain to access network printers, servers, and other files.

Better encryption: The BitLocker offers additional security to protect your data with security management and encryption.

Remote login: With Windows 10 Pro, you can use Remote Desktop to log in to your PC even when you are away from your computer.

Virtual machines: The Pro version allows you to use virtual machines using the Hyper-V feature. Therefore, you can run multiple operating systems on your PC.

Store apps: If you upgrade, you can create a private app space in the Store so you can access company apps in a convenient manner.

At Microsoft, you can find out more about the list of features the new version offers. Aside from the features listed above, you can also enjoy support for other stuff, such as Remote Desktop, which is essential for Remote Desktop app. Aside from this, Windows 10 Pro offers support for up to 2TB of RAM unlike the Home version which can’t support more than 128GB of RAM.

At the end of the day, it is your decision to make. However, if you need a specific feature, such as remote desktop, you can achieve this purpose without spending a hundred dollars.

The takeaway

In short, if you are a business user or you need the features offered by Windows 10 Pro, we suggest that you go for the upgraded version. On the other hand, if you have a home computer that is used for basic tasks, we suggest that you stick with your existing version of Windows.

If you want to know more about Windows 10 Pro Spotkeys is the resource you should check out.

lockdown your codes now with this new softwere
Continuing to make GStreamer more Windows-friendly
By: Seungha Yang
Tags: Multimedia, Windows, Gstreamer

The long-awaited GStreamer 1.18 has finally been released!

GStreamer 1.18 includes various exciting features especially new Windows plugins: Direct3D11, Media Foundation, UWP support, DXGI desktop capture and rewrite of the WASAPI audio plugin using Windows 10 APIs.

In this blog post, I’d like to briefly talk about the future work needed to optimize GStreamer support for Windows-specific features, with a focus on the Media Foundation plugin😊

GStreamer’s Media Foundation plugin was implemented to support various hardware using modern Windows APIs. The most valuable benefit of the plugin is that it doesn’t require any hardware vendor-specific APIs because it’s a Windows standard API like DXVA2.

This means that in theory if your application uses the mediafoundation plugin, it shouldn’t need any hardware-specific code to run on a Windows 10 device, even non-desktop ones such as the XBox, HoloLens, IoT and so on.

At present the Media Foundation plugin in GStreamer does not have feature-parity with GStreamer plugins that use other vendor specific SDKs such as the Nvidia Codec SDK ( nvcodec ) or Intel Media SDK ( msdk ). The good news is that with some more work we can bridge that gap. The most important things for that are:

Direct3D integration for the Media Foundation plugin

Avoid memory copy/transfer operations between sysmem and device memory

Direct3D integration requires significant work, but zerocopy support for the Media Foundation encoder has already been merged via custom COM implementation of each IMFMediaBuffer and IMF2DBuffer interface.

Currently the Media Foundation encoder works great when being fed data by the CPU (such as from a software decoder). However, the hardware-accelerated scenario requires Direct3D awareness via a d3d11 library.

I expect that once it’s implemented, we will be a big step closer to having GStreamer’s Direct3D 11 support be at-par with the existing OpenGL (plugin & library) and Vulkan (plugin & library) support.

Contact me if you’re interested in sponsoring this work!
Helping Communities in Northern Mozambique Find Refuge From Violence
By: Usaid Saves Lives
Tags: Africa, Mozambique, Usaid, Disaster Response, Humanitarian

Since 2017, ongoing fighting in northern Mozambique has forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety. Over the last year, the violence has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, fueled by attacks from armed groups — quadrupling the number of internally displaced persons, especially in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province. Now, humanitarian groups are scrambling to meet rapidly growing needs.

John Grabowski

Shelter, in particular, has become a priority. The vast majority of people are living in cramped quarters with generous host families whose meager resources are quickly depleting. Others are staying in overcrowded temporary camps that often lack clean water, adequate hygiene facilities, and measures to ensure their safety.

A few weeks ago, I traveled to the town of Marupa in southern Cabo Delgado where our partners Catholic Relief Services and Caritas are bolstering efforts to house displaced families.

Marupa is a small town in southern Cabo Delgado, hosting nearly 700 families who have been displaced due to armed conflict. Map credit: Josh Rostek/ USAID

The Government of Mozambique recently established a resettlement site on the edge of town where nearly 700 families are living in newly constructed adobe huts. Many had travelled more than 200 miles across dangerous roads patrolled by armed groups to reach Marupa and were living in tents or public buildings, such as schools, for several months before the site’s development. Even though they now had shelter, most of these new residents had limited sources of food and income and few material possessions to start rebuilding their lives.

Some families traveled more than 200 miles to reach Marupa, where the Government of Mozambique set up a resettlement site. Photo credit: John Grabowki / USAID

At the resettlement site, I worked with CRS and Caritas to help distribute relief supplies provided by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, including tarps, blankets, water containers, and kitchen supplies to families in need.

Extra precautions were taken because of COVID-19, such as requiring people to maintain a safe distance while waiting, installing handwashing stations near distribution points, and conducting awareness-raising sessions on COVID-19 prevention measures.
May Majid: Unbroken Spirit
By: International Med. Corps
Tags: Iraq, Humanitarian, Refugees, Global Health

“It makes me sad because I know that these people are us. They are us if we’ve gone through this.” The simultaneous simplicity and wisdom of her statement startles me. The frantic struggle for survival calls forth the very best and worst in humans — and none of us are above it.

Through our mobile medical units, International Medical Corps was able to reach “many people who had nothing” with lifesaving services, especially those with chronic illnesses. But I can hear how troubled May still is, years later, by all she witnessed during the crisis. In contrast, she lights up when discussing our work today, including two multi-service centers, supported by the Government of Canada. International Medical Corps operates these centers in south central Iraq, along with primary health care centers, a mobile medical unit, and three women’s centers supported by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.

“These have the most effect on people,” she says. For people living in such harsh circumstances — crowded, hot tents barely tall enough to stand up in — the well-stocked and air-conditioned centers provide a much-needed escape and support system. One of the multi-service centers in Fallujah is named Al-Farah, which means happiness — “and it is a happy place for the women,” May enthuses.

“This is our specialty and we do it well,” says May. “Of course we always want to do more, but we are changing so much.” The multi-service centers — staffed with doctors and nurses, as well as case managers and outreach services for gender-based violence and mental health — serve as a safe space for those traumatized by pervasive violence and provide primary healthcare services. In addition, the centers offer vocational training and recreational activities, and create a critical sense of community for a population struggling with displacement and instability. “At the centers, you see the beneficiaries smiling and happy — and it makes me happy.” May says the positive energy that she gets every time she visits the centers sticks with her for a long time and keeps her going: “This is why we do it.”
Climate change threatens water supply for refugees — here’s what UNHCR is doing about it
By: Un Refugee Agency
Tags: Hygiene, Climate Change, Humanitarian, Refugees, Water

20 litres per person per day — this is the minimum amount of water UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency aims to provide for every refugee living in a refugee camp. Yet only in 43% of the camps UNHCR is able to reach this essential mark. Climate change is one of the main factors making water supply for refugees more and more challenging every day.

How do 20 litres per person per day compare? On average, an individual in the European Union consumes 128 litres of water per day. In the United States, that figure rises to over 300 litres — for every person, every day.

“Water is essential to survive, but it is also so much more,” Eva Barrenberg, Associate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) officer with UNHCR explains. “It is used for drinking and cooking — so that people don’t get sick –, for cleaning and showering, to go to the bathroom, but also to grow plants or animals.”

An individual in the European Union consumes 128 litres of water per day. In the United States, it’s over 300 litres.

It also helps restore refugees’ dignity. “People don’t want to smell bad, they feel uncomfortable. Especially women, when they are menstruating, they want to be able to clean themselves,” Barrenberg adds.

UNHCR has 130 staff working in WASH programmes — only 16% of which are women — spread across the globe, both in camps and urban settings, ensuring that refugees have access to clean water, but also that waterborne diseases like diarrhea or typhoid don’t spread and that basic hygiene needs are met by building sanitation infrastructure like latrines and showers.

“Providing water is not an act of charity, but a fulfillment of a human right.”

“There’s no stronger contribution to improving the life and ensuring the survival of people than water, sanitation and hygiene work,” says Barrenberg, who is very passionate about her work. The job involves engineering skills, but also public health knowledge and lots of social collaboration.

Not having access to water puts people’s lives at risk. “Providing water is not an act of charity, but a fulfillment of a human right,” she says. “It’s just as important as political and civil rights.”

Climate change is making the work of WASH officers increasingly harder. Sometimes it is the lack of water, like in the devastating drought affecting the Chad Lake Basin region; other times, it is the excess of it, like the monsoon rains in Bangladesh. Here’s how UNHCR is working to address those challenges.
Women Who Lead the Way in International Disaster Response
By: Usaid Saves Lives
Tags: Womens Day, Humanitarian, World, Women, Leadership

As the manager of USAID’s Ebola Response Management Team for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cara Christie has her hands full leading a team of more than 15 people who are working to help contain the second largest Ebola outbreak in history.

Cara is no stranger to the fight against Ebola. In 2015, she led USAID’s D.C.-based response team for the West Africa Ebola outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people. She has also led other high-profile responses, heading the USAID Horn of Africa Drought response team that was named a 2013 finalist for one of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals — or “Sammies” — also known as the Oscars for Public Service.

While Cara is a veteran of more than a dozen USAID responses, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake and 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, the Ebola outbreak in DRC poses unique challenges. For one, the outbreak is unfolding in a war zone, and intensified fighting have made it more difficult to stop the spread of the disease. To make matters worse, widespread mistrust has fueled misconceptions about the disease, including beliefs that Ebola was created to wipe out populations or extort money from people.

“This Ebola outbreak is taking place in an area with a long history of insecurity, where communities have multiple needs and priorities, many of which are unrelated to Ebola,” Cara said. “But the U.S. has amazing experts and partners on the ground to help stop the spread of the disease, using lessons learned from previous outbreaks, as well as a new Ebola vaccine.”

Despite these challenges, Cara remains committed to her job of coordinating the U.S. government’s humanitarian response to this outbreak, which includes leveraging the disaster and health expertise from USAID and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in support of the broader effort to save lives and end the outbreak.
Cyclone response takes shape in Mozambique
By: Andre Vornic
Tags: Africa, Mozambique, Emergency, Disaster Response, Humanitarian

Across the three nations, tens of thousands are known to have have lost their homes. Roads, bridges and crops have been washed away. Assessments continue, but early indications are that WFP may need to provide 500,000 people with food assistance — out of a total of 600,000 believed to be in need of help in Mozambique alone.

WFP’s warehouse in Beira was badly damaged by the cyclone, but some food remained intact. From that stock, WFP is providing fortified cereal for porridge to displaced people sheltering at 18 schools and churches — each of which can accommodate up to 1,000 people — in the city. The organization is also planning to assist displaced people sheltering in Dondo, north of Beira.

Twenty tons of high-energy biscuits have been airlifted in, to be distributed by helicopter in cut-off regions. WFP is also funding drones to support Mozambique’s disaster management agency, the INGC, with emergency mapping. To enable the humanitarian teams to operate, the WFP-led Emergency Telecommunications Cluster has set up a wi-fi connection in Beira.

Anastasia is still too upset to think of a suitable name for her baby. Photo: WFP/Deborah Nguyen

Anastasia, 29, is an early recipient of WFP food aid. The howling of the cyclone woke her up at night. She grabbed her newborn son and ran into a nearby church for refuge. WFP caught up with her at a school turned makeshift shelter. She’s yet too shaken to think of a name for her baby boy.

Cyclone Idai feeds into a harrowing cycle of flooding and drought in southern Africa: seemingly contradictory calamities may alternate or strike jointly. Aside from its emergency response, WFP and its partners continue to promote longer-term climate adaptation measures in the region, from more resilient crops to climate insurance to early warning systems.

Please help WFP save lives in Mozambique. Donate now.
5 Ways the U.S. is Responding to Cyclone Idai
By: Usaid Saves Lives
Tags: Mozambique, Disaster Response, Humanitarian, World, Natural Disasters

On March 15, Tropical Cyclone Idai — the worst natural disaster to hit southern Africa in two decades — made landfall over Mozambique, producing torrential rains and strong winds across the country, as well as in neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe. The cyclone caused catastrophic flooding, which has killed hundreds of people so far, and damaged or destroyed homes, farmland, and public infrastructure — including major roadways, bridges, and hospitals.

Map courtesy of NASA

The cyclone hit areas that were already reeling from flooding that occurred earlier this month, heightening existing humanitarian needs and leaving nearly 1.9 million people in need of assistance.

Here are five ways the United States is helping people affected by Cyclone Idai:

1. Sending a USAID Disaster Team

On March 20, USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Mozambique to coordinate U.S. response efforts, conduct damage assessments, identify priority needs, and work closely with local authorities and humanitarian organizations to provide critical assistance to people in need.

At its height, this elite team comprised 17 members, including logisticians, as well as experts in shelter, health, food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
GO in the time of COVID-19
By: Ifrc Go
Tags: Covid 19, Red Cross, Data, Humanitarian, Digital Transformation

Restless innovation, human-centred design and adaptability are at the core of the GO development approach. From the introduction of the first set of APIs allowing for data interoperability across IFRC systems, GO has demonstrated new ways to solve old problems. The platform is built from scratch using open source software and code, enabling GO to adapt to the range, unpredictability and urgency of needs from its 192 members and secretariat. The modular approach also means that a National Society can embed graphics and dashboards using whatever is their chosen software, e.g. PowerBI to Tableau.

The GO Team (as of June 2020)

So many dashboards, but who is at the steering wheel? Developers, IT specialists and user experience designers all work on the GO platform, led by the Information Management (IM) team, which defines and suggests features to meet user needs and are responsible for coding, testing, and project management. The IM team is supported by other stakeholders, including the GO advisory group which provides strategic oversight, and the GO working group, comprising National Societies, which inputs ideas, provides feedback, and mobilises resources.

The GO team meets online every couple of days to collectively share progress and find solutions. Over the past few months, the calls have been a consistent thread in a turbulent time. As COVID-19 spread across the world, members of the team shared stories of their new reality during lockdown. One developer went offline to rescue friends stranded on islands off the coast in Goa. Nepalese colleagues reported seeing Mt Everest for the first time in living memory.

We’re proud of the improvements we’ve made to GO during this crisis. Continued iteration around the use of field reports as a means for situation and activity reporting, adding a new resources page with multi-language user videos, enhanced navigational and content organisational features and enhancing search functionality, as well as the launch of the GO 3w have all been prompted directly from the needs of users navigating to GO for information on COVID-19.

The team is working hard on a number of new, exciting features, including:
Humanity
By: Mohan Bheel
Tags: Human Rights, Poverty, Poverty Stoplight, Humanitarian, Humanity

I saw a baby girl wandering around a garbage, looking at "thrown food" and searching for life over there! I just stopped there to know that what she is going to do with her life. After a few minutes, I noticed that she had found nothing but a hopeless hope for the life. She left, may be for another garbage but the silent questions were echoing behind her disappearance. Questions that of 21st century, and questions that of HUMANITY at all!



I felt ashamed of myself, I didn’t dare to even think of being a part of this “world of science, technology, advancement”



At the end, I thought, “firstly we must be humans. Being real humans, we will be having the feelings of true love and empathy for all. It won’t make any sense that who belongs to which tribe, social class or ethnicity. We won’t come around such “man-made” identities. If we are humans, then none of these concepts will make any sense. We just would be loving and being loved everywhere, anywhere in the universe. And if we are real humans, we won’t be NON-HUMANS!
UAE among the top donors in the world to support humanitarian causes
By: Rashmi Sacher
Tags: Uae, Foreign Aid, United Nations, Humanitarian, Peace

The United Arab Emirates is known for donating generously to provide relief and development assistance around the world. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UAE is the world’s largest donor of official development aid, relative to its national income. The Arab country designated 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving’ and in that year it gave Dh19.3 billion as development aid, which comprised 1.31 per cent of its national income.

UAE’s President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said, “Foreign aid and assistance is one of the basic pillars of our foreign policy. For we believe that there is no true benefit for us from the wealth that we have unless it does not also reach those in need, wherever they may be, and regardless of their nationality or beliefs.”

UAE’s five-year strategy for Foreign Assistance (2017–2021), laid out by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, focuses on the vital role of humanitarian aid in the UAE’s overall foreign assistance to the nations all around the world. Besides aiming to promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the main goal of the nation’s aid is: (a) to reduce poverty and improve quality of life for underprivileged communities, (b) to provide political stability, and (c) to provide economic stability.

UAE, driven by the principles of humanity, follows them not only by extending aid but also by hosting the annual DIHAD summit, which discusses humanitarian issues affecting the world. The 2019 Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition, DIHAD, which ran from 12–14 March, was based on the theme ‘People on the Move’. The key objective of the 16th DIHAD summit was to raise the alarm and make the nations realise the need for providing a lasting solution to migration issues and providing better living conditions to refugees and migrants.

Though the nation is known for promoting humanitarian diplomacy, the generous donations to charities like KungFuture International show that even at individual level UAE citizens give liberally for good causes. As reported by the British charity, KungFuture International, UAE nationals have donated about $500,000 (Dh1.8 million) over the past few years to support the organisation’s work in South East Asia.

Ben Goedenian, the KungFuture’s managing director told the National that the donors seem reluctant to any form of publicity, He added, “It’s very quiet, gentle, but impactful giving. Across the board, we have government officials, ministers, and individuals who have supported us and want to remain anonymous.”
Cash and conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
By: Jacques David
Tags: Uk Aid, Eu, Humanitarian, Drc, Cash

Cash and conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bahati Mitondo spared part of the cash she received to extend her farming lands. Photo: WFP/Jacques David

Micheline Ngalara smiles as she counts money she has just received during a distribution in Djugu territory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“My village is close from here but it’s too dangerous to go back,” says Michelene — “36 were killed in January.” She adds: “Receiving cash is the smartest thing to do to help us here. I can pay for my family’s healthcare and school fees as well as food, of course.

“We once had a good life but the war spoiled everything as we get killed with machetes and guns,” says Michelene, who now lives in Loto village, 70 km from Bunia, the main town of Ituri province.

Civilians pay the price

Humanitarian crises triggered by conflict raging in eastern DRC are driving millions from their homes. Cash assistance provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) helps many people just like Michelene, sometimes also providing the opportunity to start a new life.

A total 2,600 IDPs are being assisted by WFP and its humanitarian partner, INTERSOS. Most fled fighting between armed groups and the armed forces of DRC, from December last year to January 2019.

The causes of these confrontations remain unclear but one thing is certain — it’s civilian populations who always pay the price. Villages are looted and burnt, people are raped and killed.
Where the world is most in need of humanitarian research and innovation
By: Jeannie Annan
Tags: Humanitarian, Innovation, Coronavirus, Research

Where the world is most in need of humanitarian research and innovation

With 79.5 million people displaced around the world, we were already facing an unprecedented crisis before COVID-19 hit. Already before the pandemic, crucial, life-saving interventions weren’t reaching enough people. Too many children don’t have access to quality education. And many suffer from malnutrition, likely facing irreversible damage to their physical and mental development. Pregnant women and newborns are dying of preventable causes at alarming rates in crisis-affected contexts. And now, COVID-19 has taken over 1 billion children out of school worldwide, is set to double the number of people facing hunger crises, and could lead to a sharp increase in mortality for pregnant women and children.

The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic well-being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. We work in more than 40 countries, uniting rigorous research with innovative methodologies to ensure solutions are effective, impactful, and scale to the growing needs.

The Airbel Impact Lab is focusing its efforts on three key priority areas to create breakthrough solutions: treatment of acute malnutrition; last-mile education; and the health of newborns with reproductive choice for women. While the world faces many grave challenges, these are some of the most pressing issues where we can make the greatest impact. Across each of these areas, we aim to improve upon current best practice by driving new ways of working across the sector that have increased impact on people’s lives, are more efficient, and can be scaled to reach more people. While these areas were selected before COVID-19 drastically changed the world we work in, and in which our clients are living. In this new context, these areas of work are just as important as ever, as it becomes harder to reach malnourished children, children are out of school, and women and newborns face greater barriers to accessing the care they need.

Our aim is to treat nearly 3 million malnourished children with a simplified treatment protocol delivered through community health workers. Learn more.

We are developing innovative ways to provide access to quality education opportunities for the hardest-to-reach children affected by crisis, ensuring no generation is left behind. Learn more.

We can put a halt to preventable deaths by reaching women and girls in low income, conflict-affected settings with high-quality maternal and newborn health care and comprehensive reproductive health services. Learn more.
Abdul Sattar Edhi( A great Humanitarian)
By: Mawra Arif
Tags: Pakistan, Richest Poor Man, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Humanitarian, Philanthropist

Abdul Sattar Edhi( A great Humanitarian)

M other: I’m feeling unwell, do something.

Son: Edhi Ambulance is coming take us to the hospital.

A fter 30 minutes, reached at hospital, doctor said to her son, if you didn’t reach hospital on time, your mother could have expired. We have started her treatment, please submit hospital charges,otherwise we will not be responsible for any loss.The poor son was unable to bear the treatment expenses. After a lot of searching, he sat into the hospital’s parking bench seeming disappointed, then spontaneously an idea came to his mind about one Humanitarian,who could help him, he approached him and found what he needed the most. When his mother came back to her senses, she discovered all about her expenses. She just asked the name of that person, and came to know his name was Abdul Sattar Edhi.

A Great Humanitarian.

Abdul sattar edhi was not an angel, but a human, a humanitarian, ray hope for all needy people. When i was reading his biography, i thought, how he became this kinda person? Then i read about his mother, who taught him to serve humanity irregardless of cast, color or creed. He served humanity without demanding reward from them. The most supreme part of chapter no. 2 was his mother’s devotion to humankind. She used to distribute food, clothes etc. And these inherited in his son Abdul Sattar Edhi too. He led a simple life, he was the king of hearts without crown. When it comes to ambulances, shelter homes, orphanages etc. only the person came into mind is Abdul Sattar Edhi. He taught me the lesson, education isn’t a barrier to your dreams, live in the moment and make it special. His dedication, devotion and long lasting struggle made him a philanthropist. May Allah Almighty rank him higher place in Jannah.

A great Humanitarian

According to my point of view, Edhi sb's life was based on two Amal’s principles of progress.

1: Amal : His mother sent him to needy and deserving people for the distribution of food items, clothes etc. His actions made him the richest man having a lot of love and care for people. These small but indeed big actions made him , a great humanitarian.

2: Self- Learning: Self-learning is actually discovering inner peace of our mind and body. Abdul Sattar Edhi found his inner peace in serving humanity and he made it his life time commitment. So, his self-learning comes also under Amal’s principle of progress. He served people for the sake of inner peace.
“The UN organizations could not have been clearer… this lifeline is indispensable.”
By: Sophie Miller
Tags: Syria, Syrian Refugees, Humanitarian, United Nations

Syrians are still being deprived of vital, fundamental resources including basic healthcare and safe drinking water. Now, as a result of action by Russia and China, the United Nations’ resolution 2165/2449 can no longer help them.

The multi-sided Syrian civil war has continued to devastate countless Syrian people in the Northeast since its start almost a decade ago. March 2011 marked the beginning of the Syrian civil war, and the beginning of a new era in which more civilians become refugees, victims in a war they had no part in. The main conflict of the war is between the Ba’athist Syrian Arab Republic, under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and multiple allies and opposing forces both domestic and foreign. As a result of this inner civil war, or maybe as part of it, the Syrian government has implemented and enforced strict border control to prevent people from getting out — and humanitarian assistance from getting in.

In 2014, the U.N. Security Council enacted Resolution 2165/2449, enabling humanitarian assistance to people in need without requesting permission to enter the state. It was through this resolution that humanitarians were able to help refugee Syrians, since it was able to work around Syria’s strict border control and attempts at intercepting cross-border help.

However, this resolution is no longer effective as of January 10th, the result of China and Russia’s veto against the proposal to renew the agreement. While the respective countries opposed the resolution on the assertion of Syria’s capability for administering humanitarian aid to places outside of its domain, the U.N. feels strongly that intervention is desperately needed in Syria.

“Our resolve to work for the people in Syria remains unchanged,” asserts Permanent Representative of Germany Christoph Heusgen at a recent media conference addressing the ongoing crisis in Syria and the loss of Resolution 2165/2449. Alongside Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Belgium Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve reiterated the necessity for the United Nations to act soon for the sake of the Syrian people. After briefly discussing plans for a backup solution to the ongoing crisis, Heusgen emphasizes the level of importance for the “[…] compromise solution [to allow] for a review process to explore alternatives for the border crossings.”

While this recent Security Council conference and the mention of planned future action by the U.N. is somewhat relieving, the words of Pecsteen, for now, still ring frightfully true: “The UN organizations could not have been clearer… this lifeline is indispensable.”
How USAID is Adapting Humanitarian Programs to Respond to the Global COVID-19 Threat
By: Usaid Saves Lives
Tags: Global Health, Covid 19, Disaster Response, Humanitarian, World

The United States is responding to COVID-19 pandemic here at home and also supporting partner countries in their response to the disease. USAID and the State Department have pledged more than $900 million to date to combat COVID-19 in more than 120 countries around the world. This assistance will be used to care for the affected, help frontline health workers slow the spread of the disease, and equip local communities with the tools needed to fight this dangerous pathogen.

The United States is helping more than 100 countries fight this pandemic. Map credit: USAID

In addition, USAID is adapting its existing lifesaving programs to help meet the growing global COVID-19 threat. For many countries, the disease is spreading in areas already hit hard by crises, such as conflict, drought, locust swarms, and flooding. USAID’s humanitarian programs are flexible and nimble, allowing us to meet critical needs while pivoting to address new challenges caused by COVID-19. Here’s a snapshot of how we and our partners are doing that in several countries around the world.
A lifeline in the air
By: Kelechi Onyemaobi
Tags: Conflict, Covid 19, Airlines, Humanitarian, Nigeria

“Those found to have high temperatures are not permitted to fly.” And there is a good reason for that. “This is most important for helicopter flights to the deep field to avoid spreading the virus into densely populated and hard to reach areas such as IDP camps,” Walker explains.

At a time of heightened concern that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria could bring about extra demand for humanitarian and health workers to be deployed across the country, UNHAS, like other WFP-managed common services, is making contingency plans. But that would surely come at an extra cost.

Critical situation

“The funding situation is critical,” says Walker. “The air service remains the backbone of all humanitarian access, enabling UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, donors and members of the diplomatic community to reach affected populations safely and securely.”

For now, the focus is on serving the current needs. UNHAS hopes to continue effective and efficient services through its fleet of five fixed wing aircraft and four helicopters in Nigeria, including a 30-seat jet linking Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, to Maiduguri and Yola in the North East. It is a relentless machine.

UNHAS crew inspects a helicopter at Maiduguri International Airport, Borno, Nigeria. Photo: WFP/KC Nwakalor

“We hardly take down-days, public holidays, etc. due to our emergency response capacity and maintenance schedules. There is no typical day as every planned mission is subject to change at a moment’s notice”.

Since it commenced operations in Nigeria in August 2015, UNHAS has successfully transported passengers and humanitarian cargo for 108 organizations. In 2019 alone, UNHAS carried out 30 life-saving medical evacuations from the conflict-affected communities, transported over 66,000 passengers and airlifted more than 150 metric tons of cargo.