Rights investigators from the UN mission in the Republic of South Sudan (Unmiss) have warned of ‘widespread human rights abuses’. Some of the most disturbing allegations were abduction and sexual abuse of women and girls, some of whom were reportedly burned alive in their dwellings. The UN said it had tried to visit the sites of atrocities described by witnesses, but was denied access by the army. Aerial photographs show the burnt circles left after huts were razed to the ground. The army has previously dismissed allegations of rights abuses. The UN’s report has been handed to government officials, who are yet to comment on its findings. Unmiss chief Ellen Margrethe Loej called for ‘unfettered access’ to investigate the reported crimes. She said, ‘Revealing the truth of what happened offers the best hope for ensuring accountability for such terrible violence and ending the cycle of impunity that allows these abuses to continue.’ See also: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/28/south-sudan-women-girls-raped-as-wages-for-government-allied-fighters
Syria: official Syrian regime request
02 Oct 2015
The Kremlin’s chief of staff Serge Ivanov confirmed that President Assad of Syria had ‘appealed to the leadership of Russia with a request for military aid.’ Russia claimed that the airstrikes which followed, on Wednesday, were against IS positions, but local Syrian sources reported that they were exclusively against anti-government rebels. Syrian Civil Defence Forces, a volunteer emergency responder organisation, reported 36 civilian casualties from the Russian airstrike in northern Homs, in addition to several civilian casualties in Hama. Although there are small IS “sympathetic” cells in the rebel-held pockets of northern Homs, this decision signals Russia’s intent to assist the Assad regime’s war effort at large, beyond anti-IS operations. See also the Europe article about Russia and military talks.
Deployment support for army families
02 Oct 2015
While soldiers are away there is a range of family welfare support available to both regular army families and to those of mobilised members of the Army Reserve. Army life means that soldiers may have to be away from their home and family on unaccompanied tours from time to time for an operational deployment, training or an assignment to a location that does not offer family support facilities such as healthcare or housing. The first point of contact for army personnel regarding any deployment issues is their Unit Welfare Officer. Families of regular army soldiers living in Service Families’ Accommodation (SFA) will normally keep their house for the whole period of an unaccompanied tour.
NHS 111 helpline 'dangerously understaffed'
02 Oct 2015
Former NHS call handler Irah Tahir said that the 111 call centre she worked at was dangerously understaffed, with 75% of calls going unanswered. Staff were under pressure and had to give medical advice when nurses were unavailable. She felt the service was completely unsafe. ‘I'm not medically trained and I wasn’t equipped to make those decisions.’ Also staff were begged to do overtime or cancel holidays because of staff shortages. Derbyshire Health United, which runs the centre, refuted the claims. The helpline began in 2010 for those needing urgent medical help or advice. If someone's illness is judged to be an emergency by the 111 team, then an ambulance can be sent out. An NHS England spokesman admitted there had been issues and ‘regional variations’ with the helpline, but said they are working to ensure these are addressed.
NHS finances
02 Oct 2015
It's nearly six months since the start of the financial year, a year that many believe financially will make or break the NHS. We don't know how hospital, mental health, ambulance and community services are shaping up. Last year foundation trusts finished the whole year with a £249 million loss. With non-foundation trusts included, this topped £800m. Trusts broke even after receiving a £250m cash injection from funding meant to be spent on buildings. The two economic regulators for the sector have not released the figures for the first quarter of April to June. A survey of a hundred finance directors by the King's Fund thinktank over the summer found that two-thirds were predicting deficits. The outlook was particularly bleak in the hospital sector, where nine in ten thought they would finish the year in the red. The NHS is the fifth largest employer in the world, with 1.7 million employees.
‘Good Lord, deliver us from successful bishops’
02 Oct 2015
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, made a courageous intervention in a sermon at the consecration of three new bishops at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday. Bishop Cottrell had this to say: ‘Good Lord, deliver us from successful bishops, from too-well-prepared or even too-well-organised bishops, from ready answer in the back pocket and PowerPoint-strategy self-sufficient, all-efficient bishops. The first job of a bishop is to be a teacher and evangelist: not a MD of CofE plc, or a safe pair of managerial hands just emerged slick and shiny from the talent pool - not even as a graduate of the latest whizzy business school offer of better-organised salvation; a storyteller, poet, theologian - a gospel person, with the good news of Christ on our lips and in our hearts, and this good news translated into the languages of the smorgasbord of cultures in which we serve.’
60% of those sentenced to less than three months in jail are reconvicted within a year. Under plans being revived by the Scottish government, minor offenders would receive community-based punishments rather than short jail terms and receive help for the causes of their offending behaviour, including drug or alcohol addictions or mental health issues. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said that although crime levels are falling, Scotland has one of the highest prison populations per capita in Western Europe. Two-thirds of those jailed in Scotland receive terms of six months or less. Mr Matheson said evidence shows short-term prison sentences are ineffective in reducing reoffending. ‘Prison will always be the right place for serious offenders who should be punished appropriately. This isn't about being 'soft' or 'tough', it is about being 'smart' and acting on the clear evidence in front of us.’
The government’s consultation on Sunday trading closed last week, but not before the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) submitted the results of a survey of close to 2,000 adults in England and Wales showing that three in five people agree that shop workers will be forced to work longer hours if the law changes. The consultation was launched in the middle of the summer, with ministers using the increase in online shopping and the demands of the tourism industry to argue for longer shopping hours. For more detailed information by the Christian Institute go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=44&v=76Qjbq7BSes