The Humanitarian Update is a monthly publication from UN OCHA's Regional Office in Dubai, reporting on the main humanitarian events in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. For more information on Iraq or OPT, please visit www.ochairaq.org and www.ochaopt.org
H1N1 - "Swine Flu"
As of 05 July 2009, 454 laboratory-confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) infection have been reported to WHO by 17 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region; Bahrain (15), Egypt (78), Islamic Republic of Iran (1), Iraq (12), Jordan (23), Kuwait (35), Lebanon (49), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1), Morocco (17), Oman (4), Palestine (60), Qatar (23), Saudi Arabia (114), Syrian Arab Republic (1), Tunisia (5), United Arab Emirates (8), Yemen (8). There are no reported deaths from any country in the Region.
World Refugee Day
Several countries in the MENACA region marked xxWorld Refugee Day on 20 June. In Yemen, a series of events were held, including photographic exhibitions and musical performances, in acknowledgement of the rights and dignity of refugees. United Nations organizations working in Iraq called for a focus on the communities hit hardest by displacement and violence to restore jobs and services and create conditions for voluntary, dignified and sustainable return. Since the height of Iraq's civil unrest in February 2006, more than 1.6 million people are estimated to have been internally displaced, constituting the world's third largest internally displaced population. The UN expresses its appreciation to Iraq's neighbours for continuing to host Iraqi refugees, most of whom are located in Jordan and Syria and for the support and access to services that have been provided to them so far.