AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to food

Food Justice April 28, 2006 No comments

The right to food is a fundamental human right, however thousands of asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homelands and seeking asylum in Australia are denied the right to food by the Australian Government. Under Australias harsh refugee policies, thousands of asylum seekers are forced to live in the community on a Bridging Visa E (BVE) whilst they await the outcome of their Protection Visa Application, a visa that requires the determination of the refugee status of the applicant under section 36 of the Migration Act 1958. Bridging Visas deny asylum seekers the right to work, free or subsidized Government-sponsored medical services (Medicare), and access to income. Read more about AUSTRALIA: Asylum seekers denied the right to food …

UPDATE (Pakistan): Violence imminent over Lyari Expressway construction in Karachi

Food Justice April 10, 2006 No comments

As reported in our January appeal (HA-01-2006) the Lyari Expressway, which will be 16 kilometres long and is expected to bring in Rs. 400 million of revenue, was originally proposed to alleviate several problems including the erosion of the Lyari riverbeds and traffic congestion in the area. But at what cost? Owing to the construction of the expressway, thousands of people have already been forcibly evicted from their homes, with few having received appropriate alternative living arrangements or compensation for their loss. As a result, thousands have been forced onto the streets without adequate food, shelter, heating or water. Read more about UPDATE (Pakistan): Violence imminent over Lyari Expressway construction in Karachi …

UPDATE (India): More starvation deaths, more lies in Murshidabad, West Bengal

Food Justice March 31, 2006 No comments

Mr. Jayram Singh, from the Pakurdiar Village, had been suffering from severe malnutrition and was in critical condition when his wife, Ms. Bisni Mal, died in late January from starvation. His son, Bhadu Singh, had been away from the home when Bisni passed away. Bhadu returned home a few days later to find his father rapidly deteriorating in health. In an attempt to get help for his father, Bhadu approached the Block Development Office (BDO) in Jalangi and the head of the village administration for some food assistance and a Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card. However, he received no help and his father died from the lack of food three days later. Read more about UPDATE (India): More starvation deaths, more lies in Murshidabad, West Bengal …

INDIA: Starving Musahar community face exploitation in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

Food Justice March 5, 2006 No comments

The AHRC requests that you to write letters to the local administration, asking them to immediately address the hunger concerns of this community and ensure that all assistance schemes are functioning to prevent further starvation deaths from occurring. Moreover, persons, police officers and other concerned government authorities who have been found to be exploiting and torturing villagers of the Musahar community must be charged and punished. Read more about INDIA: Starving Musahar community face exploitation in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh …

INDIA: New eviction case in the name of road expansion, West Bengal

Food Justice February 15, 2006 No comments

The State government of West Bengal is to commence a road expansion project funded by the Central Government. The planned project involves the widening of 21 kilometers along Budge-Budge Trunk Road, located in the South 24 Paraganas district. Several thousand families currently live along this road and the expansion will mean the destruction of their homes and lives. District administration is currently sketching a plan to evict the families who have resided beside the road for many decades. However, no proposals for resettlement or compensation for the victims has been included in the eviction plan. Read more about INDIA: New eviction case in the name of road expansion, West Bengal …

UPDATE (India): River erosion continues to swallow lives and livelihoods in Jalangi, MurshidabadUPDATE (India): River erosion continues to swallow lives and livelihoods in Jalangi, Murshidabad

Food Justice February 3, 2006 No comments

In late January, a mass petition was signed by 95 people living in Dayarampur village who had protested against the lack of government action to halt the erosion of the Padma River. The petition suggested that the government plan to build a 1.5 kilometre embankment, from Dayarampur to Taltali villages, will yield no beneficial result in halting the erosion as such a small embankment will be washed away during the coming monsoon season. Currently, the river has eroded 18 kilometres of river bank, encroaching 10 kilometres into the village of Dayarampur. The government plan also fails to consider the other villages affected by the erosion, such as Sitanagar, Undayanagar, Suryanagar, and others. Read more about UPDATE (India): River erosion continues to swallow lives and livelihoods in Jalangi, MurshidabadUPDATE (India): River erosion continues to swallow lives and livelihoods in Jalangi, Murshidabad …

UPDATE (India): Basic assistance provided by government insufficient in maintaining the livelihoods of indigenous quarry workers in Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh

Food Justice February 1, 2006 No comments

On September 24, 2005 the District Magistrate (DM) of Mirzapur, Mr. Umesh Kumar Mittal, and the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) visited the Kodwari village, under direction from the National Human Rights Commission, to meet with the victims and discuss their concerns. Soon after their visit, 95 AAY (Anthyodaya Anna Yojana) cards, given to families living below the poverty line, and 10 Annapurna cards (ration cards for senior citizens) were distributed among the villagers. Twenty-five families were also given Rs. 800 each to build houses and two families were promised Rs. 5,000 in compensation. The village was also visited by the Circle Officer and SHO (Station House Officer) of Police. Subsequently, after their visit, the Public Distribution Shops in the area were reviewed and the shops are now open regularly, finally providing rations to those who have cards. Read more about UPDATE (India): Basic assistance provided by government insufficient in maintaining the livelihoods of indigenous quarry workers in Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh …

PAKISTAN: City government forces eviction leaving thousands homeless and without food in Karachi

Food Justice January 25, 2006 No comments

On January 2, 2006, several police officers and Karachi City Government officials renewed demolitions to make way for the Lyari Expressway Project. Until January 11, several communities lying adjacent to each other in parts of the Rehmatya Colony endured the continuous demolition of over 2,000 homes. The destruction was at times brutal as screaming men, women and children watched bulldozers rip apart their homes. Police and city officials were reportedly laughing and abusing the victims while they ran to salvage whatever could be saved from the rubble. They were also armed with tear gas, batons and used force to ensure that no objections or protests would occur. Read more about PAKISTAN: City government forces eviction leaving thousands homeless and without food in Karachi …

PHILIPPINES: Infant dies of severe malnutrition and a hunger related disease in General Santos City, Mindanao

Food Justice December 29, 2005 No comments

HUNGER ALERT HUNGER ALERT HUNGER ALERT HUNGER ALERT HUNGER ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM 29 September 2005 ———————————————————————- HA-26-2005: PHILIPPINES: Infant dies of severe malnutrition and a hunger related disease in General Santos City, Mindanao PHILIPPINES: Hunger related death; severe malnutrition ———————————————————————- Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes toContinue Reading PHILIPPINES: Infant dies of severe malnutrition and a hunger related disease in General Santos City, Mindanao

UPDATE (India): Government action inadequate in providing rehabilitation to displaced hunger victims and continued starvation death in Murshidabad, West Bengal

Food Justice November 11, 2005 No comments

In late October, it was reported to the AHRC that the block administration of Murshidabad had proposed a rehabilitation programme for displaced hunger victims from the Dayarampur, Parashpur and Taltali villages who currently have no land or means to provide for their livelihoods due to the Padma River erosion. In the middle of the Padma River lies an island, a piece of land made by the river itself many years ago, that was given to landless tillers in 1974 by the governor of West Bengal under the West Bengal Land Reform Act 1955. The government has now proposed that the displaced villagers from Jalangi be relocated to this piece of land. Read more about UPDATE (India): Government action inadequate in providing rehabilitation to displaced hunger victims and continued starvation death in Murshidabad, West Bengal …