Africa 

First Person: Caught in the crossfire in Sudan

At the same time, UN agencies are also helping to provide emergency relief support, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), whose Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) aims at assisting refugees and third country nationals who are desperately trying to flee fighting by escaping to neighbouring countries. Sudan’s national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary unit, have been… Read More
Africa 

Midwives scramble to ensure safe deliveries amid violence in Sudan

“Health facilities and hospitals should be safe havens in times of crisis,” the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said on Saturday, condemning an attack on a hospital in Khartoum. Laila Baker, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) regional director, said pregnant women in capital city are facing perilous conditions. “We are acutely concerned,” she said. “There is no way we can monitor… Read More
Africa 

UN chief calls for bolstered efforts to end violence in Great Lakes region

“It is time to end the violence,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, held in Bujumbura, Burundi. Since the resurgence of the M23 armed group in DRC in 2021, more than 500,000 people have… Read More
Africa 

First Person: The young leader bringing clean power to Tanzanian villages

Mr. Kawago is the founder and Chief Technical Officer of WAGA, a company which produces solar lamps, power banks and mini-power walls, to help rural dwellers access off-grid clean and affordable energy for lighting and power solutions, and urban dwellers to cope with power cuts. Currently, Mr. Kawago is working with Tanzanian radio station Wasafi FM, educating over 13 million… Read More
Africa 

DR Congo: Desperate situation facing millions displaced by armed violence

The country has 6.2 million internally displaced people, while more than 1.3 million have become refugees. UNHCR said that Goma, the capital of eastern DRC’s North Kivu province, hosts over 560,000 displaced people in and around the city. Many live in spontaneous sites on the side of the road, in dire conditions, despite the efforts of humanitarian actors. Constant fear of… Read More
Africa 

WFP pauses food distribution in Ethiopia following ‘significant diversion’ of aid

“WFP takes this issue extremely seriously and will not tolerate any interference in its distribution of critical food aid to the most vulnerable women, men and children”, the agency said in a statement released on Wednesday night. The agency has already launched a comprehensive investigation, and “taken swift action to establish all the facts and further strengthen our controls.” Food… Read More
Africa 

UN and partners launch $445 million plan to ease Sudan crisis

The updates were made in a preliminary summary of the Regional Response Plan for Sudan, that was presented to donors in Geneva.  The funding will cover immediate support in Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic. A more detailed plan will be launched next week.  More help needed  Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, pointed… Read More