Africa 

Niger joins crucial UN transboundary water-sharing accord

The development comes ahead of the UN water summit in New York next month, where countries will gather to find solutions to tensions caused by water scarcity. ‘Decisive step’ Niger’s decision to accede to the Water Convention is a “decisive step” for the region since it gives Lake Chad – whose volume has shrunk by more than 90 per cent since 1963 – full legal… Read More
Africa 

In Niger, UN deputy chief highlights power of partnership to forge schools for the future

Amina Mohammed was visiting the École Pays-Bas, in a suburb of the capital Niamey, which less than two years ago, burned to the ground, after the straw it was made from caught fire, amid searing temperatures and a suspected electrical wiring fault. A total of 21 children died in the inferno – nine boys, and 12 girls – mostly pre-schoolers.… Read More
Africa 

Refugee agency appeals for $137 million to help displaced in Horn of Africa

Today in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, more than eight million people require food assistance and around 332,000 “urgently need food, otherwise their lives are at risk”, said UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado. A full eight in 10 of the displaced are women and children, the UNHCR official continued, while UN migration agency, IOM, warned that failed rains and conflict in Somalia, “could force tens… Read More
Africa 

Solidarity, leadership and commitment needed to reach 2030 development goals: Mohammed

As the continent weathers the full impact of fallouts from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the war in Ukraine, she underscored the need for greater action to achieve UN and African Union roadmaps that promise an inclusive and sustainable future for all.  Countries off track  “At the mid-point of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 we are… Read More
Africa 

Libya: Bathily proposes election support body, as public frustration mounts

“The political process remains protracted and falls short of the aspirations of Libyans, who seek to elect their leaders and reinvigorate their political institutions,” said Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Representative for Libya and head of the UN’s political mission in the country, known as UNSMIL. “In short, Libyans are impatient,” he stressed, noting that they are widely questioning the will and… Read More
Africa 

From the Field: Weathering climate change in Sudan

Women farmers in Sudan are being encouraged to take a more active role in their communities. The livelihood of many farming families is under threat due to the cumulative effects of conflict, economic and political instability, coupled with increased water consumption from population growth and agricultural development; climate change is the latest threat. Women in Sudan’s southern White Nile State,… Read More
Africa 

Early action saves lives, as Tropical Cyclone Freddy hits Mozambique

Accurate early warnings and early action on the ground helped limit loss of life over the course of the cyclone, UN officials said. UN agencies delivered a host of supplies ahead of the approaching cyclone and are providing assistance to those in need. Currently, strong winds and high seas are threatening Mozambique with dangerous and exceptional rainfall levels. Critical preparations… Read More
Africa 

DR Congo: Senior UN rights official calls on authorities to stop ‘appalling’ violence

The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris, concluding a 10-day visit to the country on Wednesday, reported a resurgence of attacks by armed groups and the devastating toll on communities alongside the need for action. “The violence must stop,” she said, encouraging authorities to redouble their efforts to counter rising hatred and implement targeted initiatives to promote… Read More