UN and partners launch emergency appeal to address severe drought in Malawi
In March, the Government declared a state of emergency in 23 of the southeast African nation’s 28 districts amidst severe El Niño conditions. The current El Niño weather pattern is occurring against the backdrop of recurrent disaster and climate shocks,…
Sudan war: Nearly 26 million going hungry due to rising food prices, access challenges
“To give you an example, that is equivalent to the entire population of Australia,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists attending his daily briefing in New York. He said OCHA “continues to be extremely alarmed by the worsening food situation in…
Attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso force thousands into neighbouring Niger
In an alert, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that previous attacks in recent weeks along Burkina Faso’s border with Niger had already led to a “surge” of displaced people into the Nigerien city of Téra, Tillabéri region, despite the…
South Africa presses to maintain preferred trade status with US
Johannesburg — Some members of the U.S. Congress have called for South Africa to be excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a U.S. program that grants duty-free access to the enormous U.S. market for many South African exports….
Stories from the UN Archive: Meet the first Black President of South Africa
When Mr. Mandela addressed the Assembly in October 1994, he received a hero’s welcome. History was unfolding as he took his place on the dais in the white leather chair reserved for Heads of State and Government. Cheers erupted as…
Airlines rush to get back on track after global tech disruption
Transportation providers, businesses and governments on Saturday are rushing to get all their systems back online after long disruptions following a widespread technology outage. The biggest continuing impact has been on air travel. Carriers canceled thousands of flights on Friday…
African aviation conference ends with pledges to improve travel
Moki Edwin Kindzeka — Participants in Africa-Indian Ocean Aviation Week this week in Libreville, Gabon, say they’ve produced a plan to make continentwide improvements to aviation development and safety. Some 350 representatives from 180 countries attended AFI Aviation Week, which…
Sudan aid obstacles impact lifesaving relief effort
In an alert, WFP expressed deep concern about “the escalation of fighting” in Sudan’s Sennar State. More than 136,000 people have already fled their homes, many for the second or third time since the conflict started. To date, the UN…
Recent outages highlight need for stronger African internet
Nairobi, Kenya — Experts say Africa needs to invest in robust infrastructure if the continent is to have reliable internet after recent outages due to underwater cable failures highlighted the continent’s reliance on single-path connectivity. Disruptions in March and May…
Human Rights abuses in CAR detention centres need urgent response: UN experts
The report highlights torture of inmates, ill-treatment, arbitrary and illegal arrest and detention, malnutrition and poor healthcare. Thousands are being held in overcrowded facilities across CAR with little access to basics like food, water, sanitation and healthcare. This alarming situation is…