Ivory Coast sets up mobile enrollment for problematic health coverage program
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Health authorities in Ivory Coast launched mobile enrollment centers for the country’s universal health coverage program, which has been criticized since its 2019 inception over difficulties accessing benefits. Ivory Coast is one of a handful countries…
2 dead in Kenya youth protests
Nairobi, Kenya — A 21-year-old man died after being hit by a tear gas canister during protests in Kenya this week, a human rights official and the victim’s relative said Saturday, in the second fatality in connection with the youth-led…
African leaders, French president seek vaccines for Africa
African leaders and French President Emmanuel Macron have partnered on an approximately $1-billion project to make vaccines more available in Africa after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed global inequity in vaccine access. The project, known as the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator,…
Libya: UN official highlights need for inclusive talks to end stalemate
Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Stephanie Koury added that many Libyans have deep concerns, which she shares, about the de facto division of the country. Rival administrations have evolved, one led by the internationally recognized Government of National…
WFP increases response in West and Central Africa to address rising hunger
The programme will aid the response plans of national governments in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria. With the right amount of funding, WFP’s initiative can reach 12 million people, but with diminishing resources…
‘Nowhere is safe’ for civilians as Sudan war descends further into chaos
The war that erupted last April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered political instability, a severe humanitarian emergency and widespread human rights violations. Over 15,500 fatalities have been reported in some…
INTERVIEW: Sustainable energy offers ‘hope’ in fight against desertification and land loss
Mr. Thiaw spoke to UN News ahead of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked annually on 17 June Ibrahim Thiaw: Desertification is happening at the local level as much as it is global. Unless we address this…
Respiratory diseases plague Kenya as more people burn wood to save money
NAIROBI, Kenya — Piles of firewood surrounded Jane Muthoni in her kitchen made of iron sheets. The roof, walls and wooden pillars were covered in soot. As she blew on the flame for tea, the 65-year-old was engulfed in smoke….
Report: Highly potent opioids now show up in drug users in Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria — Traces of highly potent opioids known as nitazenes have for the first time been found to be consumed by people who use drugs in Africa, according to a report released Wednesday by the Global Initiative Against Transnational…
Climate change fuels tensions in Nigeria
Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Mohamed Malick Fall highlighted the worrying impact of climate change. The country is witnessing climate-related shocks which are triggering displacement and driving conflict, he…