WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA: Communities on the edge DAKAR, 5 February 2010 (IRIN) - Natural disasters, epidemics and political unrest deal a particularly heavy blow to communities in West and Central Africa, where people live in a “fragile” state daily, UN Children’s Fund said on 4 February. full report
How To: Track the scent of life JOHANNESBURG, 19 January 2010 (IRIN) - The best search and rescue workers have stamina, a phenomenal sense of smell, and sharp hearing - they usually also have four legs. full report
MALI: Land grab fears linger SEGOU, 2 December 2009 (IRIN) - In Mali the government has approved long-term leases for outside investors to develop more than 160,000 hectares of land. Government officials say the country could not develop its cultivable land otherwise, but local farmers say they fear being pushed out. full report
In Brief: All I want for Xmas ...is a bag of manure NAIROBI, 26 November 2009 (IRIN) - From the first goat sales about five years ago, creative NGO fundraisers have expanded a range of animal and farm-related "gifts" for sale online to benefit developing countries. full report
In Brief: World hunger increases despite growth in food production DUSHANBE, 12 November 2009 (IRIN) - Even as world food production grows, hunger is on the rise in many poor countries, according to the Global Crop Prospects and Food Situation report for November, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 12 November. full report
In Brief: Cash does not always mean quality food aid JOHANNESBURG, 11 November 2009 (IRIN) - A move by donor countries to provide aid agencies with cash, allowing them the flexibility to source cheaper or more appropriate food in the region or beneficiary country and save on transport and warehousing costs, is not addressing nutritional needs, according to a new report. full report
Analysis: African IDP convention fills a void in humanitarian law KAMPALA, 27 October 2009 (IRIN) - The African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa is a comprehensive document that will, if ratified, fill a void in international humanitarian law, say experts. full report
WEST AFRICA: Humanitarian stockpile takes shape - on paper BAMAKO, 21 October 2009 (IRIN) - When a storm hits in Togo, disaster relief items must be flown in from Brindisi, Italy, but that is just too far, according to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is formalizing the region’s first government-operated humanitarian stockpile in Mali’s capital Bamako. full report
WEST AFRICA: Stopping cholera emergencies DAKAR, 15 October 2009 (IRIN) - Cholera outbreaks in West Africa generally trigger extra hand-washings in households and panic-buying of bleach for treating water. But beating the deadly – but easily preventable – illness requires that such hygiene practices become routine, health experts say. full report
In Brief: When health facilities become casualties DAKAR, 14 October 2009 (IRIN) - Designed to be safe havens in times of disaster, health facilities are vulnerable to upheaval when catastrophe strikes, according to the UN, which is focusing on hospital safety for International Day for Disaster Reduction. full report
|
|