The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a generous contribution of US$ 1.65 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The funding, part of a US$ 3 million allocation from CERF, will allow WFP to scale-up its humanitarian response to communities affected by the El Niño-fuelled drought in southern Angola.

The contribution will support WFP in providing life-saving food assistance and nutrition support to children with acute malnutrition and the most vulnerable families affected by the most severe drought in 40 years in Huíla and Cunene provinces. Through WFP’s community-based management of acute malnutrition programme, 63,000 children under the age of five will be screened, of which approximately 7,600 are expected to receive nutrition assistance under the targeted supplementary feeding programme. Additionally, WFP will provide food vouchers to around 5,000 food-insecure households over a period of two months.

“Millions of people in the southern region of the country are grappling with the impact of the El Niño-induced drought,” said José Ferrão, WFP Representative in Angola. “This crucial contribution from the Central Emergency Response Fund will assist WFP in addressing the far-reaching impacts of El Niño on food and nutrition security. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to CERF’s donors for their generosity, which will bring profound hope to affected communities and help build their resilience against future climate shocks.”

According to WFP’s hotspot analysis, in 2024, an estimated2.8 million people will be food insecure across southern Angola. The provinces of Huíla and Cunene have been heavily affected by prolonged drought conditions, which are compounded by El Niño’s adverse impact, resulting in failed crops, livestock losses, water shortages, inflation and increasing staple food prices. Many families now struggle to meet their basic food needs, with women and children leaving their homes in search of food and water putting their health, safety and education at risk.

“To complement the Government’s efforts, the United Nations (UN) mobilized resources through the Central Emergency Response Fund, a global humanitarian mechanism managed by the UN designed to provide rapid and effective financing for emergency response,” said Zahira Virani, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Angola. “The funding of US$ 3 million will help specialized agencies, WFP and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to mitigate the consequences of the drought caused by El Niño. This allocation of funds will aim to catalyze a comprehensive, three-tier response strategy, ranging from immediate life-saving measures to anticipatory and long-term sustainment actions.”, she added.

Since 2021, WFP has been supporting the Government-led drought response by providing nutrition support and food vouchers to the families of malnourished children and other vulnerable groups and training health facility staff and community health workers to conduct nutrition screenings and deliver programmes to address moderate acute malnutrition. WFP also reaches primary school-aged children and their families with nutrition-sensitive school meals and take-home rations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

1. Following the announcement of the final results of the presidential election on 22 July 2024(local time), Japan congratulates incumbent President Paul Kagame on his re-election in the presidential election, which was held for the first time since August 2017.

2. Japan expresses its respect for the Republic of Rwanda’s efforts for national reconciliation, reconstruction and development since the 1994 genocide. The stability and prosperity of the Republic of Rwanda is important for peace and stability in the Great Lake region where Rwanda is located and Africa as a whole. Japan hopes that efforts toward peace and stability in the region and in Africa as a whole will be further promoted under the strong leadership of President Kagame.

3. Looking ahead to the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development ) Ministerial Meeting in August this year and TICAD 9 in August next year, Japan will further strengthen the amicable bilateral relations built through cooperation in a wide range of areas such as water, sanitation and hygiene services, infrastructure development, and agriculture.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

In response to a flood alert for the Upper Nile region, including the five counties of Jonglei State, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Jonglei Government met with the Duk County community to raise public awareness and to discuss how to minimize the risk of flash floods this year.

“We urge the government and humanitarian partners to provide aid in addressing the social challenges arising from the consequences of climate changes,” explained Paramount Chief Deng Mabur.

Community members, along with local authorities, youths, and women’s representatives, passionately voiced their concerns to a delegation headed by Geetha Pious, Head of the peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Bor.

With large parts of Duk County facing the imminent threat of inundation, priorities include safeguarding the airstrip, constructing dykes, and prepositioning vital supplies such as light shelter construction materials. Providing medication for malaria and snake bites, they have decided, will also be important.

“The huge task of constructing dykes falls primarily under the jurisdiction of the government and humanitarian agencies in Jonglei. However, as UNMISS, we are committed to providing support where and when feasible. Our main objective is to establish conflict prevention measures at relocation points [in areas deemed less vulnerable to floods) through awareness campaigns,” said Ms. Pious.

The state authorities were thankful for the logistical support and assistance provided by UNMISS in Duk County.

“We have now completed the first mission, to visit the counties, of the Jonglei High Committee on flood management. We have carefully noted the people’s concerns, a comprehensive action plan is currently being drafted and resources have been set aside for flood mitigation measures,” declared James Mawich Makuach, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The Eritrean community festival was held with patriotic zeal on 20 and 21 July in London under the theme “Peace Anchored on Resilience.” The festival was officially opened by Mr. Saleh Abdella, Charge d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in the UK and Northern Ireland. The event was attended by numerous nationals from UK cities including London, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham, Wakefield, and Huddersfield.

Highlighting the significance of the festival in consolidating the unity of nationals and nurturing youth that adhere to noble national values, Mr. Saleh noted that the festival was particularly special as it coincided with the joyful event of Biniam Girmay winning the Green Jersey at the Tour de France 2024. He also conveyed congratulants Biniam Girmay and the Eritrean people.

Mr. Tewolde Yohannes, head of Public and Community Affairs, conducted a seminar for festival participants, focusing on the homeland’s current situation in terms of regional and global developments. Mr. Tewolde emphasized that the development of friendly relations and cooperation in international relations was the result of the steadfastness and resilience of the Eritrean people and Government, and he called for strengthened participation for better results.

At the event, certificates of recognition were handed out to over 60 outstanding youth students in their educational careers and to those who attended history and political training.

The festival also featured cultural and artistic programs by Eritrean artists residing in the UK.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.