The UAE has condemned the coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and stressed the importance of maintaining stability and security in the country. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the UAE shares deep-rooted ties with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has emphasized its support for the sovereignty and unity of the country within the framework of constitutional institutions and the rule of law, to achieve the hopes and aspirations of its people.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education (MoE).

Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) cause severe and irreversible harm to the environment and human health. They result in millions of involuntary poisoning cases each year, especially in low- and middle-income countries, with women and children working in agricultural environments the worst affected.

To help phase out these highly toxic pesticides, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) joined hands with the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) to support Zimbabwe and Zambia to reduce risks of Highly Hazardous Pesticides through a peer learning&exchange workshop between pesticide regulators from Zambia and Zimbabwe, that was held in Harare from 8 to 9 May 2024.

The workshop was attended by 14 pesticide regulators, from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency accompanied by a senior technical advisor from the Swedish Chemicals Agency, Zimbabwean counterparts from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD), Ministry of Health and Childcare (MoHCC) and technical officers from FAO.

As part of the workshop the delegates compared lists of identified HHPs, shared experiences of pesticide risk and needs assessment for HHPs and jointly identified viable alternatives. The engagement culminated in the development of draft risk mitigation plans, and information exchange on the status of HHP identification and needs assessment in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The pesticide regulators also compared the status and gaps in their respective pesticide regulatory frameworks. Both parties deemed the workshop timely for the development and update of draft regulatory frameworks on pesticides, especially in their national efforts to reduce HHP risks.

Why do HHPs need special attention?

“With HHPs, every precaution is imperative for they hold the power to impact human health and the ecosystem profoundly. Meticulous care is not just a preference but a global necessity,” Nkole Chanda, Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) Inspector

Highly hazardous pesticides are a development and human right issue that calls for global action. The impacts of their use are felt much beyond the field and can affect human health, biodiversity and natural resources, international trade. It is estimated that 385 million cases of unintentional pesticide poisoning occur annually world-wide including around 11,000 fatalities, translating 44 percent of farmers around the world being poisoned annually.

To limit the impacts of HHPs on human health and the environment, FAO and WHO developed the ‘International Guidelines on Highly Hazardous Pesticides to provide Governments and other stakeholders with stepwise guidance on HHP risk reduction.’

According to Ivy Saunyama, FAO Agricultural Officer, the HHP Guidelines recommend a clear step wise approach for HHP risk reduction comprising 3 steps namely identification, assessment (needs and risk assessment) and mitigation and list the eight (8) criteria that should be used to identify HHPs. Zambia and Zimbabwe have both followed these criteria in HHP identification, making it easier to compare notes, and come up with common solutions as far as possible.

The regulators from both countries highlighted that it was possible to increase agricultural productivity with limited use of HHPs by promotion alternatives, with emphasis on the use of less hazardous alternatives, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices that preserve ecosystem, product management measures to enhance proper use and risk reduction, like training farmers in proper use, ensuring availability and use of PPE, precautionary label statements.

“By reducing the reliance on highly hazardous pesticides and promoting lower risk alternatives, it is possible to protect human health, safeguard the environment and ensure food security everywhere, every day,” added Memory Mahofa, Agricultural Economist in the department of Strategic Planning and Business Development under Zimbabwe’s, MLAFWRD.

We can feed the world without highly hazardous pesticides

The workshop ended with stakeholders calling for an end of use to HHPs and asserting that it was possible to feed the world without the use of highly hazardous pesticides, especially considering that HHPs constitute only a small percentage of registered pesticides in any country (6-13 percent) and safer alternatives exist.

“Feeding the two nations without the use of highly hazardous pesticides is possible if we work together. It is good that the governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia have already started working together to phase out HHPs,” added Daisy Ndlovu, environmental health officer at National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Zimbabwe.

As part of working together, the two countries agreed on the formulation of a harmonized HHP Mitigation Strategy that would help strengthen the regulation of HHPs, while calling upon government authorities and the pesticide industry to have the political will to stop the use of HPPs.

“We are strengthening the regulation of HHPs through discussions on formulating a harmonized HHP Mitigation Strategy, which will help phase out HHPs not only in the two countries but across the Southern Africa region,” said Shengai Mwale, the Principal Research Officer under the Agricultural Research, Innovation and Specialist Services Directorate, MoLAFWRD.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FAO Regional Office for Africa.

For more than a year, 272 United Nations peacekeepers from Pakistan have worked tirelessly to safeguard 300,000 people from catastrophic floods. As their mission comes to an end, each peacekeeper was honoured with UN medals for their exceptional service in Bentiu, Unity State.

Their work in building and maintaining dikes has kept 5,600 square kilometers of floodwaters from engulfing the Bentiu Internally Displaced Person camp, which shelters hundreds of thousands of people, as well as the surrounding area, infrastructure, and service providers.

The unit received a citation for outstanding performance, and 23 blue helmets were awarded the prestigious Force Commander Commendation Card.

Major Saad Sultan, operation officer and recipient of the Force Commander’s Commendation expressed gratitude for the recognition.

“We worked day and night, often at personal risk. Being recognized with the UN Peace Medals and the Force Commander Commendation Card is a great honour that will always remind me of our service to humanity in South Sudan,” he said.

Climatic shocks have wreaked havoc and the resultant floods have erased villages and submerged supply routes in every direction. A breach of the dike system would cause catastrophe for the high concentration of people left with no choice but to seek refuge in the sanctuary created by the Pakistani peacekeepers.

An incident in October 2022, when a rupture in the western dike wall threatened disaster, underscored the importance of their work. Immediate and cooperative efforts saved the camp that night. To prevent such an event from occurring again, blue helmets now monitor over 80 kilometres of dikes day and night.

The current unit, building on the work and learnings of previous Pakistani blue helmets proudly report that under their watch, there have been no breaches in the dike system since October 2022.

Major Hina Naseer, the contingent doctor was proud of the legacy that Pakistani peacekeepers past and present have left in Bentiu.

“We safeguarded thousands of lives from floods, leaving our mark on Bentiu forever,” she said.

UNMISS Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian, who attended the ceremony to personally commend the men and women of the Pakistani unit, had only words of praise.

“Their efforts, serving in one of the toughest locations, have made immense contributions through effective, economical, and timely completion of critical engineering projects. These altruistic acts speak volumes of their professional commitment.”

Despite the compounded challenges of climate disasters, food crises, conflict, and disease outbreaks, the dedication of the Pakistani peacekeepers remains unwavering. Their efforts have provided a semblance of normalcy and hope to the residents of Bentiu, showcasing the vital role of UN peacekeeping missions in addressing both environmental and humanitarian crises.

As this unit prepares to welcome the next contingent of Pakistani engineers, they leave behind a legacy of safety and resilience in Bentiu.

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

Some 70 kilometers from South Sudan’s international border with its northern neighbour, Sudan, Boro Medina in Raja County is the first major stop for thousands of refugees and returnees crossing into Western Bahr El Ghazal state since the start of the Sudan conflict.

With the nearest authorized camp for refugees hundreds of kilometers away in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, many fleeing the Sudan crisis have had no option than to stay in Boro Medina, resulting in an exponential increase in the population of the small town.

“Our population has more than tripled and life is unbearable, particularly for those arriving from Sudan with nothing,” revealed Joseph Romano Abderhaman, administrator of the area. “There are no goods in the market, our small harvest has been exhausted,” he added.

Currently more than 5,000 asylum seekers and a little above 7,000 returnees are competing with host populations over limited livelihood resources.

This situation is exacerbated by poor road access: It takes six hours to reach the county headquarters and at least two days from the state capital during the dry season, hindering support by state authorities and humanitarian interventions.

In the backdrop of increasing protection of civilians’ concerns, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has increased its presence in this border area and is facilitating state authorities to reach Boro Medina.

A recent joint mission to the area was met with a warm welcome and also narrations about food shortages, lack of essential drugs, education, shelter and more.

“We are greatly assured by the visit of the Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement  and his delegation,” declared Ali Mohamed Sadi, a traditional leader of the area. “My request to is for authorities to look into the plight of pregnant women who, for lack of ambulance services, cannot be transferred to the hospital in Raja to receive adequate medical attention,” he said.

The moment was opportune and the local police director made the most of it to share challenges faced in protecting civilians.

“The population of Boro Medina has become too big for the few police officers deployed here,” revealed Lieutenant Colonel Malwol Kawo. “We cannot provide adequate protection to the town when there are issues, and our work is made more difficult by the lack of transportation. We will appreciate if UNMISS can enhance the capacity of local police through training,” he added.

These messages, of course, were not falling on deaf ears.

“Protection of civilians is a priority for UNMISS, and our UN Police officers who part of this mission have noted the need to assist the local polices,” informed Norbert Niyodusenga, UNMISS Protection of Civilians Advisor in Wau.

“In addition to our regular visits to monitor the situation along this border area, we have been advocating for quick responses from humanitarian partners. We have assisted them in the transportation of much needed supplies,” he stated.

The UN’s support is appreciated by the state Commission for Relief and Rehabilitation.

“We express our gratitude to UNMISS for enabling us to come and see what is happening in the remote areas of our state,” said Basham Musa Ayaga, chairperson of the Commission. “This is the kind of collaboration we cherish, and we hope to continuously work with UNMISS to serve the people of South Sudan,” he assured.

Hundreds of refugees and returnees continue to arrive in Boro Medina daily, even as UNMISS intensifies patrols along the border crossings.

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