UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths visited Baidoa in Bay region, the epicenter of the hunger crisis ripping through Somalia, and Banadir hospital in Mogadishu. Despite the immense suffering he witnessed, he fears that “the worst is yet to come” for the people of Somalia.
As the drought worsens, 7.8 million people nearly half of the country’s estimated population need humanitarian assistance. Hundreds of thousands of people are at imminent risk of death if we do not act immediately. The latest Somalia Food Security and Nutrition analysis report, being released today, shows concrete indications that famine will occur in two areas in the Bay region (Baidoa and Burhakaba districts) in south-central Somalia between October and December of this year.
“Famine is at the door, and today we are receiving a final warning,” Griffiths said. “But panic doesn’t help those who need and deserve our help. It is not a strategy. Providing more humanitarian assistance is. Somalia knows, tragically, about famine, Somalis know about crises of hunger. In 2016 and 2017, the people of Somalia and their Government, helped by humanitarian agencies, held back and prevented a famine and we must hope that we will see this again now.”
UN humanitarian chief warns that famine is at the door in Somalia, calls for immediate action
Donation of intensive implant course in Ethiopia
A South Korean firm, Osstem Implant in collaboration with KOTRA, MCM Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Dentos has started a donation of a free Intensive Implant Course for the Ethiopian dentists which lasted on Friday September 09. The main purpose of this donation was to provide the necessary knowledge and clinical skills to incorporate implant dentistry in the country.
According to Dr. Youngdai Song, (lecturer) who has worked in this field for many years, this training will be a good opportunity for many doctors. He added that this training will focus not only on education but also on technology transfer.
This training is been given to dentists from various government hospitals and private clinics and is being given using the basis of various methods to demonstrate the progress in dental implants. This 4 consecutive days of free training will help the participants gain knowledge and apply what they have learned in their daily work. This is an excellent opportunity for general dentists and dentists who wish to improve their current dental skills to pursue oral implant therapy.
African leaders urged to explore local solutions and prioritise investments in Agriculture to alleviate food insecurity
African leaders have pledged to identify, define and develop local solutions to challenges facing local agricultural production to build effective and sustainable food systems for the people of Africa, and deliver zero hunger by 2030.
The leaders, who included sitting and former Heads of State and Governments, as well as heads of private sector and multilateral organisations were hosted by Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame and Hailemariam Dessalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chair of AGRA and the AGRF Partners Group during the Presidential Summit at the ongoing AGRF 2022 Summit.
President Kagame, who chaired the session, urged African nations to implement bold actions to shore up food security, especially at this time of multiple global crises.
African farmers and faith leaders demand an end to the failed green revolution
With the annual African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), this week in Kigali Rwanda (from 6-9 September 2022) African civil society, faith groups and farmer leaders reiterate their call for an end to the failed Green Revolution in Africa. They say that AGRA is pushing a development model that reinforces dependency on foreign inputs, such as expensive fertilizer, which undermine the resilience of African food systems.
“We are calling upon all the funders to please stop funding AGRA. Redirect your funding towards systems that enable people to have their dignity, for all creation to have an equal chance to live, where there are no chemicals in our water, in our ground, and in our food,” said Gabriel Manyangadze, Climate Justice Coordinator at SAFCEI.
Africa’s largest food producer networks and their allies demand a decisive shift away from imported fossil-fuel-based fertilizers and chemicals, and towards self-sufficient, ecological farming that revitalizes soil and protects ecosystems. These calls take place just before AGRA’s annual forum, from September 5-9, where corporate executives, governments and donors will gather in Kigali, Rwanda, claiming “Bold Action for Resilient Food Systems.” However, a united alliance representing the largest network of food producers and faith leaders in Africa made clear that the ‘bold action’ they want is for AGRA’s donors to stop funding an initiative that has failed to improve productivity, incomes, and food security.
