On September 3, 2024, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji met with Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly in Beijing.

Zhao Leji said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, China-Egypt relations have achieved leap-forward development and yielded fruitful results. China is ready to work with Egypt to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, build on China-Africa and China-Arab cooperation forums, carry forward the traditional friendship, promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Egypt Vision 2030, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure construction, industry, culture and tourism, so as to forge closer bonds between the two peoples and build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era. China’s NPC is ready to strengthen friendly cooperation with Egypt’s parliament and deepen exchanges and mutual learning in legislation, supervision and other work.

Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt adheres to the one-China principle. Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to developing countries including Egypt. Egypt is ready to deepen cooperation with China in various areas including legislative bodies, promote the Belt and Road cooperation and achieve common development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

On September 1, the U.S. Embassy delivered 96 kits of mpox reagents to the South Sudan National Public Health Laboratory to ensure rapid testing of suspected mpox cases in South Sudan. The kits were provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Additionally, the U.S Embassy in Juba will continue to provide technical assistance on preparing for and responding to a potential mpox outbreak in South Sudan. This includes CDC support for building local capacity in disease surveillance through the South Sudan Field Epidemiology Training Program, which has trained 177 skilled field epidemiologists at all levels of South Sudan’s health system. The expertise of those field epidemiologists is currently used to support Ministry of Health efforts for a timely and responsive disease surveillance system in South Sudan.

The United States will continue its support of life-saving medical care for the South Sudanese people.  At the same time, we call on the transitional government to increase its use of public revenue to support the health sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in South Sudan.

In northwest Tanzania, the risk of dying during childbirth for women and their babies is being addressed through more vital pathways to care, benefitting the lives of refugees from Burundi and the host community alike. Elda Kyando, medical team leader at Nduta Camp in the district of Kibondo for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has witnessed the significant impact on the health of pregnant women and newborns through the ever-growing trust placed in the Maternal and Neonatal Health services MSF and its partners provide.

“I am happy to see mothers coming to the hospital for delivery and leaving with happy faces, embracing their newborns,” says Elda. “We have maintained access to health care services to the population of Nduta refugees and the surrounding community. We continued to provide inpatient care in the emergency room (ER), adult ward, and paediatrics, including intensive care, neonatology, and maternity care.

“I have three children, all of whom I gave birth to at the hospital in Nduta, Tanzania. When we come from the village to the camp, we are given a permit and accommodation close to our residence,” says Lilian from the neighbouring village of Malolongwa. “The services are good, and the staff is friendly. You are listened to and very well cared for,” she says.

MSF’s 15-bed maternity department focuses on the medical conditions known to significantly increase the risk of maternal mortality, including postpartum haemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis, obstructed labour, and unsafe abortions. For patients needing referral to the district hospital for a higher level of care, MSF and its partners designed a robust referral pathway that ultimately emphasises saving time to increase patients’ chances of survival. 

Since January 2024, MSF has supported 624 referrals to Kibondo Hospital for people living in Nduta camp and the district, particularly for high-risk pregnancies requiring emergency surgery.

Maintaining a stable blood bank has been crucial to mitigate bleeding risks during or post-delivery in both hospitals. Elda recalls, “One night, I received a call from Kibondo District Hospital about a patient we had referred who was severely bleeding. The hospital had no matching blood, and it was difficult to find a donor. We managed to quickly send three units of blood from our blood bank which allowed the hospital staff to save the woman’s life.”

“We have also seen the important impact of community health promotion programs in empowering individuals to take charge of their health, leading to improved health outcomes,” she says. Indeed, implementing health promotion programs increased maternal and neonatal health awareness in and around the camp, fostering trust in existing services and encouraging women to seek timely health care.

Despite the several persistent health challenges in Kibondo for both refugee and host communities, investing in maternal and neonatal services and prevention will lead to a real improvement in access to healthcare for mothers-to-be and their newborn babies.

MSF in Tanzania

In 1993, MSF initiated its first emergency programs in Tanzania to aid refugees from Burundi, Rwanda, and the DRC in Kigoma. From 1995 to 2001, various health interventions were implemented, including malaria control, water provision, and primary healthcare in Kasulu, Mtwara, and Kigoma. These projects were followed by others, focusing on emergency preparedness against cholera epidemics, malaria outbreak responses, and HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. In 2015, MSF started working in Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee settings in Kibondo, where its teams opened a 175-bed hospital offering primary healthcare and health promotion. 

In 2023, MSF continued to support the Ministry of Health in responding to cholera and Marburg fever outbreaks and other health emergencies, including malaria response and mass vaccination. In southern Tanzania, Lindi Region, MSF launched a program at Liwale district Hospital to improve access to primary and secondary health care for pregnant women and children. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

One year after the devastating earthquake in Morocco and catastrophic floods in Libya, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), alongside the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents, remains committed to supporting the recovery and rebuilding efforts in these hard-hit regions. These disasters, which struck within days of each other in September 2023, left deep scars on the affected communities, but also demonstrated the strength and resilience of those impacted. 

Morocco: A Year of Recovery and Resilience 

On 8 September 2023, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountain range in Morocco, affecting over 660,000 people and causing widespread destruction. Over 59,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 380,000 people without shelter. From the outset, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRC) mobilized to provide emergency aid, including search and rescue operations, first aid, and the distribution of essential relief items. 

Reflecting on the past year, Dr. Mohammed Bendali, Head of Disaster Management, First-Aid Volunteering and Youth for the Moroccan Red Crescent, said, “The scale of the devastation was immense, but so was the response. Our volunteers and staff worked tirelessly to support the affected communities, providing not only material aid but also mental health and psychosocial support to help people cope with the trauma of the disaster.” 

The focus has now shifted to early recovery, with efforts concentrated on providing durable, insulated shelters, temporary classrooms and clinics, enhancing access to clean water and sanitation, and rebuilding livelihoods, while also looking to complement the support provided by the government to the affected families. Despite the challenges, the MRC remains committed to supporting the affected families for as long as necessary. 

Libya: Facing the Aftermath of Unprecedented Floods 

In early September 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed heavy rainfall on Libya’s northeastern coast, resulting in catastrophic floods that claimed over 5,900 lives and left more than 43,000 people homeless. The failure of two dams above the city – the first at about 11pm on 10 September, the second closer to 1am on 11 September – unleashed catastrophic amounts of water on the city of Derna.  

The Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) was on the ground immediately following the disaster, providing critical emergency aid, including search and rescue operations, first aid, and the distribution of food, water, and shelter materials. Tragically, the disaster also claimed the lives of several Red Crescent volunteers who were working to save others. 

“One year on, the pain of loss is still deeply felt in the communities we serve,” said Omar Jaouda, Secretary General of the Libyan Red Crescent. “But the resilience of the people is remarkable. We have continued to support those most affected, including thousands who are still displaced, as they rebuild their lives and homes.” 

Going forward, the Libyan Red Crescent is transitioning to long-term recovery and resilience by prioritising three key areas: first, increasing attention to recovery and resilience planning and implementation, ensuring that communities are equipped to withstand future shocks and recover effectively. Second, the National Society will bolster its capacity, preparedness, and readiness. And, third, the Libyan Red Crescent will enhance its security management practices to safeguard its operations and personnel, particularly in challenging environments, while also ensuring accountability in all its actions to maintain trust and transparency within the communities it serves. 

The IFRC’s Emergency Appeal for Libya, which aimed for CHF 20 million to address the extensive needs, has raised CHF 12.4 million to date. These funds have been critical in supporting 130,000 people with essential services, including shelter, health care, and psychosocial support. The IFRC is also working to enhance the LRCS’s capacity for future disaster response by renovating key facilities and equipping an Emergency Operations Centre in Derna. 

Looking Ahead: A Long Road to Recovery 

Both Morocco and Libya face long and challenging roads to recovery. The IFRC, together with the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents and other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, will continue to stand by these communities, providing the necessary support to ensure that they not only recover but also build resilience against future disasters. 

“The events of last year were a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by communities in disaster-prone regions,” said Dr. Hossam El Sharkawi, IFRC Regional DIrector for the Middle East and North Africa. “But they also highlighted the importance of local preparedness and the incredible impact of collective humanitarian efforts. We are committed to supporting the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents in their ongoing work to help these communities rebuild and thrive.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).