NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s video message to the launch of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+29+Apr+25/3365764_MSG+SG+FOOD+CRISES+29+APR+25.mp4

    This Global Report on Food Crises reflects a world dangerously off-course.

    Hunger is not a crisis bound to one place or time: it’s a chronic catastrophe.

    Fueled by conflict, geopolitical tensions, climate chaos, and economic upheaval – food and nutrition crises are rampant and rising.  

    Over 295 million people faced hunger in 2024, the sixth year in a row of rising need.

    From Gaza and Sudan, to Yemen and Mali, conflict-driven hunger is shattering records.

    And climate change is accelerating the crisis, wiping out harvests, livelihoods, and hope.

    Weather extremes are pushing nearly 100 million people to the brink of hunger.

    Just as food insecurity and malnutrition are gaining pace, our ability to respond is hitting the brakes.  

    The dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding is compounding the hunger crisis.  

    And the prospect of a trade war will only make things worse.

    Ensuring a food-secure future means rallying financial resources and driving innovation.

    It calls for fair, transparent trade systems that ensure food can move where it’s needed, especially during crises.

    And it requires global solidarity to build resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems for all.

    The UN Pact for the Future, adopted in September 2024, reignites momentum for this vital mission.

    My message is clear: we must heed the dire warnings in this report.

    This July, the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake – taking place in Addis Ababa – will be an opportunity for all of us to unite and boost our efforts.

    The time to act is now. Let’s end hunger, together.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Starmer announces migration ‘return hubs’ on Albania visit, but Albania doesn’t want them – what’s going on?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andi Hoxhaj, Lecturer in Law, King’s College London

    Keir Starmer became the first British prime minister to visit Albania since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1921. During the visit, he announced that the UK plans to set up “return hubs” for asylum seekers whose claims are rejected by the UK.

    Just days after announcing his plans to reduce legal migration to the UK, this move on irregular migration is more evidence of the prime minister’s concern about losing voters to anti-immigration Reform UK.

    Before meeting with Albanian prime minister Edi Rama to sign a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries, Starmer said that the UK has begun formal talks with several countries to set up return migration hubs to send asylum seekers abroad. The specifics are yet to be announced, but it has been reported that these would probably be in the western Balkans.

    The plan has drawn comparison to the Conservative government’s Rwanda scheme, but is different in a number of ways.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Under the Rwanda scheme, people who arrived in the UK illegally would have been sent straight to Rwanda where their asylum claims would be processed. If accepted, they’d be offered asylum in Rwanda, not the UK. Starmer cancelled the plan in one of his first moves as prime minister.

    With Labour’s plan, people would only be sent to another country if their asylum claim is rejected and they’ve exhausted all legal options to stay in the UK. The rationale is that they would not be able to disappear into the informal economy and illegal actives in the UK after an asylum claim was not successful.

    The goal of both plans is to act as a deterrent to irregular migration, and to cut the high cost of hosting undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in the UK, which has become a major political issue.

    The return hubs plan also has the approval of the UN refugee agency, which condemned the legality of and the practically of the Rwanda scheme.

    However, it has already hit a roadblock. Albania was one of the UK’s preferred options for a return migration hub. But during a joint press conference with Starmer, Rama said that Albania will not take part in such a scheme.

    This is probably because a similar set-up with Italy has so far been unworkable, legally and politically .

    Under the Italy-Albania migration agreement signed in November 2023, Albania is meant to play host to two Italian processing centres, where they planned to send asylum seekers intercepted at sea. But after facing numerous legal challenges, Italy is instead using them as repatriation facilities to hold those whose claims have already been rejected while they await deportation.

    Partnership with Albania

    The UK has maintained a successful returns arrangement with Albania, set up by the last government.

    In 2022, Albanians accounted for over one-third (around 12,500) of all small boat entries, more than any other country. Arrivals from Albania have dropped by 95% in the last three years. And the number of Albanians returned to the country has more than doubled in the last two years, with 5,294 Albanians returning in 2024.

    The two countries set up a joint task force to tackle organised crime networks that were facilitating the illegal entry of Albanian nationals to the UK. Starmer began his visit at the Port of Durres, where British and Albanian law enforcement officials are stationed as part of the Joint Migration Task Force with Albania.

    Starmer indicated that the task force will be expanded to include the other western Balkan countries. This is because the western Balkan route is one of the main migratory paths into Europe. It was estimated that in 2023, 100,000 people used this route to come to the UK.

    The visit, which comes days after Albania’s parliamentary election, shines a light on some of the political tensions between the UK and Albania.

    The Albanian diaspora community in the UK in recent years has expressed feeling stigmatised and targeted due to inflammatory rhetoric of the last government.

    Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, called Albanians “criminals” while claiming migrants were “invading” the UK. Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, posted videos telling police to find Albanians and “lock them up” and “deport” them.

    In 2024, Albanians made up the highest percentage (13%) of foreign nationals in UK prisons, with over 1,272 people in custody. Along with Albanians, Polish (9%), Romanian (7%), Irish (6%) and Jamaican (4%) nationals account for around 12% of the overall prison population.

    Rama, who just won the election, was fully aware of voters’ sentiment towards the UK. There have also been protests in the country against the current migration arrangement with Italy. Any new agreement, particularly with the UK, could be politically damaging for the Albanian government.

    This visit could be a turning point for mending relations. Starmer declared that his government is fully committed to strengthening ties with Albania, and signed a strategic partnership agreement, with a focus defence and security.

    Starmer and Rama both said that the partnership will expand at the UK-Western Balkan Summit that Starmer will host in London in autumn, and it will include increasing trade, economics investment, education and managing migration.

    Andi Hoxhaj does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Starmer announces migration ‘return hubs’ on Albania visit, but Albania doesn’t want them – what’s going on? – https://theconversation.com/starmer-announces-migration-return-hubs-on-albania-visit-but-albania-doesnt-want-them-whats-going-on-256831

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCMA visits Hungary to promote development opportunities in GBA

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, are currently on duty visit to Hungary to promote the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
     
    Mr Tsang arrived in Budapest, Hungary on May 15 (Hungary time) and called on the Chinese Ambassador to Hungary, Mr Gong Tao. Today (May 16) he met with the State Secretary for Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Ms Boglárka Illés, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Dr Lajos Oláh, to share views on issues relating to the promotion of exchange and collaboration between Hong Kong and Hungary.
     
    Mr Tsang also attended today the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – Europe (Hungary) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference jointly organised by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government to promote the business opportunities brought about by the GBA to the European business community, and Hong Kong’s position as a GBA’s international entry point and roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”. Speaking at the conference, he encouraged enterprises and talents to capitalise on Hong Kong’s unique advantages of having staunch support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world by establishing foothold in the city and tapping into the huge market of the GBA, and to turn challenges into endless opportunities under the current international situation.

    Mr Tsang emphasised that under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong would continue to maintain its status as a free port, implement a free trade policy, maintain the free flow of capital, goods, people and information, and firmly support a rules-based multilateral trading system.
     
    Mr Tsang will depart for Cairo, Egypt, on May 17 to attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – Africa (Egypt) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference to be held there. He will return to Hong Kong on May 19.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Calgary — Alberta RCMP Community Response Team and Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit seize fentanyl and firearm

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Your Alberta RCMP’s Community Response Team and the Cochrane Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), with assistance from the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region, Sherriff Investigative Support Unit Surveillance Team, Calgary Police Tactical Unit, Calgary Police Service, Airdrie RCMP, and Cochrane RCMP, concluded a two-month drug trafficking investigation.

    On May 1, 2025, the Alberta RCMP Community Response Team, Cochrane CRU, and Calgary Police Tactical Unit arrested a 50-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary, and a 38-year-old individual, also a resident of Calgary, at the Sunridge Mall in Calgary. Information is yet to be sworn for the 38-year-old individual; therefore, the name cannot be released at this time.

    Subsequent to their arrest, three search warrants were executed, including:

    • A 2020 Chevrolet Malibu;
    • One Residence in Livingston, Calgary; and
    • One Apartment in Livingston, Calgary.

    As a result of the investigation and subsequent search warrants, the following was seized:

    • 271 grams of Fentanyl;
    • 20 grams of Methamphetamine;
    • 22 Oxycodone Pills;
    • One Prohibited Firearm;
    • Ammunition;
    • Cell Phones;
    • Scales;
    • Scoresheets;
    • Money Counter;
    • $6,852 Counterfeit Canadian Currency;
    • 60 Fraudulent Documents;
    • Computers, Printers, Card Scanner, and Embosser to create Fraudulent Documents; and
    • A 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

    The 50-year-old and 38-year-old individuals were jointly charged with:

    • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl;
    • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Methamphetamine;
    • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Oxycodone;
    • Possession of Proceeds of Crime;
    • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime;
    • Possession of Identity Documents;
    • Unlawfully Make Counterfeit Money; and
    • Possession of Counterfeit Money.

    In addition, the 50-year-old individual was charged with:

    • Trafficking Fentanyl;
    • Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose;
    • Possession of a Firearm while being Prohibited;
    • Possession of a Prohibited Weapon while being Prohibited;
    • Possession of Ammunition while being Prohibited;
    • Possession of a Firearm without a licence;
    • Possession of a Firearm knowing he was not the holder of a licence; and
    • Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.

    And the 38-year-old individual was charged with:

    • Five counts of Fail to Comply with a Release Order.

    The 50-year-old individual was remanded into custody and appeared in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane, Alta., on May 6, 2025. The 38-year-old individual was released and is to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Stony Plain, Alta., on June 24, 2025.

    As a part of your Alberta RCMP’s current Data 2 Action (D2A) focus, Community Response Teams have been established to address the concerns of fentanyl. D2A is an Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy that turns data and intelligence into actionable tasks focused on the four pillars of policing: targeted prevention, apprehension, suppression, and offender management. Community Response Teams combine focused outreach with targeted enforcement to improve safety, reduce victimization, and address the social determinants contributing to the root causes of crime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Signs a EUR 106 Million Facility Terms under the Master Murabaha Agreement with the Republic of Burkina Faso

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, May 16, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), the trade finance arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, renewed its longstanding support to the Republic of Burkina Faso with the signing of a EUR 106 Million Facility terms under the Master Murabaha Agreement, with Société Burkinabè des Fibres Textiles (SOFITEX) as the executing agency.

    The facility provided aims to support the country’s cotton campaign, reinforcing ITFC’s longstanding commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and economic stability in Burkina Faso.

    Commenting on the signing, Nazeem Noordali, COO of ITFC stated: “ITFC’s commitment to Burkina Faso’s economic development is once again demonstrated through this renewed financing facility. We recognize the critical role of the cotton sector in the economy and its impact on employment in Burkina Faso, which has been a key focus of our interventions since 2008. This partnership with SOFITEX aligns with our ongoing efforts to drive sustainable growth in the sector while ensuring its long-term resilience and prosperity.”

    Speaking on behalf of SOFITEX, the CEO, M. Bienvenu PARE, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our strategic partnership with ITFC through this facility. This financing will not only help boost cotton production but also create tangible impacts on rural livelihoods, strengthen value chains, and support the country’s sustainable economic growth. We look forward to the positive outcomes of this collaboration for Burkina Faso’s cotton sector and wider agriculture industry.”

    This signing is in line with the US$900 million Framework Agreement signed in May 2023 between ITFC and Burkina Faso. With this financing, ITFC continues to play a crucial role in supporting Burkina Faso’s agricultural sector and contributing to the country’s economic stability and agricultural productivity while advancing SDG Goal 1 “No Poverty” and SDG 2 “Zero Hunger”.

    Over the years, ITFC and the Republic of Burkina Faso have enjoyed a good and longstanding relationship with a total of US$3.3 billion approved in financing across 48 operations in Burkina Faso, mainly in the energy and agriculture sectors.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Premier Invest Deal Room Unveils $10B in African Energy Opportunities at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    PARIS, France, May 16, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris featured a standout session this year with the Premier Invest Deal Room, a platform that spotlighted over $10 billion worth of oil, gas and renewable energy projects seeking investment across Africa and the broader energy frontier.

    “This is a platform to showcase interesting opportunities across Africa that we are advising on,” said Marcel Awasum, Head of Business Development for Premier Invest. “All of the deals we are advising on, we are also mobilizing capital for – from family offices to private equity in oil and gas – mostly from the Middle East, and some from Europe.”

    The session featured 17 active deals spanning upstream, midstream, trading and renewable segments, underscoring the breadth of investment potential across the African continent and beyond. One of the flagship opportunities was the development of a 200,000-barrel-per-day crude oil refinery, seeking $4.8 billion in combined equity and debt to meet growing regional demand for refined products. Another deal sought $50 million through a 360-day revolving letter of credit facility to support the import of refined petroleum products.

    Exploration and production prospects were also on the table, including a development project offering up to 40% participating interest to qualified investors, as well as an African oil and gas company seeking a $30 million capital injection, strategic partnership and offtake agreement to enhance its trade capacity and expand upstream.

    Refining featured prominently among the deals, with one project calling for €2-5 billion to expand national capacity – open to debt, equity and strategic partnerships. A separate opportunity involved a $25 million equity investment in a highly prospective offshore Guyanese block, offering first-mover advantage with an estimated 400 million barrels of recoverable reserves.

    Other ventures included the sale of a defunct Caribbean gas-to-liquids plant with a proven $50 million EBITDA when operational; an $18 million debt facility to drill additional wells in an active production field; and a fast-moving $360 million field development project already attracting soft commitments. The session also featured investment opportunities in the Republic of Congo, where a special purpose vehicle is seeking a co-investor for an M&A transaction involving producing assets; a $70 million fuel importation deal in Burundi; and a $200 million financing package to support the purchase of both crude and refined products in Ivory Coast.

    The session concluded with five renewable energy projects seeking over $725 million in investment. This included $362 million for a 70 MW geothermal project in Kenya, $92 million for a 71 MW hybrid solar PV and wind project in Zambia, $87 million for a 100 MW solar PV project in South Africa, and two clean-gas projects – one in Benin (43 MW) and another in South Africa (100 MW) – seeking $84 million and $100 million, respectively. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Building Security Through Cooperation: Exercise Obangame Express 2025 concludes in Cabo Verde

    Source: United States Navy

    Thirty African nations have wrapped up two-weeks of intense training during Exercise Obangame Express 2025 (OE25), strengthening regional collaboration and reaffirming their commitment to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean off Africa’s western coast. This year’s exercise focused on enhancing regional coordination, expanding maritime awareness, and enhancing operational readiness.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Agencies Join Forces to Tackle Food Insecurity, Health, and Nutrition Needs in Zimbabwe

    Source: World Food Programme

    Harare, Zimbabwe – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise their collaboration on integrating food and nutrition assistance with sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) services, in Zimbabwe.

    The memorandum aims to strengthen a shared commitment to break the cycle of poverty and inequality in Zimbabwe by focusing on food-insecure districts across the country, leveraging on WFP’s distribution networks and UNFPA’s health expertise. WFP will provide logistics and distribution platforms for UNFPA’s SRHR/GBV services, including family planning and maternal health care at food distribution points, enabling efficient use of resources.

    “No woman should choose between feeding her family and accessing life-saving sexual reproductive health and rights services,” said Ms Miranda Tabifor, UNFPA Representative in Zimbabwe. “Empowering women and girls is central to breaking the cycle of poverty. This collaboration ensures they have access to both the food they need to survive and critical sexual and reproductive health and GBV services they need to thrive.”

    WFP food distribution points are conveniently situated near vulnerable populations, ensuring accessibility and community engagement, making it easier and more convenient for communities to access essential and lifesaving SRHR services. 

    “Food insecurity and health are deeply intertwined,” said Barbara Clemens WFP Country Representative and Director in Zimbabwe. “By integrating SRHR and GBV services into food distributions, we are not just saving lives, we’re empowering women and girls, which is the essence of sustainable development. This partnership is a blueprint for the UN’s ‘Delivering as One’ principle.”

    The partnership supports Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council in adopting a national integrated model. This model directly advances SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health), and 5 (Gender Equality) through joint monitoring and reporting, contributing to the National Development Strategy 1.

    The MoU comes with a solid foundation of successful collaboration between the two agencies in Zimbabwe. WFP and UNFPA have previously partnered to provide monthly food baskets (cereal, pulses, oil, and super cereal) to mothers at Maternity Waiting Homes, ensuring proper nutrition before childbirth. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNFPA innovated to maintain SRHR services through WFP’s distribution networks.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Ombudsman attends Board Meeting of International Ombudsman Institute (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Ombudsman attends Board Meeting of International Ombudsman Institute  
    The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, led a delegation on a visit to Morocco early this week, and the visit concluded today (May 16).
          
    During his stay in Morocco, Mr Chan attended the annual Board Meeting of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) as Chairman of the IOI’s Standing By-laws Committee and member of the United Nations and International Cooperation Working Group and exchanged views and ideas with representatives of other countries and regions. The Board Meeting of IOI involved participation from around 20 countries and regions among which were the United States of America, Canada, the Netherlands, Mexico, South Africa, Korea and Thailand.
          
    The Office’s delegation also met with the Mediator of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr Hassan Tariq, and the President of the National Authority for Integrity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption, Mr Mohamed Benalilou, and visited the Mediator’s regional office.
          
    Throughout the visit, Mr Chan also shared with IOI Board Members and his many international counterparts the latest developments and opportunities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as presenting Hong Kong’s important position of having strong support from the motherland and close connections to the world.
    Issued at HKT 21:47

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 May 2025 Departmental update Marking 30 years of progress – engaging the health sector to tackle violence against women and girls

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The health sector is increasingly engaged in responding to and mitigating violence against women as a public health problem that has serious health consequences for women and their children. 

    Thirty years since the landmark Beijing Platform for Action on Women provided a roadmap toward equality and empowerment for women, more than 160 countries have at least one national survey on prevalence of violence against women. This allows monitoring of progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.2, to eliminate all forms of violence. 

    In 2016, the World Health Assembly endorsed the WHO Global Plan of Action to strengthen the health system, within a multisectoral response, in addressing interpersonal violence against women and girls and children. The plan emphasizes a public health approach, integration of violence prevention and response into essential health services, and strengthening linkages with multisectoral efforts on gender equality, human rights and sustainable development. 

    This plan aimed to support Member States to operationalize Resolution WHA67.15 (2014), Strengthening the role of the health system in addressing violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children, in four areas:  

    • strengthening leadership and governance of the health sector through laws, policies and protocols;  
    • strengthening comprehensive service delivery and capacities of the health sector;  
    • fostering evidence-based prevention; and  
    • improving monitoring, surveillance and evidence to end violence against women.  

    A newly released Violence against Women in Health Policies Database tracks progress made by countries towards commitments made in this global plan. Data from 200 countries across 48 indicators shows increasing integration of the prevention of and response to violence against women and girls in national health strategies and policies. More countries are training health workers in survivor-centred clinical care for intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence and adopting standardized protocols, while access to and quality of quality care for survivors is improving.   

    For example, to respond to the Ukrainian refugees experiencing sexual violence during the conflict, WHO guidance and training materials have been translated into Polish. Capacity strengthening of health professionals has been institutionalized to serve the refugee and local populations through the national chamber of nurses and midwives and WHO training integrated into the curricula of four universities. In 2024, almost 500 health workers were trained, and a task force led by a Polish feminist NGO – Feminoteka is monitoring progress on coverage and quality of clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence services.   

    To date in 2025, WHO and the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) have finalized and published several key resources that enhance the capacity of health systems to respond to violence in both emergency and non-emergency settings.  

    Caring for women subjected to violence: online facilitated training for health workers offers a virtual, interactive curriculum that equips health providers to deliver empathetic, first-line support to women experiencing violence, using the WHO-endorsed LIVES approach. Adapted from in-person trainings, it is designed for use in emergencies or low-resource settings where in-person training is not feasible, to help ensure continuity of care and survivor-centred response.  

    These training tools are essential to build a sustainable and integrated national health systems response that addresses violence against women as a public health issue

    Avni Amin / Unit Head of Rights and Equality across the Life Course at WHO and HRP

    Meanwhile, the Clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence in emergencies: a training toolkit offers tools to strengthen capacities of health workers to deliver clinical care to survivors. The toolkit addresses the unique challenges of humanitarian contexts by offering flexible, modular training aligned with WHO guidelines and the minimum initial service package for sexual and reproductive health. 

    “These training tools are essential to build a sustainable and integrated national health systems response that addresses violence against women as a public health issue,” says Avni Amin, Unit Head of Rights and Equality across the Life Course at WHO and HRP. “They help translate global commitments into real-world action by making frontline health services more survivor-centred and of higher quality, no matter the context.”  

    Research that fuels impact in country 

    As highlighted in the Global Plan, research is key to informing evidence-driven programming. Preliminary results from a recently completed study showed promising results from a Strengthening Women’s Agency in Pregnancy programme, an empowerment counselling intervention with pregnant Congolese women and girls attending antenatal care in a hospital in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania. The intervention showed high acceptability with 82% of women enrolled in the study returning for more than the minimum number of sessions. It also showed improved maternal mental health as a result of the intervention, with participants experiencing a 44% reduced likelihood in moderate-to-severe depression compared to the control group, 6 months after receiving the intervention.  

    By training over 10 000 health workers across 29 fragile and humanitarian settings, training packages operationalize WHO and HRP’s commitment to building capacity in line with SDG 5.2 as well as WHO’s commitment to ensuring universal health coverage. They ensure that care for survivors is embedded in both routine and emergency health responses, and exemplify how WHO and HRP translate global policy commitments into practice at the country level, guided by strong research.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 May 2025 Departmental update Neglected tropical diseases centre-stage at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Sunday 18 May 2025 10:30−13:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12    		 Snakebite envenoming : reaching our 2030 targets
     
    Host: Ministry of Health, Kenya    		 The objective of this meeting is to build visibility for snakebite on the global health agenda
     
    Sunday 18 May 2025
    17:30−19:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
     
         		 Shared progress: how collaborative philanthropy can accelerate country-led health goals
     
    Host: Mohammed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity    		 Under the theme Shared Progress: How Collaborative Philanthropy Can Accelerate Country-led Health Goals, the reception will convene country representatives; global health leaders; philanthropic organizations; and multilaterals to discuss how countries and donors can work collaboratively to forge new pathways for global health progress. 
    Monday 19 May 2025
    13:00−14:30
     
    Centre d’Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI), La Pastorale, Route de Ferney 106    		 Protecting Progress: Integration for Infectious Disease Elimination in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
     
    Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)    		 The global health landscape is undergoing tectonic shifts, driven largely by the recent significant changes in traditional donor priorities. This, compounded by ongoing challenges of climate change and humanitarian crises threatens to erode decades of progress in eliminating preventable infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Given this new reality, integration—both across disease programs and within broader health and development efforts—has never been more urgent.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025
    08:00−10:00
     
    Hôtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41    		 Health financing : what now ? What next? Insights from malaria, dengue & NTDs
     
    Hosts: Health Finance Coalition (HFC); Malaria No More; and the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD)    		 The world is witnessing major shifts in the global health landscape. Among these, the decrease in donor funding for climate-sensitive infectious and tropical diseases on the one hand, and the explosive growth of health threats such as arboviruses including dengue, as well as the persistent threat of malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on communities worldwide are likely to be among the most defining factors of future health policy.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025 17:00−19:00
     
    Pavillon Gallatin, Domaine de Penthes, Route de Pregny 26    		 5 Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated and Counting
     
    Hosts: Mectizan Donation Program, Task Force for Global Health    		 The event will celebrate the tremendous progress made towards the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, notably the 5 billion ivermectin (Mectizan) treatments that have been donated. Since 1987 MSD and the Mectizan Donation Program have provided Mectizan to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis worldwide.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025 18:00−20:00
     
    Hôtel Président Wilson, Quai Wilson 47    		 Skin diseases as a global public health priority
     
    Hosts: International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (GlobalSkin), International League of Dermatology Societies (ILDS), Anesvad Foundation, Health Diplomacy Alliance    		 The event will discuss the importance of addressing skin diseases as a public health problem, and will provide critical discussions on the groundbreaking WHA resolution, “Skin Diseases as a Global Health Priority”.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    08:00−09:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
         		 Strengthening Strategic Partnerships to fight VBDs, NTDs, and Emerging Infectious Diseases
     
    Hosts: Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Assoc. (JPMA), Permanent Mission of Japan, IFPMA    		 As the field of global health undergoes significant transformation, we aim to raise global awareness of the challenges and solutions related to infectious diseases such as VBDs, NTDs, and emerging infectious diseases that have long affected LMICs. As part of this effort, we would like to overview the progress made and the challenges we face, as well as showcase strategic initiatives/contributions in this field by governments, private sector and international organizations
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    09:00−13:30
     
    Campus Biotech Innovation Park, Avenue de Sécheron 15    		 Economics of elimination and NTDs
     
    Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)    		 The event will initiate an International Economics Working Group (IEWG) dialogue, share current work, and explore collaboration on the economics of elimination and neglected tropical diseases.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    12:00−15:00
     
    Geneva Press Club,
    Domaine de Penthes,
    Chemin de l’Impératrice 18    		 Accelerating NTD elimination through country-driven efforts and cross-border collaboration
     
    Hosts: Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), African Union, END Fund, DNDi
     
    Member State Leadership: Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda    		 The purpose of the meeting is to share progress and celebrate successes of NTD elimination milestones, share cross-border collaboration examples, celebrate the endorsement of cross-border agreements and a Call for Action which will inspire and further enhance cross-border and multi-disease collaboration to accelerate progress towards global disease elimination targets. Ministers of Health of Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda will sign a MoU to End VL in Africa. The event will stress the importance of country ownership and strategies to reach NTD public health target and to mitigate the risk of losing the gains made over the past decades, highlighting the opportunity of the implementation of the proposed resolution on skin diseases at WHA78. A signature of an MoU for Visceral Leishmaniasis in East African countries will take place during the ceremony.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:00−20:00
     
    Hõtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41    		 Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDs
     
    Hosts: The END Fund, DEVEX    		 The event will be hosted by Kate Warren EVP and Executive Editor, Devex and Dr Solomon Zewdu, CEO, The END Fund. The roundtable dinner will bring together a select group of 10–12 senior stakeholders from the private sector, philanthropy, global health, policy and international financing organizations to engage in meaningful dialogue , enabling key decision-makers to share insights, align priorities and identify actions to accelerate progress in combating NTDs. Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDS
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−19:30
     
    Colladon Parc Restaurant,
    Chemin Colladon 5,
    Petit-Saconnex    		 Reception for countries endemic for dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) and in pre-certification Guinea
     
    Hosts: Ministry of Health, Chad and The Carter Center    		 The reception will be an occasion to celebrate the tremendous progress toward eradication, rally behind the WHA Resolution being voted on, reflect on commitments made in the Abu Dhabi Declaration and N’Djamena Commitment, and look ahead to what remains to achieve Guinea worm eradication by the year 2030.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−20:30
     
    The International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum, Geneva, Avenue de la Paix 17    		 “A seat at the table” – art installation
     
    Hosts: Gilead Sciences, Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care Program in Global Primary Health Care, International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) and UNAIDS    		 Frontline AIDS in collaboration with the Female Genital Schistosomiasis Integration Group (FIG), Education as a Vaccine, Alliance for Public Health, and LVCT Health will contribute artwork to this important event. It will feature stories and an art installation that bring the importance of people-centered care into focus— addressing the imbalance of power in which people with lived experience of disease are too often left out of health system decision-making.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−21:00
     
    Hôtel Mandarin Oriental,
    Quai Turrettini 1    		 Ministerial summit: REACH network
     
    Hosts: Nigeria, REACH Network (Chairs: Minister Muhammad Ali Pate [Nigeria] and Professor Samba Sow [former Minister of Health, Mali])    		 The event is convened to reinforce ministerial commitment from existing REACH countries and expand the network’s impact by engaging potential new member countries. It will emphasize integrated, equitable and evidence-driven child survival strategies, particularly mass drug administration of azithromycin
    Thursday 22 May 2025
    08:00−10:00
     
    Hôtel Président Wilson,
    Quai Wilson 47    		 Surveillance and innovation for dengue & arboviruses: international unity to avert future health emergencies
     
    Host: the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases    		 The event will focus on updates on the progression of the arboviral threat worldwide (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Oropouche fever), will provide a platform for Member States to make statements on arboviruses experiences and collaborative surveillance strategies, will enable discussions among participants, will serve as a forum for exchange of best practices and networking among participants
    Thursday 22 May 2025
    12:00−14:00
     
    Hôtel Intercontinental,
    Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 7−9    		 Innovation Meets Unity: Advancing Global Health Solutions for Africa
     
    Host: Merck KGaA, Circle Diplomatique Genève    		 Global health leadership discussion to discuss diminished engagement with multilateral institutions which has resulted in weakened health systems in Africa and diminished international support

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message to the launch of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+29+Apr+25/3365764_MSG+SG+FOOD+CRISES+29+APR+25.mp4

    This Global Report on Food Crises reflects a world dangerously off-course.

    Hunger is not a crisis bound to one place or time: it’s a chronic catastrophe.

    Fueled by conflict, geopolitical tensions, climate chaos, and economic upheaval – food and nutrition crises are rampant and rising.  

    Over 295 million people faced hunger in 2024, the sixth year in a row of rising need.

    From Gaza and Sudan, to Yemen and Mali, conflict-driven hunger is shattering records.

    And climate change is accelerating the crisis, wiping out harvests, livelihoods, and hope.

    Weather extremes are pushing nearly 100 million people to the brink of hunger.

    Just as food insecurity and malnutrition are gaining pace, our ability to respond is hitting the brakes.  

    The dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding is compounding the hunger crisis.  

    And the prospect of a trade war will only make things worse.

    Ensuring a food-secure future means rallying financial resources and driving innovation.

    It calls for fair, transparent trade systems that ensure food can move where it’s needed, especially during crises.

    And it requires global solidarity to build resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems for all.

    The UN Pact for the Future, adopted in September 2024, reignites momentum for this vital mission.

    My message is clear: we must heed the dire warnings in this report.

    This July, the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake – taking place in Addis Ababa – will be an opportunity for all of us to unite and boost our efforts.

    The time to act is now. Let’s end hunger, together.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – Catholic University a beacon of academic excellence in the region

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 16 May 2025

    HK

    Tombura Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – “This university is a beacon of excellence in East Africa, it is fully equipped with the necessary resources, experienced faculty, and a strong academic foundation to prepare our youth for a bright future and we encourage all young people to enroll and take advantage of this life-changing institution”, the bishop of the Catholic diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala said, referring to the Catholic University of South Sudan, St. John Campus of Yambio.In the note sent to Fides, Bishop Hiboro explains that the University is expanding its academic programs for next year and that the initiative spearheaded by the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, aims to empower South Sudanese youth with globally competitive education rooted in local values.The bishop commended the University for maintaining high academic standards and playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders.Founded in 2019, the Catholic University’s St. John Yambio Campus has quickly grown into a respected institution, producing top-performing graduates.In 2023, its first cohort walked the graduation stage four of them earning first-class honors, while in a second batch has already graduated, and a third is on course to complete their studies by November this year.In response to increasing demand, the Acting Administrator of the institution announced that the university is set to relocate to a new, larger campus in August, marking a major milestone in its expansion strategy in Yambio.As South Sudan continues to navigate economic recovery and nation-building, institutions like the Catholic University, St. John Campus in Yambio are stepping up to nurture the skills, knowledge, and leadership necessary for long-term development. With its expanding facilities, dedicated faculty, and a clear vision, the university is fast becoming a cornerstone of academic excellence in the region.For many young South Sudanese, the path to a brighter future now begins in Yambio the Western Equatoria State Capital. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 16/5/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A Bishop: “We must disarm hearts and hands in the province of Enga”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wabag (Agenzia Fides) – “Tribal conflicts are deeply rooted in the remote province of Enga, Papua New Guinea. In the past, fighting was the final word in resolving conflicts, mainly territorial ones,” Father Giorgio Licini, a missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) and Caritas collaborator of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, told Fides.The missionary recounts a situation that the Catholic community is trying to contain: “The roots of tribal conflicts are still emotional. What is done to one member of the tribe is done to all. It is the result of an ‘excess of solidarity’ and the individual’s identification with the group,” explains the missionary. “This is even more dangerous today, as injustice is often caused by widespread alcohol and drug abuse. A trivial fight can result in multiple deaths and the loss of property, regardless of the reasons for the dispute. The clan supports its members regardless of the propriety of their actions. Traditional conflicts over land have now given way to disputes over property in general and, related to it, over elections and political power. The world is changing, but traditional attitudes remain. Defending the tribe’s honor is considered fundamental,” Father Licini notes.The impact on politics is clear: “When a candidate wins a seat in the provincial or national parliament or a ministerial post, it brings immense benefits to the tribe or clan of origin.In Enga province, politics and the concurrent elections are accompanied by fraud, violence, and bloodshed, not least because of the proliferation of heavy firearms, likely smuggled from the neighboring Indonesian province of West Papua.”The missionary recounts one example: “The suburb of Paiam in Porgera is practically a ghost town after tribal fighting erupted in 2020. This year, only forty believers were able to attend Easter celebrations at the local Catholic parish of Blessed Peter To Rot, once a thriving community center. In the past, it was the wealth of land and livestock that determined a tribe’s pride. Today, it is business and political prestige. When I first traveled to the Enga region in 2019, there were few areas where tribal conflicts began. Now it is a dangerous war zone. Homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and churches have been lost.” In this context, as Justin Ain, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Wabag in Enga Province, notes, the local Church is actively committed to preventing and combating all forms of violence, with the goal of “disarming hearts and hands.” Not only by “simply helping the victims,” but above all “with education and awareness.” The bishop explains that “especially with the resources and teams of the diocesan Caritas, they organize meetings with the village population, especially with young people, who are often completely uneducated or illiterate, and make them aware of the consequences of their violent acts for themselves and their families, as well as the damage caused by alcohol and drug addiction, thus discouraging them from expressing their frustration through violence.” The local church is also working long-term, also in view of the national parliamentary elections in May 2027. Enga has six representatives elected in five districts. Elections in Papua New Guinea, and particularly in the Highlands region, are notorious for being marred by intimidation, vote-buying, and fraud during the voting process. “Recently,” the bishop reports, “we invited leaders from all walks of life to a three-day political training course on leadership, representation, and accountability to voters. Because it is from them, whom we consider leaders, that disarmament and non-violence must emanate.” Enga Province in Papua New Guinea has seen repeated outbreaks of political violence in recent years. Although the tensions are often linked to disputes over access to and use of natural resources, they also reflect ethnic and cultural conflicts, often related to competition for resources, land ownership, and access to government services. In 2024, approximately 30 people were killed in tribal clashes in Porgera, Enga Province, involving 17 tribes.The recurring conflicts, characterized by brutal violence and cyclical reprisals, reflect deeper, systemic problems. One conflict was resolved by a ceasefire, the so-called “Hilton Peace Accord,” signed last year in Port Moresby. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 16/5/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – The “drone war” hides a “proxy war”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 16 May 2025 wars  

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – The “drone war” is intensifying in Sudan. The use of armed drones and “suicide drones” (similar to cruise missiles, but cheaper) is primarily the prerogative of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias, which do not have an air force.Even the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), although they have combat aircraft, are making extensive use of drones to bomb areas under RSF control.The latter have expanded the area of action of their devices, targeting Sudan’s administrative capital, controlled by the SAF, as well as the country’s most important seaport, Port Sudan (see Fides, 6/5/2025).Previously, attacks carried out by RSF drones were limited to the White Nile, Nile River, and Northern State regions, as well as Omdurman and El Fasher. Among the targets hit were power plants and fuel depots. The expansion of the areas hit by RSF drones raises the question of whether they are launched from within Sudan or from neighboring countries. This is a legitimate suspicion, especially regarding Port Sudan, which is located several hundred kilometers from known RSF positions. Some radar interference on merchant ships operating in the Red Sea suggests that the drones are launched from bases outside Sudan, perhaps from Puntland, where the United Arab Emirates – accused by the Khartoum government of supporting the RSF (see Fides, 11/4/2025) – has a major base in Bosaso (see Fides, 6/5/2025). According to this hypothesis, those who launch them disrupt the radars of ships navigating in the area to hide their launch site. Remnants of the artillery used by the RSF suggest that it is Chinese-made material supplied to Sudanese paramilitaries by the United Arab Emirates.The Khartoum government has called on Beijing to urgently intervene to prevent the RSF from acquiring Chinese-made drones and strategic aircraft. Minister of Culture and Information and government spokesperson Khaled Al-Aiser stated in a Facebook post on May 15, 2025, that China is a friendly country with historical ties and strategic interests with Sudan. He therefore called on Beijing to intervene with the Abu Dhabi regime to end violations of arms purchase contracts and end-use certificates, under which the RSF has been able to obtain advanced drones.The SAF, in turn, is suspected of using Turkish-made drones to support its offensives against the paramilitaries. There are even unconfirmed reports that, in the RSF drone attacks on Port Sudan, some Turkish experts were injured and later repatriated by air ambulance. Thus, the internal Sudanese conflict risks escalating into a “proxy war” between external powers – particularly Turkey and the Emirates – which would further aggravate the conflict. As Pope Francis, and now his successor, Pope Leo XIV, have repeatedly stated, “to end wars, we must end the arms trade.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 16/5/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy Minister Nel and Deputy Minister Letsike host Media Roundtable on National SOGIESC Strategy.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Deputy Minister Nel and Deputy Minister Letsike host Media Roundtable on National SOGIESC Strategy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXbcMALXoDQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Novel approach to HIV vaccine shows early promise

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The first human clinical trials testing a new strategy to protect against HIV infections have yielded promising early results, according to two separate reports published on Thursday in Science.
     
    The trials tested “germline targeting” HIV vaccines, which aim to activate immune system B cells in their naive, or germline, state, inducing them to become specialized cells that produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs).
     
    By delivering a variety of HIV immunogens – typically, viral protein fragments – germline vaccines train the B cells to produce antibodies that can recognize and block a broad range of different strains of HIV from infecting healthy cells.
     
    Germline targeting requires an initial dose to prime the correct B cells, and subsequent doses to guide their maturation until they can produce effective bnAbs, the researchers reported.
     
    “Across the participants we saw an immune response that indicates that we’re on the right track,” Rogier Sanders of Amsterdam UMC, senior investigator on one of the trials, said in a statement.
     
    “We saw that we can target the cells that we need to target with atomic precision. The next step is to further stimulate these cells to secrete broadly neutralizing antibodies,” Sanders said.
     
    In a separate paper, a different team of researchers reported on two early trials that used mRNA-encoded nanoparticles produced by Moderna to successfully prime the germline B cells, although a small proportion of patients had skin reactions to the vaccines.
     
    The mRNA technology, similar to that used in Moderna’s COVID-19 shots, would allow for faster vaccine development, the study authors said.
     
    One of the trials was conducted in the United States and the other in Rwanda and South Africa. The majority of HIV patients live in Africa, but germline targeting has not previously been attempted there.
     
    The researchers said the mRNA approach appeared to work with both North American and African populations, opening the door to further testing of germline-targeting vaccines for “African populations in most need of an HIV vaccine.”
     
    EASING THERAPIES FOR SOME PROSTATE, CERVIX CANCERS
     
    Two new studies suggest that patients with certain cancers might do just as well with a shorter course of radiation or a less extensive surgery as with standard treatments.
     
    In JAMA Oncology, researchers reported that in men who require radiation after undergoing the most extensive type of surgery for prostate cancer, a form of high-dose radiation delivered in just five sessions known as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) appears to be as safe as conventional treatment delivered daily for up to seven weeks.
     
    SBRT is a well-established treatment for prostate cancer, but its use after a radical prostatectomy has been limited due to concerns about the shifting position of the prostate bed and nearby healthy tissues.
     
    The researchers tracked 100 men treated with SBRT in the single-arm study. Two years after the treatment, outcomes and side effects were similar to what the researchers had seen in the past from patients who received the longer-course treatments.
     
    If randomized studies and longer follow-up confirm the results, “this approach could remove a major barrier to post-surgery radiation therapy,” study leader Dr. Amar Kishan of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said in a statement.
     
    In JAMA Network Open, a separate team of researchers reported that women with low-risk early-stage cancer of the cervix do as well after simple hysterectomy as after modified radical hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy.
     
    Among 2,636 carefully selected patients treated for stage IA2 or IB1 cervical carcinoma at accredited cancer hospitals, there was no difference in survival rates at 3 years, 5 years, 7 years or 10, or in postoperative outcomes after the three types of surgery.
     
    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Acute food insecurity and malnutrition rose for sixth consecutive year in world’s most fragile regions

    Source: World Food Programme

    In 2024, over 295 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger—an increase of almost 14 million people compared to 2023— while the number of people facing catastrophic levels of hunger reached a record high

    Geneva/New York/Rome/Washington – Acute food insecurity and child malnutrition rose for the sixth consecutive year in 2024, pushing millions of people to the brink, in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, according to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), released today. 

    The report shows conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes, and forced displacement continued to drive food insecurity and malnutrition around the world, with catastrophic impacts on many already fragile regions.

    In 2024, more than 295 million people across 53 countries and territories experienced acute levels of hunger– an increase of 13.7 million from 2023. Of great concern is the worsening prevalence of acute food insecurity, which now stands at 22.6 percent of the population assessed. This marks the fifth consecutive year in which this figure has remained above 20 percent. 

    The number of people facing catastrophic hunger (IPC/CH Phase 5) more than doubled over the same period to reach 1.9 million – the highest on record since the GRFC began tracking in 2016. 

    Malnutrition, particularly among children, reached extremely high levels, including in the Gaza Strip, Mali, Sudan, and Yemen. Nearly 38 million children under five were acutely malnourished across 26 nutrition crises.

    The report also highlights a sharp increase in hunger driven by forced displacement, with nearly 95 million forcibly displaced people—including internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers and refugees—living in countries facing food crises such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Sudan, and Syria, out of a global total of 128 million forcibly displaced people.

    “This Global Report on Food Crises is another unflinching indictment of a world dangerously off course,”said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. “Long-standing crises are now being compounded by another, more recent one: the dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding to respond to these needs. This is more than a failure of systems – it is a failure of humanity. Hunger in the 21st century is indefensible. We cannot respond to empty stomachs with empty hands and turned backs.”   

    Key drivers of acute food insecurity and malnutrition: 

    • Conflict remained the top driver of acute food insecurity, affecting around 140 million people in 20 countries and territories. Famine has been confirmed in Sudan, while other hotspots with people experiencing Catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity include the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
    • Economic shocks including inflation and currency devaluation, drove hunger in 15 countries affecting 59.4 million people – still nearly double pre-COVID 19 levels despite a modest decline from 2023. Some of the largest and most protracted food crises were primarily driven by economic shocks, including in Afghanistan, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen.
    • Weather extremes particularly El Niño-induced droughts and floods, pushed 18 countries into food crises affecting over 96 million people, with significant impacts in Southern Africa, Southern Asia and the Horn of Africa.

    According to the GRFC outlook, hunger shocks will likely persist into 2025, as the Global Network anticipates the most significant reduction in humanitarian funding for food and nutrition crises in the report’s history. 

    Call for bold reset to break cycle of food crises  

    Acute food insecurity and malnutrition have increased to record levels, yet global funding is experiencing its fastest decline in years, and political momentum is weakening. 

    Breaking the cycle of rising hunger and malnutrition requires a bold reset – one that prioritizes evidence-driven and impact-focused action. This means pooling resources, scaling what works, and putting the needs and voices of affected communities at the heart of every response.

    Beyond emergency aid, the Global Network Against Food Crises recommends investing in local food systems and integrated nutrition services to address long-term vulnerabilities and build resilience to shocks – especially in crisis-prone regions where 70 percent of rural households rely on agriculture for sustenance and livelihood.

    # # #

    Leadership quotes: 

    Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management:

    “This year’s Global Report on Food Crises paints yet another stark and unacceptable picture of rising hunger. This is not merely a call to action — it is a moral imperative. At a time when funding cuts are straining the humanitarian system, we reaffirm our commitment to fight global hunger. We will not abandon the most vulnerable, especially in fragile and conflict-affected countries. We will continue to champion and defend International Humanitarian Law. Today’s challenges are greater than ever — but so is our solidarity. Now is the time to act with unity and resolve, and to prove that even in the hardest times, humanity can and will rise to the challenge.”

    QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO: “As we launch the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, we are cognizant that acute food insecurity is not just a crisis – it is a constant reality for millions of people, most of whom live in rural areas. The path forward is clear: investment in emergency agriculture is critical, not just as a response, but as the most cost-effective solution to deliver significant long-lasting impact.”

    Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD: “The report makes clear that humanitarian responses must go hand-in hand with investments in rural development and resilience building to create long-term stability that lasts beyond emergency interventions. Rural communities – especially smallholder farmers – are central to food security, resilience, and growth. This is even more true in fragile settings.”

    Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, UNHCR: “People who have been displaced show remarkable strength, but resilience alone can’t end hunger. As food insecurity worsens and humanitarian crises become more prolonged, we need to shift from emergency aid to sustainable responses. That means creating real opportunities—access to land, livelihoods, markets and services—so people can feed themselves and their families, not just today, but well into the future.”

    Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF:  “In a world of plenty, there is no excuse for children to go hungry or die of malnutrition. Hunger gnaws at the stomach of a child. It gnaws, too, at their dignity, their sense of safety, and their future. How can we continue to stand by when there is more than enough food to feed every hungry child in the world? How can we ignore what is happening in front of our eyes?  Millions of children’s lives hang in the balance as funding is slashed to critical nutrition services.”

    Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank: “The global hunger crisis threatens not just lives, but the stability and potential of entire societies. What is needed now is collective action so we can build a future free of hunger.” 

    Cindy McCain, Executive Director, WFP: “Like every other humanitarian organization, WFP is facing deep budget shortfalls which have forced drastic cuts to our food assistance programs. Millions of hungry people have lost, or will soon lose, the critical lifeline we provide. We have tried and tested solutions to hunger and food insecurity. But we need the support of our donors and partners to implement them.”

    Note to Editor

    Download the GFRC here  

    Broadcast quality B-Roll here 

    The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) is published  annually by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) with analysis from the Food Security Information Network (FSIN).

    About the GNAFC

    The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) is an international alliance of the United Nations, the European Union, governmental and non-governmental agencies working together to address food crises. a unique platform of key operational agencies, international financial institutions, member states and organisations jointly seeking to reduce and end hunger with evidence-based actions proven to deliver impact. 

    For more information please contact: 

    European Union  

    Eva Hrncirova 

    Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations 

    eva.hrncirova@ec.europa.eu

    FAO 

    Irina Utkina 

    News and Media 

    irina.utkina@fao.org

     

    IFAD

    Caroline Chaumont

    c.chaumont@ifad.org 

    UNHCR

    William Spindler 

    Senior Communications Officer 

    spindler@unhcr.org 

     

    UNICEF

    Nadia Samie-Jacobs

    Communication Specialist (Media) 

    nsamie@unicef.org

    Tel: +1 845 760 2615

     

    World Bank

    Nicolas Douillet

    Communications Lead, Food & Agriculture 

    ndouillet@worldbankgroup.org 

    Tel: +1 202 378 7468 

    WFP

    Machrine Birungi

    Media Relations Specialist 

    machrine.birungi@wfp.org

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China calls on international community to work to resolve issue of missing persons in armed conflicts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) — China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang on Thursday called on the international community to step up efforts to resolve the issue of persons missing in armed conflicts and fully implement relevant Security Council resolutions.

    Speaking at a Security Council briefing, the diplomat said that searching for missing persons is an important aspect of protecting civilians during armed conflict. Although the Security Council adopted Resolution 2474 in 2019, progress in its implementation remains insufficient, he added.

    Citing data from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Geng Shuang noted that more than 56,000 new cases of missing people were registered worldwide in 2024, the highest annual increase in the past 20 years.

    He drew attention to several conflict zones. In the Gaza Strip, more than 50,000 people have died in 19 months of fighting, with mass graves discovered and many still missing. In Sudan, more than 11.6 million people have been displaced, and the ICRC has registered more than 7,700 missing. In South Sudan, almost 100 aid workers have been killed and many more are missing. In Haiti, where gang violence is widespread, people often go missing, especially women and children.

    “The international community must support the affected countries in resolving the issue of missing persons and help each affected family find answers and solace,” the diplomat said, calling on the conflicting parties to comply with international humanitarian law. He also stressed the need to focus on conflict prevention and resolution and the importance of international support for the affected countries.

    China supports the ICRC and other international organizations that operate in accordance with the principles of neutrality and independence, Geng Shuang stressed.

    “China remains committed to working with the international community to advance the implementation of Resolution 2474 and make unremitting efforts to resolve the issue of persons missing in armed conflicts,” he assured. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Announces Einstein (EIN) Listing in July, 50 Million EIN Rewards Event Launches Now

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has announced that it will list Einstein (EIN) on July 20, 2025 (UTC). Ahead of the listing, MEXC will launch two exclusive events this May with a total reward pool of 50,000,000 EIN, offering users the opportunity to discover promising projects and earn attractive rewards.

    Einstein is an innovative social experiment combining scientific knowledge with the Web3 ecosystem. The project invites participants to explore the intersection of cryptocurrency, blockchain, decentralized science (DeSci), cosmology, and physics. By fostering a spirit of intellectual curiosity and discovery, Einstein aims to reveal the potential synergies between scientific inquiry and blockchain technology.

    The EIN token serves as the governance and fee token within the Einstein Protocol. It is utilized for synthesizing, upgrading, downgrading, and decomposing element tokens. All protocol fees are burned, giving EIN a deflationary utility.

    MEXC will launch two exclusive events from May 18, 10:00 to July 17, 10:00 (UTC), with the following key details:

    Event 1: Einstein (EIN) Launchpool – Stake USDT & MX to Share 42,500,000 EIN

    Users can stake USDT or MX tokens via MEXC Launchpool to earn EIN tokens. The staking mechanism is straightforward: the more users stake, the more they earn. In addition, users who stake MX tokens will also qualify for parallel participation in Kickstarter airdrop events, allowing users to earn double rewards.

    Event 2: Invite New Users & Share 7,500,000 EIN

    Users can earn 400 EIN for each friend who registers using their referral code, deposits a minimum of 100 USDT, and joins the Launchpool event. Each user can invite up to 20 new users for a maximum reward of 8,000 EIN. Rewards will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising projects. According to the latest TokenInsight report, MEXC led the industry with an impressive 461 spot listings. During each bi-weekly period, MEXC maintained a high listing frequency, consistently ranking among the top six exchanges and demonstrating its ability to capture market trends quickly. To date, the exchange has listed more than 3,000 digital assets. MEXC will continue to maintain its industry-leading listing efficiency, innovate, and expand its offerings, ensuring users have access to the best opportunities in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.

    For full event details and participation rules, please visit here.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu: lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by MEXC. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11995afc-9c4f-4095-b7b7-6f2aab73ca56

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Gains Market Share in April 2025 Monthly Report Highlights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, released its April 2025 Transparency Report, highlighting a month of growth, regulatory milestones, and continued momentum despite broader market uncertainties through consistent innovation and strong execution.

    In a month marked by market correction and investor caution, Bitget recorded a futures trading volume of $757.6 billion, representing 17.3% growth month-on-month. Spot trading volume also rose to $68.6 billion, defying the broader industry downturn. These gains contributed to Bitget’s rise as the 3rd largest crypto exchange by trading volume, with a market share of 7.2%, reflecting strong performance and continued momentum in a competitive market environment. According to Coingecko and WuBlockchain, Bitget defied broader exchange trends, gaining market share while others contracted. Bitget also surpassed 120 million users, signaling strong platform engagement and trust in its products and services.

    In April, Bitget made a major regulatory leap by securing both DASP and BSP licenses in El Salvador, allowing it to offer full crypto services—spot, derivatives, staking, and yield—under one of the world’s most forward-thinking digital asset frameworks.

    The month also marked the launch of Bitget Onchain, a feature that lets users trade on-chain assets directly through the Bitget app using USDT or USDC. This bridges the gap between centralized UX and decentralized access, making Web3 more approachable.

    To support institutional growth, Bitget upgraded its Liquidity Incentive Program with better maker-taker rates and faster onboarding, boosting liquidity across spot and derivatives markets.

    On the marketing front, Bitget teamed up with FC Barcelona star Raphinha in a global campaign spotlighting smart trading tools like Copy Trading, Launchpool, and Pre-market. This was paired with the “Your Team, Your Skin” initiative with LALIGA, letting users personalize their trading interface with team branding.

    Bitget Research Employment Report estimates blockchain could create 500,000 jobs by 2028, echoing the growth path of the AI sector and highlighting blockchain’s expanding impact.

    Finally, Bitget reinforced its global presence with immersive activations at TOKEN2049 Dubai and Paris Blockchain Week, including side events like Cryptoverse Dream Night, underscoring its commitment to community and innovation.

    Between regulatory wins, rapid user growth, and focus on accessibility and security, Bitget leads as one of the top players in the crypto industry’s evolution. As market sentiment begins to shift, Bitget is geared up to lead the next phase of crypto adoption and WEB3 integration.

    For the full transparency report, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5bf1a171-5c5d-4536-b7ba-529f3be725b6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Critical Minerals Strategy receives Cabinet thumbs up

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says Cabinet has approved the Critical Minerals Strategy.

    Ntshavheni was speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday.

    Critical minerals are key components in renewable energy technologies and South Africa has an abundance of these.

    “This strategy aims to maximise the country’s potential in the global market of critical minerals, particularly those crucial for the country’s just energy transition plan and the ones the country holds comparative advantage. These include the PGMs, lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements, which are vital for technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy and other green initiatives.

    “Key pillars of the strategy focus on exploration and beneficiation; investment; localisation; streamlining regulations, fostering innovation in mining technologies; building workforce skills; improving transport and logistics infrastructure, and incentivising investment.

    “The strategy further recognises the importance of collaboration with other countries to develop the potential of South Africa’s critical minerals sector,” Ntshavheni said.

    Shoring up policing

    Turning to matters of crime, the Minister said Cabinet had also approved the National Policing Policy targeted at resolving challenges in the South African Police Service (SAPS).

    “The [National Policing Policy]…outlines government’s broad plans to address shortcomings in the mandate of the South African Police Service to combat crime. The NPP will address challenges such as inadequate police stations, capacity issues and ensure that infrastructure is based on proper norms and standards.

    “Key policy proposals include creating professional and quality policing, providing efficient and effective policing service delivery, improving legitimacy and trust between communities and the police, and building a strong and ethical leadership, management and governance architecture within the SAPS,” she said.

    Addressing aviation

    Cabinet has also approved the draft Comprehensive Civil Aviation Policy for public comments.

    “[The] policy promotes the development of an efficient and productive aviation industry, which can compete in a rapidly changing global environment.

    “The policy proposes measures to improve safety and security, air navigation services, airport infrastructure and quality of aviation services, among others whilst contributing to economic growth,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Motsoaledi: SA’s HIV programme ‘not collapsing’ following US aid cuts

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has refuted claims that the country’s HIV/AIDS programme is collapsing, following the withdrawal of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

    Motsoaledi stressed that the State is taking decisive steps to maintain HIV treatment and prevention programmes.

    This is after the withdrawal of the funding to key health initiatives, including PEPFAR, which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003 and continued under various administrations.

    The Minister noted a R7.9 billion loss from PEPFAR from the R46.8 billion spent on the HIV/AIDS programmes annually, with 5.9 million people on antiretrovirals (ARVs).

    “It is inconceivable that out of R46.8 billion spent by the country on the HIV/AIDS programme, the withdrawal of R7.9 billion by [United States] President [Donald] Trump will immediately lead to a collapse of the entire programme.”

    Yesterday, Reuters reported that testing and monitoring of HIV patients across South Africa have fallen since the United States cut aid that funded health workers and clinics, with pregnant women, infants, and youth the most affected.

    However, according to the Minister, since the PEPFAR cuts, government has launched a comprehensive strategy to bridge the funding gap and continue critical healthcare services.

    Government has since established weekly provincial check-in meetings to verify and track HIV treatment progress.

    They have also reached half a million people through coordinated efforts with civil society and secured alternative funding sources, including support of R1 billion from the Global Fund.

    According to the Minister, they have also conducted provincial road shows to engage local healthcare workers, AIDS councils, and community stakeholders.

    “It’s wrong to say the campaign of the HIV/AIDS programme in South Africa is collapsing, because it’s not. The fact that we’ve picked up this plan … shows that we know that something can go wrong.

    “So, if viral load testing has dropped, does it mean the collapse of the campaign by any stretch of imagination? No. We expected that some of these problems would occur, but we are sitting with them every day. But simply because a problem is occurring, to go and announce that the HIV programme has collapsed is wrong.”

    Motsoaledi also addressed the closure of 12 specialised clinics funded by the PEPFAR, which has led to the transfer of 63 000 patient files to public health facilities.

    However, despite this, he mentioned government has already trained over 1 000 clinicians and over 2 300 non-clinicians in seven provinces.

    According to Motsoaledi, the country continues to maintain a stable supply of antiretroviral medications, with 90% procured through government fiscal resources and 10% from donors.

    “I would also like to believe that every single South African from all walks of life has a wish and a desire to end the scourge of HIV and AIDS as a public health threat at least by 2030.

    “But fighting each other, denigrating each other, pointing fingers, reporting and spreading disinformation about the status of the campaign is definitely not a way in the aftermath of President Trump’s decision, and it is certainly not a way to end the scourge of HIV and AIDS.”

    Motsoaledi said the State was actively seeking support from international partners, including meetings with organisations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the French Development Agency.

    “This is a time to come together, unite, and fight this as one strong unit.”

    The Minister highlighted government’s continued commitment to combating HIV, stressing the significant achievements over the past decade.

    Additionally, he stated that the government’s commitment to combating HIV remains strong, with significant achievements.

    Life expectancy has increased from 54.7 years in 2010 to 66.5 years in 2024, while maternal mortality has decreased from 249 to 86 per 100 000 live births, and the number of HIV-positive babies has dropped from 70 000 in 2004 to just 643 in 2025. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Roundtable media discussion on national Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel, together with Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mapaseka Steve Letsike, are on Friday expected to host a media roundtable discussion on the national Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Strategy. 

    This is part of South Africa’s commemoration of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), annually observed on 17 May.

    The day is observed to bring awareness about violence and discrimination faced by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex+ (LBGTQI+) community worldwide.

    According to the Department of Justice, the roundtable aims to:

    • Promote broader public understanding of the National Intervention Strategy on SOGIESC and its pillars of implementation.
    • Facilitate inclusive dialogue between government, media, civil society and community stakeholders.
    • Encourage accurate, respectful and empowering media narratives that foster tolerance and solidarity.

    “The discussion will focus on the revised National Intervention Strategy on SOGIESC 2023 -2027, a key policy framework guiding South Africa’s coordinated, multi-sectoral response to violence, discrimination, and inequality experienced by persons of diverse SOGIESC.

    “This year’s IDAHOBIT theme: ‘The Power of Communities’, underscores the vital role of community-led efforts in combating intolerance and advancing the human rights of persons of diverse SOGIESC,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Building on Operation Vulindlela Phase I success

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    With the successful implementation of Phase I of Operation Vulindlela, government is building on this work and advancing further structural reforms to drive more rapid and inclusive growth.

    Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative between the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms to enable economic growth and job creation. 

    In its first phase, the reform programme focused on five area, namely energy, logistics, water, telecommunications, and the visa system, which were identified as the most important constraints on economic growth. 

    “We have made significant progress in advancing the reform agenda in each of these areas, and almost all of the reforms included in Phase I are either completed or on track,” Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo, said on Thursday in Johannesburg the Rand Merchant Bank Think Summit 2025. 

    The next phase of Operation Vulindlela will unleash a second wave of reform targeting new areas of growth.

    These new focus areas include improving the performance of local government, addressing spatial inequality through housing policy and other reforms, and advancing digital transformation.

    “These reforms include establishing ring-fenced and professionally managed utilities to deliver water, electricity and waste services in metros in order to ensure that the revenue earned from those services is reinvested in infrastructure and in the upgrading and maintenance of assets.

    “They also include a radical shift in housing policy, away from a supply-driven model of providing fully constructed houses on the urban periphery and towards a demand-driven model, with subsidies for home ownership and affordable rentals.

    “This will give people more choice and enable them to live closer to areas of economic opportunity, while stimulating investment in property development in our inner cities,” he said.

    It will include a rapid rollout of digital public infrastructure, such as digital identity and payments to enable economic activity and improve access to government services, through the Digital Transformation Roadmap which, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies launched earlier this week.

    READ | Digital Transformation Roadmap to make it easier to access government services

    The roadmap sets out a focused plan to modernise the delivery of government services through investment in digital public infrastructure.

    These crucial digital reforms will enable all citizens to access seamless government services through a single trusted platform. This will be driven through improvements in identity verification, real-time payments, and data exchange.

    “We all agree that profound economic reform is required to achieve a higher level of growth and restore confidence in our economy. Operation Vulindlela is the key to delivering on this reform agenda and to achieving a virtuous cycle of confidence, growth and jobs,” the Deputy Minister said.

    Government has built a strong and capable team to drive the reform agenda within the Presidency and National Treasury, and are drawing on the expertise and capability that exists within the private sector. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabinet approves 90-day programme to intensify GBVF response

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    Cabinet has approved a 90-day intensification programme aimed at urgently addressing the surge in Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) across the country.

    The initiative, spearheaded by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, outlines 19 focus areas and tangible deliverables to be implemented over the next three months, with an aim to shift and reverse the upward trend of GBVF in the country.

    The plan was adopted at a recent meeting of JCPS Cluster Ministers, convened in direct response to the alarming rise in GBVF-related incidents. The short-term intervention is designed to accelerate progress on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF.

    Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the programme will serve as a catalyst for immediate action.

    “The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints), has established a priority committee consisting of eight focused workstreams. The priority committee has identified six urgent and impactful interventions to be implemented in the 90 days,” Ntshavheni said.

    The six interventions, include:

    • Prevention: focusing on education and awareness for behavioural change for all South Africans.
    • Enforcement, care and support which must ensure that “Strengthening the criminal justice system is strengthened so that perpetrators are held accountable.”
    • Fixing the Legal and Regulatory Framework so that we can achieve better outcomes in the system.
    • Tighter and efficient management of Data and Information to strengthen efficiency in the Integrated Justice System.
    • Communication, partnerships and community mobilization to ensure that the whole of government, civil society and citizens work together for better outcomes against this scourge, and
    • The harnessing of resources, both financial and human to ensure that we are better organized as a society to fight the scourge.

    Support for NPA appeal in Omotoso case

    Meanwhile, Cabinet noted and welcomed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decision to appeal the recent acquittal of Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho.

    The trio were acquitted on 32 serious charges including rape, racketeering and human trafficking in the Gqeberha High Court last month.

    Ntshavheni said the decision to appeal follows a thorough consideration of the matter by an NPA internal team of experienced prosecutors, as well as a legal opinion sourced from Senior Counsel. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: R7 billion plan to address Emfuleni water woes

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    The Department of Water and Sanitation has committed over R7 billion over the next seven years to address the long-standing water and sanitation challenges in Emfuleni, Johannesburg, with a particular focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of wastewater treatment infrastructure.

    Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said intervention falls under Section 63 of the Water Services Act.  The Act enables national government to step in where municipalities are unable to fulfil their water service delivery obligations.

    “Substantial progress has been made to date, including unblocking of blocked sewer lines, replacement of collapsed sewer pipelines, refurbishment of pumpstations and assisting the municipality with vehicles, trucks, TLBs [tractor loader backhoe] and security for its water and sanitation infrastructure.

    “This work has resulted in major reduction in sewer spillage in communities of Emfuleni as well as an improvement in the levels of effluent from the wastewater treatment works,” Ntshavheni said.

    Progress on Hammanskraal clean water 

    Cabinet also received an update on the ongoing interventions aimed at restoring access to clean drinking water for the community of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria.

    Ntshavheni reported that in 2023, the Department of Water and Sanitation appointed Magalies Water to construct a modular Package Plant to address water supply challenges in Hammanskraal.

    “The Package Plant is being constructed in four modules, and the first module was completed in November 2024 and started supplying water in some areas. The plan is to complete the remaining modules by end August 2025 but with varying completion dates before then,” the Minister said.  – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Pretoria High Court officials placed on precautionary suspension 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Friday, May 16, 2025

    Three officials from the Pretoria High Court have been placed on precautionary suspension following allegations of fraud and corruption.

    This according to the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ).

    “The three officials, who cannot be named at this time, are suspects in an ongoing investigation by the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) looking into fraudulent and corrupt activities in the court. 

    “The OCJ takes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption and the officials were therefore placed on precautionary suspension to allow investigations to proceed without being compromised,” the OCJ said in a statement.

    News of the suspensions come days after Chief Justice Mandisa Maya visited the Mthatha High Court. This after reports that officials at the court are allegedly embroiled in a bribery scheme soliciting payments from advocates to perform tasks already within the ambit of their jobs, including finding files that have seemingly gone missing, transcriptions and allocating dates for trial.

    An internal and criminal investigation by the South African Police Service has also been opened in this regard.

    READ | Criminal investigation into corruption allegations at Mthatha High Court

    At the time, the OCJ said it had received light on the allegations in December 2024.

    “Subsequently, the OCJ instituted a forensic investigation in line with the organisation’s Fraud Prevention and Anti-Corruption Policy, whilst working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies.

    “Accordingly, the department took a prudent approach to releasing specific details on its ongoing investigation to the media so as not to jeopardise any future legal processes or further investigations that may ensue. 

    “The OCJ reiterates that it is dependent on all stakeholders in the fight against fraud and corruption, including the media, to act in a manner that safeguards the integrity of the processing of legitimate complaints,” the office said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister Lamola arrives in France

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Friday, May 16, 2025

    International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has arrived in France to co-chair the Ninth Forum for Political Dialogue alongside the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Jean-Noël Barrot.  

    “This bilateral engagement will enable the two Ministers to review progress and discuss key issues of mutual interest, further strengthening the strategic partnership between South Africa and France,” the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said on Friday.

    South Africa enjoys robust trade relations and significant investment flows with France, which remains one of its largest trading partners within the European Union. 

    The two nations also collaborate strategically in critical areas such as education and skills development science, technology, arts, and culture, energy cooperation, health and defence. 

    According to the Ministry, the forum will further provide an opportunity for the Ministers to exchange perspectives on pressing global and regional geopolitical developments, underscoring their shared commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order.  

    “This dialogue reaffirms the enduring partnership between South Africa and France, rooted in mutual respect and a common vision for advancing peace, sustainable development, and innovation,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa reaffirms commitment to building an inclusive society

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa has reiterated its commitment to building an inclusive society, where everyone can participate and contribute through the National Strategic Framework on Universal Design and Access, a guiding tool aimed at ensuring accessibility for all.

    Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, made the commitment as the country joined the global community in observing Global Accessibility Awareness (GAAD) Day, on Thursday.

    GAAD is an annual global observance held on the third Thursday of May, to raise awareness and promote the significance of digital accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.

    Chikunga highlighted that, as digital transformation increases, particularly with the advancement of systems, like artificial intelligence (AI), it is becoming increasingly urgent to advocate for accessible web development, software design, policy-making, and everyday digital communication.

    “This day will be used to emphasise and encourage everyone to engage with, think about, and learn about digital accessibility and inclusion for the 1 billion global community with disabilities and the 3.3 million persons with disabilities in South Africa,” Chikunga said.

    While acknowledging AI technologies’ significant contribution to accessibility by providing features, including automatic captions, alternative text generation, and voice assistants, the Minister stressed the need for human oversight.

    “These tools must be reviewed and validated by humans to prevent errors and ensure their relevance. Accessibility is a fundamental to Human Rights, promoting equal opportunities for persons with disabilities,” the Minister said.

    She said the National Strategic Framework on Universal Design and Access is premised on the principle that universal design is not a compromise but a necessity.

    The framework serves as a prescriptive guide for the promotion and eventual enforcement of universal design and access standards, using a disability inclusion perspective as its motivating force.

    As part of its efforts, the department highlighted common digital accessibility barriers that can be addressed as quick wins, and these include: 
    •    Poor Colour Contrast: Ensure text stands out against the background.
    •    Missing Text: All meaningful images and links should include descriptive alt text.
    •    Keyboard Navigation Gaps: All functionalities should be accessible via keyboard.
    •    Lack of Focus Indicators: Let users know where they are on the page. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –