Connect with us

Metro

Authorities warn Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia over worst drought in decades

Published

on

Authorities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia have warned that higher temperatures and less than normal rainfall were recorded by weather agencies in March and April this year which could result in severe drought.

According to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, rains will likely fail for a fourth consecutive year, triggering fears of increased cases of malnutrition, threats to livelihoods, and severe risks for 29 million people in the region.
The recurring and severe droughts and other natural disasters between 1974 and 1984 caused widespread famine, ecological degradation, and economic hardship in the Eastern Africa region.
Although individual countries made substantial efforts to cope with the situation and received generous support from the international community, the magnitude and extent of the problem argued strongly for a regional approach to supplement national efforts.
“Approximately, we have 29 million people who are facing high levels of food insecurity according to the latest experts’ estimates. Already, 15.5 – 16 million of our sisters and brothers are in need of immediate food assistance due to this drought,” said IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu.
For Dr Mahamed Shafi, Director at Gode Hospital in Ethiopia, this is the worst drought they have witnessed in 20 years.
“This drought is the worst drought that we have seen for the last 20 years. It affected the whole community, especially children, especially the under-five children. So we are getting here a lot of malnourished children, more than the children that we have seen six months ago, you know the number of admissions have increased from five patients per day to 15 patients per day,” he said.
In November 2021, scientists at the Famine Early Warning System Network sent out a warning that an unprecedented drought in the Horn of Africa was imminent if poor seasonal rainfall continued into 2022. Tragically, their prediction is turning out to be prescient.
East Africa is experiencing the driest conditions and hottest temperatures since satellite record-keeping began. As a result, as many as 13 million people are currently experiencing acute food and water shortages and a projected 25 million will face a similar fate by mid-2022.

Metro

President Tinubu congratulates Trump on US election victory

Published

on

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has congratulated USA president-elect, Donald Trump, on his electoral victory after defeating vice president Kamala Harris to stage a return to the White House.

Tinubu, who conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he looked forward to working with him and further strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States.

The statement reads:

“President Bola Tinubu extends his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

“President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

“President Tinubu says, ‘Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.’

“According to President Tinubu, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulates them on their commitment to democracy.

“President Tinubu believes that, given President Trump’s experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

“Acknowledging the United States’ influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.”

Continue Reading

Metro

Zambia’s ruling party UPND warns against personal attacks on President Hichilema

Published

on

Zambia’s ruling party, the UPND, has warned opposition politicians and critics against personal attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema as his meekness should not be mistaken for weakness.

Secretary-General of the UPND, Batuke Imenda, who gave the warning in a statement in Lusaka on Monday, urged political opponents to always engage in mature and issue-based discourse.

Zambia Monitor reports that Imenda’s warning, was directed at the leader of Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) party, Kelvin Bwalya Fube, whose recent remarks Imenda described as “provocative” and a “feeble attempt to mislead citizens.”

“Provocative words uttered by Kelvin Bwalya against our party and President Hichilema are a clear demonstration of naivety,” Imenda said in the statement.

He further advised Bwalya to abandon personal attacks and focus on substantial political issues.

The UPND Secretary suggested that Bwalya’s attacks stemmed from a desire for relevance amid declining political fortunes, hinting at a possible alignment with former President Edgar Lungu.

“It appears KBF is hoping that Edgar Lungu might support his embattled political career by unjustly attacking President Hichilema,” he said.

Imenda defended the President’s record, highlighting that under Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia’s democratic space had expanded compared to the previous PF administration, which he accused of stifling freedoms.

He noted that while criticism was welcome, it should not devolve into baseless attacks, warning that opposition figures should not misinterpret Hichilema’s restraint as weakness.

Imenda also criticized Bwalya for overlooking the gains in transparency and justice since the change in government, claiming that past regimes were marked by resource mismanagement and corruption.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Uncategorized4 hours ago

Dangote: Deregulation doesn’t excuse low-quality oil blends

In Nigeria, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited and other oil marketers that the country’s national...

Politics4 hours ago

Equatorial Guinea bans sex in govt offices after tapes leak

Following the release of private recordings on social media that seemed to show a senior finance ministry official having sex...

VenturesNow4 hours ago

Ghanaian cocoa farmers stockpile beans ahead of price rise

According to industry sources cited by Reuters, cocoa farmers in Ghana, the world’s second-largest producer, are stockpiling beans in anticipation...

Musings From Abroad4 hours ago

After initial evaluation, IMF raises Ethiopia’s international reserves target

In order to make it easier to pay for future hard currency expenses, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased Ethiopia’s...

Politics4 hours ago

Chad threatens to leave international security force

Mahamat Idriss Deby, the temporary president of Chad, has threatened to withdraw the Central African nation from a multinational security...

Metro7 hours ago

President Tinubu congratulates Trump on US election victory

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has congratulated USA president-elect, Donald Trump, on his electoral victory after defeating vice president Kamala Harris...

Tech24 hours ago

Mastercard partners Diamond Trust Bank to boost digital payments in East Africa

Mastercard has struck a strategic partnership with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) to boost digital payments in East Africa with specific...

Uncategorized24 hours ago

Zimbabwe bans police from using mobile phones while on duty

The Zimbabwean government has banned members of its police force from using mobile phones while on duty. The ban, which...

Metro1 day ago

Zambia’s ruling party UPND warns against personal attacks on President Hichilema

Zambia’s ruling party, the UPND, has warned opposition politicians and critics against personal attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema as his...

Sports1 day ago

Kenyan court jails killers of Ugandan Olympian Kiplagat for 35 years

A Kenyan court sitting in Nairobi on Tuesday sentenced two men, Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, and David Ekai Lokere, 25,...

Trending