Connect with us

Metro

Congo begins Ebola vaccination amidst recent outbreak in northwest city of Mbandaka

Published

on

Following the recent outbreak of the Ebola Virus in the northwest city of Mbandaka, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization on Wednesday says the country has kicked off Ebola vaccinations to stem an outbreak.

Two people have been reported dead from the recent outbreak. The first death was of a 31-year-old male, detected in the city of Mbandaka, capital of Congo’s Equateur province on April 21.

The second was on Tuesday, marking the central African country’s 14th Ebola outbreak was said to be a female relative of the first case.

The World Health Organization said in a statement that around 200 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine have been shipped to Mbandaka from the eastern city of Goma, with more to be delivered in the coming days.

The stamen further revealed that 233 contacts have been identified and are being monitored and three vaccination teams are on the ground and will focus on reaching all people at high risk.

WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti, said “With effective vaccines at hand and the experience of the Democratic Republic of the Congo health workers in Ebola response, we can quickly change the course of this outbreak for the better.”

Ebola is an infectious and frequently fatal disease marked by fever and severe internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected body fluids by a filovirus (Ebola virus ), whose normal host species is unknown.

Congo has seen 13 previous outbreaks of Ebola, including one in 2018-2020 in the east that killed nearly 2,300 people, the second-highest toll recorded in the history of the virus.

Metro

South Africa slams 54 fraud, immigration charges on Rwandan genocide suspect

Published

on

One of the most wanted Rwandan Genocide suspects, Fulgence Kayishema has been slammed with a 54-count charge by South African prosecutors, including fraud and immigration charges.

Kayishema, an ex-Rwandan police officer who is wanted internationally over his alleged role in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, was arraigned at a Cape Town court on Friday.

After being on the run for over two decades, Kayishema was arrested on May 24 on a grape farm in South Africa where he had been hiding under a false name, according to a prosecutor, who said refugees working in the farm gave him up.

Spokesperson of the South African prosecutors, Eric Ntabazalila, who addressed a press conference outside the court, said the fugitive now faced 54 separate charges relating to fraud and immigration offences, up from five previously preferred against him.

Kayishema had been a fugitive from justice since 2001, when the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) indicted him for genocide for allegedly ordering the massacre of 2,000 people hiding in the Nyange Catholic Church,” Ntabazalila told journalists.

Some of the charges could see Kayishema imprisoned for up to 15 years, said Ntabazalila.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also allege that Kayishema used a false identity to apply for asylum and refugee status in South Africa.

The case was adjourned to June 20 to allow Kayishema’s defence team to consult, at which point he could apply for bail, while he is also expected to face extradition to Rwanda to be tried over the ICTR genocide indictment.

With Kayishema’s arrest, there are only three indicted fugitives still on the run after a sweeping indictment by the international tribunal.

Continue Reading

Metro

US, WFP, USAID suspend food aid to Ethiopia

Published

on

The United States along with the World Food Program (WFP) and the USAID have suspended food aid to Ethiopia following allegations of theft and diversion by government officials.

The WFP and the USAID announced the suspension on Friday, a day after the US government announced that it was suspending the programme due to the same reasons.

WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, who made the announcement early on Friday, said the suspension was temporary, until a full investigation was conducted by the Ethiopian government.

“We will temporarily cease food aid in Ethiopia, but nutritional assistance to children, pregnant and lactating women, school meals programs and activities to strengthen farmers and herders in the face of external shocks will continue without interruption,” McCain said in a press release.

Diversion of food is absolutely unacceptable. The Ethiopian government’s commitment to investigate and hold those responsible accountable is welcomed.

“WFP is working closely with its UN partners, humanitarian organizations and local actors to reform the way aid is distributed across Ethiopia,” she added.

On Thursday, the US government’s international aid agency, USAID, had announced the suspension of its food aid to Ethiopia, while denouncing a “widespread and coordinated operation to divert.”

“USAID intends to immediately resume food aid as soon as we have confidence in the integrity of the distribution systems to get aid to its intended recipients,” the agency had said.

In a joint statement with the USAID, Ethiopian authorities assured that a joint investigation was underway “so that the perpetrators of these hijackings are accountable.”

According to the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA), more than 20 million people of the 120 million Ethiopian population, about 16%, depend on food aid due to conflicts or recurring drought in the region which has also displaced 4.6 million people in the country.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

VenturesNow14 hours ago

Nigeria’s central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele suspended by President Tinubu

Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu has suspended the country’s central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele. The office of the Secretary to the...

Politics15 hours ago

Opposition party wins majority seats in Guinea Bissau’s parliament

After a thirteen months break in Guinea-Bissau’s parliament, the opposition coalition has won majority seats after the legislative elections held...

VenturesNow15 hours ago

Ghana records 32% increase in gold production in 2022

West African country, Ghana has returned to top of gold production on the continent after displacing South Africa following a...

Musings From Abroad16 hours ago

China supports South Africa on BRICS summit— Report

Local media in China are reporting that the Asian giant will support South Africa to host the BRICS summit later...

Musings From Abroad16 hours ago

Italy, Netherlands, EU set to announce aid package for Tunisia

Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni has said that a fresh aid package to Tunisia would be announced by the European...

Tech19 hours ago

Payment solution fintech, LemFi launches diaspora remittance services in Kenya

Cross-border payment solution platform, LemFi has launched its diaspora remittance services in Kenya in a bid to enable citizens send...

Metro19 hours ago

South Africa slams 54 fraud, immigration charges on Rwandan genocide suspect

One of the most wanted Rwandan Genocide suspects, Fulgence Kayishema has been slammed with a 54-count charge by South African...

Metro19 hours ago

US, WFP, USAID suspend food aid to Ethiopia

The United States along with the World Food Program (WFP) and the USAID have suspended food aid to Ethiopia following...

Culture19 hours ago

Rare Mozambican Ruby rakes in world-record $34 million in New York auction

A 55.22 carat legendary Mozambican Ruby named the “Estrela de Fura” has broken the world record in sales after it...

Sports20 hours ago

Senegal football federation suspends all football activities after deadly protests

Following a spate of violent protests which has led to the death of over 23 people, the Senegalese Football Federation...

Trending