Metro

Chad begs local, foreign partners for help after declaring food emergency amid severe hunge

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2022

One of Africa’s poorest countries, Chad, has appealed to its local and foreign partners to come to its aid as extreme hunger looms in the arid country, leading to the government declaring a food emergency.

The food emergency was declared on Thursday Chadian military leader Mahamat Idriss Déby in a decree while also calling “all national and international partners to help the population” who are starving as a result of a drought that has ravaged the impoverished country.

The appeal comes as a meeting between the AU chairperson, Macky Sall and the the Chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is scheduled to hold on Friday.

At the meeting, the African leaders will try and mediate in the war in Ukraine and discuss the release of stocks of grain and fertilizer whose blockage is affecting importing nations, with most African countries bearing a bigger brunt of the Russian-Ukraine war.

In a message addressed to leaders of European countries during a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, Sall had asked the EU heads to do everything “to release the grain stocks available” in Ukraine but blocked because of the Russian offensive that organizes a blockade in the Black Sea and prohibits access to the port of Odessa.

The Senegal President also spoke of “the catastrophic scenario of shortages and generalized price increases” as well as raising the issue of the impact of Western sanctions imposed on Russia on the African.

According to the United Nations in a report late last year, around 5.5 million Chadians, or more than a third of the population, were in need of urgent humanitarian aid as drought-nduced famine had continued ravage the nation.

However, the situation has worsened following the war in Ukraine which had put serious strain on the government leading to the appeal and the food emergency.

Related Topics:#CHAD Drought Famine Featured Food Emergency

Click to comment

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.

Metro

Chinese mining giant CNMC set for $1.6 billion investment in Zambia

Published

1 day ago

November 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Chinese mining giant, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC), has announced the investment of over $1.6 billion in Zambia, following successful discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House on Tuesday.

CNMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Gang, who held the discussions with Hichilema along with the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Han Jing, confirmed the company’s commitment to furthering Zambia’s economic development.

“We are actively investing in critical sectors of Zambia’s economy,” Gang said after the meeting.

He noted that CNMC was currently pumping water from Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mine, where 29.9 million cubic liters have been cleared as part of intensified dewatering efforts, adding that the company plans to inject an additional $200 million to develop a greenfield mine on the Copperbelt.

President Hichilema who welcomed CNMC’s commitment, highlighted the potential economic impact of the firm’s investment which will include job opportunities for Zambians.

“This $1.6billion investment, alongside advanced technology and expansion, will extend operations and create more jobs and opportunities for Zambians, especially in mining contracting and supply,” the President said.

He also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their shared commitment to fostering growth and cooperation between the two countries.