Metro

Violence, drought, hunger in Africa’s Sahel driving more refugees toward Europe – UN

Published

3 years ago

June 17, 2022

The United Nations Refugees Agency says the persistent violence in the Sahel regions of Africa, coupled with natural climate crises like droughts and floods, and the impact of growing food shortages caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, has been driving more refugees to embark on dangerous attempts to flee to Europe.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, who made this submission on Friday, called for more efforts to build peace in the Sahel region as “conflicts and crises like those in Ukraine, Venezuela, Myanmar, Syria and beyond have driven over 100 million people to leave their homes, both within their own countries and abroad.”

UNHCR, in its latest “Global Trends” report, said it found over 89 million people had been displaced by conflicts, climate change, violence and human rights abuses by 2021, the figure since swelling t over 12 million people, with Africa contributing about 45 percent of the figure.

The UNHCR said the year 2021 marked the 15th straight year of annual increases in the number of people displaced within their own countries, rising to more than 53 million, while violence in countries in the African Sahel of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, South Sudan, Sudan and the Ethiopian Tigray, has contributed to the rise in the number.

Grandi said the Sahel has already faced years of droughts and floods, inequality in wealth, education and access to healthcare; and poor governance, coupled with a growing food insecurity and conflict have added to the pressures.

“People are still suffering — they do not have food, do not have water, do not have shelter and have to flee.

“I’m very worried about Sahel Africa. And I don’t think that we talk enough about this region that is, by the way, so close to Europe. And I think Europe should be much more worried,” Grandi said.

He noted that the world was facing events that forced refugees to flee even before the conflict in Ukraine.

“We are now all focused on Ukraine very much, but Ukraine comes after a line of other emergencies,” he added.

Related Topics:Africa Droughts Featured Refugees Sahel Region

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Metro

Zambia: Expert warns of food security threat due to climate change

Published

6 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A prominent Zambian climate-smart agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has warned of a collapse of the county’s agricultural sector with a potential threat to food security due to the worsening impact of climate change.

Bulaya, who bared his mind in an interview with Zambia Monitor on Friday, warned that ignoring the crisis could lead to severe disruptions in the country’s food supply and economy.

“Unless concerted efforts are made, the country will continue facing dire consequences from climate change,” the expert noted.

He lamented a growing trend of farmers relocating to regions experiencing above-normal rainfall, such as the northern block, as they struggle with losses caused by climate variability.

Bulaya emphasized that the once-reliable rainfall areas like North-Western Zambia are now experiencing lower precipitation, as seen during the 2023/2024 farming season and cautioned that poor farming practices, which had already strained the Southern region, could lead to similar challenges in other parts of the country if proactive measures were not implemented.

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.