Metro

Somali President pleads with wealthy citizens to help millions affected by drought

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2022

Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has pleaded with rich citizens in the country to join government’s effort to assist millions of Somalis affected by drought which is gearing towards famine.

President Mohamud who made the appeal while speaking at a Mosque in Mogadishu, the country’s capital on Saturday, called on the rich citizens to join his government’s efforts to help the country which has been devastated by the worst drought in more than 40 years in the Horn of Africa nation.

Mohamud who has been battling with the drought since he was elected in May, said those mostly affected by the drought are the elderly and children who are experiencing severe malnutrition.

He said the drought and its circumstances have worsened and has now reached a state of famine and death.

“The livestock are already gone, there is much hunger, but the government has been doing whatever it can to help people, and the world is helping. Somali people and those abroad need to double their efforts to reach a lot of people in time of great need,” he said.

Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa are facing what the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), say is the worst drought in four decades with 7.7 million Somalis affected by the drought, and nearly a million people have been displaced.

The agency in a report earlier this month, said drought-related malnutrition has killed more than 500 children since January of this year.

Related Topics:Drought Featured malnutrition Somalia

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

57 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

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

Published

20 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.