Metro

Death toll in Sudan’s fighting now 413— WHO

Published

1 year ago

April 21, 2023

The death toll in the fighting in Sudan between the military loyal to junta leader Gen. army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has risen to 413, with 3,551 injured as the supremacy clashes enter their sixth day on Friday, according to figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO, in a report released on Friday by its spokesperson, Margaret Harris said, so far, there had been 11 attacks on health facilities in the capital, Khartoum, making its workers unable to deliver needed medical supplies.

The WHO has previously called for both sides of the conflict to open a humanitarian passage for health workers, patients and ambulances so as to ease access to the civilian populace who have been caught in the cross fire, as food and water shortages grow.

Also commenting on the situation, spokesman for the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), James Elder, while speaking with journalists in Zurich, said at least nine children had been reported killed in the fighting and that more than 50 had been injured.

“Sudan already has one of the highest rates of malnutrition among children in the world,” he said.

“And now, critical life-saving care for an estimated 50,000 severely acutely malnourished children has been disrupted. This is life threatening,” Elder added.

Meanwhile, the RSF, early on Friday, declared a 72-hour ceasefire in what it said was in the spirit of the Eid-al-Fitr celebration.

“The truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr … to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” the force said in a statement.

However, before the Friday declaration, two other 24-hour ceasefires had been breached.

The United Nations had on Thursday appealed to both the Sudanese Army and the RSF to strike a deal, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a three-day ceasefire to allow trapped civilians to flee.

“As an immediate priority, I appeal for a ceasefire to take place for at least three days, marking the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, to allow civilians trapped in conflict zones to escape and to seek medical treatment, food and other essential supplies,” Guterres had told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

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Metro

Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ repositioning Nigeria as global investment hub— VP Shettima

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Vice President Kashim Shettima believes the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President Bola Tinubu administration is gradually transformating Nigeria into a global investment hub and a prime investment destination.

The Nigerian VP who made the assertion on Friday during a High-level dialogue on delivering the “Renewed Hope Agenda” on the theme, “Nigeria’s Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality,” held in Abuja, said the policy thrust of the present administration was aimed at repositioning Nigeria with the agenda hinged on the “core pillars of democracy, development, demographics, and diaspora engagement.”

Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, noted that the “present moment serves as the opportune time to remind both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business.”

Shettima went on to outline the Tinubu administration’s ambitious roadmap, noting that the President’s commitment to bold reforms and strategic partnerships to revive the nation’s economy and enhance security has been applauded by the international community including the United States, the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others.

“Our reason for this gathering is less about the certainty of our vision for this nation. This has never been in doubt. We are here because of our place in a world of opportunities—a world that can’t afford to neglect or underestimate our place,” Shettima said.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework; it is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people.”

The V pointed out that at the heart of the administration’s foreign policy approach, dubbed the ‘Tinubu Doctrine,’ is a ‘4-D Diplomacy Strategy’ centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential, and engaging with the diaspora community.

“This is further evidenced by the recently announced $10 billion Diaspora Fund, a multi-sectoral investment initiative set to be launched soon and expected to strengthen ties with our diaspora community while boosting forex inflows to support our national development plans,” the Vice President said.

On security challenges dogging the country, Shettima assured of the administration’s commitment to guaranteeing the safety of lives and properties through regional and national interventions.

“This is the time to partner for democracy, for development, for peace, and for security,” he enthused.

Metro

Hope for persons with disability, as Muleya shares promising story of inclusivity in governance

Published

24 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Frederick John Muleya, a differently abled person based in Choma town, Southern Province, has shared some insights of changes being made to people like him in discussing freedom of expression and other various issues.

Recently appointed as a Ward Development Committee for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to represent persons with disabilities in his area, Muleya expressed optimism of inclusivity and freedom of expression.

He expressed believe that this was a starting point for persons with disabilities to have a platform which can be used to discuss critical issues such as freedom of expression.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Choma, Muleya’s hope was that persons with disabilities would now be able to have freedom of expression, especially through media coverage.

“In terms of freedom, right now there are some changes but before this government, it was very difficult. The new government is trying to be inclusive with persons with disabilities. There are some changes.

“Sometimes, we have been called to Choma Mano [radio station in Choma] to express ourselves and say what we want from the government. The media is not really giving us a platform to express ourselves, but they are trying,” he said.

Asked if he felt persons with disabilities were fully included regarding freedom of expression, Muleya said; “Not yet included but there are some changes. There are some promises, as I said earlier, it is the first time to include persons with disability in the CDF committee.

“So, we see some changes that maybe in future things will not be the same as they were before.”

Meanwhile, Muleya emphasised the need for public places, including media entities to consider putting slops for people living with disabilities in their building.

“We find that measurements of the doors, a person using a wheelchair cannot use the toilet, so when people are planning to build structures, we have to be included so that we decide together,” he said.

Muleya’s views show signs of improvement in freedom of expression by the government to ensure that people living with disabilities are included in the decision-making process.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.