Metro

Sudan heading towards ‘humanitarian disaster’, UN warns

Published

11 months ago

June 16, 2023

The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian disaster in Sudan following the war which broke out on April 15 between the army loyal to Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his estranged deputy, Gen. Mohammed Hamdane Daglo.

UN’s Head of Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, who raised the alarm on Thursday, said the civilian population, especially in Dafur, had been made to live through a “nightmare after weeks of war” and was heading towards a new “humanitarian disaster” that the world must prevent.

“Darfur is rapidly heading towards a humanitarian disaster. The world cannot allow this to happen. Not again,” Griffiths said in a statement.

“As the conflict in Sudan enters its third month, the humanitarian situation across the country continues to deteriorate,” he noted.

He made special reference to the over 1.7 million people who have been displaced and half a million refugees, the looting of humanitarian supplies and the thousands of deaths as a result of the fighting.

“I am particularly worried about the situation in Darfur, where the population is trapped in a waking nightmare: babies dying in the hospitals where they are being treated, children and mothers suffering from severe malnutrition, displaced persons’ camps set on fire, girls raped, schools closed, families eating leaves to survive.

“Inter-communal violence is spreading, threatening to reignite the ethnic tensions that fueled the deadly conflict 20 years ago.

“Reports of ethnic killings of hundreds of people in the besieged town of El-Geneina in West Darfur, although unconfirmed, should alone spur the world to action,” Griffiths said.

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Metro

‘Rights must go with responsibilities,’ traditional leader cautions on use of social media

Published

17 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Mansa, Luapula Province: Annette Katema, the Head Woman of Chitumbi Village in Mansa District, voices concerns about the detrimental effects of irresponsible social media usage.

In a recent interview with Zambia Monitor, Katema argued that social media platforms were contributing to delinquency among the youth, particularly platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook.

“Children are being exposed to inappropriate content on WhatsApp, which is harmful to their upbringing. Social media platforms are fostering moral decay,” remarked Head Woman Chitumbi.

She stated that this trend undermined the cultural values that were essential for societal cohesion.

Katema expressed reservations about the prevalence of nudity and offensive language on social media, calling for stricter moderation.

She advocated for proactive measures to steer young people away from harmful online content, suggesting the revitalization of traditional recreational activities like playhouses and sports.

“Instead of solely relying on punitive measures, let’s invest in creating positive alternatives to counter the allure of social media,” Katema proposed.

She urged the youth to uphold traditional values alongside their digital rights, stating the importance of responsible behavior online.

“We should not lose respect in the name of digital rights because rights should go with responsibilities,” the traditional leader said.

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

Metro

President Tinubu finally returns to Nigeria amid speculations over his absence

Published

21 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

After spending the last two weeks out of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has finally returned to the country.

Tinubu, who returned to Nigeria on Wednesday morning, had departed the country two weeks ago, on April 23, for The Netherlands for a three-day official visit, honouring an invitation from the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

While in the European country, Tinubu participated in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, which brought together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries.

After his engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, proceeded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development which held between April 28–29.

However, after the summit, the president did not return to the country as he was said to have proceeded to London for a private visit which gave room to speculations over his health.

The Nigerian Presidency did not also help matters as there was no official statement on the President’s engagements, nor were they willing to douse the tension created by his absence, leading to Nigerians raising posers with the hashtag #WhereisTinubu.

In a tweet on Tuesday evening, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had revealed that Tinubu would be back in the country on Wednesday.

“President Bola Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” he had written.

The recent foreign trip was Tinubu’s 20th since assuming office on May 29, 2023, effectively logging 96 days abroad, which has made him one of Africa’s most globe-trotting leaders.

In his less than one year in office, President Tinubu has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic, New Delhi, India.

He has also taken a trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar; and The Hague, The Netherlands.