Category: General

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening,

Today is World Blood Donor Day.

Blood donations are a lifeline in emergencies, disasters, humanitarian crises, and for people who need regular transfusions.

And yet around the world, many communities do not have access to safe blood. Women and children are the most at risk.

So please, give blood if you can, and give regularly.

And to the millions of blood donors around the world – thank you. You are literally lifesavers. Thank you so much.

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A few hours ago, WHO published a new technical brief on Parkinson’s disease.

Globally, disability and death due to Parkinson’s disease are increasing faster than for any other neurological disorder.

The prevalence of Parkinson’s has doubled in the past 25 years.

And yet around the world, the resources needed to manage the disease are lacking, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Our new brief outlines the global burden and treatment gaps, and provides considerations for policies, implementation and research, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

It outlines key actions for policymakers and health-care providers to prevent and treat Parkinson’s, raise awareness, and support people with the disease and their carers.

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The global decline in reported COVID-19 cases and deaths is continuing.

Reported cases and deaths have now both fallen more than 90% from their peaks earlier this year.

This is a very welcome trend.

Still, more than 3 million cases were reported to WHO last week – and because many countries have reduced surveillance and testing, we know this number is under-reported.

And 8737 deaths were reported – 8737 deaths too many.

We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to these numbers.

There is no acceptable level of deaths from COVID-19, when we have the tools to prevent, detect and treat this disease.

Many of us who live in high-income countries have easy access to these tools. We now take them for granted.

But for many people around the world, these tools remain scarce commodities.

It’s now more than two years since WHO and our partners launched the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, or C-TAP.

C-TAP was proposed by former President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica, to promote voluntary mechanisms to share intellectual property, know-how, and data.

The licenses C-TAP has received, for tests, vaccines and therapeutics, are making a real difference, and show that this innovative mechanism can work.

However, the licenses we have received are too few, and only from government research institutes. Manufacturers have not contributed to a single license.

This highlights why the world needs a more effective mechanism for sharing licenses in an emergency, and why governments that fund so much research must retain licensing rights for products that are needed in emergency situations.

WHO is aware that countries are discussing a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 tools at the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference this week.

As I have said many times, the TRIPS waiver was created for use in emergencies. So if not now, then when? I hope countries will come to an agreement on a waiver not just for vaccines, but for diagnostics and therapeutics as well.

As you know, last week the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, published its first report.

Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is very important for preventing future epidemics and pandemics.

All hypotheses must remain on the table until we have evidence that enables us to rule certain hypotheses in or out.

We continue to call on China to collaborate with this process and carry out the studies that SAGO has recommended.

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Now to the Horn of Africa, where the worst drought in 40 years has pushed over 30 million people in eight countries into acute food insecurity: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda.

Many families have left their homes in search of food, water and pasture.

The implications for health are severe.

Malnourishment can have a life-long impact on health, and makes people increasingly vulnerable to disease.

Severely malnourished children are nine times more likely to die of diseases such as cholera and measles.

WHO has now graded this crisis as a grade 3 emergency, the highest level in our internal system.

A grade 3 emergency means that we are coordinating the response across all three levels of the organization – country offices, regional offices and headquarters.

Our priorities are supporting countries to fight outbreaks, and to make sure people have access to the essential health services they need.

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Finally, to monkeypox.

So far this year, more than 1,600 confirmed cases and almost 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported to WHO from 39 countries – including seven countries where monkeypox has been detected for years, and 32 newly-affected countries.

So far this year, 72 deaths have been reported from previously-affected countries. No deaths have been reported so far from the newly-affected countries, although WHO is seeking to verify news reports from Brazil of a monkeypox-related death there.

WHO’s goal is to support countries to contain transmission and stop the outbreak with tried-and-tested public health tools including surveillance, contact-tracing and isolation of infected patients.

It’s also essential to increase awareness of risks and actions to reduce onward transmission for the most at-risk groups, including men who have sex with men and their close contacts.

Today, we have also published interim guidance on the use of smallpox vaccines for monkeypox.

WHO does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox.

While smallpox vaccines are expected to provide some protection against monkeypox, there is limited clinical data, and limited supply.

Any decision about whether to use vaccines should be made jointly by individuals who may be at risk and their health care provider, based on an assessment of risks and benefits, on a case-by-case basis.

It’s also essential that vaccines are available equitably wherever needed.

To that end, WHO is working closely with our Member States and partners to develop a mechanism for fair access to vaccines and treatments.

WHO is also working with partners and experts from around the world on changing the name of monkeypox virus, its clades and the disease it causes.

We will make announcements about the new names as soon as possible.

The global outbreak of monkeypox is clearly unusual and concerning.

It’s for that reason that I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.

Source: World Health Organization

Almost one-third of the acutely food insecure South Sudanese the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) planned to support this year will be left without humanitarian food assistance due to critical funding shortages, heightening the risk of starvation for 1.7 million people, the UN agency said in a press release on Tuesday.

According to WFP, the suspension of aid comes at the worst possible time for the people of South Sudan as the country faces a year of unprecedented hunger. Over 60 percent of the population is grappling with severe food insecurity during the lean season, fuelled by continuing conflict, severe flooding, localized drought, and soaring food prices exacerbated by the crisis in Ukraine.

Adeyinka Badejo, the Acting Country Director of the WFP in South Sudan, said the agency was concerned about the impact of the funding cuts on the vulnerable population.

“We are extremely concerned about the impact of the funding cuts on children, women, and men who will not have enough to eat during the lean season. These families have completely exhausted their coping strategies,” she said. “They need immediate humanitarian assistance to put food on the table in the short-term and to rebuild their livelihoods and resilience to cope with future shocks.”

“Humanitarian needs are far exceeding the funding we have received this year. If this continues, we will face bigger and more costly problems in the future, including increased mortality, malnutrition, stunting, and disease,” Badejo added.

According to the statement, WFP had exhausted all options before suspending food assistance, including halving rations in 2021, leaving families in need with less food to eat.

“These latest reductions to assistance will also impact 178,000 schoolchildren who will no longer receive daily school meals – a crucial safety net that helps keep South Sudanese children in school to learn and grow,” the statement reads. “More drastic reductions will be unavoidable, unless more funding is received, which will leave vulnerable people unable to meet their basic food needs and reverting to survival strategies such as skipping or reducing meals, selling assets, using child labor, and child marriage.”

The UN agency said its crisis response and resilience-building development programs are drastically underfunded this year and WFP requires US$ 426 million dollars to reach six million food-insecure people through 2022.

According to WFP, in 2022, food insecurity in South Sudan is alarmingly high. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment warned that 7.74 million people will face severe acute hunger at the height of the lean season between June and August, while 1.4 million children will be acutely malnourished.

WFP says it is prioritizing its limited food assistance to reach 4.5 million people struggling with severe hunger across 52 counties in South Sudan, including 87,000 people in eight counties already experiencing catastrophic hunger and living in famine-like conditions.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The local authorities in Tonj South County in Warrap state on Monday said that armed civilians in the county have voluntarily surrendered 277 weapons in the last two months since a peaceful disarmament exercise commenced.

Governor Aleu Ayieny launched the peaceful disarmament exercise in the greater Tonj area on 8 May in Thiet Town of Tonj South County with the aim of ending nearly four years of bloody communal conflicts.

Natale Nhial, the Tonj South County acting commissioner, said his administration the peaceful disarmament campaign in January by conducting awareness meetings with chiefs and leaders of the armed youth.

“We started the disarmament process in Tonj South County in January and we used to call community meetings and tell them to hand over the arms to the government since May this year, we have collected 265 Small arms (AK-47s) and 12 PKM (machine guns). They are now present in the government’s store,” he said.

Acting Commissioner Nhial said the firearms were collected from the four payams of Manyang Ngok, Thiet, Jak, and Wath-Alel.

“It is an ongoing process and our relationship with SSPDF during the disarmament exercise is good because chiefs and Payam administrators are the ones leading the process and then the guns are reported to the army,” he added.

Meanwhile, Toby Mawien Yuot, who represents Tonj South County constituency No. 29 in the state parliament, said the disarmament campaign was going on smoothly and the youth are not resisting it.

“In the last one month and some days, Tonj South County participated in the peaceful disarmament of the illegal guns and up to now 277 were collected and this is in line with the national disarmament policy and also in line with the Greater Tonj conference resolutions,” he said.

According to Mawien, the first phase of the disarmament campaign has had no hindrances as the armed youth, local authorities, and the army have collaborated well but the second phase will be done by the army if sections of the youth who carry illegal arms fail to comply.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

At least 111 people have been killed in tribal clashes in the western Darfur area of Kulbus, 100 km north of El Geneina, the capital of the troubled state.

The bloody conflict between the Gimir and the Rizeigat tribes erupted last week due to a dispute over agricultural land between two people and continued until Monday.

“111 people from the Gimir tribe were killed, while there are dozens of missing people who have not been found,” Abdel Rasoul al-Nur Executive Director of Kulbus locality, told the Sudan Tribune.

He added he had no information about the number of victims from the side of the Arab tribes.

Al-Nur mentioned that about 12 thousand residents of the town fled the area, pointing out that the local authorities deployed troops with 80 security vehicles to separate the two groups, end attacks and protect five drinking water sources.

The local official said the situation s under control in 70% of Kulbus locality, and that efforts are exerted to reduce tensions between the two groups.

West Darfur state has witnessed a series of intercommunal clashes between the Rizeigat Arab tribes and African ethnic groups during the past two years.

Tribal clashes earlier this year in the Kereneik area displaced about 124,000 people. Also, 36 villages across the locality were affected, of which five were completely looted and burned, according to UNOCHA.

Abkar Altom Adam, Secretary-General of the Gimir Shura Council, told the Sudan Tribune that the Arab militias, backed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), “carried out the most violent attack” against his tribe.

Adam stressed that over one hundred people had been killed and about 500 wounded, describing the attack as “genocide”.

He said that the cause of the conflict was a dispute over a plot of agricultural land claimed by a member of the Arab tribes.

Several Tribal Arab leaders declined to speak about the clashes when the Sudan Tribune reached them.

UNITAMS Head Volker Perthes condemned the tribal violence in Kulbus and called to protect civilians.

“The cycle of violence in Darfur is unacceptable and highlights root causes that must be addressed. I call on community leaders, authorities, and armed groups to de-escalate and ensure the protection of civilians,” Perthes in a tweet posted on Monday.

The local groups often accuse the RSF militia who are from the Arab tribes of backing their clans saying they use the weapons against the civilians.

In return, the Rizeigat say the former rebels who are still armed due to the non-implementation of the security arrangements use their weapons against the Arab.

Source: Sudan Tribune

Clashes in Sudan’s Darfur between Arab and non-Arab groups have killed more than 100 people, adding to a toll of hundreds in the region over recent months.

The latest fighting broke out last week between the Arab Rizeigat and non-Arab Gimir tribes in the district of Kolbus, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from El Geneina, the capital of the West Darfur state.

It started as a land dispute between two people, one from the Rizeigat and another from the Gimir, before morphing into broader violence involving other members from both tribes.

“The fighting has so far killed 117 people and left 17 villages burnt,” including three Monday, Ibrahim Hashem, a leader in the ethnic African Gimir tribe, told AFP by phone.

Hashem said the deaths counted so far were largely among the Gimir tribe. He added that “many people” from his tribe have gone missing since the violence broke out and was continuing.

It was not immediately clear how many were killed among the Arab tribe.

The latest violence highlighted a broader security breakdown in Darfur which was exacerbated by last year’s military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The October coup derailed a fragile transition put in place following the 2019 ouster of President Omar al-Bashir.

In April alone, more than 200 people were killed in clashes between an Arab community and the non-Arab Massalit minority in the Krink area of West Darfur.

The United Nations estimated 125,000 people were displaced in that unrest.

A month earlier, fighting in South Darfur between the ethnic Fallata and the Arab Rizeigat tribes killed at least 45 people.

On Monday, U.N. special representative Volker Perthes said he was “appalled” by the violence in Kolbus.

“The cycle of violence in Darfur is unacceptable & highlights root causes that must be addressed,” he said on Twitter.

Perthes called on the fighting sides to “de-escalate.”

Sudan’s western Darfur region was ravaged by a bitter civil war that erupted in 2003.

The conflict pitted ethnic minority rebels who complained of discrimination against the Arab-dominated government of then-President Bashir.

Khartoum responded by unleashing the Janjaweed, mainly recruited from Arab pastoralist tribes, who were blamed for atrocities including murder, rape, looting and burning villages.

The scorched-earth campaign left 300,000 people dead and displaced 2.5 million, according to the United Nations.

Many Janjaweed have since been integrated into the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, de facto deputy leader of Sudan, according to rights groups.

In 2020, Sudan signed a peace deal with key rebel groups including those from Darfur.

The main conflict has subsided over the years, but the region remains awash with weapons and deadly clashes often erupt over access to pasture or water.

Source: Voice of America

South Sudan’s security affair advisor, Tutkew Gatluak Manime has reiterated Juba’s support for internal dialogue in neighbouring Sudan, describing it the best solution for peace and stability in the country.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday, Presidential adviser Tut Gatluak Manime said South Sudan government is working with regional and international partners to ensure that Sudan’s stability is achieved through peaceful dialogue.

He cited the involvement of the United Nations, European Union, African Union, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as well as a number of African countries as key in efforts to end the political and security crisis in Sudan.

“All our efforts, from the East, Central, North and West African countries, whether as individuals or groups of countries are working together to arrest the situation in Sudan and to put the country on the track of peace and stability”, said Manime.

The official disclosed that he was tasked to coordinate efforts towards consultative dialogue processes aimed at finding remedies to the crisis in Sudan.

“His Excellency the President of the Republic [of South Sudan] is a man of peace and for this reason, he gave me and other colleagues a huge responsibility to help coordinate and facilitate all these efforts, whether by groups or individual countries and friends of Sudan and South Sudan to find a solution to the current political situation in Sudan. And during this process, it became clear that peaceful dialogue is what the majority desire. This is what is being pursued,” said Manime.

He added, “We have talked and still reaching out for consultation with more groups and individuals. This shows his personal commitment to peace in Sudan”.

Last week, the Europeans Union (EU) and western diplomats expressed “deep” regrets and concerns after the 100th civilian died as a result of the protests that broke out following the 25 October, 2021 military coup in Sudan.

They, however, called on authorities in Sudan to adopt confidence-building measures such as halting the use of force against civilians, repeal of emergency decisions, investigating human rights violations and release of those detained for involvement in protests over the military take-over from a civilian-led government.

Security experts have argued that an unstable Sudan may provide a fertile ground for human trafficking and terrorist activities since the East African nation is often used as an avenue by unemployed across the continent to access Europe and other Gulf countries, where they reportedly engage in unlawful activities.

Source: Sudan Tribune