Every year on 14 June, Zimbabwe joins the global community in commemorating World Blood Donor Day, as a moment to honor those who selflessly donate their blood to save lives. This year’s commemoration holds special significance, marking a milestone of reaching two decades of global promotion of this selfless act of blood donation.

One such dedicated donor is 43-year-old Isaac Bheta.

Despite initial hesitations due to misconceptions, Mr Bheta made his first donation in year 2000 at Gwindigwi High School in Bikita. Moving to Gweru exposed him to a more positive environment, and he has since donated 75 times.

“I managed to inspire 4 people and I hope more people will start donating blood because I know that it saves lives,” Bheta declares, reflecting on his journey.

However, like in most developing countries the demand for blood continues to outpace supply.

The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Sleiman Kwidini, highlighted the ongoing challenge, “The success of blood collections depends on community support, whilst the significant increase in hospital blood usage underscores the need for regular donations.”

While Zimbabwe boasts one of the region’s highest blood collection rates of 5.6 units per 1000 population, it still falls short of the desired African Region target of 10 units.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Zimbabwe Dr Desta Tiruneh commended the government’s 2018 initiative to provide free blood services in public health institutions.  He emphasized the initiative’s impact on accessibility and encouraged wider participation in blood donation drives.

Dr. Tiruneh however emphasized the importance of sustained governmental support.

“WHO urges the Government of Zimbabwe to fulfill its commitment to fully subsidize NBSZ, allowing them to reduce fees and make blood more affordable in the private sector which is now providing essential health services to an increasing proportion of the population.”

WHO’s decade-long support for Zimbabwe includes technical and financial assistance to improve blood product availability, quality, and safety. This involves developing policies, establishing regulatory systems, and building capacity for effective oversight.

As Zimbabwe celebrates 20 years of blood donation, the message is clear: a sustainable blood supply relies on a combination of community engagement, continued government support, and affordable access across all healthcare systems.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organzation (WHO) – Zimbabwe.

Aisha* lost both her parents last year, aged just 17. “I was left alone at home. I couldn’t reach out to any of my relatives because the situation was extremely tense,” she told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

“Then an armed militia took over my neighbourhood [in Khartoum], turning it into a stronghold and restricting all movement.” 

The conflict in Sudan has ground on for over a year and spiralled into a humanitarian catastrophe. Estimates are that up to 12 million people have fled their homes, 2 million of them to unstable neighbouring countries, and famine is looming in multiple areas. Reports have soared of appalling sexual violence, wielded as a weapon to terrorize communities and exert control. 

Aisha only left her house for essential supplies and food. “Although the soldiers saw me moving around, they did not harass or harm me at first.”

“One day, two soldiers came to check who was still in the area. They knocked on my door and asked if anyone else was in the house. Terrified, I told them I was alone. They seemed to be searching for fighters and left.” 

But they would later return – this time without knocking. “They came in and pointed a gun at me. They told me not to scream or say anything – then they began to take off my clothes. One soldier held the gun while the other raped me, and then they took turns.”

A flight to safety

The horror didn’t end there for Aisha.

“The next day, they came back with two more soldiers and repeated the assault.” They would not leave Aisha’s home for four days. When they finally left, she escaped to a friend’s house. “My friends were preparing to leave – I didn’t tell them what had happened to me, and we travelled together to Kassala State.”

Across the world, sexual violence in conflicts has surged to record levels. Yet reported attacks are only a fraction of the real number, as many survivors don’t come forward for fear of facing stigma, retribution or being revictimized. Often there is nowhere to report the crimes, as protection mechanisms and the health system have all but broken down. 

For Aisha, the situation only grew more complex. “In Kassala, I discovered I was pregnant,” she told UNFPA. “My friend’s family had decided to leave, but when they found out they refused to take me with them. Alone and knowing no one, I tried to stay in a displacement camp, but they turned me away.”

With no means of looking after herself or anywhere to seek shelter or health care, Aisha grew increasingly distraught. 

“Those days were incredibly tough, and I even attempted suicide. One day a family told me about a safe space for women and girls in Kassala, suggesting they might help me. When I arrived, I saw a doctor and a psychologist. They had me sent to a hospital and gave me some money and temporary shelter.”

The safe space is one of 64 supported by UNFPA across Sudan that provide medical attention, shelter and counselling for survivors of gender-based violence. Although Aisha found help and healing, with her due date fast approaching she is in urgent need of longer-term support. “I will be alone with my child, with no money and no place to go.”

Rippling consequences 

In Darfur, Nisreen* and her 14-year-old daughter were ambushed by armed men while they were out collecting firewood. Despite her attempts to shield her daughter, Nisreen told UNFPA, “the soldiers attacked me until I collapsed, then they raped my daughter before fleeing. Some villagers discovered us and rushed us to the nearest health centre.” 

“When I woke up, I realized I had lost the use of my legs. Medical exams confirmed that my nervous system had been irreversibly damaged; I’m paraplegic.” 

UNFPA moved Nisreen and her daughter to a safe space and provided clinical and psychological post-rape health care. Her daughter also underwent a fistula repair surgery for an internal tear she suffered during the assault. 

An estimated 6.7 million people are at risk of gender-based violence in Sudan, with displaced, refugee and migrant women and girls particularly vulnerable. Most health centres in conflict-affected areas have been destroyed, looted or are struggling to function as staff are displaced and medicines and supplies are running out. 

Over the past year, UNFPA reached more than 600,000 people with gender-based violence response services and supported 112,000 people to access medical and sexual and reproductive health services – but much more is needed as the crisis deepens by the day.

Following their treatment, Nisreen and her daughter received a grant to start their own small business venture; they set up a kiosk in their town to sell groceries, paving the way for a new beginning despite the horrors they had faced.

“I thought it was the end for us, but then we found hope in the most unexpected places,” said Nisreen. “Opening the kiosk was a turning point: It gave us a sense of purpose and the means to support ourselves. We found a way to move forward.”

*Names changed for privacy and protection

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday focused on the worsening crisis in Sudan as civilians continue to suffer amidst the brutal fighting between rival militaries, while the Geneva-based Human Rights Council heard independent investigators describe combatants’ “blatant disregard” for fundamental human rights and international law.

The war that erupted last April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered political instability, a severe humanitarian emergency and widespread human rights violations.

Over 15,500 fatalities have been reported in some 1,400 violent incidents targeting civilians and there are now almost 9.5 million forcibly displaced in Sudan – 7.3 million internally (IDPs) and 1.9 million in neighbouring countries.

Furthermore, around 18 million people are acutely food insecure and five million are facing starvation. Pregnant women are most at risk and 7,000 new mothers could die in the next few months if they do not get access to food and healthcare.

Fighting in El Fasher

The situation is particularly worrying in and around El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur. The now-besieged city had a pre-war population of about 1.5 million, as well as sheltering a further 800,000 IDPs.

It is now under relentless bombardment and aerial attacks and atrocities against civilians are being committed along ethnic lines, Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told ambassadors at the Security Council.

“Civilians are in the line of fire. Nowhere is safe for them,” she said.

She called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation in line with Security Council resolution 2736 adopted last week.

“A ceasefire in El Fasher is needed now to prevent further atrocities, protect critical infrastructure, and alleviate civilian suffering … the parties must heed this call without delay.”

Ethnic undertones

Ms. Pobee also noted escalation in fighting in other parts of Sudan, including Greater Khartoum, the Kordofan regions and Gezira state, where RSF members reportedly killed 100 civilians in an attack on a village on 5 June.

“Without swift action, Sudan risks becoming engulfed in more ethnic violence and fragment even further,” she warned.

“The risk of a conflict spillover remains high.”

Aid ‘woefully underfunded’

Ambassadors also heard an update from Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), who detailed the impact of the crisis on civilians and on relief efforts.

Though there have been some improvements over the last few weeks in access, such as approvals of visas and travel permits by authorities, aid operations continue to face serious challenges, including attacks against personnel.

“Six aid workers, all Sudanese nationals, have been killed over the last six weeks. This brings the total number of aid workers killed to 24 since the war started,” Ms. Wosornu said.

In addition, the $2.7 billion UN-led humanitarian appeal is “woefully underfunded”, she added, noting that so far only $441 million – 16 per cent – has been received.

“We are in a race against time to avert massive loss of life in this unprecedented protection and food security crisis in Sudan. Every day that we wait for funding to come in, more lives are at risk,” she warned.

Rights investigators report

Meanwhile the Human Rights Council, in Geneva, which opened its 56th regular session on Tuesday heard from independent investigators probing alleged human rights violations and abuses against civilians, including refugees.

“We have received credible accounts of indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including through airstrikes and shelling in heavily populated residential areas, as well as ground attacks against civilians in their homes and villages,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan.

The FFM is also investigating other attacks against civilians across Sudan, including the mass killings in El Geneina and in Ardamata, of members of the Masalit community, between April and November of last year.

Ceasefire imperative

Mr. Othman underscored the human rights and humanitarian situation in Sudan cannot improve without an immediate ceasefire.

Despite repeated appeals by the international community, the fighting persists, he added, stressing that commanders must instruct their forces to abide by international humanitarian law, protect civilians and ensure punishment for violations.

At the same time, warring parties must not attack humanitarian workers, obstruct aid delivery and allow unfettered access to the millions of civilians in need in every part of Sudan.

“The people of the Sudan are crying for help to restore their dignity and rights. They need the support of this [Human Rights] Council,” he concluded.

Independent investigators

The three-member independent Fact-Finding Mission was established by the Human Rights Council in October last year for an initial duration of one year.

Its mandate, among other points is to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights and humanitarian law-related violations.

Its Chair together with members Joy Ngozi Ezeilo and Mona Rishmawi, serve in their individual capacities, independent of the United Nations. None of the human rights experts serving are UN staff and they receive no salary.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

The European Union has awarded full Masters Scholarship to 48 Ethiopian students for the academic year of 2024-2025 through the EU’s flagship education initiative, Erasmus+ European Scholarship Programme. The students will spend 2 years full time in prestigious European Universities and will be studying at various higher institutions in 12 European countries. The Master’s degrees are offered by university consortia, including universities from at least two EU Member States.

The European Union’s Erasmus+ programme aims to enhance quality in higher education through scholarships and academic co-operation between the EU and the rest of the world. Ethiopia is one of the top beneficiary countries of the Erasmus programme. Since 2004, Ethiopia is one of the top 10 performing countries in the world, and amongst the top 5 in Africa both in terms of student selection and application in the Erasmus Scholarship programme. Since 2010, the European Union has awarded the Erasmus scholarship to more than 600 Ethiopian students. more

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia.