In the early morning, a UN helicopter approaches Nadiangere. Just below it, the lush and fertile landscape is bursting with newly planted crops. They are vital for supplying food and livelihoods, not only to this village, but to communities across the region.

Once on the ground, a team of peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) begin their patrol to assess the humanitarian and security situation. They want to see for themselves, and hear first-hand from the community, about the challenges they are facing. who say they are lucking basic services such as education, health, and security.

In recent times, residents of Nadiangere have shared basic services with a internally displaced persons who have fled their homes in Tambura because of another outburst of intercommunal violence in the troubled area.

Women and children seem to be the ones worst affected by increasingly insufficient resources.

“We ran into the bush, after seven days we reached Nadiangere. There is no food for us at all, and I am very tired. There is nowhere to get medication and no means for me to communicate with my sibling, who remained behind,” said Eunice Philimona, a displaced woman.

For 21-year-old resident Severina Angelo, a mother of two, sustainable peace is key to improve living conditions in her community.

“We need peace, we have suffered a lot. Our children shouldn’t have to go through the same as we have done. We need schools, a hospital and other necessities,” she said.

In response to the many needs of the population, UNMISS has financed the construction of a primary school. It has three classrooms, a teachers’ office, and provides a much-improved learning environment for more than 300 girls and boys.

Alfred Futuyo Karaba, Governor of Western Equatoria State, is grateful for the new addition to the local landscape.

“You have built three classrooms for children in Nadiangere, and that is great. We will move forward by encouraging people to go to school and to farm. We will stand together with them and work hand in hand for further development,” he said.

The UNMISS school project is expected to boost the quality of life for residents and internally persons alike, particularly for girls and women, and contributes to the protection of civilians, a core part of the peacekeeping mission’s mandate in the world’s youngest nation.

Jane Lanyero Kony, Head of the UNMISS Field Office in Western Equatoria, assured residents that she had taken note of their concerns.

“We came here to listen and now that we are going back (to Yambio), we will, to the extent possible, mobilize the UN family to provide you with further support,” she pledged.

Blue Helmets will continue to conduct patrols in the area and work closely with humanitarian partners to assist people in need across Western Equatoria and beyond.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Emirates Lions utility back Sanele Nohamba was rewarded for his great form of the past eight months when he was named the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season for his stellar performances at scrumhalf and flyhalf for the team from Johannesburg.

The 25-year-old Nohamba follows in the footsteps of DHL Stormers duo Evan Roos and Manie Libbok, who won this award in the first two seasons of URC. The other 2024 nominees were the Vodacom Bulls’ duo of Cameron Hanekom (loose forward) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing).

The Gauteng-based trio garnered the most votes in the nomination process, with Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus, the four South African franchises and local media selecting their star players of the season.

Nohamba – who has progressed through SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development pipeline and honed his skills for the SA Schools and Junior Springbok sides – played scrumhalf and flyhalf for the Emirates Lions, starting 17 of their 18 games in 2023/24. He scored two tries, and added 32 conversions, 14 penalty goals and a drop goal for a personal tally of 119 points during the season, which placed him fourth overall after the league phase of the competition.

Mr. Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, congratulated Nohamba on his exceptional season, which also earned him an invitation to the Springbok alignment camps.

“It’s often said that there is no more space in our game for players who are smaller in stature, but Sanele disproved that assumption this season,” said Mr. Alexander.

“What he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill, heart, and temperament. This award is a testament to his remarkable attitude. Sanele adapted seamlessly from scrumhalf to flyhalf and excelled in the No. 10 jersey, catching the attention of Rassie Erasmus.

“The Lions came very close to making the playoffs for the first time, and Sanele was one of their standout players this season. He is a deserving recipient of the Vodacom URC Player of the Season award.”

Sitho Mdlalose, CEO of Vodacom South Africa, said: “We’re delighted to recognise what has been a magnificent season for Sanele Nohamba. Sanele has been a true inspiration with his exciting play for the Emirates Lions, and he really embodies the ethos of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with his fighting spirit and his selfless service to his team.

“Sanele has taken his talent and passion for the game all the way from his upbringing in Alice in the Eastern Cape right to the biggest stages in world rugby, and now even into challenging for Springbok selection.

“We’re privileged to have played a part in providing the platform for his talent to shine and grow, and to be able to recognise the hard work he’s put in to make this such a defining season for him.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.

For further information, please contact:
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Media Operations Coordinator
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On June 17, following the passing of the Rt. Hon. Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima in a plane crash on June 10, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, issued a letter of condolence to Hon. Ms. Nancy Tembo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi.

In the letter, Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA, on behalf of the Government and the people of Japan, expressed her respect for the Vice President’s significant contributions to the development of the Republic of Malawi. Minister KAMIKAWA also extended her sincere condolences to the bereaved family and the Government and people of the Republic of Malawi.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in Zimbabwe with support from the World Health Organization and UNICEF conducted an Intra Action Review (IAR) of the current cholera response in the country from 3-7 June 2024. This IAR served as a platform for key responders to collaboratively assess strategies, share experiences, pinpoint challenges, and identify successful actions. These insights will be used to refine programme decisions and control the outbreak more effectively.

The country-led review brought together key stakeholders, decision makers, and implementing partners including experts from technical agencies including the Africa CDC, IFRC, Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), UNICEF, World Vision, and WHO.  

MoHCC Cholera Incident Manager Dr Isaac Phiri said the review is a stock taking opportunity that will help the country accelerate efforts to control the outbreak particularly at the time when the country is recording a decline in cases.

“The IAR is important for us to restrategize our response and curb this outbreak preferably in the next six weeks. We also thank WHO and all our partners providing technical support needed in critical situations like this,” he said.

The review was conducted using a combination of presentations, group work and plenary sessions from various pillars including Coordination, Risk Communication and Community Engagement, Laboratory, Surveillance, Operational Support and Logistics, as well as the Case Management. Numerous challenges including insufficient public health structures, particularly those related to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to effectively contain the spread of cholera were highlighted. In addition, the review noted delays in last mile distribution of cholera supplies and commodities hindering effective outbreak response while inconsistencies and limitations in communication strategies hindered public awareness and community engagement efforts in some areas.

The review highlighted several success stories. The activation of the incident management system, identified as a key strength, was facilitating improved coordination of the response including resource tracking. Additionally, a robust case management system, with trained personnel, effectively treated cholera patients. The IAR also revealed good practices in the surveillance system that enabled timely detection and tracking of cholera cases. Furthermore, the engagement of interfaith leaders improved community engagement activities on cholera prevention, with traditional leaders playing a key role in engaging communities.

 “This was a great platform for sharing information and good practices critical to accelerate our response efforts and end this outbreak. A lot of learning was done even outside the workshop formal engagements,” noted one of the participants John Mwenda, a Medical Research Officer from the National Institute of Health Research.

WHO Member States at the May 2020 World Health Assembly recommended a periodic IAR of the health response to COVID-19 and this has been cascaded down to other emergencies such as cholera outbreaks when they become protracted. WHO has been supporting MoHCC since the beginning of the outbreak in February 2023 through provision of up-to-date guidelines on best practices for cholera prevention, control, and treatment, essential cholera supplies including oral cholera vaccines, rehydration solutions, and diagnostic tests, deployment of technical experts to support national and local authorities in outbreak response activities as well as advocating for increased funding and resources to support cholera control efforts.

“The IAR was very successful and highlighted priority actions based on the challenges identified in the cholera response. WHO and partners look forward to supporting MOHCC and subnational stakeholders work on the recommendations and bridge the gaps identified to contain the outbreak,” said Dr Sally-Ann Ohene.

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