The UAE has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Mandera County, in northern Kenya, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of a number of innocent people. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law.

The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Kenya, and to the families of the victims of this heinous crime, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs&International Cooperation.

Escalating conflict is driving record levels of gender-based violence, displacement and hunger in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), threatening to push the country to the brink of catastrophe without urgent international action.

Decades of conflict and the resulting humanitarian emergency have already exhausted and traumatized millions of civilians. In the last few months alone, more than 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, bringing the total number of displaced people to an all-time high of 7.2 million.

Ensuring that sufficient aid reaches civilians in need swiftly and without impediment is critical. But this year’s Humanitarian Response Plan is woefully underfunded, with just 16 per cent of the $2.6 billion needed having been received. The gap between rapidly rising needs and sufficient resources means millions of people are left without the lifesaving support they need.

This lack of resources is compounding the crisis by forcing humanitarian organizations to curb their assistance, with women and girls paying a devastatingly high price. Minimal protection and security in crowded displacement camps means many are forced to exchange sex for survival and support for their families. When they venture outside to collect firewood, water or for work, they are also exposed to appalling levels of sexual violence.

Gender-based violence has surged to unprecedented levels, with recorded cases surging between 2022 and 2023. Stigma and the fear of retaliation prevent many survivors from coming forward. In addition to sexual violence, children are also at risk of other threats, including abduction, killing, maiming and recruitment by armed groups.

Perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable for their crimes. Under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected.

More than 25 million people – a quarter of the population – continue to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity in the DRC, a country facing one of the world’s largest food crises. Cholera and measles are also spreading rapidly as the health sector continues to deteriorate. Climate extremes worsened by El Niño are yet another threat for already struggling families.

Bringing an end to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the DRC requires addressing its root causes: conflict, the exploitation of natural resources, illicit financial flows, prevailing gender inequality and development deficits.

We must step up our support to the Congolese people, including to women and girls who are bearing the brunt of this conflict, as they work to rebuild their lives and livelihoods and return to their homes. The international community must mobilize additional resources for the humanitarian response and support for civil society organizations – as well as the political will to end the violence once and for all.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Parliament has approved a government request to borrow up to Euro 110,543,947.52 (about Shs 450 billion) from Standard Chartered Bank to finance the Kitgum-Kidepo Road upgrading project.

The 115 km Kitgum-Kidepo Road in North Eastern Uganda, connects the Kitgum and Kaabong districts.

The motion for the approval was presented by the Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, during the plenary sitting presided over by Speaker Anita Among on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

Musasizi said that upgrading the road has been prioritised to promote tourism by facilitating movement of tourists visiting Kidepo Valley National Park.

“This sub region has the lowest road density of 5.9Kms of paved national roads per 1,000km2 land area,” he said. 

He added that this will also contribute to regional development of Karamoja-sub-region, which is one of the highest poverty stricken sub regions in the country.

Minister Musasizi said that upgrading the road will not only ease movement to South Sudan and Kenya, but will also improve and promote trade with the two countries.

He further pointed out that although tourism remains one of the best performing sectors of the economy, its potential has not been adequately exploited due to inadequate tourism infrastructure such as roads making tourists to travel through poor gravel to reach the national parks.

Legislators were however unhappy that the House Committee on National Economy, to which the loan request had been referred for scrutiny, had not done so and had not reported on the motion.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, moved a motion to waive the requirement, paving way for the debate without the report.

The MPs, led by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Senyonyi, Hon. Jonathan Odur (UPC, Erute County South) and Hon. Ssemujju Nganda (FDC, Kira Municipality) among others argued that proceeding without a report would set a bad precedent.

“Many times government enters into problematic agreements. The matter was sent to the Committee but the committee has not produced a report,” said Ssenyonyi.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

This year, as the world commemorates World Immunization Week from April 24 to April 30, South Sudan joins the global community in celebrating the monumental 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). This milestone highlights the transformative power of vaccines, which have significantly decreased child mortality rates globally. They lead to elevated health standards by reducing or eradicating the prevalence of critical diseases, such as eradicating smallpox and reducing the wild poliovirus to two countries.

In 1974, only 5% of the world’s children had been vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. That figure has increased to nearly 85% of children worldwide and 73% in South Sudan today.

Smallpox was eradicated some five years after the birth of the EPI. Since then, the wild poliovirus has been geographically limited to only two countries, and the threat of several serious infectious childhood diseases has also been reduced. Through innovation and technology, new vaccines, including the malaria and COVID-19 vaccines, have been developed that can protect against even more diseases today.

This year, World Immunization Week celebrates and recognizes our collective efforts to save and improve countless lives from vaccine-preventable diseases and underscores that immunization for all is humanly possible!

“We must increase vaccination coverage to safeguard children against vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health. “Unfortunately, routine vaccination coverage against these diseases remains low in South Sudan, leaving many children vulnerable to childhood illnesses. Therefore, the significance of vaccination campaigns cannot be overstated.”

Over the past five years, vaccination rates among infants have significantly improved. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF’s estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC), the percentage of children under one-year-old who received the third dose of the DPT vaccine—which protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus—increased from 59% in 2018 to 73% in 2022.

Given the challenging context of the country and the suboptimal immunization coverage, there have been outbreaks of yellow fever, measles, and vaccine-derived poliovirus cases. These were promptly responded to this year by the Ministry of Health, providing opportunities to 465 798 people 9 months- 60 years in five affected counties in WES to be vaccinated with yellow fever vaccine, 115 981 children under 15 years reached with measles vaccine in three counties and 3,083,515 children under five nationwide vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).

“Vaccines save lives. WHO works with countries across the globe to raise awareness of the value of vaccines and immunization. It ensures that governments obtain the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high-quality immunization programmes. They have been proven to reduce illness and deaths among children in the African Region. For 50 years, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has focused on protecting children from diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and measles. Today, this number has grown to 13 universally recommended vaccines across the life course. Vaccines prevent serious diseases and save lives,” said Dr Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Representative for South Sudan.

Celebrating Immunization Week, Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan, said, “Immunization is not just a medical achievement; it’s a testament to our shared commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring a healthier future for all. As we mark 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, let us renew our dedication to reaching every child, every family, and every community with the life-saving protection of vaccines. Together, we prove that immunization for all is not just a goal; it’s our collective duty, and it’s humanly possible.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Sudan engaged in vigorous efforts to deploy the Covid-19 vaccine. Over 5 million people aged 18 and above, accounting for 82% of the target, have been vaccinated with the primary series, and efforts are being made to integrate the vaccine into the routine immunization and primary healthcare system.

South Sudan joins the world in celebrating the 50 years of the Expanded Program on Immunization and, with its partners, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable immunization services reach every corner of the country to leave no one behind.

With the support of Gavi, the vaccine alliance, the country is set to introduce the malaria vaccine into its routine immunization system by July 2024. By 2025, Gavi is also supporting the introduction of the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and Rota Virus vaccine (RVV) into the immunization system in the country to protect children against Pneumonia, and diarrhea will be introduced.

South Sudan urges all communities, traditional and religious leaders and institutions, and indeed national and international partners to continue to support the drive to increase immunization coverage in the country and extend vaccination to the second year of life as immunization remains the most cost-effective public health intervention to prevent diseases.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.