The ongoing crisis in Sudan has significantly impeded the ability of the WHO office in Sudan to access and deliver essential emergency medical supplies to the regions of the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains.

Due to the limited access and operational capacity in Sudan, the WHO Country Office in Sudan collaborated with WHO South Sudan office to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian commodities from South Sudan and provide the necessary support.

In response to these critical needs, the World Health Organization offices in South Sudan and Sudan collaborated to provide emergency medical supplies to those affected. By leveraging the WHO South Sudan office’s logistical prowess, expertise, and available resources, WHO South Sudan prepositioned the requisite quantities of emergency health kits from existing stockpiles in areas adjacent to the Sudan-South Sudan border, ensuring timely and effective assistance to those in dire need. This joint effort was a testament to the commitment of both offices to cross-border collaboration in addressing critical health issues.

These kits included Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits, Cholera Investigation and treatment kits, kits for the management of measles, non-communicable diseases, medical complications associated with severe acute malnutrition in children under five, and trauma management and emergency surgery kits. These kits are expected to serve approximately 830 000 people in the conflict-affected Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains areas for the next three months.

The shipment, worth USD 671 414, is the second that the WHO South Sudan has been able to deliver to Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023. The dispatch of the supplies is part of WHO’s continuous relief efforts in support of the Sudanese people in the current situation.  

“As logistics plays a critical role in emergency response, we must have a strong logistical capacity to ensure swift delivery of supplies to the affected areas. This includes having robust transportation networks, stockpiles, and an efficient distribution system in place”, said Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan. WHO has been working closely with the government to obtain the necessary clearances to ensure smooth delivery of the supplies

Our commitment and willingness to work together with all relevant parties involved in the emergency response is a key factor in effectively addressing the challenges to ensuring the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains areas with much-needed emergency medical supplies, said Dr Karamagi.

Following the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan, tens of thousands of people fleeing fighting crossed into South Sudan. The WHO supported South Sudan’s Ministry of Health in scaling up its operational readiness and response by deploying multidisciplinary teams of emergency responders to states experiencing a high population influx to ensure the provision of much-needed healthcare services.

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

Join U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood and Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies Ben Neji to learn about investment opportunities in cybersecurity and cloud computing in Tunisia.

Tunisia has made the development of its digital economy one of its top priorities for the coming years, which stands to offer significant commercial opportunities for information and communication technologies (ICT) providers, especially in the cloud and cybersecurity sectors. The government’s recognition of the importance of digital transformation and the associated risks has led to the implementation of initiatives to enhance cybersecurity measures and promote cloud adoption. The establishment of the national agency for cybersecurity (ANSC) through the cybersecurity decree-law, for example, is meant to provide a regulatory framework for security governance policies, training programs, and the certification of cloud providers. This sets the stage for the growth of Tunisia’s cloud and cybersecurity sectors.

The country is preparing to launch its first cloud computing project and create a national data storage space. The ANSC’s certification of cloud providers, including the G-cloud and N-cloud labels, presents opportunities for cloud service providers to cater to government agencies and state-essential organizations.

The increased adoption of digital platforms in Tunisia, while offering long-term success and enhanced connectivity, also brings digital threats, necessitating robust cloud security and cybersecurity solutions. The demand for secure data storage and the need to align the supply chain with rising digital demand may create opportunities for the installation of advanced software-based security infrastructure. Efforts to promote intelligent automation and improved consumer experiences further contribute to the growth prospects of Tunisia’s cybersecurity sector.

We look forward to welcoming any U.S. firms interested in learning more to this Direct Line Program webinar.

Date and Time: Monday, May 6, 2024 — 12:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 a.m. PST via WebEx
Hosts: U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood and Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies Nizar Ben Neji.

To learn more and register: https://www.state.gov/business-opportunities-in-cybersecurity-and-cloud-computing-in-tunisia/

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Tunisia.

In response to the months-long cholera outbreak and in partnership with the Tanzania Ministry of Health, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have been working with impacted communities to conduct cholera prevention activities, deploy health experts to targeted areas, and identify ways to increase access to clean water.

In response to the Ministry of Health’s request for assistance, USAID has allocated TSH 480 million to assist communities most affected in Tanzania, while the CDC has supported the deployment of health professionals from the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program into six regions. Collectively, the assistance has been and will continue to strengthen health education on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices; encourage sick people to seek care; facilitate household assessments of WASH practices; and boost the distribution of water purification tablets.

“The United States remains committed to our partnership with the Tanzanian government and stands with Tanzania in its fight against this disease,” said U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Michael Battle. “Cholera is a deadly, yet preventable, disease. Together, we can prevent it and save Tanzanian lives.”

USAID’s ongoing commitment of $50 million focused on providing a long-term solution by improving water infrastructure and community awareness on accessing safe water provides more than two million Tanzanians access to safe water and improved sanitation. In 2024, USAID will begin building new water systems and sewage treatment facilities to offer more people clean water, while continuing to build capacity for the management and maintenance of existing water, sanitation, and hygiene projects.

Since September 2023, the cholera outbreak has surged in Tanzania with more than 2,500 cases and 46 fatalities reported. This outbreak, which affected 18 regions, has the fourth-highest case count and third-highest fatality rate in the past four decades. The Ministry of Health’s response reduced infections and resulted in seven regions declaring an end to the surge. However, 12 regions still have active outbreaks, with Simiyu, Shinyanga, and Mwanza the most affected.

 How to prevent cholera: https://uploads.mwp.mprod.getusinfo.com/uploads/sites/72/2024/04/CDC_5-Cholera-Prevention-Steps.pdf

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.

Legislators have put government to task over failure to compensate persons affected by conflict and war in Uganda.

Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu (Ind., Soroti West Division) alluded to an order by the Soroti High Court that government must pay compensation to over 3,000 Teso war claimants who lost lives, animals and property between 1986 and 1994 and the 2003 LRA incursion.

“In the October 2023 ruling, court gave government six months within which to pay the people of Teso but nothing has been paid up to now. Government should tell us what plans they have to compensate the people of Teso, Acholi, Lango and West Nile,” said Ebwalu, during the plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday, 02 April 2024.

Hon. Linda Agnes Auma (Ind., Lira district) alluded to a record presented by the Attorney General of a total of 42,000 claimants to be compensated in Lango sub-region, noting that only 18,000 had been approved.

“We asked the Attorney General why the other 23,000 claimants were not approved but we did not get a clear answer,” Auma said.

Hon. Martin Muzaale (NRM, Buzaaya County) observed that many people affected by the Lakwena incursion in Busoga lost lives and property but have not been compensated to date.

The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, committed to meet legislators from the affected regions to address their concerns, noting that government has paid out a total of Shs496 billion so far, in compensation claims.

“We are also in the budgeting process and we hope some money will be made available for this purpose and if it is, we will continue to remit money to the persons entitled to it,” said Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

Hon. Jesca Ababiku (NRM, Adjumani district) proposed that the meetings with MPs be held on a regional basis so as to critically analyse issues and take concrete positions.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Rukia Nakadama promised to present the concerns to Cabinet, to consider inclusion of other regions in the quest for compensation.

In September 2022, while appearing before the Government Assurances Committee of Parliament, the Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi said that government at the time required Shs2 trillion to compensate victims of wars and insurgencies in Northern and Eastern Uganda, West Nile and the Elgon sub-region.

He told MPs at the time, that by the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, 30,339 out of 38,225 submissions from the districts had been reviewed, and 20,727 of them paid a total sum of Shs50 billion.

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