Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided equipment and medical supplies to strengthen the practical training capabilities of Dakar Municipality’s Health Vocational School (EMPS).

To facilitate student research in the field of health, 20 new computers were installed in the school’s library, along with a laser printer. Additionally, 5 video projectors were provided to enhance the quality of visual training for midwifery and nursing students.

The opening ceremony for the project was attended by Nur Sağman, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Dakar; Barthélémy Dias, Mayor of Dakar; Mouhamed Diop, Secretary General of Dakar Municipality; and Dr. Rokhaya Seck, Director of the Vocational School of Health.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

The Forestry and Wildlife Authority held a meeting on 9 September to review the implementation of 2024 activities and discuss development programs for 2025.

The meeting, attended by concerned institutions and partners, included presentations by representatives from the Anseba, Gash Barka, Northern Red Sea, Southern, and Central regions. They shared reports on their achievements and the challenges they encountered.

Col. Kinfe Habtom, General Manager of the Authority, gave a comprehensive briefing on the activities carried out in 2024, including the preparation and types of tree seedlings planted across the country, the condition of reserved lands, and the lands prepared for seedling plantations at the village level. He urged the public to increase their participation in water and soil conservation efforts.

Col. Kinfe also called on regional administrations to strengthen cooperation with concerned institutions and the units of the Defense Forces to ensure the conservation and protection of forests and wildlife.

The meeting further conducted an extensive discussion on the 2025 program.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Today, the United States announced over $100 million in emergency food assistance to support food-insecure populations in South Sudan. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation allocation, this funding will help to purchase, ship, and distribute approximately 42,000 metric tons of food commodities from American farmers to approximately one million people experiencing acute food insecurity in South Sudan. USAID, the lead federal coordinator for international disaster assistance, will help distribute these commodities to those in greatest need.

South Sudan is experiencing compounding crises that have generated humanitarian needs across the country. With millions of South Sudanese in need of food assistance and other life-saving aid due to continued conflict, worsening seasonal flooding, the arrival of approximately 800,000 refugees and returnees from the war in Sudan, and other shocks driving humanitarian needs, the humanitarian crisis in the country is growing. These commodities are one more way the U.S. is working to meet people’s needs by providing emergency food assistance for the most food-insecure people in South Sudan.

This additional funding brings the total U.S. government’s life-saving assistance in South Sudan to nearly $609 million to date in fiscal year 2024. The United States continues to stand with the people of South Sudan during this critical time of increasing humanitarian needs and calls on other donors to join us in our efforts to save lives and alleviate suffering. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Don’t miss a single minute. Get on with it!”

That was the message from the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to more than 130 women peacekeepers who joined him for a virtual conversation about their role in serving and supporting the country on its journey from conflict to peace.

The meeting with female military, police, justice and corrections personnel was hosted by the Pilot Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers, launched in UNMISS in November 2023 to enable women peacekeepers to connect, exchange ideas and learn from each other.

“Gender responsive leadership is the only kind of leadership that is acceptable and effective,” stated Lieutenant General, Mohan Subramanian at the outset.

He outlined several achievements made in enhancing the role of women peacekeepers in leadership and decision-making, including the deployment of Colonel Maysaros Chea from the Cambodian Military Police who is the first female commander of an UNMISS military contingent, an increase in female senior military officers in the field, and boosting the gender unit at HQ from one to five members.

“Women peacekeepers must be involved in all processes, at all levels, whether it is strategic or tactical, without exception. For example, every policy promoted within the Force has gender perspectives incorporated before it is even brought to the table for consideration,” said Lt. General Subramanian.

“However, this is just a beginning, there are many more miles to go on this journey.”

The group also discussed creating an enabling environment, such as procuring better tentage and mobile ablution kits so that women peacekeepers can more easily deploy to remote and difficult locations.  

The Force Commander also highlighted areas of peacekeeping where women can have a greater impact.

“For example, we launched targeted action to counter the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence. This includes dedicated patrols led by women peacekeepers who break through the cordon of traditionally male leaders to directly engage with women in communities,” he said.

“This allows us to discuss with them any trends in sexual violence, generate early warning alerts and, when incidents are identified, we can advise survivors where to report, find support, and how to pursue justice and accountability.”

“In one instance, I met women in a community who told me that there were particular locations and times where they were being targeted because perpetrators knew they would be going to collect water, firewood or use ablutions,” he said. “So, we devised a ‘twilight patrol’ to visit those exact locations at those times. For five months, there were no abductions or assaults.”

After a robust and inclusive discussion, the Force Commander left participants with some parting advice.

“Do not waste a single minute of your time here. At the end of your deployment, you want to know that you have made a difference and that you are going home with a sense of satisfaction at a job well done.”

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