In northwest Tanzania, the risk of dying during childbirth for women and their babies is being addressed through more vital pathways to care, benefitting the lives of refugees from Burundi and the host community alike. Elda Kyando, medical team leader at Nduta Camp in the district of Kibondo for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has witnessed the significant impact on the health of pregnant women and newborns through the ever-growing trust placed in the Maternal and Neonatal Health services MSF and its partners provide.

“I am happy to see mothers coming to the hospital for delivery and leaving with happy faces, embracing their newborns,” says Elda. “We have maintained access to health care services to the population of Nduta refugees and the surrounding community. We continued to provide inpatient care in the emergency room (ER), adult ward, and paediatrics, including intensive care, neonatology, and maternity care.

“I have three children, all of whom I gave birth to at the hospital in Nduta, Tanzania. When we come from the village to the camp, we are given a permit and accommodation close to our residence,” says Lilian from the neighbouring village of Malolongwa. “The services are good, and the staff is friendly. You are listened to and very well cared for,” she says.

MSF’s 15-bed maternity department focuses on the medical conditions known to significantly increase the risk of maternal mortality, including postpartum haemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis, obstructed labour, and unsafe abortions. For patients needing referral to the district hospital for a higher level of care, MSF and its partners designed a robust referral pathway that ultimately emphasises saving time to increase patients’ chances of survival. 

Since January 2024, MSF has supported 624 referrals to Kibondo Hospital for people living in Nduta camp and the district, particularly for high-risk pregnancies requiring emergency surgery.

Maintaining a stable blood bank has been crucial to mitigate bleeding risks during or post-delivery in both hospitals. Elda recalls, “One night, I received a call from Kibondo District Hospital about a patient we had referred who was severely bleeding. The hospital had no matching blood, and it was difficult to find a donor. We managed to quickly send three units of blood from our blood bank which allowed the hospital staff to save the woman’s life.”

“We have also seen the important impact of community health promotion programs in empowering individuals to take charge of their health, leading to improved health outcomes,” she says. Indeed, implementing health promotion programs increased maternal and neonatal health awareness in and around the camp, fostering trust in existing services and encouraging women to seek timely health care.

Despite the several persistent health challenges in Kibondo for both refugee and host communities, investing in maternal and neonatal services and prevention will lead to a real improvement in access to healthcare for mothers-to-be and their newborn babies.

MSF in Tanzania

In 1993, MSF initiated its first emergency programs in Tanzania to aid refugees from Burundi, Rwanda, and the DRC in Kigoma. From 1995 to 2001, various health interventions were implemented, including malaria control, water provision, and primary healthcare in Kasulu, Mtwara, and Kigoma. These projects were followed by others, focusing on emergency preparedness against cholera epidemics, malaria outbreak responses, and HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. In 2015, MSF started working in Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee settings in Kibondo, where its teams opened a 175-bed hospital offering primary healthcare and health promotion. 

In 2023, MSF continued to support the Ministry of Health in responding to cholera and Marburg fever outbreaks and other health emergencies, including malaria response and mass vaccination. In southern Tanzania, Lindi Region, MSF launched a program at Liwale district Hospital to improve access to primary and secondary health care for pregnant women and children. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

One year after the devastating earthquake in Morocco and catastrophic floods in Libya, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), alongside the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents, remains committed to supporting the recovery and rebuilding efforts in these hard-hit regions. These disasters, which struck within days of each other in September 2023, left deep scars on the affected communities, but also demonstrated the strength and resilience of those impacted. 

Morocco: A Year of Recovery and Resilience 

On 8 September 2023, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountain range in Morocco, affecting over 660,000 people and causing widespread destruction. Over 59,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 380,000 people without shelter. From the outset, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRC) mobilized to provide emergency aid, including search and rescue operations, first aid, and the distribution of essential relief items. 

Reflecting on the past year, Dr. Mohammed Bendali, Head of Disaster Management, First-Aid Volunteering and Youth for the Moroccan Red Crescent, said, “The scale of the devastation was immense, but so was the response. Our volunteers and staff worked tirelessly to support the affected communities, providing not only material aid but also mental health and psychosocial support to help people cope with the trauma of the disaster.” 

The focus has now shifted to early recovery, with efforts concentrated on providing durable, insulated shelters, temporary classrooms and clinics, enhancing access to clean water and sanitation, and rebuilding livelihoods, while also looking to complement the support provided by the government to the affected families. Despite the challenges, the MRC remains committed to supporting the affected families for as long as necessary. 

Libya: Facing the Aftermath of Unprecedented Floods 

In early September 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed heavy rainfall on Libya’s northeastern coast, resulting in catastrophic floods that claimed over 5,900 lives and left more than 43,000 people homeless. The failure of two dams above the city – the first at about 11pm on 10 September, the second closer to 1am on 11 September – unleashed catastrophic amounts of water on the city of Derna.  

The Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) was on the ground immediately following the disaster, providing critical emergency aid, including search and rescue operations, first aid, and the distribution of food, water, and shelter materials. Tragically, the disaster also claimed the lives of several Red Crescent volunteers who were working to save others. 

“One year on, the pain of loss is still deeply felt in the communities we serve,” said Omar Jaouda, Secretary General of the Libyan Red Crescent. “But the resilience of the people is remarkable. We have continued to support those most affected, including thousands who are still displaced, as they rebuild their lives and homes.” 

Going forward, the Libyan Red Crescent is transitioning to long-term recovery and resilience by prioritising three key areas: first, increasing attention to recovery and resilience planning and implementation, ensuring that communities are equipped to withstand future shocks and recover effectively. Second, the National Society will bolster its capacity, preparedness, and readiness. And, third, the Libyan Red Crescent will enhance its security management practices to safeguard its operations and personnel, particularly in challenging environments, while also ensuring accountability in all its actions to maintain trust and transparency within the communities it serves. 

The IFRC’s Emergency Appeal for Libya, which aimed for CHF 20 million to address the extensive needs, has raised CHF 12.4 million to date. These funds have been critical in supporting 130,000 people with essential services, including shelter, health care, and psychosocial support. The IFRC is also working to enhance the LRCS’s capacity for future disaster response by renovating key facilities and equipping an Emergency Operations Centre in Derna. 

Looking Ahead: A Long Road to Recovery 

Both Morocco and Libya face long and challenging roads to recovery. The IFRC, together with the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents and other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, will continue to stand by these communities, providing the necessary support to ensure that they not only recover but also build resilience against future disasters. 

“The events of last year were a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by communities in disaster-prone regions,” said Dr. Hossam El Sharkawi, IFRC Regional DIrector for the Middle East and North Africa. “But they also highlighted the importance of local preparedness and the incredible impact of collective humanitarian efforts. We are committed to supporting the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescents in their ongoing work to help these communities rebuild and thrive.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, has concluded his successful visit to Bali, Indonesia, where he participated in the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) from 1-3 September 2024. The two events were convened under the theme, Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063.

The objectives of the Second IAF were to:

facilitate the exchange of views and perspectives on the current state and future trends of global economy and development
share successes, lessons learned and best practices with broader communities to inspire and encourage others to engage in similar inclusive partnerships
provide an avenue to discuss ways to enhance international cooperation amid complex global challenges
identify strategic, feasible, and doable policies and strategies; and
encourage collaborative problem-solving and work together to address challenges and leverage each other’s strengths and resources.

During the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), Deputy Minister Botes presented South Africa’s intervention at the Joint Leaders Session, where he said: “As we have completed the first decade of Implementation of the AU Agenda 2063, primarily focussed on convergence, we now enter its second decade which puts emphasise on acceleration of implementation. We wish to reassure the Government of Indonesia of South Africa’s commitment to the full and effective implementation of the AfCFTA, as one of the key components towards economic integration on the Continent.”

Deputy Minister Botes also reflected on the current state of multilateral cooperation, saying: “The global governance architecture is at a crossroads, as it struggles to manage [a myriad of] challenges afflicting humankind while governing relations between states and those between states and non-state actors. In the midst of these challenges, we commit to our Pan-African mantra, as espoused by the AU Agenda 2063 and to deepen solidarity with the Global South, including with Indonesia”.

The Deputy Minister also met with his counterpart, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Pahala Nugraha Mansury, and discussed South Africa’s enthusiasm to work closely with Indonesia to further expand and deepen political and economic relations.

The Deputy Minister concluded his visit by participating in a panel discussion themed, Connecting the South: Enhancing Logistics Connectivity to Support Trade in Developing Countries. Participants discussed measures to sustainably improve trade connectivity in the Global South and reflect on the effectiveness of international cooperation in addressing infrastructure development gaps.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi heads to Ankara for an official visit to the Republic of Türkiye at an invitation by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Ahmed Fahmy, said President El-Sisi’s historic visit to the Republic of Türkiye represents a new milestone on the path of strengthening relations between the two countries. He added that the visit builds upon the historic visit by President Erdoğan to Egypt last February and ushers-in a new phase in the friendship and joint cooperation between the two countries, both bilaterally and at the level of the region, which is encountering substantial challenges that necessitate consultations and coordination between the two countries.

During the visit, President El-Sisi is expected to hold in-depth talks with President Erdoğan. The two Presidents will also co-chair the first meeting of the High-level Strategic Cooperation Council between Egypt and Türkiye. The council meeting is scheduled to explore ways to promote bilateral relations across an array of fields, in addition to exchanging views on regional and international issues of joint interest. Those include primarily efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, end the dire humanitarian catastrophe in the sector, and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. President El-Sisi and Turkish President Erdoğan will also witness the signing of a multitude of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the two countries’ governments in a broad range of cooperation domains.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.