Trump’s aid freeze shuts down global famine-monitoring system
31/1/2025: The famine early warning systems network (Fews Net) for monitoring global food crises appears to have been suspended after President Donald Trump’s executive order froze US foreign aid. Fews Net helps humanitarian organisations decide how to distribute food aid to tens of millions of people around the world.
Source: The Guardian
Diplomacy key to ending crisis in eastern DR Congo
31/1/2025: The head of UN Peace Operations has underscored the need for continued diplomatic efforts to end the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and avert the potential for triggering wider regional conflict. The M23 rebel group and Rwandan Defence Force have taken control of the provincial capital, Goma.
African countries called upon to improve data collection
30/1/2025: The recent Forum on Statistical Development in Africa has highlighted the continent's lack of robust evidence-based data, essential to effective development policies. This comes at a time when many African governments are struggling to adequately fund their national statistical agencies, resulting in unreliable data in vital areas such as population.
Source: Inter Press Service
Confusion, fear as PEPFAR partners suspend HIV services
30/1/2025: Hundreds of service providers in sub-Saharan Africa and across other countries that are supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief have been ordered to stop their work, as a consequence of Trump’s executive order pausing foreign development assistance for 90 days.. Any interruption of lifesaving antiretroviral drugs is dangerous for people who are living with HIV.
Source: Devex
UNRWA ‘continues to deliver’ as Israeli ban comes into effect
30/1/2025 The UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) has upheld its commitment to support millions across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Last October, the Israeli parliament passed two laws that called for ending UNRWA’s operations in its territory.
Source: UN News
How Africa may lose from US leaving World Health Organization
29/1/2025: President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization will be keenly felt across the globe, with profound implications for health in Africa - where increases in mortality and morbidity could be a consequence of closed programmes.
Source: The Conversation
Myanmar on the brink as conflict fuels hunger
29/1/2025: Hunger has reached alarming levels in Myanmar with the situation set to worsen in 2025, the World Food Programme has warned. A staggering 15 million people are expected to face hunger in 2025. More than 3.5 million people are displaced due to armed conflict and violence.
Source: World Food Programme
How Trump’s US aid stop-work order affects global food aid
29/1/2025: The Trump administration’s 90-day freeze of nearly all foreign assistance has paralyzed a vast swath of US-funded food aid and agricultural research work.W hile “emergency food aid” is exempt from the order, it remains unclear what counts under that umbrella.
Source: Devex
Heads of State commit to transform Africa’s energy sector
28/1/2025: The African Union Summit in February will be asked to adopt the Mission 300 initiative which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, about half of those currently lacking access. The African Development Bank and the World Bank Group plan to allocate $48 billion in financing by 2030.
Source: World Bank Group
Oxfam International urges Spain to lead the global fight against inequality
27/1/2025: The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development will be held in Seville in June. Oxfam International is encouraging Spain to lead an international commitment to address the inequalities between the Global North and South.
Source: Oxfam International