UNICEF extends aid to children in Afghanistan affected by flash floods

UNICEF extends aid to children in Afghanistan affected by flash floods

Afghanistan’s most recent floods killed about 350 people, including dozens of children, and damaged more than 7,800 homes leaving over 5,000 families displaced.  UNICEF has since provided safe water, hygiene kits with soap, toothbrushes and more to communities in Afghanistan. The children’s fund also organised hygiene sessions to teach civilians about handwashing and safe water storage…

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Droughts and floods threaten ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ across southern Africa

Droughts and floods threaten ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ across southern Africa

The droughts have destroyed harvests in areas where 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for survival. Executive Director McCain said what she has seen has been both alarming and heartbreaking. “I met farmers who usually grow enough to feed their families and communities. This year they harvested nothing. Now imagine a similar…

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Climate crisis fuels deadly floods, worsening hunger in Afghanistan

Climate crisis fuels deadly floods, worsening hunger in Afghanistan

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that as erratic weather on the back of the worsening climate crisis “becomes the norm”, things will only get worse. This month’s unusually high rainfall followed a dry winter, rendering the ground too hard to absorb water, leading to massive flooding. Unseasonably warm temperatures further complicated the situation…

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World News in Brief: Human rights in Haiti, 750,000 hit by East Africa floods, Namibia health milestone

World News in Brief: Human rights in Haiti, 750,000 hit by East Africa floods, Namibia health milestone

The experts detailed the far-reaching impacts of the violence and lawlessness that has led to chaos across the capital, Port-au=Prince, and other areas under gang control this year. “The outbreak of violence in Haiti has resulted in loss of livelihoods and food insecurity, widespread and multiple displacement, the collapse of education, breakdown of healthcare and…

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East Africa: UN support continues amid heavy rains, severe floods and cyclone threat

East Africa: UN support continues amid heavy rains, severe floods and cyclone threat

Torrential rains could worsen with the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday.  Prepare for impact  The tropical cyclone is the first of its kind to develop in eastern Africa and is due to have a “very big impact”, WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis told journalists in Geneva. She said Tanzania was expected to suffer in particular…

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World News in Brief: UN official condemns attacks in Ukraine, DR Congo faces fresh fighting and devastating floods

World News in Brief: UN official condemns attacks in Ukraine, DR Congo faces fresh fighting and devastating floods

The morning assault reportedly involved Russian-fired missiles and drones which hit six Ukrainian regions leaving at least five dead.  The attacks also disrupted essential services, including electricity, water and gas supplies, especially in Mykolaiv city and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, when they are much needed this cold winter. “Millions of people rely on these services for…

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World News in Brief: Somalia floods, Sudan cholera update, genocide prevention

World News in Brief: Somalia floods, Sudan cholera update, genocide prevention

Rising waters caused by torrential downpours have affected more than 2.4 million in the east African nation, while UN aid teams are increasingly concerned about the spread of waterborne diseases, said aid coordination office, OCHA.  Suspected cases of cholera have already been reported and humanitarians have highlighted how much of a threat this poses to…

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