By Carla McKirdy This report by Carla McKirdy first appeared in Africa Renewal, a magazine published by the United Nations in New York. The writer is Associate Information Management Officer at the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ADDIS ABABA (IDN) – As part of a coordinated approach to strengthen developing countries’ responses to COVID-19, as […]
UN Discusses the Challenges of Combating COVID-19 Pandemic and Silencing the Guns in Africa
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – In opening remarks to the Africa Dialogue Series on “COVID-19 and Silencing the Guns in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The pandemic has exposed the fragility of our societies. It is a global problem that demands a coordinated global response built on unity […]
Five-member BRICS Works Out Ways to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW (IDN) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa to join Beijing and “stand firm by multilateralism, by the UN-centered international system” and “champion the approach of consultation and cooperation”. China and the four countries comprise BRICS. The group’s member countries collectively represent about […]
India’s Kerala Is Combating COVID-19 Through Participatory Governance
By Yadul Krishna* NEW DELHI (IDN) – The left-ruled Indian State of Kerala remains in the global spot for its effective and efficient measures in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The state subjugated the Indian news headlines, projecting its potential, strength and humane approach to the outer world, leaving an operative model that other states can […]
COVID-19 Endangers 80 Million Children by Disrupting Vaccination Efforts
UN Agencies Call for a Joint Effort to Safely Deliver Routine Immunization By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA | NEW YORK (IDN) – Ahead of the virtual Global Vaccine Summit on June 4 in London, the World Health Organization WHO), UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have warned that COVID 19 is disrupting life-saving immunization services around […]
Tackle Indoor Air Pollution Amid COVID-19 Crisis
By J W Jackie RENO, Nevada, USA (IDN) – Covid-19 has had an immense impact on the world ever since the first case was confirmed in China in November 2019. Since then, Americans have been instructed to avoid any non-essential travel and gatherings of more than ten people until the end of April. Spain has asked […]
Traditional Polls Will Test Africa’s Resistance to COVID-19
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Africa’s infection rates are still relatively low to the wonderment of some in the western world who predicted infection rates in the billions. In fact, African governments in many cases took preventative steps – from closing borders, social distancing, shutting educational institutions and banning mass […]
Eritrean Refugees Sue EU for Abetting Forced Labour Back Home
By Dion De Vries* BRUSSELS (IDN) – A Dutch Foundation of Eritrean refugees, Foundation Human Rights for Eritreans, has filed a lawsuit in the Amsterdam court against the European Union (EU) for its role in financing a road building project in Eritrea that uses forced labour. The Netherlands is host to many Eritrean migrants and […]
Communities in Mozambique Inspired to Curb Deforestation
By Mariane Almeida and Sofia Barbeiro The two writers are part of a team of Young Environmental Journalists covering Africa. RIO de JANEIRO | LISBON (IDN) – In Mozambique’s province of Gaza, 9,240 tons of charcoal are produced every year placing pressure on the region’s natural resources. Wood burning for charcoal production has led to […]
COVID-19: Fake, Shocking & Good News Stalks Africa
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A new fact-checking industry had its hands full recently in Senegal when a fake news post on social media claimed that children were “dying on the spot” from vaccines against the corona virus. The post, titled “Scandal in Senegal”, was shared thousands of times on […]