Weekly Highlight of WPS on the Continent 12th to 16th April 2021

Conflict in Northern Mozambique Extending Humanitarian Crisis

The extended conflict in Northern Mozambique has caused hunger and disease for hundreds of people in the region. Report have shown that COVID 19 pandemic, malnutrition and cholera are issues of concern in the region. WFP has stated that 950,000 people in the north of Mozambique are now facing extreme hunger as the gravity of the conflict intensifies.

Further Details:  https://www.voanews.com/africa/northern-mozambique-faces-extended-humanitarian-crisis-un-warns

Telecom Companies provide Apps to help GBV Survivors

Following the recent shadow pandemic (GBV) ravishing South Africa, Vodafone has launched a free mobile application to help people affected by Gender Based Violence. This application will help victims provide information on the abuse they are experiencing, and free online counselling and emergency help will follow for the victims. 

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/south-african-telecom-app-helps-gender-based-violence-survivors

Sexual Violence in Conflict is a Pandemic

Nobel laureate, Dr Denise Mukwege has told the United Nations Security Council that the increase in sexual violence and rape in conflict is a pandemic and without sanctions and justice the act will not stop. He appealed to the international community to put economic, financial and political sanctions on countries tolerating the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/science-health/nobel-doctor-calls-sexual-violence-conflict-pandemic

Chibok Girls Still Missing

It’s been seven years over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from their boarding school in Borno State Nigeria. Seven years after, over 100 girls are yet to be rescued from the captors. Parents of the missing schoolgirls are still demanding accountability from the Nigerian government with regard to the negotiating for the release of the schoolgirls and making schools in Northern Nigeria safer for girls.

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/more-100-chibok-girls-still-missing-seven-years-later

Rape and Hunger Rising in Tigray region of Ethiopia

The United Nations office of Humanitarian Affairs has warned about the increase in rape by uniformed men in the Tigray region five months into the conflict and no signs of the withdrawal of the withdrawal of the Eritrean troops. The UN has estimated that nearly 6 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/ethiopia-tigray/un-hunger-rape-rising-ethiopias-tigray

Rise in Teenage Pregnancy in Zimbabwe

The government of Zimbabwe has reported that in the months of January and February, nearly 5000 cases of teenage pregnancy have been reported in each of the months representing  a major jump from the previous years. Human Rights advocates are attributing the spike to lockdown restrictions imposed by the government.

Further Details:   https://www.voanews.com/episode/zimbabwe-reports-major-rise-teen-pregnancies-during-pandemic-4658971

Hunger in West and Central Africa

The World Food Program has warned that conflict and increasing food prices has driven millions of West and Central Africans in severe hunger. The report presented by WPF states that nearly 2.7 million people are close to experiencing faring and 800,000 people are facing hunger emergency levels in Northeast Nigeria states. This has left millions of people struggling to meet their basic food needs and children experiencing malnutrition.

Further Details: https://www.voanews.com/africa/wfp-millions-west-central-africa-facing-hunger-emergency

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