diplomacy&development

According to a report produced by OCHA DRC in collaboration with humanitarian partners covering the period  of 31 May 20211 , until 4pm (Goma time). • More than 232,400 displaced persons in Sake, Rutshuru, Lubero, Minova and Bukavu • 35 suspected cases of cholera in the health zone of Kirotshe • Food assistance to displaced people is underway • 1,361 unaccompanied children as a result of the volcanic eruption, including 858 children who have already been reunited • Water assistance remains urgent The Goma Volcano Observatory (OVG) announced on 31 May that the possibility of an eruption on land or under the lake has not been ruled out and recommended that the population stay away from lava flows. The provincial authorities of North Kivu also asked the population to remain vigilant, and to strictly follow the measures adopted. The tremors are less noticeable, however, the Rwanda Seismic Monitor recorded a tremor of magnitude 4.2 on 30 May at 11.13pm. The national Minister of Transpor...

  H.E. Matthew E.K. Neuhaus, Ambassador of Australia to The Netherlands, and ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański unveiling the artwork H.E. Matthew E.K. Neuhaus, Ambassador of Australia to The Netherlands, and ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański unveiled on 31 May 2021, a new artwork donation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. It was donated by Australia in the context of Australia’s National Reconciliation Week.      The artwork is a painting titled Ngayuku Mamaku Ngura (My Father’s Country), created in 2017 by Kunmanara – an Indigenous Australian artist and senior woman of law in her region. This work depicts an important law site near the remote community of Pipalyatjara, in South Australia. “This painting and its story is about the transmission of knowledge and the law to the younger generations,” H.E. Ambassador Matthew Neuhaus said in his remarks at the ceremony. "Today is an opportunity to showcase Australia’s indigenous c...

• New resolutions on the health and care workforce and strategic directions for nursing and midwifery • Decisions on patient safety; health, environment and climate change; chemicals management; coordination of work on noncommunicable diseases • Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Wellbeing for All • Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment Protect, safeguard and invest in the health and care workforce The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role of all health and care workers at the forefront of the pandemic, who have faced multiple risks related to their health, well-being and safety. The resolution on Protecting, safeguarding and investing in the health and care workforce calls for action to guarantee that investments in our workforce ensure they are: skilled, trained, equipped, supported and enabled. It stresses the need for decent pay, recognition, a safe working environment, and protection of their rights. The resolution highlights the need to: • En...

L’Afrique a besoin d’au moins 20 millions de doses de vaccin AstraZeneca dans les six prochaines semaines pour fournir une deuxième dose à tous ceux qui ont reçu une première dose dans le respect de l’intervalle de 8 à 12 semaines entre deux doses recommandé par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS). Une seule dose du vaccin Oxford-AstraZeneca fournit une protection d’environ 70 % pour au moins 12 semaines. Les données sur la protection fournie par une dose au-delà de 12 semaines sont limitées, néanmoins des anticorps liés à la COVID-19 ont été détectés dans l’organisme jusqu’à 6 moins après l’injection d’une dose. Le cycle complet fourni par l’intervalle de 12 semaines donne une protection de 81 % pour une période prolongée.  En plus de ce besoin urgent, 200 millions de doses additionnelles de n’importe quel vaccin figurant sur la Liste de l’OMS pour une utilisation d’urgence (WHO Emergency Use List – EUL) sont nécessaires pour que le continent puisse vacciner 10 % de sa popul...

Africa needs at least 20 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the next six weeks to get second doses to all who received a first dose within the 8—12-week interval between doses recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).  A single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine gives around 70% protection for at least 12 weeks. Data on the protection from one dose after 12 weeks is limited, however COVID-19 antibodies have been found in the body up to 6 months after one dose. The full course provided with a 12-week interval gives 81% protection for an extended period. In addition to this urgent need, another 200 million doses of any WHO Emergency Use Listed COVID-19 vaccine are needed so that the continent can vaccinate 10% of its population by September 2021. This follows a call made by WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the World Health Assembly, WHO’s governing body earlier this week for all Member States to support a massive vaccination push. To...

Following an evacuation order from the authorities, a large part of the population left the city of Goma • Opening of the Rutshuru-Goma road • The Governor of South Kivu is preparing to host displaced persons On May 27, tremors continue in Goma. Although intervals between them are longer, they are stronger.  At 11:33 am, the Rwanda Seismic Monitor recorded a tremor of magnitude 4.9. According to the Goma Volcanological Observatory (OVG), the risk of a new eruption is real, and it has been reported that lava could escape from the many cracks caused by the regular tremors. On the evening of 26 May, five days after the eruption, the Governor of North Kivu ordered a part of the population to evacuate Goma, in order to take shelter in case of a new eruption from Nyiragongo. The number of persons who have evacuated the city is not yet know.  However, the population in the areasaffected by the evacuation is estimated to be around 400,000.  Large traffic jams have been observed o...

On 22 May, the Nyiragongo volcano near the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) erupted. • The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) assured Congolese authorities of the humanitarian community’s support to respond to emergency priority needs following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano • Priority needs are being assessed by multiple Humanitarian Country Teams (HCT), including the Red Cross and INGOs • 31 reported deaths, including 13 people during the evacuation of the city and 24 people burned by the lava; 40 adults have been reported missing; several hospitalizations • More than 4,500 households (approx. 20,000 Congolese) made homeless  • While lava has stopped flowing, subsequent earth tremors are ongoing and cause panic among the population • Ash cloud likely to cause respiratory diseases • Goma and Bukavu airport closures likely to affect logistics for the humanitarian response. On 22 May 2021, the Nyiragongo volcano which looms over Goma town in east...

The Director of World Bank operations in the DRC, Jean Christophe Carret The Director of World Bank operations in the DRC, Jean Christophe Carret announced a disbursement of $ 100 million in connection with the emergency project for Equity and the strengthening of the education system (PERSE). This information was taken from correspondence addressed to the Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education of the DRC, Tony Mwaba this Wednesday 26th May 2021. According to the World Bank, this commitment follows evidence provided by the Congolese government in compliance with the withdrawal conditions announced in the financing agreement. It must also be said that this sufficiently proves the success of the new orientations published by Professor Tony Mwaba at the head of this ministry. He had also shared them with Jean christophe Carret, whom he received 5 days before this announcement, in his office. At the end of this exchange of May 21, the World Bank, through its director, had s...

Goma after the volcanic eruption Around 500,000 people have lost access to drinking water since the eruption of Nyragongo in Goma. Faced with this natural disaster, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided US $ 100,000 in emergency aid for the distribution of damaged pipes as well as for the prevention of cholera. The charge d'affaires of the American embassy in the DRC said that this emergency aid reiterates the commitment of her country to work hand in hand with the Congolese people within the framework of the privileged partnership for peace and prosperity. “We hope that the provision of safe drinking water and cholera prevention efforts will help communities in Goma to stay healthy and recover faster from the crisis caused by the volcanic eruption,” he said. she declared. In addition to this donation, USAID disaster experts are conducting assessments to determine additional needs and work in coordination with local officials and humanitarian partn...

  Aftermath of Volcanic Eruption of Nyrangongo in Goma In a press release published on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, the French Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo renews its message of solidarity and friendship to the Congolese people and particularly to the population of Goma, hard hit by the recent eruption of Nyiragongo volcano and the violent earthquakes that have affected the region since then. "Depending on the requests that will emanate from the Congolese authorities and in close collaboration with the other partners of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it will support the actions undertaken to bring aid and relief to the populations concerned. In view of the current circumstances, it was considered that the French Institute in Goma was no longer able to function normally. It was therefore temporarily closed "expressed the French diplomatic representation in the DRC. As a reminder, a volcanic eruption in eastern Congo left a smoldering, half-mile-wide trail...

Conséquences de l'éruption volcanique du Nyrangongo à Goma Dans un communiqué de presse publié ce Mercredi 26 Mai 2021, l’ambassade de France en République démocratique du Congo renouvelle son message de solidarité et d’amitié au peuple congolais et particulièrement à la population de Goma, durement touchée par l’éruption récente du volcan Nyiragongo et les secousses sismiques violentes qui affectent depuis lors la région. "En fonction des demandes qui émaneront des autorités congolaises et en lien étroit avec les autres partenaires de la République démocratique du Congo, elle soutiendra les actions entreprises pour porter aide et secours aux populations concernées.  Compte tenu des circonstances actuelles, il a été considéré que l’Institut français de Goma n’était plus en mesure de fonctionner normalement. Il a donc été fermé provisoirement" s'est exprimé la Réprésentation diplomatique Française en RDC. Pour rappel, une éruption volcanique dans l'est du Congo a l...

Cérémonie virtuelle pour célébrer les gagnants d la Fondation Merck " Restez à la Maison" Trophée de Reconnaissance des Médias • La Fondation Merck a annoncé l'Appel à Candidatures pour ses prochains Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias Africains de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu'une Mère » 2021 et les Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias « Portez Les Masques Avec Soin » 2021 en partenariat avec les Premières Dames Africaines lors de la 8ème édition de « Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary ». • La Formation des Médias sur la Santé de la Fondation Merck a été suivie par des journalistes africains, asiatiques et latino-américains de plus de 35 pays. La Fondation Merck, la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne a organisé sa Formation des Médias sur la Santé par le biais d'une vidéoconférence en ligne, en marge de la 8ème édition de « MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY », organisée en partenariat avec le Gouvernement de Zambie. La conférence a été inaugurée par...

  Award Ceremony to celebrate the winners of Merck Foundation "Stay at Home" Media Recognition Awards   • Merck Foundation announced the Call for Applications for their upcoming Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards“More Than a Mother” 2021 and “Mask Up with Care“ Media Recognition Awards 2021 in partnership with African First Ladies at the 8th edition of “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary”. • The Merck Foundation Health Media Training was attended by African, Asian, and Latin American Journalists from more than 35 countries. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany conducted their Health  Media Training through an online video conference, on the sidelines of the 8th Edition  of “MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY”, being held in partnership with the Government of Zambia. The conference was inaugurated by The President of Zambia, H.E. Dr. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU and Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp Chairman of both of Executive ...