Author: apofeed

LONDON, United-Kingdom, February 12, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UK will provide more food, blankets and essential supplies for the thousands of people who have lost their homes due to the floods in Malawi, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced today.This will include food for 370,000 people and improved access to water, sanitation for 34,000 people to prevent the spread of disease. The Department for International Development (DFID)’s £4.1 million funding is also supporting early recovery efforts to enable people to rebuild their livelihoods which have been devastated by the floods. Justine Greening said:“We are deeply saddened by the…

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 13, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM’S Rapid Response Teams in South sudan have completed a mass polio vaccination campaign.The campaign was carried out in coordination with the Renk Department of Health, Upper Nile State between February 5th and 8th, and immunized 26,114 children under the age of 15. “Our rapid response teams provide health care services in hard to reach areas of South Sudan,” said Haley West IOM South Sudan’s health programme manager. “Most of these communities may not have had access to care for weeks or even months. This vaccination campaign is a great step…

PRETORIA, South-Africa, February 12, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — This week UN Women’s South Africa Multi-Country Office officially launched its Civil Society Advisory Group (Advisory Group), which will use its expertise to advise UN Women on its work in South Africa. The formation of the group is testament to the important role civil society plays in the campaign to achieve gender equality.The 11-member committee — a group of 9 women and 2 men – is comprised of members from non-governmental organizations, academia, research institutions and the private sector. Members will share their experiences and support UN Women in developing strategies…

NEW YORK, February 11, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General condemns, in the strongest terms, the killing of Thierno Aliou Diaoune, National Coordinator for the UN Peacebuilding Fund in Conakry, Guinea, on 6 February.Mr. Diaoune was a trusted United Nations partner and a tireless advocate for the construction of peace, democracy and human rights in Guinea.The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Government of a full investigation into Mr. Diaoune’s death. The Secretary-General presents his sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Diaoune.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 10, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations, African Union, European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), United Kingdom and United States of America welcome the approval of the new Cabinet list by the Federal Parliament. They reiterated their call for the President, Prime Minister and the Federal Parliament to move expeditiously toward the implementation of the remaining Vision 2016 objectives through the new Cabinet approved by Parliament.”We welcome the approval of the new Cabinet and we call on Somalia’s leaders and institutions to work together to accelerate delivery of the milestones of the Federal Government’s…

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 10, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is meeting in Geneva from 16 February to 6 March to review women’s rights in the following countries: Gabon (17 Feb); Azerbaijan (18 Feb); Ecuador (19 Feb); Tuvalu (20 Feb); Denmark (24 Feb); Kyrgyzstan (25 Feb); Eritrea (26 Feb); Maldives (27 Feb)The above are among the 188 States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and so are required to submit regular reports to the Committee of 23 international independent experts that monitors…

OSLO, Norway, February 9, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Norway is providing USD 20 million (NOK 150 million) in emergency aid to the civilian population in South sudan. ‘Nearly 6.5 million South Sudanese have been affected by the humanitarian crisis that has resulted from the violent political power struggle in South sudan. Norway wants to support the civilians who are now suffering. At the same time, we will continue to urge the country’s leaders to put the needs of the people first, to bring an end to the conflict and find political solutions that will benefit the country in the…

MORONI, Comoros, February 9, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On February 4, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2014 Article IV consultation1 with the Union of Comoros.Comoros is a small, low-income and fragile-three island state with limited natural resources and connectivity to the rest of the world. Political instability and fractious inter-island relations marked the country during the first decades after independence from France in the mid-1970s. Political stability and economic turnaround have been in place following the adoption of a new constitution in 2009. Under the 2009–13 Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement the…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 9, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Lion International Bank and Somali Micro Finance in partnership with BelCash Technology Solution PLC (http://www.belcash.com) launched the official pilot of the HelloCash mobile money services. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/hellocash.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1711Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1712Flyer: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1710BelCash Technology Solution PLC is an Ethiopian based technology service provider for financial industry. The HelloCash mobile money platform will provide financial services to all Ethiopians. The HelloCash service enable existing and potential customers of Lion International Bank and Somali Micro Finance to carry out transactions in four key areas of financial transactions: Deposit, Withdraw, Transfer and make payments.…

NEW YORK, February 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of David Gressly of the United States as his Deputy Special Representative for Operations and the Rule of Law in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Mr. Gressly succeeds Abdallah Wafy of Niger, who had served as Deputy Special Representative for Operations and the Rule of Law since 2013 and as Police Commissioner and Head of the Mission’s police component from 2010 to 2013. The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Wafy’s dedicated service during…

BERLIN, Germany, February 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement in Berlin today (6 February) on the assumption of office of the new Tunisian Government:Yesterday, the Parliament in Tunis approved by a large majority the new Government of the Republic of Tunisia which is formed of a broad coalition of political forces. This marks the successful conclusion of the process of democratic transition which began with the January 2011 revolution, and I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the Tunisian people on this occasion.Germany will continue to act as a partner to…

ROME, Italy, February 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A staggering 2.5 million people – about one-fifth of the population – remain in either Crisis or Emergency level food insecurity as fighting continues in South Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, released this week. This is more than double the number of people who were experiencing this level of food insecurity in December 2013, when the current conflict broke out, bringing the country once again to the brink of a major hunger crisis.An additional 3.9 million people are in a state of food security…

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, February 2, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — • US$11bn IPO and FO proceeds raised in 2014 in African equity markets• US$37.4bn proceeds raised from 2010 to 2014• 24 African IPO companies listed in 20142014 saw the highest level of activity in African equity capital markets (ECM) over the previous five years, and a significant increase in both transaction volume and capital raised during 2014 compared to the prior year, according to a report issued by PwC today (http://www.pwc.com). PwC’s inaugural publication entitled, IPO Watch Africa 2014, has found that US$11bn was raised in 2014 in the African equity…

NEW YORK, February 3, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the continued escalation of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists, including on February 1 in Maiduguri, Borno State, as well as the increasing attacks in the Lake Chad Basin region, including against the Chadian army contingent deployed to fight Boko Haram in Cameroon at the request and with the collaboration of the Cameroonian authorities, on 29 and 30 January near the border town of Fotokol, which killed four Chadian soldiers and injured twelve others. The members of the Security Council…

TOKYO, Japan, February 2, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. The Government of Japan deeply deplores the attacks that targeted military and police facilities of the North Sinai of Egypt in January 29th and caused large number of casualties. Japan prays for the deceased people and expresses its condolences to their bereaved families. Also Japan extends its heartfelt sympathy to those injured.2. Acts of terrorism cannot be justified by any reason, and the Government of Japan firmly condemns terrorism in all its forms.3. The Government of Japan hopes that security in Egypt will be stabilized promptly and will actively support…

WASHINGTON, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Funding Opportunity AnnouncementBureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationJanuary 29, 2015Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-PRMOAPAF-15-005-050779Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.517 – Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for AfricaAnnouncement issuance date: Thursday, January 29, 2015Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. noon EST. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.**ADVISORY: All applicants must submit proposals through the website Grants.gov NOT through GrantsSolutions.gov. Please note that if you apply on the GrantSolutions.gov site, your application will be disqualified. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address…

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -6 IOM has condemned violence directed against foreign nationals and their businesses by Soweto residents, which has now spread to two other Johannesburg townships – Alexandra and Langlaagte.The violence serves as a painful reminder of the continued vulnerability of migrants in South Africa. As the migration agency, IOM is calling on the government to take urgent measures to protect the safety, the property and the dignity of all South African residents, including foreign nationals.Migrants are disproportionally affected by violent crime, often because of the areas in which they live and work. Negative…

NEW YORK, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General met today with Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The Secretary-General welcomed the President’s commitment to exert all efforts with Somalia’s Parliament to complete the process of forming a new government. The Secretary-General stressed the importance of internal political stability to allow for much-needed progress on Somalia’s Vision 2016. They also discussed the need to continue support to the joint Somalia National Army-AMISOM military campaign and the importance of an inclusive process in developing a federal state.

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM yesterday (29/1) signed a new cooperation agreement with Ethiopia to work together on migration issues with a view to promoting economic and social development.The agreement, which was signed in Addis Ababa by IOM Director General William Lacy Swing and Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dewano Kedir, follows an earlier 1996 agreement to implement IOM’s Return of Qualified African Nationals (RQAN) project. RQAN was designed to reverse the impact of brain drain in developing African countries like Ethiopia.Twenty years later, IOM’s activities in Ethiopia have mushroomed. They now include the…

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Tanzania this week organized a debate at the Colosseum Hotel in Dar es Salaam on migration from Africa to Europe. The objective was to facilitate an open dialogue on the benefits and dangers linked to migration, and the impact it can have – both positive and negative – on people’s lives.The event brought together officials from Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and its Department of Diaspora Engagement and Opportunities – together with representatives of international organizations and members of Tanzanian civil society and academia.Haroun Ismaila, a Tanzanian…