Category: MIL-OSI

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Minister Ndabeni appointed acting Health Minister

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Ndabeni appointed acting Health Minister

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni as Acting Minister of Health.

The appointment was made in terms of section 98 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 and will take effect from Monday, 24 September 2026 until 30 September 2026. 

“Minister Ndabeni will undertake all functions of the Minister of Health for the said period while Minister Motsoaledi remains on sick leave,” the Presidency said in a short statement. – SAnews.gov.za

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R47m Eshane library opens doors to knowledge

Source: Government of South Africa

R47m Eshane library opens doors to knowledge

Joy and jubilation filled the air in Eshane as KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli officially handed over the newly completed R47 million Eshane Study Library in uMvoti Local Municipality.

The state-of-the-art facility, which was completed at the end of July and officially handed over to the community of Eshane on Friday, 21 August 2026, represents a significant investment in literacy, education, and community development.

Led by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture under MEC Mntomuhle Khawula, the state-of-the-art facility includes a main library block, guard house, parking area, and secure perimeter fencing.

The facility has been designed to serve learners, educators and residents of the surrounding community by providing access to information and educational resources.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ntuli described the facility as an important investment in education, literacy and community development. 

Ntuli said access to knowledge and educational resources remains critical to empowering communities and creating opportunities, particularly for young people. He emphasised that a knowledgeable public is an empowered public.

“Investments in libraries and educational infrastructure contribute directly to building informed, skilled and resilient communities,” Ntuli said.

Beyond its educational value, the project also delivered direct economic benefits to the local community.

A total of 35 local community members, including women, youth, and people with disabilities, benefited from employment opportunities created during the facility’s construction.

The project also supported local economic development by awarding more than R1.9 million in subcontracting opportunities to local businesses.

The Premier said the Eshane Study Library demonstrates how public infrastructure projects can simultaneously advance education, create jobs and provide opportunities for emerging enterprises.

“Libraries remain important community spaces where learners and residents can access information, develop skills and pursue educational opportunities.”

The handover of the facility reflects the Provincial Government’s commitment to improving access to education and cultural resources, particularly in communities where such facilities can make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents.

Ntuli commended the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, contractors, community members and all stakeholders involved in delivering the project.

The Eshane Study Library, he said, stands as a testament to the power of partnership and the province’s commitment to building a more informed, educated and empowered society. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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CIT VERICASH Recognized as Best Digital Financial Services Platform of 2026 by Global Business Outlook

Source: APO

CIT VERICASH (https://www.CITVericash.com/), the fintech enablement platform serving banks and financial institutions across Africa, has been awarded Best Digital Financial Services Platform 2026 by Global Business Outlook, the UK-based international business publication known for its annual awards recognizing transformative performance across global financial markets.

The recognition marks the latest in a series of industry acknowledgements for the company, which in 2025 was awarded Best Digital Transformation Platform, Fintech Strategic Partner of the Year, and Best Financial Services Platform Africa. For CIT VERICASH, the Global Business Outlook award extends the company’s growing international profile at a moment when digital financial services adoption across sub-Saharan Africa is accelerating at institutional scale.

Those numbers are difficult to dispute. A single deployment of the VERICASH platform currently powers the digital banking operations of a pan-African banking group across 22 countries, processing over 500 transactions per second, handling more than 30 million digital services per day, and maintaining more than 7 million active subscribers. In the client’s first five years of full digital platform operations, the results compounded: 5x growth in digital subscribers, 10x growth in monthly transactions, and 30x growth in monthly financial transaction value, translating directly into higher fee income and lower servicing costs.

Building the Backbone of African Digital Finance

CIT VERICASH, a division of CIT GLOBAL, draws on the parent company’s 30-plus years of system integration and software expertise since its founding in Toronto in 1993, delivering award-winning technology to clients across more than 50 countries.

The cornerstone of the company’s performance is the VERICASH Fintech Enablement Platform, a centralized, integrated ecosystem designed to enable financial institutions to launch, operate, optimize, and continuously scale digital financial services through a single platform. Powered by an agile, low-code/no-code service builder, the platform allows commercial banks, digital banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators, and fintechs to rapidly deploy and evolve digital banking, agency banking, mobile wallets, payment ecosystems, lending, and other financial services while reducing complexity, accelerating time-to-market, and maximizing the value of existing infrastructure. Currently live in approximately 25 markets across Africa, the platform supports Tier 1 banks, digital banks, neobanks, and fintech operators with the technology, operational capabilities, and strategic enablement required to drive sustainable digital growth.

Global Business Outlook, in selecting CIT VERICASH for the 2026 award, pointed to the platform’s demonstrated ability to operate at institutional scale across fragmented regulatory environments, a challenge that continues to frustrate expansion-minded financial institutions across the continent.

Strategic Partnership That Goes beyond software delivery

To ensure sustainable, long-term client growth, CIT VERICASH anchors every deployment in a Strategic Partnership Model that extends far beyond traditional software delivery. Rather than acting as a technology vendor, CIT VERICASH operates as a long-term strategic partner, aligning technology, operational excellence, and business growth around shared success.

The partnership model combines a scalable fintech platform with dedicated Centres of Excellence, 24/7 operational monitoring, continuous platform optimization, development and customization capabilities, business intelligence and performance analytics, application quality support, and proactive fraud monitoring. Beyond technology operations, CIT VERICASH works alongside clients to evaluate business models, support licensing requirements, build operational teams, develop financial forecasts, and accelerate go-to-market execution for new digital service offerings.

Supported by a collaborative revenue-sharing model that aligns incentives between CIT VERICASH and its partners, this approach enables financial institutions to reduce technology risk, accelerate profitability, continuously evolve their digital capabilities, and unlock sustainable long-term growth.

This enterprise-grade approach has translated into critical long-term alliances. In East Africa, CIT VERICASH has formed a strategic alliance with Bluechip Technologies, combining the VERICASH platform with Bluechip’s localized market expertise to deliver agency banking, digital payments, and mobile wallets to banks, telcos, and fintechs. Further across the continent, a decade-long partnership with CWG PLC in West Africa that powers large-scale financial ecosystems.

A key differentiator shaping CIT VERICASH’s product direction is its approach to artificial intelligence. Rather than positioning machine learning as an optional layer, the company operates under a clear philosophy: “AI is not a feature. It is how the digital channel thinks, decides, and acts.” By embedding 360° AI-powered capabilities across retail, SME, and corporate banking, including personalized customer experiences, automated credit scoring, real-time transaction risk scoring, and proactive fraud prevention, the platform is built for the next generation of digital finance infrastructure, not the last.

A Pattern of Recognition

What distinguishes CIT VERICASH’s recent run of awards from standard industry noise is the consistency. Three industry recognitions in 2025, now followed by an international designation from Global Business Outlook in 2026, suggest a narrative that is beginning to cut through: a company that has spent years building infrastructure continues to be acknowledged because its clients are scaling profitable, inclusive digital services.

The timing is not incidental. Digital financial services adoption across sub-Saharan Africa accelerated sharply following the pandemic, and the institutions that emerged well-positioned were largely those that had invested in scalable ecosystems rather than attempting to build proprietary stacks. CIT VERICASH positioned itself on the right side of that structural shift.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CIT VERICASH.

About CIT VERICASH:

CIT VERICASH (https://www.CITVericash.com/) is a division of CIT GLOBAL (https://CITGlobal.com/), an international leading provider of innovative eCommerce and mCommerce software solutions and services with solid expertise spanning 30 years, since its establishment in Toronto, Canada, in 1993. CIT Global has delivered innovative and award-winning solutions to its clients in more than 50 countries, serving leading brands from North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

CIT VERICASH has been empowering Financial institutions and Financial Services providers to deliver innovative digital financial services, capitalizing on the VERICASH Fintech Enablement Platform, currently live in around 25 markets across Africa and the Middle East.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to pay an official visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia during 25 – 29 August 2026

Source: APO


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H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia during 25 – 29 August 2026 and meet with high-level representatives to promote Thailand’s engagement with Africa across all dimensions under the Thailand–Africa Initiative (TAI). The visit also aims to advance the Government’s economic diplomacy agenda by enhancing trade and investment cooperation with key emerging markets in Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ethiopia.

During the visit to Nigeria, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with H.E. Mr. Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, H.E. Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, and Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja. He will also lead a Thai business delegation to attend the Thailand–Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos.

In Ethiopia, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with H.E. Mr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, as well as a high-level representative of the African Union Commission. He will also host a reception to relaunch the TAI policy to members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the public and private sectors, and international organizations based in Ethiopia. He will also lead a Thai business delegation to attend the Thailand – Ethiopia: Building Business Bridges event in Addis Ababa, which aims to foster networking and strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors of the two countries.

This official visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia marks the inaugural official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the African continent, reflecting the Thai Government’s commitment to advancing strategic initiatives and elevating bilateral relations with its partners in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.

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President Ramaphosa to respond to questions in the National Assembly

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, present to the National Assembly in Parliament, Cape Town, updates on Government’s management of migration and related protest action, and interventions under the National Water Crisis Action Plan.

President Ramaphosa will set out Government’s efforts to stop migration-related issues and actions from harming South Africa’s image or standing.

President Ramaphosa will share with Members of Parliament who have submitted questions for oral reply, South Africa’s contribution to efforts to ensure that the Republic of Madagascar returns to a constitutional and democratic order.

The President will provide an update on the National Water Crisis Action Plan and plans Government has put in place to restore the capacity of municipalities and strengthen accountability to ensure that communities receive reliable basic services which will enable job creation.

The President will set out progress Government has made to combat illegal mining in South Africa.

Questions for Oral and Written Reply by the President and the Deputy President are one of the mechanisms through which Parliament holds the Executive to account.

Details of the engagement are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: National Assembly, Cape Town

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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President Ramaphosa to address 5th Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, deliver the keynote address at the 5th Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA).

The Symposium will be held from 23-25 August 2026 at the Century City Convention Centre, Cape Town, under the theme: “Shaping the Future of Municipal Infrastructure”.

The event aims to facilitate alignment with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP), and to ensure access to greater and economical sources of sustainable funding.

The symposium also aims to highlight the digital sectors, agriculture and housing sectors which align with the SDGs related to infrastructure.

The event will enable interaction among people and institutions working together towards the delivery of the projects presented in the SIDS.

The symposium brings together State Owned Entities, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), DFIs, Private Sector and Academia in this maiden African consultation session.

The gathering includes Ministers from across the African continent, mayors, development partners, leaders from the private sector, and technical experts to advance infrastructure-led growth and sustainable development.

The focus on municipal infrastructure reflects the central role of local government in service delivery and in strengthening the foundations for inclusive economic participation.

The President will address the Symposium as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Time: 12h00
Venue: Century City Convention Centre, Cape Town

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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SA’s R1.9 trillion infrastructure pipeline signals country at work

Source: Government of South Africa

SA’s R1.9 trillion infrastructure pipeline signals country at work

South Africa is stepping up the pace of infrastructure delivery, with 81 Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) comprising 263 individual projects, with an estimated combined value of R1.9888 trillion.

The scale of the pipeline, coupled with projects already completed, under construction and moving through procurement, demonstrates a country at work and creates significant opportunities for infrastructure investment, development and partnerships.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson outlined the progress during a media briefing at Century City Urban Square in Cape Town on Sunday ahead of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2026.

The sixth edition of SIDSSA, taking place at the Century City Conference Centre, is being held under the theme: “Shaping the Future of Municipal Infrastructure”.

Macpherson said developments include both public and private sector-led “high-value, high-impact infrastructure investments”.

Over the past 18 months, 37 projects, worth approximately R69 billion, have been completed, while a further 82 projects, valued at about R502.7 billion, are currently under construction.

Another 54 projects, worth approximately R206 billion, are in the documentation phase, where approved building designs are turned into precise technical instructions, while others are in the procurement phase.

“These figures show both the scale of the pipeline and the importance of sustained coordination across the infrastructure system,” Macpherson said.

Connecting projects to investment

SIDSSA 2026 provides an important platform for taking this infrastructure pipeline from planning to implementation by bringing government and the investment community together around projects that can unlock economic activity and improve service delivery.

The symposium brings together government leaders, municipalities, development finance institutions, investors, infrastructure specialists, developers and other stakeholders to explore opportunities to accelerate infrastructure development, particularly at municipal level.

Macpherson said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) would use SIDSSA 2026 to announce projects selected through Bid Window II, while Bid Window III opened in July as government continues to build the infrastructure pipeline.

Through a R600 million commitment to project delivery support launched in 2024, Infrastructure South Africa is helping public institutions develop high-value projects into bankable and investment-ready opportunities.

“Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) is providing preparation support to more than 26 projects, with an estimated capital value of approximately R148 billion, while 15 supported projects have completed their preparatory work,” the Minister said.

Macpherson stressed that preparing projects is only one part of the process, with projects needing to be connected to appropriate sources of finance to move into implementation.

Building and using State assets

The infrastructure drive extends beyond new projects to the construction, maintenance and management of the buildings and properties from which government delivers services.

Macpherson pointed to several projects as evidence of work underway to improve and expand the State’s infrastructure portfolio.

In Johannesburg, the new R769 million Deeds Office is under construction in the inner city. The development is the first new high-rise development in the Johannesburg CBD in more than 20 years and is scheduled for completion in October this year.

Once completed, it will also reduce the State’s reliance on rented accommodation.

The department has also supported the handover of the Durban Forensic Science Laboratory to the South African Police Service within 12 months and helped restart progress at the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance, where a contractor was appointed after more than a decade of delays.

The Minister said government is also changing how it manages its wider property portfolio.

“Government cannot continue spending approximately R6 billion each year on private leases, while State-owned buildings remain vacant, underused or in poor condition,” he said.

The planned South African National Property Company is intended to move the State towards more professional asset management by reducing unnecessary leases, refurbishing buildings, structuring partnerships and unlocking responsible investment.

Infrastructure that works for communities

The infrastructure programme is also being used to support vulnerable communities and expand opportunities.

During the past financial year, the department made more than 46 State-owned properties available for shelters for victims of gender-based violence and femicide and for skills development centres.

For Macpherson, the objective is ultimately to ensure that infrastructure translates into functioning public services and tangible benefits for communities.

“South Africans need government buildings that work, public assets that are properly used, and infrastructure that delivers reliable services in their communities,” he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is the convener of SIDSSA, which is organised by the Investment and Infrastructure Office within The Presidency.

With projects worth nearly R2 trillion moving through different stages of development, SIDSSA 2026 provides an important platform for turning South Africa’s infrastructure ambitions into investment, construction and delivery on the ground. – SAnews.gov.za

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Côte d’Ivoire – Connectivité rurale : le gouvernement étend la couverture numérique aux zones reculées

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Les services numériques doivent aujourd’hui être considérés comme des services essentiels. L’Etat consent d’importants investissements pour étendre la couverture numérique à l’ensemble du territoire national. Dans les zones rurales reculées, les populations accèdent à de nouveaux horizons et opportunités.

A Zandanakaha, petite localité du département de Ouangolodougou, dans le Nord de la Côte d’Ivoire, les populations disposent désormais de points de mobile Money. Et ça change le quotidien.

Ce service numérique crée des opportunités pour des activités génératrices de revenu.

« Avant, il n’y avait pas de point pour les transferts. Les gens étaient obligés de se déplacer pour faire leurs opérations d’envoi et de retrait. En créant ce service, je les soulage. Et en plus de l’agriculture, cette activité me permet de gagner de l’argent et de subvenir à mes besoins », se réjouit Zié Coulibaly.

Après une petite table devant sa maison, ce jeune agriculteur du village est en train de construire un magasin pour mieux organiser cette deuxième activité.

« Moi, j’ai un enfant à Abidjan. Avant, pour lui envoyer de l’argent, il fallait quitter le village et faire plusieurs kilomètres, parfois plus de 20 Km jusqu’à Ouangolo. C’était compliqué surtout face aux situations d’urgence. Maintenant, nous pouvons le faire ici. Cela nous facilite la vie », assure Adjouman Coulibaly, secrétaire du chef du village.

Dans cette localité, en plus des transferts monétaires, l’accès aux réseaux sociaux et aux flots d’informations marque les esprits. « Nous avons accès à de nombreuses informations du pays et du monde entier », confirme le secrétaire du chef du village.

Tous ces changements ont été rendus possibles avec l’installation de l’antenne, en février 2025.

A Kotolo (département de Dabakala) l’inauguration du site radioélectrique de connexion à Internet le vendredi 24 janvier 2025, a changé le quotidien des populations. Au pas de leurs portes, elles peuvent passer ou recevoir des appels et même faire des appels vidéo.

Le site radioélectrique de connexion à Internet de Kotolo a été réalisé dans le cadre du Programme national de connectivité rurale (PNCR).

Le 2 août 2024, à Djébékaha, dans la sous-préfecture de Napié (Korhogo), a eu lieu la mise en service officielle de la connectivité numérique de 175 localités rurales. Marquant ainsi le lancement de l’extension du projet dans sa phase 2 dans plusieurs régions du pays.

La première phase du PNCR, d’un coût d’environ 10 milliards de FCFA, a permis de construire 160 sites radioélectriques dans 175 localités, impactant selon les estimations du ministère de la Transition numérique près de 221 267 habitants.

La deuxième phase d’un investissement de 18 milliards de FCFA, touche 240 localités supplémentaires dans plusieurs régions dont le Bélier, le Poro, le Tcho., la Bagoué et le Haut-Sassandra.

La troisième phase, d’un coût de 10 milliards de FCFA, concerne 160 localités additionnelles. Elle couvre, entre autres, les régions de l’Indénié-Djuablin, du Gboklê, du Sud-Comoé, du Tonkpi, du Kabadougou, du Bafing et du Worodougou.

Le programme vise à connecter au total 575 localités rurales à travers le pays.

En Côte d’Ivoire, le taux de pénétration de la téléphonie mobile était de 185% en 2024. Le taux de pénétration de l’internet est passé de 10% en 2011 à 50% en 2023, grâce notamment à l’implantation d’un Réseau National Haut Débit (Backbone) de 5 207 km de fibre optique, la construction de deux points d’atterrissement pour le câble sous-marin, améliorant ainsi la connectivité nationale et internationale.

Les grandes orientations de la stratégie nationale de développement du numérique dans le cadre du Plan national de développement (PND) 2026-2030, soulignent l’ambition de faire passer la contribution du secteur à la création de richesse entre 12 et 15 % à l’horizon 2030. La contribution se situant actuellement dans une fourchette comprise entre 6 et 8 %. Le taux de couverture nationale en 4G qui était de 65% en 2024 passera à 100% en 2030. Le pourcentage de la population utilisant internet passera de 40,7 % en 2024 à 60% en 2030.

Distribué par APO Group pour Portail Officiel du Gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire.

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“Agora sinto-me em segurança”: iniciativa da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) apoia deslocados Somalis

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Durante mais de três décadas, Mako Hassan viveu com o receio de que a sua residência pudesse ruir a qualquer momento. Agora, aos 67 anos, ela recebeu uma habitação permanente, sente-se mais segura, consegue deslocar-se com maior liberdade e encarar o futuro com mais confiança.

Mako é uma das 245 deslocados internos que vivem no novo assentamento de Gribble, no nordeste do país, onde já foram construídas 30 habitações, ao abrigo do Programa Conjunto Saameynta.

Programa habitacional para deslocados internos

Esta iniciativa foi implementada em 2021 pela ONU-Habitat, em parceria com a Organização Internacional para as Migrações, OIM, o Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento, Pnud, e o Governo da Somália.

O programa reúne habitação, serviços básicos e infraestruturas acessíveis para apoiar 3,8 milhões de deslocadas. A segunda fase, com início previsto para dezembro, vai integrar o planeamento de resposta aos riscos climáticos e a criação de oportunidades de meios de subsistência adaptativos.

O plano procura criar soluções duradouras, em que as famílias possam reconstruir as suas vidas em espaços inclusivos e resilientes às alterações climáticas, notou Sophos Sophianos, gestor de projeto da ONU-Habitat.

Uma solução com inclusão em mente

Mais do que substituir um abrigo precário por uma casa resistente, a mudança de Mako proporcionou-lhe novas condições para recuperar a autonomia quotidiana que havia perdido. 

O programa integra plantas habitacionais acessíveis, caminhos e rampas para apoiar pessoas com deficiência, pessoas idosas e outras pessoas com mobilidade reduzida. Tal como outros residentes, Mako recebeu ainda uma cadeira de rodas, reforçando a sua mobilidade e independência diária.

Enquanto pessoa com deficiência, ela dependia dos vizinhos capazes de a transportarem para locais seguros sempre que ventos fortes ou chuvas intensas ameaçavam o seu antigo local de residência. 

Agora, a acessibilidade e o apoio à mobilidade no assentamento de Gribble dão-lhe maior independência e reduzem a sua dependência de terceiros.

Um novo começo em segurança

A disponibilidade de uma solução habitacional duradoura, bem como o acesso a água, maior mobilidade e segurança quanto no seu local de residência trouxeram uma mudança significativa para a vida de Mako.

Após mais de três décadas de deslocação, a sexagenária considera-se finalmente em segurança, com uma esperança renovada para reconstruir a sua, vida longe do conflito e da insegurança persistentes.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para UN News.

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Sudão: ataques a civis arrasam comunidades já esgotadas pela guerra

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

No Sudão, o aumento do uso de drones armados tem arrasado comunidades já fragilizadas, danificando infraestruturas civis essenciais e impedindo o acesso dos serviços de ajuda humanitária à população necessitada.

O alerta é do Escritório das Nações Unidas para a Coordenação de Assuntos Humanitários, Ocha, que adverte que a violência no Sudão continua matando a população e levando ao abandono de suas casas.

Combates deslocam milhares de pessoas

Na última semana, confrontos próximos da capital do estado de Cordofão do Norte, El Obeid, deixaram pelo menos 12 civis mortos, bem como vários feridos, relataram as autoridades locais.

Entre 14 e 15 de agosto, a Organização Internacional para as Migrações, OIM, verificou mais de 4,2 mil deslocados na região. O aumento de confrontos também levou à suspensão dos esforços humanitários que procuravam combater um surto de cólera, informou a Ocha.

Por sua vez, no Estado do Nilo Azul, foram relatados novos combates nas cidades de Geisan, Kurmuk e nas áreas circundantes. A OIM afirma que cerca de 5,4 mil pessoas foram deslocadas nos últimos dias na região.

Maior crise global de deslocados internos 

Desde abril de 2023, o Sudão enfrenta uma crise humanitária e de proteção sem precedentes. De janeiro a junho deste ano, os ataques com drones causaram 80% de todas as vítimas civis, traduzindo-se em cerca de 2 mil mortos.

Mais de 9 milhões de pessoas estão deslocadas internamente, o que torna o Sudão no país com a maior crise de deslocamento interno da atualidade, segundo a Ocha.

Os principais focos de crise de segurança alimentar e nutrição são verificados nas regiões de Darfur e Cordofão, onde o aumento dos surtos de doenças e os choques climáticos têm agravado a situação humanitária.

Já as mulheres e as meninas estão particularmente vulneráveis ao aumento da violência. Elas enfrentam riscos acrescidos de violência sexual relacionada com o conflito e de outras formas de violência baseada no género, sublinha o departamento.

Financiamento pode salvar vidas

Apesar do aumento de conbates, as agências da ONU e os seus parceiros humanitários continuam a prestar assistência às pessoas necessitadas no Sudão.

Apenas no mês passado, o Programa Alimentar Mundial, WFP, conseguiu alcançar cerca de 2,3 milhões de pessoas com assistência em toda a região do Darfur.

No entanto, as severas limitações de acesso nas zonas de conflito ativo, bem como as restrições e cortes no financiamento humanitário, continuam a dificultar a entrega de ajuda onde ela é mais necessária.

Neste sentido, a Ocha apelou ao financiamento adicional, bem como à proteção dos civis e das suas infraestruturas críticas, de modo a permitir que a ajuda chegue às pessoas de forma rápida, segura e sem obstáculos.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para UN News.

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