This is a summary of what was said by the UNHCR spokesperson at today’s Palais des Nations press briefing in Geneva. Further information can be found on the UNHCR websites, www.unhcr.org and www.unhcr.fr, which should also be checked for regular media updates on non-briefing days.
Food security conditions over most parts of Southern Africa remain satisfactory and conditions are expected to remain so throughout the Outlook period. The projected average to above-average maize harvests are assessed to be sufficient to meet the region’s requirements for the next six months and beyond.
Current reports indicate that household food access has improved and increased on-farm food supplies have eased the pressure on local markets. Prices have stabilized, and in some cases, started dropping.
Harvesting of the 2011/12 main season cereal crops is underway across Southern Africa and is expected to continue until June/July. Current crop prospects point to a slight decrease in maize production (the main food staple) compared to 2011, following a contraction in the area planted and a protracted dry spell in early 2012.
Niger is the worst place on the planet to be a mum, new research published today by Save the Children has found.
The West African country, one of the world’s poorest, has replaced Afghanistan at the bottom of the children’s charity’s annual State of the World’s Mothers ranking.
The index compares conditions for mothers in 165 countries around the globe, looking at factors such as mother's health, education and economic status, as well as critical child indicators such as health and nutrition.
UN Women co-sponsored a side-event on advancing HIV prevention among young people, at this year’s Commission on Population and Development in New York on 25 April. Dr. Carol Underwood, a health and communications expert, spoke at the event.
The 2011/12 rainfall season is termi-nating across most of SADC, i.e. the unimodal regions.
Normal to below rains over the bulk of SADC region, including Island States.
Normal to above – normal rainfall is expected across northernmost Angola, northern half of DRC and the north-eastern of Tanzania.
Green harvests improve food availability as lean season draws to a close
The availability of a variety of foods, including green maize, squashes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and other seasonal crops, has greatly contributed to improved food security conditions across the region. On-farm availability of these foods has helped ease pressure on local markets, resulting in a gradual decrease in food prices, especially in areas where crop growing conditions have been favorable.
Annual child death rate drops by 4 million since 1990: Save the Children report reveals overseas aid among key drivers of change
Aid is one of six key factors that have driven marked improvements in child wellbeing and survival over the last 20 years, according to a new report Save the Children released today.
Independent research conducted by the Overseas Development Institute agency has found that over 4 million fewer children under the age of five die each year compared to 1990.
From the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law
Executive Summary
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change will disproportionately
affect the most vulnerable populations in the developing world. Rising temperatures, increasingly
severe floods and droughts, and sea-level rise threaten economies that are reliant on agriculture,
in countries whose governments lack adaptive capacity, and in areas where populations have little
access to healthcare and education.
JOHANNESBURG, 23 March 2012 (PLUSNEWS) - Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading killer of HIV-positive people globally. Almost 15 years ago the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS recommended that people living with HIV be given isoniazid preventative TB therapy (IPT), to prevent active TB, but national implementation of IPT has been slow.
IPT, intensified TB case finding, and infection control are now the World Health Organization's three strategies for reducing TB among people living with HIV, also known as the "Three I's for HIV-TB."
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