Ilan Kelman, UCL The death toll of the massive earthquakes that have rocked the Turkey-Syria border region has now exceeded 5,000 people and the World Health Organization has suggested it could rise as high as 20,000. The catastrophe has led to an international outpouring of support. Numerous international rescue, medical, and other teams are arrivingContinue reading “Turkey-Syria earthquake: how disaster diplomacy can bring warring countries together to save lives”
Category Archives: Challenge
COP27: one big breakthrough but ultimately an inadequate response to the climate crisis
Matt McDonald, The University of Queensland For 30 years, developing nations have fought to establish an international fund to pay for the “loss and damage” they suffer as a result of climate change. As the COP27 climate summit in Egypt wrapped up over the weekend, they finally succeeded. While it’s a historic moment, the agreementContinue reading “COP27: one big breakthrough but ultimately an inadequate response to the climate crisis”
Extreme heat impacting millions across India and Pakistan
With extreme heat gripping large parts of India and Pakistan, the two countries are working to roll out life-saving health action plans to combat the heatwave, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.
Floods in South Africa: protecting people must include a focus on women and girls
The Durban (eThekwini) area of South Africa has experienced many floods over the recent years. They have wreaked havoc. For instance, in April 2019, a deadly flood and landslides hit the area. The region is currently reeling from what is seen as the worst flood in the history of South Africa. More than 300 people have lost their lives. There is also excessive damage to infrastructure and homes.
Yemen war now ‘chronic emergency’ as millions face hunger
After more than seven years of war, Yemen is living in a chronic state of emergency, marked by hunger, disease and other miseries that are rising faster than aid agencies can reverse, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Tuesday, as the Special Envoy for the country called for joint efforts by Yemenis and the international community to break the entrenched cycle of violence.
South Africa’s efforts to tackle its energy crisis lack urgency and coherence
South Africa’s electricity infrastructure has been degrading in the past decade, with both scheduled and unscheduled power outages on the increase. Despite slowed economic activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country experienced 1130 hours of planned power cuts in 2021, the highest ever.
‘Hot conflict’ pushes 12 million Syrians into food insecurity
As the Syrian war has driven poverty and hunger to levels higher than at any previous point, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen told the Security Council on Friday that he would continue to focus on engaging the parties to bring an end to the protracted conflict.
A deep data dive reveals extent of unequal water provision in Nairobi
Many African cities struggle to supply safe, potable water to their residents. One of the main reasons for this is urbanisation; cities’ populations grow rapidly as more people move to them from rural areas.
Food insecurity soaring across 20 hunger hotspots
Food insecurity is soaring across 20 countries and regions – “hunger hotspots”, where conflict, economic shocks, natural hazards, political instability, and limited humanitarian access, are putting millions of lives at risk, UN agencies highlighted on Thursday.
The herbicide dicamba was supposed to solve farmers’ weed problems – instead, it’s making farming harder for many of them
In 2021, thousands of U.S. growers reported to the Environmental Protection Agency that dicamba sprayed by other farmers – sometimes up to a mile and a half away – damaged crops in their fields. Complaints came from all over the country.
Youth For SDG 