Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A new shipping line linking Benghazi in eastern Libya to ports in China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been launched, the ‘Jaliana’ free zone in the Libyan city has announced, ushering in a new phase of commercial and maritime activity in the region Full text...
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Gaza: UN official warns of ’assault on dignity’ as blockade cripples humanitarian response Jonathan Whittall, Head of UN OCHA’s Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaks with journalists in Gaza. UN News Jonathan Whittall, Head of UN OCHA’s Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaks with journalists in Gaza. 26 April 2025 Humanitarian Aid Gaza City, Gaza (PANA) - The coming days in Gaza are set to be critical, the UN warned on Saturday, as humanitarian operations are severely curtailed amid an intensifying blockade, escalating violence, and soaring humanitarian needs. Speaking to journalists in Gaza City, Jonathan Whittall, local Head of Office for the UN aid coordination wing, OCHA, painted a dire picture of life under what he called a "total and complete blockade" now approaching its third month. "The coming days in Gaza are going to be critical. Today people are not surviving in Gaza, those that aren’t being killed with bombs and bullets are slowly dying," he said. Whittall stressed that humanitarian agencies are unable to meet the soaring needs of civilians due to the collapse of supply lines. Hospitals are overwhelmed, but medicines and equipment are running out. People are going hungry, but food warehouses are empty and bakeries are closing. Clean water is desperately needed, but water wells are inaccessible. He noted that solid waste is piling up in the streets with no equipment to remove it, and that rescue efforts after airstrikes are impossible without fuel and machinery. Displaced families are forced to live in rubble without shelter materials, and fishermen are being shot at sea, while humanitarian organisations lack the resources to assist them. "Nowhere in Gaza today is safe", he said. He added that children need to learn, but schools have been destroyed or are inaccessible, and that education supplies are not available. Prices of the remaining goods in Gaza continue to rise, but there is no cash available. There is no cooking gas or fuel, forcing families to burn trash to generate some energy. A war ’without any limits’ "This is not only about humanitarian needs, but it’s about dignity. There is an assault on people’s dignity in Gaza today," he warned. "We also know that humanitarian workers, first responders, you as journalists, should be protected, like all civilians, but we’re being killed in a war that appears to be fought without any limits," he added. Whittall emphasised that the situation in Gaza does not even resemble a war. "People in Gaza are telling me that they feel like it’s the deliberate dismantling of Palestinian life in plain sight, for all to see, documented every day by you as journalists," he said. He described the devastation witnessed daily — including children’s bodies thrown by explosions, families burnt alive, and colleagues killed — as part of what he termed "everyday atrocities." "As humanitarians we can see that aid is being weaponised through its denial," he warned. "There’s no justification for the denial of humanitarian assistance. And humanitarian aid should never be weaponised." Despite the catastrophic conditions, he stressed that humanitarian organisations are continuing to operate where possible, but "we have less and less and less supplies and less and less capacity to be able to meet the growing and growing needs that are intensifying across Gaza." "Lives depend on the blockade being lifted, on aid being allowed to enter into Gaza, on the ceasefire being reinstated," he said, calling for real accountability rather than waiting for history to judge the international community’s response. Hunger and malnutrition surging In a separate statement, OCHA warned of a “severe decline” in food availability across Gaza, as malnutrition rates escalate rapidly, particularly among children. A UN partner organisation recently screened around 1,300 children in northern Gaza and identified over 80 cases of acute malnutrition, representing more than double the rate recorded in previous weeks. "Nutrition partners report a critical shortage of supplies due to the obstruction of aid entry and challenges in transporting essential materials within Gaza," OCHA said. Access to key facilities, including UNICEF’s main warehouse in Rafah, remains heavily restricted. Journalists who visited the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) main warehouses this week found them largely empty of food supplies, including flour. Call for accountability and action "Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," UNRWA said in a separate statement, stressing that international law prohibits indiscriminate attacks, the obstruction of humanitarian assistance, and the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. The agency reiterated its call for a renewed ceasefire, the dignified release of all hostages, and the immediate, unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza. -0-PANA RA 27April2025
- Sports
Ghana girls, Tanzania boys crowned CAF African Schools Football champions
United Airlines increases flights to South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – United Airlines is expanding its African network Full text...
Italian civil aviation delegation arrives in Tripoli to assess aviation standards
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Director General of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority arrived in the Libyan capital Tripoli to examine and assess the results of the rehabilitation and efficiency improvement plan implemented by the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority since 2022 Full text...
Kenya, Ethiopia take great leap in air transport of flowers
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) – Kenyan and Ethiopian airlines have had a significant impact on the growth of the global aviation business and specifically the transportation of stems of flowers driven by growth in romance globally Full text...
Reusable rockets, air taxis and ‘autonomous autos’ are the future: WIPO
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Air taxis, “autonomous autos” and reusable rockets are just some of the future transport solutions that inventors all over the world are striving to make a reality, while patents for combustion engines are “flatlining”, the UN intellectual property agency (WIPO) said on Thursday Full text...
South African Airways launches Tanzania route
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African Airways (SAA) on Monday launched its new direct flight to Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam Full text...
Flights between Italy and Libya resume after break of more than 10 years
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Italian airline Alitalia has resumed direct flights between Rome and Tripoli after a break of more than 10 years, in a move that reflects the significant improvement in security and logistical conditions in Libya Full text...
South African airline suspends flights to Mozambique
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African airline, Airlink, has cancelled flights to Nampula in Mozambique with immediate effect Full text...
Despite big hurdles, long journey to electric mobility begins across Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) - Switching to electric mobility is a no-brainer: tailpipe emissions cause poor health or even death and are a significant contributor to climate change Full text...
African airlines expect better gains in operating profits in 2025, demand rises seen
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Demand for air travel in Africa is focused to increase in 2025 as airlines increase seats available on their routes, the International Air Transport Association (AITA) has said in its industry outlook Full text...
ICAO, ‘a powerful example of multilateralism in action,’ says UN chief
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marked the 80th anniversary of the signing of the convention that opened the way to mass civilian air travel, by praising the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as a testament to global cooperation Full text...
African air passenger demand increases 10.4%
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - African airlines saw a 10 Full text...
Global airlines chief urges continental carriers to exploit Africa's growth potential
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - African airlines should take advantage of the existence of a massive population within the continent to grow the aviation footprint, a senior global aviation executive said on Monday Full text...
South African Airways launches new direct flight to DRC's Lubumbashi
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The inaugural South African Airways’ (SAA) direct flight between Johannesburg and Lubumbashi in the DRC, took off from OR Tambo International Airport and landed safely at Luano International Airport on Monday Full text...
US, Angola sign Open Skies agreement
Luanda, Angola (PANA) - The US and Angola have signed an Open Skies Air Transport Agreement in Luanda to advance their bilateral aviation cooperation, the US Department of State announced on Monday Full text...
United Airlines to begin Washington-Dakar direct flights in May 2025
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - United Airlines plans to fly into the Senegalese capital, Dakar, from May 2025, from its hub in Washington, DC, the airline announced on Thursday Full text...
Single sky reform: EC adopts first reading position on efficiency of air space management in EU
Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - With a view to improving the overall efficiency of the way in which European airspace is organised and managed, on Thursday the European Council adopted its position at first reading on the reform of the Single European Sky Full text...
Lufthansa launches new flight to South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Lufthansa has launched flights between Johannesburg and Munich after a 19-year hiatus Full text...
Kenya Airways returns to profitability after a decade
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya Airways has returned to the profit-making territory for the first time in 10 years, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards profitability Full text...
Algerian civil aviation delegation in Tripoli ahead of resumption of Libyan flights
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the Algerian Civil Aviation Authority has visited Maitigua International Airport, in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli, to audit the security and operational procedures to ensure that they comply with international standards for the resumption of flights between Libya and Algeria Full text...
South Africa: South African rail authority secures US$1 billion loan
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Thursday confirmed that it had approved a US$1 billion loan for Transnet to aid the troubled logistics firm's recovery plan Full text...
Cape Town International Airport ranked second in global survey
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Cape Town International Airport has been ranked second-best worldwide, according to a new global passenger survey Full text...
Jordanian delegation arrives in Tripoli ahead of resumption of Royal Jordanian Airlines flights
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the Jordanian Civil Aviation Authority and Royal Jordanian Airlines has arrived at Maitigua International Airport, on the eastern outskirts of Tripoli, to examine procedures relating to civil aviation safety and security and the extent to which they comply with the rules and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Full text...
Military aircraft carrying Malawian VP, nine others, goes off radar
Lilongwe, Malawi (PANA) - An aircraft carrying Malawian Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and his entourage has gone missing after disappearing from the radar, the Malawian government said on Monday Full text...
Sierra Leone to enhance climate-resilient transport, access to market
Freetown, Sierra Leone (PANA) - The World Bank Board has approved a $74 million International Development Association (IDA) grant to enhance climate-resilient transport connectivity and agricultural market access in Sierra Leone Full text...
Tunisian airline halts flights to Libya
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - Tunisian airline TunisAir has decided to halt all flights to and from Libyan airports until further notice due to significant losses incurred by the company as a result of the dollar tax imposed by the Libyan authorities Full text...
Libya, EU hold talks to lift the ban on Libyan aircraft from European airspace
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Al-Dbaiba, and the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina-Ioana Vălean, on Wednesday met to discuss progress of work of the joint committee of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Agency (EASA) Full text...
Jordanian and Qatari airlines to resume flights to Libya this month
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Transport, Mohamed al-Chahoubi, has announced the return of Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways flights to and from Libya from this month Full text...
Italian aviation delegation visits Misrata airport to check safety standards
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the Italian Civil Aviation Authority has visited Misrata International Airport, 220 km east of Tripoli, to assess the security and operational procedures, as well as their degree of compliance with international operational standards Full text...
Embrace innovation ‘to make sustainable transport a reality for all’
New York, US (PANA) - Reducing the transport sector’s impact on the environment while improving access to service, especially in developing countries, topped the agenda of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday Full text...
Libya's government of national unity considers imposition of visa fees on Egyptians in application of reciprocity
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Minister of Transport Mohamed Al-Chahoubi, in consultation with other officials, has in a retaliatory manner, decided to impose visa fees on Egyptian citizens entering Libya Full text...
'South Africa’s commercial airlines sector has zero fatal accident rate for four decades'
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa's Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says the country's commercial airlines sector has maintained a zero fatal accident rate for four decades Full text...
Two killed in mid-air collision at Nairobi's Wilson airport
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Two people were killed in a mid-air collision involving a training and passenger aircraft after take off from Wilson airport in Nairobi, aviation authorities said on Tuesday Full text...
UN agency: Air traffic operating above pre-COVID levels
Montreal, Canada (PANA) - The UN aviation agency on Wednesday announced that air traffic levels are operating at around two per cent above their high in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded much of the world’s population in lockdown Full text...
Royal Air Maroc delegation visits Tripoli's Maitigua airport in preparation for its new service
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the Moroccan airline, Royal Air Maroc, has visited Maitigua International Airport, in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli, to examine the procedures involved in the operational process, as a prelude to the possibility of providing service there Full text...
Libyan, Moroccan officials discuss reopening air and sea links
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Transport, Mohamed Salem al-Chahoubi, has discussed with Moroccan government officials the appropriate mechanism for consolidating their relations by reopening air and maritime links between the two countries Full text...
Ethiopian air cargo to serve Casablanca route
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, the largest air cargo network operator in Africa, has commenced a freighter service to Casablanca, Morocco, the freighter said on Monday Full text...
New Year reprieve for South African motorists as fuel prices go down
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Wednesday announced a reduction of fuel prices based on current local and international factors with immediate effect Full text...
'South Africa well positioned to capitalise on Middle East crisis'
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The South African Maritime Business Chamber (MBC) says the turmoil in the Middle East, which has resulted in more than 100 container ships being rerouted around southern Africa to avoid the Suez Canal, presents a “rare and lucrative opportunity” for the country Full text...
Libya, Italy sign air transport agreement
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - An air transport agreement was signed on Sunday between Libya and Italy Full text...
Libyan, Italian officials discuss implementation of Tripoli international airport project
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Transport of the Government of National Unity, Mohamed Al-Chahoubi, discussed with the Italian Ambassador to Libya, Giuseppe Alberini, stages of the implementation of the Tripoli International Airport project by an Italian consortium "Aeneas" Full text...
Saudi Airlines resumes direct flights to South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African Tourism on Monday confirmed the return of the Saudi Airlines direct flight between Jeddah and Johannesburg starting this month Full text...
Benin to deploy electronic management of road transport companies
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Benin is to deply an electronic management of road transport companies, through the Electronic Road Freight Management System (SYGFR-Benin), a digital platform dedicated to the digital management of road freight, the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development said on Friday Full text...
Mali maintains suspension of Air France flights
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian authorities on Wednesday cancelled the authorisation given to the French airline, Air France, to resume flights to Mali from 13 October Full text...
Libyan Prime Minister announces opening of Tripoli airport in mid-2024
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's prime minister in the government of national unity, Abdulhamid al Dbaiba, has announced that great progress has been made in the project to rehabilitate Tripoli international airport, with plans to open it by the middle of next year Full text...
Addis-Djibouti corridor to get major upgrade
Washington DC, US (PANA) - The Addis-Djibouti corridor, a vital trade route and lifeline for Ethiopia's 120 million people, will get a significant upgrade thanks to the newly approved Horn of Africa Initiative’s Regional Economic Corridor Project Full text...
Italy explains reasons for lifting ban on Libyan aircraft from its airspace
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Libya, Gianluca Alberini, informed the committee set up by the prime minister to lift the air embargo on airports of the Italian government's decision to lift the ban on Libyan civil aviation to Italy, having met the technical and safety requirements Full text...
Italy lifts its airspace ban on Libyan aviation
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The prime minister of the government of national unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, has announced that the Italian government has informed him of its decision to lift the air ban imposed on Libyan civil aviation 10 years ago for flights to resume next September Full text...
Rail traffic between Bamako and Kayes to resume on 9 June
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Malian railway company, Société du Patrimoine Ferroviaire du Mali, plans to run the first commercial passenger train service between Bamako, the capital, and Kayes in the west on 9 June, an official source told PANA Full text...
Libyan, Austrian officials discuss resumption of flights
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan and Austrial officials have discussed the resumption of flights between the two countries at a rate of three flights per week Full text...