Bissau, Guinea Bissau (PANA) - Strengthening governance, investing in human capital with a focus on education, and improving the business climate are key pillars for Guinea-Bissau to break out of the fragility cycle towards sustainable and inclusive growth and make progress on gender equality 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
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Libyan Deputy Chairman arrives in Addis Ababa to attend 36th AU Summit
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Deputy Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Abdallah Al-Lafi, arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday at the head of a high-level delegation to attend the 36th Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) scheduled for 18-19 February Full text...
Tripartite mechanism commends evaluation meetings on Peace Agreement
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The tripartite mechanism, comprising the African Union, United Nations and the IGAD, have commended the on-going meetings in Juba, South Sudan, devoted to assessing the implementation of a peace deal signed between the Khartoum government and rebel movements two years ago Full text...
Libya FM attends 42nd Session of AU Executive Council
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Najla Al-Mangouch on Wednesday participated in the opening session of the 42nd session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, which started in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Full text...
UK, US criticised for expulsion of Chagos Islands’ indigenous people
London, UK (PANA) – The forced displacement of the entire Chagossian people by the United Kingdom and the United States governments and the UK’s racial persecution, and continued blocking of their return home, are crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report and video released on Wednesday Full text...
Sudan, Guinea-Bissau keen to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudan and Guinea Bissau on Tuesday said they were resolved to strengthen the level of cooperation between the two nations, with particular emphasis on economic and trade cooperation Full text...
AU launches election observation mission to Nigeria
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The African Union Commission has announced sending a 90-man strong team led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to monitor elections Nigeria set for later this month Full text...
AU, Sudanese authorities discuss transitional developments
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudanese military leader, Lieutenant General Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, on Monday held a meeting with the visiting head of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki, on efforts to achieve national consensus and formation of institutions of the transitional period Full text...
Sudan's Vice-president leaves for Guinea Bissau
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Vice-President of the Sudanese Sovereign Transitional Council, Gen Full text...
Faki in Sudan to boost political reconciliation efforts
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA)- The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, arrived in Khartoum on Sunday as part of the African union efforts to support the Sudanese reach an agreement to end the current political impasse Full text...
AU Health Commissioner calls on Mali's Transitional President
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The President of the Transition of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, met on Thursday in Bamako with the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union (AU), Ms Full text...
Tourist arrivals on the rise in Mauritius
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The number of tourists who arrived in Mauritius in January 2023 was 107,684, up from 40,028 in the same period a year earlier, Statistics Mauritius said on Wednesday Full text...
Mauritius launches National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of STIs
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritius on Tuesday officially launched the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) for 2023-2027 Full text...
Cancer is third main cause of deaths in Mauritius
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - On World Cancer Day celebrated 6 February, the Mauritian Health and Wellness Minister, Kailesh Jagutpal, has said that cancer was the leading cause of deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 or nearly one in six deaths Full text...
Mauritius using Sterile Insect Technique to tackle mosquito proliferation
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritius is presently implementing a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) project which forms part of the integrated vector management strategy to tackle mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya Full text...
AUC Chairperson discusses Mali's transition timetable with leaders
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, has ended a visit to Mali to assess the roadmap for a return to constitutional rule saying "real progress" has been made Full text...
COVID-19: Mauritius records one death
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritius said on Wednesday that one death due COVID-19 was recorded from 19 to 25 January Full text...
Mauritius extends the paediatric age limit from 12 to 16 years
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritius has from 1 January this year extended the paediatric age limit from 12 to 16 years, the Government Information Service (GIS) said on Wednesday Full text...
Malian Prime Minister calls on African Union to support Mali
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maiga, Monday in Bamako invited the African Union (AU) to support the efforts of the Malian government Full text...
Mauritius wants to become a clinical trial destination
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian Health and Wellness Minister Kailesh Jagutpal said Tuesday Mauritius would offer an attractive and favourable environment for carrying out clinical research on a large scale with high standards of public transparency and safety Full text...
Tapping into Mauritania’s gas and green hydrogen potential
Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Mauritania is strategically placed to become an important supplier of natural gas, particularly as countries seek to diversify their gas suppliers to reduce reliance on Russian gas, Extractives inSight, a monthly bulletin from the Extractive Industries Transparency International (EITI} reported on Monday Full text...
IMF approves US$38.4 million ECF arrangement for Guinea-Bissau
Bissau, Guinea Bissau (PANA) – A new credit support programme under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aims to anchor macroeconomic stability in Guinea-Bissau, put the government's budget back on track and ensure medium-term debt sustainability Full text...
Déby and Al-Burhan discuss joint cooperation and the situation in Libya
Khartoum (Soudan) - The president of Sudan's Sovereign Transitional Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the president of Chad's Transitional Military Council, Mahamat Idriss Déby, agreed on Sunday to work together for the establishment of peace in Libya and stability in the Central African Republic Full text...
UN, AU and IGAD: Sudan Political Process enters decisive phase requiring wide participation
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA)- In one of the rarest events of its type, representatives of the United Nations, the African Union and the East African Development Authority IGAD, Monday urged Sudanese stakeholders to close their ranks and reach an agreement ending their current widening rift Full text...
Denis Sassou Nguesso pledges support for UN efforts in Libya
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has pledged his full support for the UN's efforts, highlighting the dangers of maintaining the status quo in Libya, which is experiencing a deadlock in its political process Full text...
Libyan Finance minister discusses activation of Libyan investments in Senegal with President Macky Sall
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Finance of the Government of National Unity, Khaled al-Mabrouk, discussed on Thursday with Senegalese President Macky Sall the activation of Libyan investments in Senegal Full text...
Libya Audit Office, Dutch Court of Audit discuss work plan on public auditing
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libya Audit Office discussed on Wednesday evening with the Netherlands Court of Audit a work plan to develop performance auditing prepared by the Office for review, approval and implementation Full text...
AU appoints Mohamed Ibn Chambas High Representative for Silencing the Guns
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union (AU) has appointed Ghanaian diplomat, Dr Full text...
Mauritius breaks Guinness World Record of the World Largest Human Image of a Waving Flag
Belle-Vue – (PANA) – Mauritius has broken the Guinness World Record of the World Largest Human Image of a Waving Flag at the Anjalay Stadium, Belle Vue Harel, northern Mauritius Full text...
IMF approves US$ 86.9 million Extended Fund Facility for Mauritania
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the Article IV consultation with Mauritania, approving 42-month arrangements of US$ 86 Full text...
COVID-19: Mauritius records one death
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritian health authorities on Monday attributed the death of a 65-year-old woman to COVID-19 Full text...
No death attributed to Covid-19 in Mauritius
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritian health authorities said on Friday they did not record any death from coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country over the period 12 -18 January 2023 Full text...
Mauritius launches 3rd Country Cooperation Strategy 2023/2026 to achieve universal health coverage
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritius launched on Wednesday its Country Cooperation Strategy 2023-2026 prepared by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the WHO for the period 2023-2026 Full text...
Mauritius recorded trade deficit in November 2022
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Statistics Mauritius said on Wednesday that the country's balance trade showed a deficit of 17,600 million rupees in November 2022, higher by 26 Full text...
Nigeria: Buhari departs for Nouakchott, Mauritania Tuesday for African Conference for Peace award
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja for Nouakchott, Mauritania, on Tuesday where he is billed to receive the "African Award for Strengthening Peace" Full text...
Mauritius to extend HPV vaccination to boys aged 9 to 15 years old
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The Health authorities in Mauritius announced on Monday that for the first time the national Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign, will target not only girls but also boys aged 9 to 15 years old Full text...
Mauritius to launch national action plan for prevention, control of STIs
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – The Mauritian Ministry of Health and Wellness said on Friday that it has, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and various stakeholders, developed a national action plan for 2023 to 2027 for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Full text...
COVID-19: Mauritius reports one death in a week
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The Mauritian health authorities on Friday reported that one death attributed to COVID-19 was recorded in the island from 5-11 January 2023 Full text...
Mauritius extends by two years the banning of certain non-biodegradable plastic single use products
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA ) - The Mauritius Government announced Friday that the Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020 will be amended to extend by two years, that is, from 15 January 2023 up to 14 January 2025, the moratorium for the banning of certain non-biodegradable single use products Full text...
Preparatory Forum for National Reconciliation Conference in Libya ends
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The preparatory forum of the National Reconciliation Conference concluded its work on Thursday evening in Tripoli, in the presence of the deputy chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Abdallah Al-Lafi, and the United Nations Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily Full text...
Senegal president confident 2023 will mark end of Libyan crisis through peace, elections
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Senegalese president and current chairman of the African Union (AU), Macky Sall, has expressed confidence that Libya will achieve peace during 2023, by holding elections Full text...
Coronavirus: COVID-19 claims one more life in Mauritius
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian health authorities said on Tuesday that COVID-19 claimed a new life on the island last Sunday, a 88-year-old man who was not vaccinated Full text...
Malian Prime Minister in Brazil for inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maiga, arrived Friday in Brasilia, Brazil, to represent the president of the Transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, at the inauguration Sunday, 1 January, 2023, of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, an official source told PANA Full text...
Coronavirus: Mauritius reports one death
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian health authorities said on Friday that COVID-19 claimed a new victim on the island, a 73-year-old woman who was vaccinated against coronavirus, but tested positive Full text...
Ethiopian crisis: Team to monitor peace agreement inaugurated
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - A three-member mission was inaugurated on Thursday under the auspices of the African Union (AU) to monitor, verify and enforce the 2 November Cessation of Hostilities agreement that ended a two-year bitter war between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front Full text...
South Africa's Perlemoen restaurant wins top global award
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – A Western Cape restaurant has won a top global award at a Paris ceremony Full text...
Mauritius to ensure continued operations of military base in Diego Garcia
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has told members of the diplomatic corps that his country and the United Kingdom (UK) have decided to start negotiations on the issue of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago in view to securing, by early next year, an agreement on the basis of international law Full text...
Unemployment rate on the rise in Mauritius
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Statistics Mauritius, a governmental organization, on Friday released the figures regarding the unemployment rate in the island which stood at 7 Full text...
Mauritius records trade deficit in October
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Statistics Mauritius on Thursday said that the balance of visible trade showed a deficit of Rs 13,959 million in October 2022, lower by 23 Full text...
Mauritius to plant 500 trees to increase native and endemic tree cover in 'Ridge to Reef' project:
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The Mauritius Ridge to Reef (R2R) project that aims to promote forest restoration and the creation of new endemic forest cover has been launched with the planting of 500 endemic trees in the Black River, a southern district of the island Full text...