Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday cut short his South African visit after Russia's overnight attack on his country's capital 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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Ukrainian President Zelensky arrives in South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Thursday morning landed at the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria at the start of a brief Official Visit to South Africa Full text...
South Africa: South Africa and Taiwan embroiled in diplomatic row
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa believes the People's Republic of China has full sovereignty over Taiwan and, as a result, has requested the Taiwan Liaison Office (TLO) be moved out of Pretoria, the nation's administrative capital Full text...
South Africa's President Ramaphosa names Mcebisi Jonas as Special Envoy to the US to improve relations
Pretoria, South Africa (PANA) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the appointment of a special envoy to the United States of America in a bid to improve relations between the two countries Full text...
Top UN official in Libya engages with key regional and international partners at Turkey Diplomacy Forum
Antalya, Turkey (PANA) - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, on Sunday held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key partners and regional stakeholders committed to supporting the Libyan-led political process Full text...
Foreign ministers of Confederation of Sahel States to pay two-day visit to Moscow
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States (ESA) will pay a two-day visit to Russia from Thursday to take part in the first session of the ESA-Russia consultations Full text...
Libyan PM, UAE President discuss bilateral cooperation
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Zelensky’s State visit to South Africa postponed to 24 April
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South African President Ramaphosa calls for calm following US spat
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Top UN official in Libya meets African diplomats
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Top South African delegation visits Japan
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South African President addresses expulsion of Ambassador to the US
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Libyan Prime Minister and Emir of Qatar agree to resume air flights between the two countries
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UN in Ukraine prepares for the worst, hopes for the best
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Ghana President Mahama 'spearheads' diplomatic efforts to reiterate AES into ECOWAS
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Libya rejects idea of forcibly displacing, expelling Palestinians from their territory
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Libya, Tunisia discuss strengthening strategic partnership
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South African President Ramaphosa responds to Trump's attack on country
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night hit back at US President Donald Trump who has taken aim at Pretoria over its land policies Full text...
Libya's acting Foreign Minister meets Ambassadors of Burundi and Sierra Leone
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Kenya furious after DRC Embassy looting
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US Secretary of State condemns assault on DR Congo city by M23 rebels
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South African President Ramaphosa salutes Trump on inauguration
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Egypt’s foreign minister concludes two-day visit to Sudan
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) – The Egyptian Minister for foreign affairs on Wednesday concluded a two-day visit to Sudan where he had discussions on bilateral relations with high-ranking officials Full text...
US Secretary of State discusses Middle East developments with Egyptian counterpart
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South African President Ramaphosa hosts German President Steinmeier
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this weekend hosted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Pretoria Full text...
US welcomes agreement to end Ethiopia, Somalia dispute over Somaliland port deal
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The United States welcomes the 11 December Declaration between the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to resolve a dispute between the two African nations over the decision of Ethiopia to build a port in Somaliland Full text...
South Africa and Czech Republic strengthen ties
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Marian Jurečka, are attending the South Africa-Czech Republic Business Forum in Pretoria Full text...
South African President Ramaphosa hosts Angola's Lourenço
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday host President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola at the Union Buildings in Pretoria Full text...
South Africa and Nigeria strengthen ties
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will co-chair the 11th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and Nigeria with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Cape Town on Tuesday Full text...
Sudanese military leader travels to Eritrea for talks with President Afwerki
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - The President of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, left Port Sudan on Tuesday for Asmara, Eritrea, for talks with President Asias Afwerki Full text...
US Secretary of State, UAE foreign minister discuss Sudan, Middle East crises
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan with their discussions focusing on the crises in Sudan and the Middle East Full text...
U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan travels to Sudan, Djibouti, Italy
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - U Full text...
US Secretary of State congratulates Botswana's new President Boko
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called Botswana's new President Duma Gideon Boko to congratulate him on the country’s historic 2024 elections Full text...
US Secretary of State discusses Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan with Saudi, UAE foreign ministers
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US Secretary of State speaks with Egyptian Foreign Minister on Middle East crisis, Sudan
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the situation in the Middle East and Sudan Full text...
Senior US diplomat travels to South Africa
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R Full text...
US Special Envoy for Sudan travels to Kenya, Uganda, Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - U Full text...
South Africa: Ramaphosa salutes Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on her Commonwealth appointment
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday extended his personal congratulations and those of the South African Government to Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, on her recent appointment as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General Full text...
Senior US diplomat travels to Morocco
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Senior official underscores UN support for Somalia
Mogadishu, Somalia (PANA) - The UN political affairs chief concluded a two-day visit to Somalia on Friday where she reaffirmed the world body’s support for the country’s efforts towards peace- and state-building Full text...
Sudan, AU initiate moves to restore ties
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UK, Libyan officials discuss political, economic, security issues in Libya
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Mauritanian President arrives in Libya
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Mohamed ould Cheikh Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, arrived in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Thursday for discssions with officials as part of the African continental organisation's efforts to contribute to the national reconciliation process in the North African country Full text...
US Special Envoy for Sudan Perriello travels to Kenya and Ethiopia
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - U Full text...
South Africa: Ramaphosa to address UN General Assembly
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the 79th Session of the United Nations General Debate and High-Level Week in New York Full text...
AU panel discusses South Sudan in Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile has held talks with the AU Panel of the Wise on South Sudan in Cape Town Full text...
Top UN official ends Libya visit
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US Special Envoy for Sudan travels to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye in efforts to end Sudan war
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US Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation visits Côte d’Ivoire
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Senior US diplomat visits Horn of Africa
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - U Full text...