Hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the southern Philippines will go without food rations after the World Food Programme suspended deliveries in the midst of a series of bomb attacks that have killed eight and left dozens wounded. The United Nations and several diplomatic missions have banned travel over fears for the safety of hundreds of local and foreign staff.
AFGHANISTAN: Fighting a stubborn poliovirus
Immunization drives since 2001 have increased coverage to nearly 80% of Afghan children younger than 5 years old, but poor security conditions and frequent population movement continue to hamper polio eradication efforts and threaten to derail a government push to eradicate the disease by 2010.
Recession pushed 90 million into extreme poverty-UN
Ninety million more people now face extreme hunger as a result of the global recession and any further aid reductions risk promoting more death and disease in developing countries, the United Nations says in its annual progress report. Several aid groups also published reports warning of increases in deaths from preventable diseases as a direct result diminishing aid budgets.
Tuberculosis: TB Vaccine Too Dangerous for Babies
Administration of the tuberculosis vaccine given to infants around the world should be delayed to await HIV/AIDS testing, the World Health Organization says in a report. For infants born with the virus, the live vaccine can kill them, the WHO warns.
Recession must not derail AIDS fight-UN official
The world’s wealthy countries have a moral obligation to follow through on efforts to combat HIV/AIDS despite the challenges of a global recession, Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS says. HIV/AIDS projects run by the Global Fund face a $4 billion funding shortfall, Sidibe said, putting at risk progress on providing treatment for the infected and care for 14 million HIV/AIDS orphans.
NGOs slam results of UN financial crisis meeting
Global anti-poverty groups have jointly expressed disappointment in the outcome of a three-day United Nations General Assembly meeting on the world’s economic situation that fails to promote greater UN involvement in international financial policymaking. “In no way do the results of the conference measure up to the actions needed to address the scale and depth of the economic meltdown, most evident in the jobs crisis, particularly in developing countries,” a statement from the Global Social Economy Group said.
MYANMAR: Disabled battle stigma, lack of funds
Disability advocates are fighting against stigma, tradition and mobility issues to gain increased acceptance and government help for the disabled in Myanmar. While Myanmar is home to an estimated 1.3 million people with disabilities, the country has only one government-funded school and one rehabilitation center.