News Briefs: January 6, 2006
Congo Crisis is World’s Deadliest
The Congo conflict is the deadliest humanitarian crisis of the last 60 years but the world is still not doing enough to save lives, according to a survey of households in the Congo.
Its authors pleaded urgently for more aid and tougher security in the wake of a war estimated to have killed nearly four million people, mainly through hunger and disease.
"Congo is the deadliest crisis anywhere in the world over the past 60 years," said Richard Brennan, health director of the New York-based International Rescue Committee that counted the human cost of the conflict.
Bands of gunmen still intimidate civilians in large areas, particularly in the east whose mineral riches are believed to have fuelled a conflict that at one point drew in six foreign armies and was dubbed Africa's first world war.
The survey showed that the death toll in the Congo conflict so far was higher than the total numbers killed in Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo and Darfur.
After surveying 19,500 households across the former Belgian colony, the survey calculated that more than 1,200 people die every day and up to 20 percent of children are malnourished.
CLWR’s partner, the Lutheran World Federation continues to work in the DRC.
- With Reports From Reuters and CLWR News Service
Living on the Edge in Mozambique
Farmers are busy ploughing their fields, hoping to increase their production of crops. However, there are still some households that have no seeds.
The uncertainly and delay of rainfalls has been a big issue in most of the working areas. Households in these areas had sowed their seeds after they had received the first rains, but the seed died due to lack of rains. In some cases the families had planted twice, and this situation has increased food insecurity in the communities where CLWR is working.
Some of these families are going to Zambia and Malawi to buy Mealy-meal (corn flour) and some exchange their animals for maize and rice. Most of the families are surviving on wild fruits and vegetables. The reduction and scarcity of food has forced some households to move long distances to buy or to work, making it very difficult for the old, women and disabled. Day after day the prices of the corn is going up - fluctuating from $7-12 CDN a bucket- creating more imbalance in the feeding habits of households.
- With Reports from LWF-Mozambique
Environmental Auditor for Pilcomayo River to be Named Next Week - Bolivia
Although Bolivia's sustainable development ministry was due to name an environmental auditor on January 3 to evaluate the Pilcomayo river, this official will now be named in the week starting January 9.
The Pilcomayo has been a focus of environmental concern because of repeated pollution of this important watercourse, most of which has been allegedly caused by the operations of mining companies. CLWR has been supporting local groups in addressing environmental issues in this area.
Officials have been working on preparations for an environmental audit of the river, as was agreed by sustainable development minister Martha Bozo at end 2005.
The minister was also called upon to deliver a report to Chuquisaca parliamentary officials on efforts made by the minister to prevent the pollution of the river.
The attention of environmentalists and government authorities was again drawn to the river last October when a major leak at the Laguna Pampa tailings dam in Potosí department caused 10,000t of sediment and liquid waste to be released, polluting 25km of the Tarapaya river, one of the Pilcomayo's tributaries.
The river is one of the largest in the landlocked nation and its basin covers some 68,000 sq km, 92.6% of which is in Bolivia. The Pilcomayo flows over 1,000km west across the continent and is used along the way for consumption, fishing and cattle breeding.
- With Reports from Business News Americas and CLWR News Service
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