Day: October 9, 2022

GENEVA— Twenty-seven countries reported cholera outbreaks throughout 2022, the World Health Organisation reported “not only seeing more outbreaks but more deadly outbreaks.”

At a press conference in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed to poverty, conflict, and climate change as the factors fueling the current cholera outbreak in the world.

According to the Director General, “the average number of fatalities so far this year is almost three times that of the last five years.”

In this regard, Tedros brought up the alarming situation in Syria and Haiti. Syria has reported more than 10,000 suspected cases of cholera in the last six weeks.

Haiti, which eradicated the disease three years ago, has recorded 11 confirmed cases this week alone, 7 deaths and 111 suspected cases, according to the latest update (Oct. 5) from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).

PAHO is working closely with the public health authorities of Haiti and international partners to support the country’s response to the recent outbreak of cholera.

“Cholera thrives on poverty and conflict, but is now enhanced by climate change (…) Extreme weather events, such as floods, cyclones and droughts, further reduce access to clean water and create the ideal environment for the spread of cholera,” Tedros said.

Cholera can be prevented with vaccines and access to clean water and sanitation, Dr. Tedros said, urging the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers to increase production given the growing number of outbreaks.

The UN Deputy Special Representative in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, has denounced the fuel situation in the country, as the main Haitian port, Varreux, remains under the control of armed gangs in Port-au-Prince (capital), since mid-September.

“We have asked for a humanitarian corridor to be established to get fuel to the city and the rest of the country, so we can guarantee our response,” Richardson said.

The UN representative added, “Without fuel, there is no clean water. Without clean water, there will be more cases (of cholera) and it will be very difficult to contain this outbreak.”

Between 2010 and 2019, Haiti suffered a cholera epidemic that left 10,000 dead.

Source: Nam News Network

Pope Francis on Sunday made an impassioned defense of migrants, calling their exclusion “scandalous, disgusting and sinful,” putting him on a collision course with Italy’s upcoming right-wing government.

Francis made his comments as he canonized a 19th century bishop known as the “father of migrants” and a 20th century man who ministered to the sick in Argentina.

Francis, who has made support of migrants a major theme of his pontificate, presided over the ceremony before 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square.

“The exclusion of migrants is scandalous. Indeed, the exclusion of migrants is criminal. It makes them die in front of us,” he said.

“And so today the Mediterranean is the world’s largest cemetery,” he said, referring to thousands who have drowned trying to reach Europe.

“The exclusion of migrants is disgusting, it is sinful. It is criminal not to open doors to those who are needy,” he said.

Giorgia Meloni is expected to become prime minister later this month at the head of a right-wing coalition that has vowed to crack down on immigration and tighten Italy’s borders.

She has promised accelerated repatriations and tighter asylum rules. Meloni has also called for a naval blockade of North Africa to prevent migrants from sailing and for renewed curbs on charity rescue ships.

Francis, who did not mention Italy, said some migrants sent back are put in “concentration camps where they are exploited and treated as slaves.” In the past he has said this has happened in Libya.

The pope went off script about migrants at the point in his prepared comments when he mentioned the most well-known of the two new saints – Bishop Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, who lived between 1839 and 1905.

Scalabrini founded two religious orders — one of priests and one of nuns — to help Italian immigrants in the United States and South America.

The other new saint is Artemides Zatti, who lived between 1880 and 1951. His family fled poverty in Italy and settled in Argentina.

A lay member of the Salesian religious order, he worked as a nurse, bringing healthcare to the poor on his bicycle.

Source: Voice of America

Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has announced the launch of its annual “Warm Winter” winterization campaign. Under the theme “Humanity First: We Give Them Warmth”, the new drive is aimed at providing QR 13.5 million worth of winter projects/aid for the benefit of 261,300 people in 14 countries.

Ali bin Hassan Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of QRCS, said, “Too harsh is the winter for those families afflicted by the ‘downs of life’!

They find themselves forcibly displaced to escape with their lives and children, suffering cold nights and hard days. For them to feel human, we need to show our humanity first. In anticipation of the painfully cold winter, here is our new ‘Warm Winter’ campaign, which seeks to ensure the warmth and protection of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people. All humane donors are invited to be part of this noble humanitarian endeavor, helping to alleviate the impact of the severe winter on those in need”.

Under the project, a wide range of humanitarian aid will be provided, including heating materials; women’s, men’s and children’s coats; shelter kits (e.g., blankets, mattresses, carpets, straw mats, flashlights, electric heaters, and tarpaulins); winter medicines for common cold and fever; food parcels of local staples; and white flour for the production of bread.

In addition, QRCS will construct shelter units; install solar-powered water heaters; and construct water tanks.

The total number of people targeted with this winter aid is some 261,300 in numerous countries worst affected by the harsh winter conditions, as follows: Syria (40,830 beneficiaries), the West Bank and Al-Quds (13,752), Gaza (20,310), Yemen (35,879), Iraq (12,312), Lebanon (24,450), Jordan (31,600), Bangladesh (38,036), Afghanistan (22,890),

Sudan (6,545), Somalia (9,120), Albania (3,000), Kosovo (674), and Mongolia (1,920).

According to Youssef Mohamed Al-Awadi, Director of Resource Development Department at QRCS, there are many methods for donation to this humanitarian campaign, including QRCS’s website (www.qrcs.qa), donor service (66666364), home donation collection (33998898), and bank transfer to QNB (IBAN:

QA21QNBA000000000850020196062), Masraf Al-Rayan (IBAN:

QA18MAFR00000000000011199980003), QIB (IBAN:

QA51QISB000000000110575190014), or QIIB (IBAN:

QA66QIIB000000001111126666003).

Under license No. LC2022QRCR01-000212 by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA), QRCS designed donation packages to expand the impact of donations. These include:

“Give Food”: Provide food items for 60 beneficiaries at a value of QR 2,600.

“Give Warmth”: Provide heating materials for 24 beneficiaries at a value of QR 1,300.

“Give Medication”: Provide winter medicines for 24 beneficiaries at a value of QR 500.

Source: Qatar Red Crescent Society