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Thirty years of hope and higher education for refugees in West Africa

After surviving a brutal rebel assault on the church where she worshipped, Ornella Banam escaped the civil war in Central African Republic in 2014, fleeing to Burkina Faso. She managed to continue her studies there, hoping to become a nutritionist but, when her father died two years later, she could no longer afford the fees and had to drop out of college.

Last year, Banam was selected for the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship programme, allowing her to return to higher education. “This scholarship gave me back the hope I had lost five years earlier,” says the 30-year-old. “I saw my dream shattered, but thanks to this opportunity, I am newly optimistic.”

The most recent figures show that refugee enrollment in tertiary education globally rose to 6 per cent in the academic year 2020-21. This represents a welcome increase from 1 per cent just a few years ago, but still falls well short of the target of 15 per cent higher education enrollment by 2030 set by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, under its ’15by30′ campaign. The figures reflect a pervasive inequality whereby refugees suffer enrolment rates that are — at every level of education: primary, secondary, and tertiary — lower than even the poorest sections of society.

The DAFI Tertiary Scholarship programme — funded principally by the German Government with support from Denmark, the Czech Republic, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and private donors — is crucial to achieving the 15by30 goal. It has enabled 21,500 refugees to enroll in higher education globally since 1992, including 6,200 in West Africa since 2010. This year, 934 young refugees won DAFI scholarships in 15 West African countries.

“This scholarship gave me back the hope I had lost…”

Like many others in the DAFI programme, Banam’s dream stems from her own experience, growing up in a country where poverty is rife and food often short. “Malnutrition is the leading cause of infant mortality in the world, particularly in my country,” she says, adding that she wants “to care for children suffering from malnutrition around the world”. With the DAFI scholarship covering the cost of her tuition fees, rent, and living expenses, Banam is, once again, able to devote herself to her studies.

Florine Lutumba was only eight years old when civil war forced her family to leave their home in the Democratic Republic of Congo and, for the last 15 years, she has lived in Côte d’Ivoire where she earned her baccalaureate at secondary school paving the way to the possibility of university education. But when her father’s ill health forced Lutumba to abandon her studies in order to help make ends meet.

“I was in a lot of pain because I could see my friends going to [university], continuing their education and getting ahead of me,” says Lutumba. “After a while, I decided not to lament anymore because it was only making me feel miserable.”

Having set her mind to it, she started working with her younger sister, baking and distributing pastries in her neighbourhood of the capital, Abidjan, eventually earning enough money to pay for evening classes in Business Administration at a private university.

Since 2021, DAFI has taken on the cost of Lutumba’s university tuition fees, freeing her to focus more closely on her studies. “Schooling is no longer a worry for me. Thanks to this scholarship, which covers my … fees, daily transport and medical expenses, I have a better life and I feel fulfilled.”

“My academic results are always very good,” she adds. “I always strive for excellence.”

Hard-working and dedicated, Lutumba, now 23, believes the difficult times refugees frequently have to overcome, “should be a motivation and not a source of discouragement”. Aiming to obtain her degree with flying colours, Lutumba has high hopes: “My ambition is to manage or lead a big company in the future.”

The impacts of a DAFI scholarship can be life-long, Mbabazi Mugemana, 45, has been a refugee since the 1994 Rwanda genocide. DAFI support ensured that the talented high school student was able to become a successful graduate and, in the two decades since, he has earned a master’s degree, forged a career as a teacher, educational consultant, and community leader, and is studying for a PhD.

“It is not only the scholarship,” Mugemana says, “we received training and coaching on how to be in life, in an enterprise, to look for jobs, everything.” Today, he remains involved in the programme that paved the way for his own success, acting as an observer on DAFI selection panels in Cameroon, where he lives.

The new scholars Mugemana sees joining the programme give him hope for the future of higher education among refugees: “I have seen that the importance of the DAFI scholarship to young refugees in Cameroon, is that they are well equipped to face their studies and their professional lives, without exception, everywhere they go.”

Reporting by Moussa Bougma in Burkina Faso, Lath Divia Kibangou in Cote d’Ivoire and Helen Ngoh Ada in Cameroon

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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Ukraine Urges International Community to Condemn Russia for Airstrikes

Ukraine appealed to the international community Monday to condemn Russia’s deadly missile strikes on its capital and several other cities, and to reject Moscow’s attempt to annex four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.

“A trail of blood is left behind the Russian delegation when it enters the General Assembly, and the hall is filled up with the smell of smoldering human flesh,” Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told a special meeting of the U.N. General Assembly.

Kyslytsya said at least 84 missiles and two dozen drones had been launched at cities across Ukraine, leaving a trail of death and destruction.

“Energy facilities, residential buildings, schools and universities, museums and crossroads in the city centers were among the targets that the Russian Defense Ministry later declared legitimate,” he said. “The entire world has once again seen the true face of the terrorist state that kills our people.”

Monday’s special emergency session was convened to discuss Russia’s so-called referendums and attempted annexation of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine’s east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the country’s south. But it was overshadowed by the airstrikes that rained down on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, which had been quiet since June.

Of the 20 countries that spoke, all but Russia condemned the latest attacks, some noting they could rise to war crimes.

Moscow’s envoy said Monday’s strikes were in response to Saturday’s bombing of the bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland.

“We warned that this will not be conducted with impunity,” Vassily Nebenzia said. “When you do these acts of sabotage, when you kill those who are unfavorable to you, the Kyiv regime is on the same level with the most outrageous terrorist organizations.”

Ukraine has strongly suggested its security agents carried out the truck bomb attack on the bridge but has not publicly claimed responsibility.

Of the Kremlin’s “referendums” and “annexation,” Nebenzia said an “absolute majority” in the four regions supported the idea of joining Russia.

“In the east and south of Ukraine, peaceful civilians are dying, and the people in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia know that very well. And that’s why they decided to opt for the future with Russia,” Nebenzia said. “I call upon you to respect their choice.”

The General Assembly debate will resume again Wednesday morning, and another 45 countries have requested to take the floor. Among them, a few Russian allies, including Belarus, North Korea and Syria. Of Russia’s friends in the BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), only China has signaled it will address the assembly.

African nations are notably absent from the debate, with only the Democratic Republic of Congo so far planning to take the floor.

The United States will speak at the end of the debate. Ahead of Monday’s meeting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that no country of principle could be unmoved by the horrors Russia is inflicting on Ukraine.

“The international community has a responsibility to make clear that President [Vladimir] Putin’s actions are completely unacceptable,” he said. “Now is the time to speak out in support for Ukraine. It is not the time for abstentions, placating words or equivocations under claims of neutrality. The core principles of the U.N. Charter are at stake.”

The debate will culminate with the 193-nation assembly being asked to vote on a resolution put forward by Ukraine and the European Union condemning and rejecting Russia’s move to annex Ukrainian territory.

“Russia is putting global peace and security at risk,” EU envoy Silvio Gonzato said. “If we do not condemn the actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine today, then we condone similar blatant attacks on any and all of our countries tomorrow.”

Russia’s ambassador tried but failed repeated procedural maneuvers to turn what will be a public, recorded vote into a secret ballot.

Source: Voice of America

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World Mental Health Day Marked on Monday

Monday is World Mental Health Day. To mark the day, the World Health Organization has launched a campaign to “raise awareness and spur action” in regions where there are high rates of death by suicide.

The world health body said that the pandemic has created “a global crisis for mental health,” in a statement Monday, adding that it is “fueling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions.”

“Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic,” the U.N. agency said. “At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened.”

The treatment of mental health issues is particularly acute in Africa where there is only one psychiatrist for every 500,000 people — 100 times less than WHO’s recommendation.

The WHO suicide prevention campaign in Africa aims to address the issue. In Africa, 11 people per 100,000 kill themselves, in comparison to the world average of 9 per 100,000. The continent has six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said “Significant investment must be made to tackle Africa’s growing burden of chronic diseases and non-infectious conditions such as mental disorders that can contribute to suicide.”

The mental healthcare initiatives that WHO is supporting in Africa include training primary healthcare workers in Zimbabwe to boost quality and access to mental health services.

“Mental health is integral to wholesome health and well-being yet far too many people in our region who need help for mental health conditions do not receive it. It’s time for radical change,” Dr. Moeti said.

Source: Voice of America

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UN Refugee Agency Appeals for Greater Protection to People Fleeing Conflict, Persecution

In an opening speech to the UNHCR’s Executive Committee, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi appealed to member states to provide protection to people fleeing conflict and persecution, regardless of ethnicity and nationality.

The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) reports the number of people forcibly displaced by armed conflict, violence, discrimination, persecution, and climate shocks has hit an all-time high of 100 million.

High Commissioner Filippo Grandi says the climate emergency increasingly drives displacement, making life harder for those already uprooted. He says the link between climate change and displacement is clear and growing.

“We see it in the Horn of Africa, for example, where people are forced to flee by a combination of conflict and drought — more than one million have been displaced in Somalia alone since January 2021. Around 80% of refugees are from countries that are most affected by the climate emergency,” he said.

Most African refugees flee for safety to neighboring countries. However, many make the perilous journey to Europe in search of asylum and a better life.

Grandi notes that they and refugees fleeing conflict and persecution from other parts of the world, such as Afghanistan and the Middle East, too often are turned back by European countries.

He says the reception of these refugees stands in stark contrast to the generous welcome by European countries to some seven million Ukrainian refugees who fled Russia’s invasion of their country.

“The Ukrainian crisis debunked so many myths that we have heard over the years from some politicians: ‘Europe is full!’ ‘Public opinion is against taking in more refugees.’ ‘Relocation is impossible,’” he said.

He says efforts to deny access to territory for those seeking asylum, often through violent pushbacks, must be rejected.

“I also reject what we have heard some politicians on this continent tell their voters: that Ukrainians are ‘real refugees’ while others — fleeing similar horrors, but from different parts of the world — are not. There is only one word to define this attitude: racist,” he said.

Grandi adds failures on the part of member states to uphold their international protection obligations is deeply worrying and concerning.

Source: Voice of America

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QRCS launches Warm Winter Campaign 2022-2023 [EN/AR]

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

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27 countries reported cholera outbreaks throughout 2022: WHO

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

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