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Tuesday, 06 July 2004
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HIV Infection Up in Every Region of the World: UNAIDS

The number of people living with HIV continues to grow. According to a new report by UNAIDS, the figures grew from 35 million in 2001 to 38 million last year. The report shows that HIV has risen in every region of the world with five million people becoming infected with the disease last year alone.
At the same time, UNAIDS says in its 2004 Global Report that there has been a tremendous change in perceptions of the possibility and need for treatment for HIV over the past few years.
The Director of HIV at the World Health Organization Dr. Jim Yong Kim says about 440,000 people are receiving treatment in low income countries.

"Under UNAIDS leadership, we are now seeing the UNAIDS co-sponsors far more active and intensively working together on scaling up treatment, accelerating prevention and building health systems than ever before".

Dr. Kim says while there are some very ominous facts in the report, the response led by UNAIDS has been unprecedented and the possibility of treatment has helped.

Annan Warns of Repercussions from Darfur Humanitarian Crisis

African leaders have been warned that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region may lead to a catastrophe that could destabilize the region. The warning comes from Secretary-General Kofi Annan in an address to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Mr. Annan says the ruined villages, the camps overflowing with sick and hungry women and children, and the fear in the eyes of the people should be a clear warning:

"Without action, the brutalities already inflicted on the civilian population in Darfur could be a prelude to even greater humanitarian catastrophe - a catastrophe that could destabilize the region".

The violence in Darfur has killed thousands and forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

Sudan Agrees to African Union Monitors in Darfur

An agreement signed between Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Sudan's justice minister commits the UN to do the utmost to alleviate humanitarian needs in the country. The agreement also calls for the UN to help with the quick deployment of African Union ceasefire monitors and to assist with mediation efforts. UN Spokeswoman Marie Okabe:

"Sudan pledged among other things to implement a moratorium on restrictions on humanitarian workers; to suspend restrictions on the import of assisted materials; to deploy a strong credible police force to Darfur, to start immediately to disarm the Janjaweed militia and to resume political talks in the shortest possible time."

The two sides agreed to form a high-level mechanism to deal with the implementation of the agreement led by Sudan's foreign minister and by the Secretary-General's special representative.

Rainy Season Hampering Efforts to Help Refugees: UNHCR

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says the rainy season in Chad is severely hampering its efforts to reach tens of thousands of refugees remaining at the border. Spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis says seasonal river beds are now filled with water making it impossible to drive to border towns:

"Fortunately in the south, enough food and relief supplies have been pre-positioned to last until November when the rains should be over. The relocation of refugees from the border to camps in this area is basically completed."

Ms. Pagonis says trucks which have been used for supplies and relocation convoys have now been moved to the north to speed the transfer of 14-thousand refugees still at the Chad/Sudan border.

Sub-Saharan Africa Food Security Threatened by Erratic Rains, Civil Strife

A new report says twenty-three countries in sub-Saharan Africa are facing food emergencies for the summer season. The Food and Agriculture Organization in its latest Africa report warns that despite an overall decline in the region's food requirements, poor rains, internal conflicts, HIV/AIDS and a locust invasion have exposed millions of people to serious food insecurity and the need for emergency food assistance. FAO says sub-Saharan Africa's food aid requirement for 2004 is estimated at less than 3 million tonnes, compared to around 4 million tonnes last year.