Latest news with #foodSecurity
The National
12 hours ago
- Business
- The National
UAE sends 3,000 food packages to Sudanese refugees in Chad
Aid will support 15,000 refugees, says Ministry of Foreign Affairs The UAE has sent 3,000 packages of food aid to refugees in Chad who have been displaced by Sudan's civil war. The aid will support 15,000 Sudanese refugees across three main camps. Dougui camp received 1,500 food packages, benefiting 7,500 people; Alacha camp received 1,300 packages for 6,500 people; and Abougoudam received 200 packages for 1,000 people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The project aims to meet essential needs for a month, while improving food security and living conditions. 'This endeavour is part of the UAE's humanitarian and development approach, which places the welfare and dignity of individuals at the forefront,' said Rashid Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Chad. 'Furthermore, the project underscores the UAE's steadfast commitment to supporting those affected by crises and conflicts, particularly in regions experiencing mass displacement and severe humanitarian challenges. 'This important undertaking reflects the UAE's sustained and extensive efforts to bolster the socio-economic well-being of host communities in Chad.' Essential aid supplies would ensure decent livelihoods, address regional displacement challenges and support vulnerable populations globally, added the ambassador. 'Our aim is to enhance the humanitarian and living conditions of refugees through direct assistance and international co-operation,' he said. The Sudanese Armed Forces are wrestling with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and allies for control of the country. Almost 13 million people, one in three Sudanese, have been displaced since the conflict began in April 2023.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
From dependency to empowerment: Why we need to transform CSI in Africa?
Corporate social investment (CSI) is meant to change lives. But what happens when it does the opposite? Tshego Bokaba, CSI Manager at the Momentum Group Foundation Across Africa, well-meaning initiatives – designed in boardrooms, backed by big budgets and rolled out with fanfare – have long been positioned as a force for good. But what if, in trying to help, we're sometimes making things worse? In too many cases, CSI projects miss the mark: fostering dependence instead of empowerment, duplicating efforts already underway, or overlooking the very people they're meant to serve. As Africa reflects on transformation during Africa Month, it's time to ask harder questions about how – and why – corporate giving can backfire. We've seen programmes that distribute food parcels without investing in food security, or those that introduce technology into schools without training teachers or ensuring the infrastructure exists to support it. These are not just inefficiencies – they are missed opportunities, and in some cases, they actively disempower communities. This is not to say that CSI is inherently flawed. But when it's not rooted in context, consultation and co-creation, it can do more harm than good. Consultation is vital One of the most common missteps I've seen is designing projects for communities rather than with them. Too often, corporates decide what a school, clinic, or neighbourhood needs, without ever speaking to the school governing body, community leaders, or the people who live there. Even the best-resourced interventions can fall flat if they're out of step with local realities. In my view, there are five key principles that every CSI practitioner should treat as non-negotiable: research, consultation, co-creation, listening, and partnership. These may sound simple, but they require humility and a willingness to let go of control. Just because we have the resources doesn't mean we have all the answers. The result of bypassing this process is often what I call performative CSI: initiatives that look good in a press release but lack any meaningful or lasting impact. It's when we treat communities like passive recipients instead of equal partners. It's when we focus on meeting KPIs instead of solving real problems. And it's when we forget that behind every number in a dashboard is a person with dreams, struggles and potential. More than just quick fixes CSI in Africa must be about more than optics. We have a responsibility to confront the inequalities that still define too many lives – children who walk long distances to overcrowded schools, families without access to clinics, young people with no clear path to employment. Real impact means going beyond short-term gestures and investing in solutions that last. It means removing the everyday obstacles that chip away at people's dignity, potential and hope. That's why I believe we need to move toward collaborative, sector-wide approaches. The challenges we face – whether it's poverty, unemployment, education or access to healthcare – are too layered and too urgent for any one organisation to tackle alone. Corporates, non-profits and government must work together in coordinated, transparent and scalable ways if we're serious about lasting change. There are strong signs that the sector is beginning to shift. According to the Next Generation trends and insights research report 2025/2026 on the social, solidarity and impact economies of South Africa, future transformation should focus on improving sector effectiveness, strengthening local organisations, reducing duplication, and encouraging more sustainable, locally driven solutions. This includes enabling organisations to generate their own income and diversify funding models, ensuring they're not entirely reliant on donor capital. Leadership development We also need to build the next generation of leaders: individuals and institutions who are equipped to respond to the rapidly evolving social and economic realities of our continent. Africa's problems are unique, and our solutions must be too. This Africa Month, I want to challenge my peers across the CSI and development space to ask harder questions. Not just 'How much did we give?' or 'How many people did we reach?' but rather, 'Who did we speak to?' and 'What changed?' and also 'What do the communities themselves say they need next?' Show up with open ears and open minds, not just open wallets. The stakes are too high for us to get this wrong. If we want to be part of the solution, we must be willing to rethink the way we give – and, more importantly, the way we listen.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Israel and UN clash over aid to Gaza
Palestinians carry bags of flour after storming a UN World Food Program warehouse in Zawaida, in the Central Gaza Strip. (AP pic) GAZA : Israel accused the United Nations Wednesday of seeking to 'block' Gaza aid distribution, as the global body said it was doing its utmost to gather the limited assistance greenlighted by Israel's authorities. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a two-month aid blockade, is dire, with food security experts saying starvation is looming for one in five people. 'While the UN spreads panic and makes declarations detached from reality, the state of Israel is steadily facilitating the entry of aid into Gaza,' Israel's United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council. He said the assistance was entering by trucks – under limited authorisation by Israel at the Kerem Shalom crossing since last week following the blockade – and via a 'new distribution mechanism developed in coordination with the US and key international partners.' Danon was referring to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, US-backed aid group that has established its own distribution system, one the UN considers contrary to its humanitarian principles. A chaotic distribution of aid at a GHF centre Tuesday left 47 people wounded. Israel's ambassador blamed Hamas for the tumult, saying the Palestinian group set up roadblocks and checkpoints to block access to the distribution center. He accused the UN of 'trying to block' the aid. The United Nations 'is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism,' Danon added. Danon specifically accused the United Nations of having removed these nongovernmental organisations from a database listing groups working in Gaza, an accusation rejected by the UN. 'There are no differences between the current list and the one from before the launch of the GHF,' Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, told AFP. But the UN reiterated its opposition to coordinating with GHF. 'We will not participate in operations that do not meet our humanitarian principles,' insisted Dujarric. He also said the UN was doing all it could to gather the aid arriving through Kerem Shalom. Since last week 800 truckloads were approved by Israel but fewer than 500 made it into Gaza, according to Dujarric. 'We and our partners could collect just over 200 of them, limited by insecurity and restricted access,' he said. 'If we're not able to pick up those goods, I can tell you one thing, it is not for lack of trying.' Danon had said 'more than 400 trucks' full of aid were already on the Gaza side of the crossing and that Israel had provided 'safe routes' for the distribution. 'But the UN did not show up,' the Israeli envoy said. 'Put your ego aside, pick up the aid and do your job.' Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 54,804 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry there. The UN considers the figures reliable. The punishing offensive has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble -including hospitals, schools and other basic infrastructure – and resulted in the displacement of almost all of its roughly two million people. Israel launched its operations in response to the Oct 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed 1,218 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: starving Palestinians break into food warehouse, bowel cancer mystery, Blues beat Maroons
Morning everyone. Hundreds of starving Palestinians have broken into a UN food warehouse, leading to the deaths of four people by crushing and gunshot wounds after guards opened fire. At home, data shows bowel cancer rates in Australia are the highest in the world among under-50s – and experts wonder if our diet is to blame. A report sheds light on how home working affects productivity, and Queensland face a tough task to save the Origin series after an opening defeat in Brisbane. Coalition couple | Sussan Ley and David Littleproud were 'like an estranged couple who get back together after admitting what they really think of each other' as they fronted the media to announce their new shadow team, writes Tom McIlroy. But can the relationship stand the test of time and win back voters? Cancer alarm | Australia's rates of bowel cancer in people under 50 are the highest in the world, two studies show, with scientists investigating the role of changing diets and the gut microbiome. Home lesson | Working from home is not to blame for the sharp drop in productivity after the pandemic – it might even improve productivity, a report by the Productivity Commission says. 'Embarrassing sore' | Former Labor senator Patrick Dodson has condemned the country's Aboriginal youth incarceration rates and child removals as an ongoing genocide against First Peoples and an 'embarrassing sore' on the nation. Shelf life | Labor's approval of a 30-year extension for Woodside's North West Shelf LNG facility gambles with precious Indigenous rock art, our environment editor argues. It came as the offshore energy regulator launched an investigation into an oil and gas spill at a Woodside project off the Pilbara coast in Western Australia. Germany pledge | Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has agreed to help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory as Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russia has amassed 50,000 of its troops in the Sumy region before a planned large-scale offensive. Gaza chaos | Four people have died as hundreds of Palestinians broke into a United Nations warehouse in Gaza, tearing away sections of the building's metal walls in a desperate attempt to find food. Surgeon shame | A former French surgeon has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the sexual abuse of hundreds of patients, mostly aged under 15, after the biggest child abuse trial in French history. Tates charged | UK prosecutors have confirmed they have authorised 21 charges against influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. Glacier collapse | A massive glacier has collapsed in southern Switzerland, partly destroying the small village of Blatten, which had been evacuated recently. The Coalition is back together, what now? With the Coalition back together again, Nour Haydar speaks to Dan Jervis-Bardy about the short-lived breakup. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ As the cleanup from last week's floods in the mid-north coast of New South Wales continues, the state is counting the cost of five people dead, 3,500 still isolated, and 1,000 homes deemed unihabitable for now. Some before and after images such as in Ghinni Ghinni (pictured) give a stark illustration of the devastation suffered by the region. Jenny Valentish has been so fascinated by social reluctance that she wrote a book exploring it, The Introvert's Guide to Leaving the House. Today she offers the five key strategies such as making sure you know how many people are turning up, knowing when to sit things out and managing your mood. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Rugby league | A dominant first half secured an 18-6 victory for New South Wales in the State of Origin opener in Brisbane last night, leaving Maroons coach Billy Slater with a huge task to claim the shield as the series shifts away from Queensland. In the women's series, the Maroons are seeking to avoid a whitewash tonight in game three in Newcastle. Tennis | Australia's Alexei Popyrin claimed another milestone in his burgeoning career as he reached the third round of the French Open for the first time by beating Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Football | Chelsea take on Real Betis in the final of the Europa Conference League in Wroclaw, Poland this morning. Jeff Kennett tells the Australian the threat by Moira Deeming to sue him and other former Victorian Liberal leaders over donations to John Pesutto is 'extraordinary' and a gift to Labor. A bipartisan bid to reform NSW's planning laws is building momentum even as Liberals are wary of a political ambush, the Sydney Morning Herald claims. Tasmania's lower house has backed a motion that could pave the way for legislation towards building a new stadium at Macquarie Point, the Mercury reports. Katherine received an estimated 198mm of rain in 24 hours to 9am yesterday, breaking the record for a single May day, the NT News reports. Sydney | Crown appeals sentence for Kristian White, who shot 95-year-old dementia patient Clare Nowland with a Taser. Hobart | Tasmania state budget handed down. Brisbane | Australian Energy Producers conference If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Will UAE grow its own rice soon? Trials underway to test survival in arid climate
The UAE has long relied on rice imports to meet the demands of its diverse culinary culture. However, that dependency may soon shift, as a team of researchers in Al Ain is working on a project to genetically modify rice plants, enabling them to thrive in the UAE's arid climate and strengthen the nation's food security. Trials are underway using rice varieties sourced from the Philippines, the United States, and India. These samples are being grown and evaluated under local UAE conditions to determine which strains can best tolerate the region's extreme heat, high soil salinity, and limited water availability. 'We brought in a variety of rice samples from around the world and planted them in different environments across the UAE,' said Maryam Al-Naimi, Laboratory Specialist at the Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (KCGEB). 'After assessing which ones survived and performed best, we selected the top strains and began crossbreeding them to enhance resilience and yield.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Al-Naimi explained that many staple crops, like wheat, barley, lentils, and especially rice, have historically been absent from Emirati farms due to climate incompatibility. That's now changing. These advancements were a key highlight at the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2025 running from May 28 to May 31, the country's foremost event on sustainable farming. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the event convened over 20 sessions, 54 expert speakers, and placed a strong focus on agri-tech, youth engagement, and national food sovereignty. She noted that the wheat showcased at the agriculture exhibition is one such success story — an early product of these experiments, which have been underway for the past two years. Before any crop is approved for local cultivation, it must pass regulatory review, but the vision is clear — to one day see Emirati-grown rice and wheat, born through science and selective hybridisation, on every table. But rice isn't the only focus. At the core of KCGEB's research is a study of how native plants survive the UAE's harsh climate. One standout example is the Ghaf tree, a desert plant renowned for its ability to endure extreme heat and drought year-round. 'We looked into the Ghaf plant to find out what makes it so tough,' said Al-Naimi. 'By identifying the genes that help it survive, we can transfer those same traits into other crops, making them more suitable for local farming.' This technique has already delivered success. Scientists used Ghaf DNA to develop a drought-resistant creeping grass, which grows shorter than traditional grass and requires less water and maintenance. While not a food crop, it's ideal for landscaping streets and homes, offering a glimpse into sustainable urban greening. KCGEB's work also extends to adapting grapevines to local conditions. In one experiment, scientists grafted international grape varieties onto native rootstocks like the Arabian almond and Ghaf. The result showed that high-quality grapes were capable of thriving in Emirati soil, paving the way for a potential locally grown fruit market. Meanwhile, the centre is tackling a major agricultural threat — the red palm weevil, a destructive pest that endangers palm trees across the region. Hashim ibn Hariz, another Laboratory Specialist at KCGEB, presented a promising genetic project. 'We're working to genetically alter the weevil's olfactory receptors — essentially disrupting their sense of smell so they can't track pheromones,' explained Ibn Hariz. 'This could limit their reproduction and movement, offering a long-term solution to a widespread agricultural issue.'
