Coronavirus - Africa : Democratic Republic of the Congo UNHCR Operational Update, June 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, UNHCR DRC is producing a condensed monthly Operational Update. Specific information about UNHCR’s response to COVID-19 in DRC can be found here. Refugees PROTECTION ■ At least 3,000 Congolese crossed the Ubangui river from Buda town in Bosololo Territory, Nord Ubangi Province, seeking protection and shelter in…

Equatorial Guinea Continues Proactive Industry Engagement to Support the Oil Sector

The MMH has recognized the need to double efforts on tackling ongoing industry challenges, and finding new ways to do business to ensure that Equatorial Guinea remains competitive

In order to maintain the engagement with the oil sector of Equatorial Guinea in light of the ongoing crisis of Covid-19 and challenging market conditions, H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons (MMH) recently met with an industry delegation in Malabo. Accompanied by H.E. Santiago Mba Eneme…

Coronavirus - Africa: Industrialization and economic diversification at the heart of a reviewed PREF-CEMAC

In line with ECA's campaign on the structural transformation of the economies of Central Africa, CEMAC countries have just adopted a five-year post-COVID-19 recovery plan that prioritizes industrialization and economic diversification

CEMAC member States plan to make industrialization and economic diversification a key to the zone’s second generation economic programmes and the post-COVID-19 economic recovery plan, as advocated by the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa of the UN Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The 11th session of the Steering Committee of…

Coronavirus - Africa: UNHCR West and Central Africa Update

Supply chain challenges, rising food prices and loss of income threaten to leave millions without food across Africa

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS Political and security developments In West and Central Africa, governments are still grappling with the negative health and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. Despite the rising number of cases, most states are gradually lifting the preventive measures initially adopted in order to mitigate the social tension and economic slowdown…

Coronavirus - Africa: Update - The United States Continues to Lead the Global Response to COVID-19

These funds prioritize interventions to mitigate the pandemic and prepare communities in developing countries affected by and at-risk of COVID-19

New foreign assistance funding commitments continue to bolster the unparalleled global leadership of the United States in response to COVID-19. The U.S. Government (USG) has allocated $20.5 billion to benefit the international response, including commitments for the development of vaccines and therapeutics, preparedness efforts, and foreign assistance. We continue to…

Coronavirus - Central African Republic: Contending with COVID-19 in the midst of a serious humanitarian crisis

Staff in the four healthcare facilities in Bangui are being provided with additional handwashing stations, chlorine and gloves

The struggle against COVID-19 is intensifying against the background of the alarming spread of the disease in the Central African Republic (CAR). Although the number of recorded cases has exceeded 4,500, some people still do not believe that the disease exists, thus jeopardizing efforts to counter it. Complying with hygiene…

Coronavirus - Central African Republic: UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocates $5 million to NGOs to scale up COVID-19 response

The funds will enable the construction, rehabilitation and equipment of 19 isolation and treatment centres for COVID-19 patients, while improving surveillance mechanisms

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated US$5 million to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) International Rescue Committee (IRC), International Medical Corps (IMC), the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and Médecins d’Afrique (MDA) to scale up the COVID-19 response in the centre, east and north of the Central African Republic, where the selected NGOs…

Coronavirus - Democratic Republic of the Congo: UNHCR Update on COVID-19 Response

14 provinces are now affected by COVID-19

Main highlights As of 18 July, there were 8,403 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the DRC, with 193 reported deaths. No case has been confirmed amongst UNHCR’s persons of concern in the DRC so far. Download Report: https://bit.ly/2ZMLxNZ As of 29 June, an estimated total of 1,2 million refugees, internally…

Coronavirus - Africa: WHO urges greater COVID-19 health services in Africa’s humanitarian settings

WHO advises that activities like food distribution or education be adjusted to limit mass gatherings and strengthen infection prevention and control

The World Health Organization (WHO) today called for greater access to COVID-19 detection, testing and care among vulnerable populations grappling with the impacts of protracted conflict and humanitarian emergencies across Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 26% of the world’s refugees. Long-running conflicts in regions like the Sahel have…

Coronavirus - Central African Republic: In CAR, violence against women is surging amid COVID-19 pandemic, study finds

Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the country, 97 percent of gender-based violence (GBV) victims have been female and 76 percent underage

The Central African Republic (CAR) is seeing a surge in gender-based violence (GBV) since the COVID-19 virus pandemic and measures to control it began, with reported injuries to women and children spiking by 69 percent, a new UNDP-led study finds. Although a national strategy aims to reduce GBV, child marriage, and female…