News Rounds: The latest, most high-profile reasons why foreign aid needed (Mali, Syria), China reveals huge gap between rich and poor, measles on the run and more |
U.N. Refugee Agency Warns of Crisis in Mali (NYTimes) – As French and African troops escalated their offensive against Islamist forces in the north of Mali on Friday, the United Nations refugee agency said it was preparing for around 700,000 people to flee the violence, many to neighboring countries. Here’s The Guardian’s story on same.
One in Four Syrians Need Aid (VOA) — The United Nations warned Thursday that nearly five million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the fighting gripping the country.
China Reveals Economic Gap Between Rich, Poor (VOA) — China has released statistics on the income gap between rich and poor after keeping the figures secret since 2000. Officials report the gap as “rather big.”
Measles deaths fall but vaccine gaps threaten progress (Reuters) — Fatal cases of measles have fallen by nearly 75 percent globally since 2000, but big outbreaks in Asian and African states with low vaccination rates jeopardize progress towards eradication, the World Health Organization says.
Burma Accused of Violating International Law in Kachin (VOA) — Human Rights Watch issued a statement Friday demanding that Burma’s army cease attacks against rebels in northern Kachin state. The group is also calling on military forces to allow humanitarian aid to reach at-risk populations.
Rivers, lakes, wetlands: could water become the world’s biggest market? (Guardian) – The market-based approach to protecting water resources and sustainable development is expanding at rapid pace – but so are concerns about exactly who stands to benefit. A related Inter Press story on Green Approaches to Water gaining pace around the world.
Why access to information needs to be central to the debate on poverty (Guardian) – The global framework for development has focused international and domestic efforts to reduce poverty, with clear progress being made on the delivery of basic social services including health and education at a global level. But beyond 2015, accelerated progress on poverty will require expanded access to information to fostert local control and empowerment.