Chinese aid for SA flood relief termed a ‘joke’

The Chinese embassy in South Africa has donated a million rand ($66,000; £50,000) toward flood relief effort but some South Africans have been complaining about how meagre the amount is.

Chinese ambassador Chen Xiaodong said the donation was part of its efforts to support South African people affected by the disaster in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Social embed from twitter

One social media user however said the amount “was a joke when billions of rands [are] needed to rebuild everything”.

Another compared the Chinese donation to a bigger amount offered by a wealthy South African businessman.

“One million rand from China? When even [Patrick] Motsepe donated 30 million as an individual but a country that is rich, I mean they are the second richest country in the world but they donate a million.”

On Tuesday the African Union announced a $150,000 donation from its emergency fund to support the relief efforts.

More than 450 people have died in the devastating floods, infrastructure has been destroyed in several parts of the province and the government has declared a nation-wide state of disaster.

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Poland frees most detained Nigerians – officials

 

Most of the Nigerians detained at camps in Poland after fleeing the war in Ukraine have been released, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has said.

A total of 13 were released following the intervention of the Nigerian embassy, it said in a statement.

 Five other Nigerians had ”unfortunately” applied for asylum and would not be released until Poland took a decision on their request or they withdrew it, the statement added.

Africans repeatedly complained of racism while trying to leave Ukraine at the start of the war.

There were numerous reports of Ukrainian security officials preventing them from catching buses and trains going to the border.

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Botswana court summons ex-president over firearms

 

A court in Botswana has summoned former President Ian Khama to appear before it on Thursday on multiple criminal charges, including possession of firearms.

The “unprecedented” charge sheet showed that Mr Khama was accused alongside three others, the private  website reported.

He and ex-intelligence chief Isaac Kgosi, former police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe and ex-deputy permanent secretary Bruno Paledi face a total of 38 charges, ranging from illegal acquisition, unlawful possession and theft of firearms.

In Botswana, the illegal possession of guns could lead to a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Mr Khama previously told South Africa’s Daily Maverick newspaper that he keeps his hunting rifles, shotguns and “a few handguns” collected over three decades at his home.

Some of these belonged to his official and private security detail, he was quoted as saying.

It is unlikely that Mr Khama will appear in court in person.

Mr Khama – the son of Botswana’s founding President Serrates Khama – went into self-imposed exile in South Africa in November 2021.

At the time, he denied that he was fleeing Botswana but he hasn’t returned to the country since.

Mr Khama was president from 2008 to 2018.

He fell out with his handpicked successor, Mokgweetsi Masisi, whom he accused of authoritarianism. Mr Masisi was the vice-president under Mr Khama, from 2014 to 2018.

The summons against the former president come ahead of President Masisi’s planned meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on Friday.

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Somali minister survives ‘assassination attempt’

Somali Foreign Minister Abdisaid Muse Ali says he has survived an assassination attempt involving regional government forces in the north-eastern state of Puntland.

Mr Ali tweeted late on Thursday that he was on holiday in the town of Galkayo when a regional police commander ordered local security forces “to attack us”.

He said the attack happened when his family was having iftar, a meal taken after sunset during Ramadan, that was hosted by a local traditional elder.

“I strongly condemn violence as a means to [achieve] political ends and will hold all involved accountable by all means necessary,” he said

Puntland deputy leader Ahmed Karash condemned the incident and pledged an investigation.

State TV reported that one soldier was killed and three people wounded in the attack on the minister.

The incident came amid heightened tensions and a prolonged electoral process marred by alleged corruption and irregularities.

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One in Six People Internally Displaced in Ukraine

 

More than 600,000 additional people were internally displaced in Ukraine in the first 17 days of April according to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) latest report released today, pushing the total number of internally displaced since the beginning of the war to over 7.7 million, 17 per cent of the country’s population.

These displacements represent an increase of nine per cent since the second assessment dated 1 April and 19 per cent since the first survey was published on 16 March.

The new assessment conducted between 11 April and 17 April reveals that women represent at least 60 per cent of those displaced. More than half of internally displaced persons – mainly in the east of Ukraine – reported a lack of some food products; 28 per cent of families with children under the age of 5 say they experience problems getting enough food for their children since the start of the war compared to 25 per cent in the 1 April report.

The most pressing needs identified included cash and access to financial support followed by medicines and medical supplies.

“Women and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities have been disproportionately affected as they all represent a highly vulnerable group of people,” said IOM Director General António Vitorino.

“Our work in support of those forced to flee their homes and all vulnerable populations affected by the war continues, but a humanitarian ceasefire is crucial to allow for aid delivery and access to hard-to-reach communities.”

Among those currently displaced, fifteen per cent plan to return to their homes in the next two weeks, heading mostly to Kyiv and the north of the country, while eight per cent of the general population report having had their homes damaged by attacks.

In addition to ongoing large-scale deliveries of humanitarian supplies, IOM has identified cash-based interventions as one of the most feasible, efficient, and effective ways to reach people in need both inside Ukraine and in the neighboring countries. Preparations are ongoing to scale up this assistance in close coordination with UN agencies, the Government of Ukraine and the local authorities. IOM is also launching a broad shelter rehabilitation programme to provide displaced persons staying at collective centres access to safe and dignified living conditions.

Since the beginning of the war, at least 150,000 people have received direct assistance from IOM in Ukraine, including food, non-food and hygiene items, cash, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as via information campaigns to help prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation and abuse.