- South African iconic singer and the goodwill ambassador of Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has paid visit to rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Miriam Makeba is on a four-day visit to the Congolese capital Kinshasa, touring small farming projects for rape survivors. The women farmers were given seeds, tools and training by the FAO.
“I would like my visit to this country to be an opportunity to renew and strengthen our commitment and ensure that innocent victims suffering from hunger have access to the necessary resources to cultivate their hope for a better life,” she said.
Ms Makeba sympathised with women survivors of sexual violence for going through a physical, psychological and social pains.
She wondered why women, who guarantee the survival of 80% of the households in DRC, as well as play crucial role for the well-being of the family should become frequent victims of rape and sexual violence.
Ambassador Makeba described systematic rape of women as the most horrifying feature of the complex emergency in DRC in recent years.
She said 27,000 cases of sexual violence were recorded in the conflict North Kivu province in 2006.
Despite the country's vast potential for economic growth, she said, 70% of Congolese battle food insecurity and rising malnutrition rate. Besides, two decades of violence, famine and disease have resulted to the death of about 3.5 million people in the Central African country.
In collaboration with other stakeholders, the UN food agency's Emergency Coordination and Rehabilitation Unit supported over two million people.
Her visit also takes her to projects of families living with HIV/AIDS, discuss with government officials and representatives of UN agencies.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español