SA couple in Yemen 'not taken by al-Qaeda'

A humanitarian organisation that is helping in the rescue attempt of a South African couple kidnapped in Yemen says they were not taken by al-Qaeda as previously reported.

• NGO helping in Yemen hostage search
• Yemen: Local Qaeda chief, militants held
• Bid to free kidnapped SA couple continues

SA sending 150 tons of food to Moz

The SANDF and the charity, Gift of the Givers, will deliver over 150 tons of food to flood-stricken Mozambique.

• Flood waters recede in Mozambique
• Mozambicans seek refuge from floodswatch
• SANDF sends help to Mozambique

Aid on the way for Free State community

More aid is on the way for Kestel, Free State residents affected by a severe storm, says charity group Gift of the Givers.

• Tornadoes struck the Free Statewatch
• Tornado damages 30 homes
• Support for Kestel tornado victims

SA donates R10m in aid to Congo

The department of international relations has donated R10m in aid to victims of the explosion in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo, says a charity group.

• Remove munitions from cities - UN
• SA embassy to help blast victims
• Mass funeral for Congo victims

SA embassy to help blast victims

The South African embassy in the Republic of Congo is ready to help its citizens affected by the recent munitions dump blasts in Brazzaville.

• Mass funeral for Congo victims
• Congo blast injured 2 300 – officials
• Congo builds 200+ coffins after blasts

Temporary houses for tornado victims

The Gift of the Givers is providing a total of 350 temporary houses to those affected by a tornado in Duduza, while another 100 homes need repairs and renovations.

• Farmers reach out to Duduza
• Tornado: It was raining stones
• Destroyed Duduza houses to be rebuilt

SA aid to Somalia exceeds R20m

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says that although it's difficult to quantify, South Africa's contribution to relief efforts in Somalia has exceeded R20m so far.

• SANDF provides plane for aid delivery
• Somalia famine to hit two new areas
• UN needs $1bn for East Africa

SA aid criticism unfair, dept says

Criticisms of South Africa's response to the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa are unfair and ill-informed, the department of international relations and co-operation says.

• Govt calls on SA to help Somali famine relief

SA media shot at in Somalia

A South African media contingent travelling with doctors and aid workers has been shot at in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, a report says.

• Aid efforts falter in drought-hit Somalia
• Help fly food to E Africa, UN urges
• Famine likely to hit all southern Somalia

SA man wants to burn Bibles

A court interdict is being sought to stop a man from burning Bibles in Johannesburg, in protest against a plan by a US pastor to burn the Qur'an.

• Qu’ran burning: Damage is done
• Florida pastor calls off Qu'ran burning event
• World leaders reject Qu’ran burning

R5m for Haiti relief efforts

A Cape Town-based business has presented a R5m donation to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

• Haiti: SA telethon raises $100k
• Haiti insecurity mounts
• SA in 'Haiti-like' situation

SA team frees 5 quake survivors

Five people, among them a 60-year-old woman, have been pulled out alive from a destroyed hospital in Port-au-Prince by SA's Gift of the Givers rescue team.

• Woman pulled alive from rubble
• Hope persists in Haiti
• Thousands orphaned in Haiti

Humanity shines through

Remarkable isn't it, how it takes a cataclysmic disaster like the Haiti earthquake to show that the world still cares about people, writes Chris Moerdyk.