SA must make the best of Obama's visit

SA should use the upcoming visit by US President Barack Obama to cement its good relations with the US, writes Simon Williamson.

• Barack Obama to make first trip to SA
• Anti-terrorism fight gets a boost
• Al-Qaeda training camps in SA - report

Pan-Muslim body urges aid for Mali

The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation is urging its member states to make generous contributions at a donors' conference on Mali to be held this week in Brussels.

• OIC discusses terrorism
• Islamic summit to discuss Syria, Mali
• OIC vows to donate $350m to Somalia

Gordhan: I did not agree with UK aid cut

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says the facts surrounding Britain's decision to cut aid to South Africa by 2015 are being deliberately distorted.

• UK ends Official Development Aid to SA
• UK to give more funds to SA students
• SA not seeking 'wine war' with UK

SA peeved over UK aid cut

The UK's decision to end direct aid to South Africa should have been communicated through official diplomatic channels, the international relations department says.

• UK set to end direct aid to SA - report

UK set to end direct aid to SA - report

The British government is reportedly planning to stop giving direct aid to South Africa from 2015, saying the relationship should be based on trade and not development.

• UK freezes aid to Rwanda
• Britain boosts Malawi aid to £54m
• Africa's aid dependency should end

US aid chief calls for logistic changes

The head of the Obama administration's global food aid programme says a proposal to shift the way food is delivered abroad could help an additional 4 million starving people.

• UN to restart Gaza aid distribution
• Qatar pledges $500m in aid to Darfur
• Darfur too unsafe for aid groups - UN

UK pledges to help Darfur more

Britain pledged extra money to Darfur over the next three years in a bid to help people become self-sufficient, as international partners gathered at a donors' conference in Doha.

• Aid for Darfur displaced in jeopardy
• Sudan restrictions hamper aid work in Darfur
• Darfur funding in jeopardy - US envoy

Myanmar aid may hinder, not help: Experts

Governments and agencies must be wary of drowning Myanmar with well-intentioned but ill-targeted aid, experts have warned, admonishing the global community to "first do no harm".

• Myanmar: Aid workers held for 'questioning'
• Myanmar tensions block medical aid
• Myanmar needs 'sustainable aid': Suu Kyi

Unicef wants $45m for Mali

Unicef urgently needs $45m to help children in conflict-stricken Mali, where the threat of violence and trafficking has spiralled, compounding a long-running food crisis.

• Children targeted in northern Mali - UN
• Sahel facing deadly cholera outbreak
• Unicef warns of west Africa cholera threat

Sudan: Convoy to help 100 000 displaced

A convoy carrying supplies has started a days-long journey to deliver emergency assistance in Sudan's Darfur where about 100000 people have been affected by recent violence.

• Darfur displaced in appalling conditions
• Heavy fighting rages in Darfur
• UN: 100+ killed in Darfur tribal conflict

UN appeals for $131m aid for Zimbabwe

The UN is appealing for $131m aid for Zimbabwe for food, water and emergency aid.

• Zimbabwe needs election aid
• Starvation stalks Zimbabwe villagers
• Southern Africa food shortages worsen

900 000 blocked from aid in Sudan

The director of the UN humanitarian operations has blamed the Sudanese government and rebels for blocking all humanitarian aid from two southern states where 900 000 people need help.

• UN starts food airdrops in S Sudan
• Water shortage kills S Sudan refugees
• MSF laments S Sudan refugee crisis

Food aid pillaged in CAR

Hundreds of tons of food aid have been stolen from warehouses across the restive Central African Republic, the UN's World Food Programme says.

• CAR: 600 000 face food shortage
• Aid workers kidnapped in CAR
• Aid vehicle attacked in CAR

Darfur funding in jeopardy - US envoy

Funding for the recovery of Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region is in jeopardy unless the government eases restrictions on international aid personnel, a senior US envoy says.

• Sudan restrictions hamper aid work in Darfur
• Let peacekeepers access Darfur site - HRW

Aid agencies warn of Gaza disaster

A group of 38 aid agencies have urged the international community to take action to secure a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent "another widespread humanitarian disaster".

• UN chief to meet Netanyahu, Abbas
• Israel, Hamas present conditions for halt
• Israeli offensive enters critical stage

Eden blossoms under Brussels roof

The tropical tranquillity beneath the domes of Britain's Eden Project, paid for with EU cash, is a sweet-scented haven from the political row over the bloc's budget.

Italy quake aid delay 'shameful'

The head of the European Parliament says it's shameful that some nations have delayed approving €670m to help Italy's Emilia Romagna region recover from this year's back-to-back earthquakes.

• Aftershocks continue in Italy quake areas
• Six dead, 3 000 evacuated in Italy quake
• Priest died 'saving Madonna statue'

Assad's regime confiscating medical aid

A Syrian medical group alleges that President Bashar al-Assad's regime is diverting most aid to injured government supporters.

• Syria: Doctors, patients fear arrest
• Syria: Medical aid smuggling a risky job

Uganda PM unaware of missing Irish aid

The Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has insisted he had no knowledge of the alleged misuse of Irish aid by officials in his office, after Dublin suspended all government assistance to Kampala.

• Uganda celebrates 50 yrs of independence

Lesotho facing food crisis

President Jacob Zuma has held talks with Lesotho's leaders over the food crisis the country is facing.

• Lesotho facing 'devastating' food crisis

Shabaab ban aid group Islamic Relief

Somalia's Shabaab insurgents have banned the aid agency Islamic Relief, one of the very few groups who were able to work in the war-ravaged region controlled by the al-Qaeda linked fighters.

• Amisom secures Somali aid corridor
• Somali rebels storm offices of aid agencies
• Somali authorities urged to release aid

Used clothes flood Nigeria markets

Used clothes from the West have overtaken Nigeria's markets as the local textile industry falls apart.

• Nigerians 'too poor to sue over corporate abuse'
• Nigeria won't beg for G8 aid

SA sends aid to Niger

SA is set to send its first consignment of humanitarian aid to Niger after it committed assistance to four Sahel region countries suffering from severe climatic conditions.

• First aid plane arrives in flooded Niger
• Oxfam: Act to save West Africans
• Niger: Help needed for hungry children

Red Cross chief to discuss aid with Assad

Red Cross chief Peter Maurer is in Damascus for talks with President Bashar Assad and other officials on ways to get aid to Syrians caught up in the civil war, says a spokesperson.

• Response to Syria WMD use would be big
• Children among dead in Syria air strike
• Car bomb in Damascus suburb kills five