State-foreign operations suffer $5B cuts under House appropriators - The House Appropriations Committee approved $48.38 billion in funding for State and foreign operations this week. This falls $6 billion short of President Obama’s request and $5 billion short of the one approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Tom Hart, U.S. Executive Director of ONE, said that “while they understand the currently tough fiscal environment, they are disappointed with the House’s allocations,” and that “possible cuts on lifesaving development programs would only achieve ‘symbolic savings’ in balancing the budget, but would have a ‘profound impact’ on human lives and dignity.” (Devex, Jenny Lei Ravelo)
Obama’s public health chief: ‘We can’t build a moat around the US’ – President Obama’s public health chief and the Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Thomas Frieden, says that the “main argument for spending on global health work . . . is protecting Americans.” Frieden explains that “there’s a bipartisan sense of support for global health,” citing the recent “surge in funding to fight AIDS and malaria under President George W. Bush.” (The Hill, Julian Pecquet)
Oxfam: South Sudan Refugees Face Water Shortages – Tens of thousands of refugees in South Sudan’s Jamam camp face life-threatening water shortages and fatal disease and must move immediately to a new site. Relief agencies expect even more refugees as those fleeing the conflict on the Sudan and South Sudan border take up residence in the camp. In addition, “heavy rains in the coming weeks will make it difficult to deliver aid to the camp, leaving refugees exposed to diseases such as cholera.” (AP)
Aid groups face massive shortfall as hunger crisis worsens in Africa’s Sahel region – As the hunger crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa worsens, aid groups warn that there is a $200 million shortfall in funding for emergency aid. Unless this gap is filled, “six million people in the region – many of them children – will suffer severe malnutrition that could shorten their lives or leave them with lifelong disabilities.” For international agencies, “projects wide-ranging enough to promote long-term self-sufficiency in the Sahel are among the most difficult to fund, as cash-strapped donor agencies cut back on aid.” (Toronto Star, Olivia Ward)
Banda, Sirleaf Pave Way for More African Female Leaders – Joyce Banda’s swearing in as president of Malawi this month made her the second female head of state in Africa, following Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s victory in Liberia in 2005. Malawi Human Rights Commission chairman Kapito explained that “Banda is a role model for women and the nation as a whole — well able to ensure that the rights of the poor, especially rural women, are respected.” (VOA, Cathy Majtenyi)
