Devex: From relief to resilience – The drought crisis and famine in the Horn of Africa which affected more than 13.3 million people was not unique, but “merely the peak of a decades-long pattern of emergency and response in the region.” While droughts cannot be prevented, “they can be predicted and mitigated thanks to investments in early warning systems, satellite technology and on-the-ground analysis,” and a shift in focus from relief to resilience. Dr. Rajiv Shah explains that “health and nutrition are an equally important part of the equation . . . [and] a clear focus on improving nutrition is at the heart of our shift from food aid to food assistance.” (Dr. Rajiv Shah)
Washington Blade: AIDS Memorial Quilt returning to D.C. – All 48,000 panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will return to Washington next month for the first time in 15 years to coincide with the International AIDS Conference from July 21-25. The panels will be on display at more than 40 locations throughout the D.C. area, including the National Mall and the Washington Nationals outfield. Nancy Pelosi said that the quilt calls “on us all to take a look at this disease from a humanitarian perspective, to reach beyond the walls of science and say if we test and treat enough people we can begin to end this epidemic.” (Michael Lavers)
Reuters: Nigeria Crash Toll Likely to Be 159-State Government – Sunday’s plane crash in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos is estimated to have killed 159 people, including six people in the building that the airliner struck, making this the worst airline disaster in Nigeria for two decades. Nigeria’s government has suspended the air license of Dana Air, and the “black box” voice and data recorder of the plane has been sent abroad for decoding to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Christian Science Monitor: Nigerian banker urges a businesslike approach to poverty in Africa – Tony Elumelu, a Nigerian businessman and one of Africa’s most prominent philanthropists, advocates for “Africacapitalism,” a business-led, African-run approach to fighting poverty. The Tony Elumelu Foundation aims to “groom business leaders, change government policies that discourage the creation of new enterprises, spread research on entrepreneurship in Africa, and provide capital to business that have a social purpose.” (Caroline Preston)
