Aid and Assistance

Six years after Cyclone Idai tore through central Mozambique, the port city of Beira still carries the imprint of that storm in both brick and belief. Cyclone Idai in 2019 killed more than 500 people in Mozambique and left thousands more homeless; in the past decade alone, 10 cyclones have claimed more than a thousand lives across the country. For many residents, the memory of Idai is not only a ledger of loss but a constant lens through which the next weather warning is viewed. Reporting by Sean Christie for the Bhekisisa…

HARARE — A group of public health physicians urged Harare and Washington on Thursday to resume negotiations after the collapse of a proposed $367 million bilateral health agreement that health experts say would have strengthened Zimbabwe's fragile health system. The proposed package, officials and health specialists said, was aimed at bolstering priority programs including HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis control, malaria response, maternal and child health services and disease outbreak preparedness. Its…

The Trump administration is canceling humanitarian aid programs it previously identified as lifesaving, according to an internal State Department email obtained by The Atlantic, a move that could sharply reduce assistance to vulnerable populations in parts of Africa. The internal communication, made public by The Atlantic, says the new round of cuts will end all U.S. humanitarian funding in seven African countries. The report did not identify the countries by name in its initial coverage. The email marks a reversal from…

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is canceling humanitarian aid programs it previously identified as lifesaving, according to an internal State Department email obtained by The Atlantic, a move that could sharply reduce U.S. assistance to vulnerable populations abroad. The internal message, made public by The Atlantic on Tuesday, says the new round of cuts will reportedly end all U.S. humanitarian funding in seven African countries. The email characterizes the affected programs as lifesaving before notifying colleagues…

WHO Launches $1 Billion Global Appeal for Health Care Access in Humanitarian Crises The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its 2026 global appeal, aiming to ensure that millions of people affected by humanitarian crises and conflicts can access essential health care. The appeal seeks nearly **US$1 billion** to address the health needs in 36 emergencies worldwide, including **14 Grade 3 emergencies** that represent the highest level of organizational response. These emergencies encompass both sudden-onset and…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has officially declared the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, marking a significant public health achievement. The announcement comes after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days, following the discharge of the last patient from the treatment center on October 19, 2025. This outbreak primarily impacted the remote Bulape Health Zone, resulting in a total of 64 cases, with 53 confirmed and 11 classified as probable. Tragically, 45 individuals lost their…

India offers aid as Botswana confronts acute medicine shortages India has offered to assist Botswana in addressing a severe shortage of essential medicines, officials said during a visit by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The offer was announced by Botswana President Duma Boko at a joint media briefing, underscoring the urgency of the country’s health supply crisis. President Boko announced the offer while briefing the media alongside visiting Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Available reports put the stock of essential…

Burkina Faso's Human Rights Crisis: The Detention of Aid Workers Raises Alarm In the heart of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, a troubling storm is brewing that threatens not only the humanitarian efforts crucial to the nation but also the very fabric of its governance. Recently, several aid workers from a Netherlands-based non-governmental organization (NGO) found themselves enveloped in a web of serious accusations, as the government detained them on charges of spying and treason. This incident has raised serious…

MSF Suspends Medical Services in Northern Mozambique as Violence Surges Mozambique’s conflict-scarred Cabo Delgado province has seen a sharp escalation in violence that has forced Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to suspend operations at a key district hospital, the international medical charity said Friday. The halt in services comes after weeks of armed incursions that have killed civilians, driven thousands from their homes and severed access to lifesaving health care in an already fragile region. Immediate disruptions…

South Africa at a Crossroads: Donor Cuts Threaten Hard‑Won Gains Against HIV GAUTENG, South Africa — In a conference hall a short drive from Johannesburg’s busy highways, the blunt arithmetic of global aid collided with the realities faced by clinics and families. Scientists, clinicians, activists and people living with HIV spoke in urgent, sometimes angry tones: the era of steady international support that helped turn a tide against HIV may be ebbing, and the consequences could be catastrophic. Stark projections, stark…