EAST AFRICA: IRIN Digest - March 2015

	humanitarian news and analysis

Table of contents 1. What dissident's jailbreak means for a tense Burundi 2. Cautious welcome for new OCHA chief 3. Plan to export medics 'threatens Uganda's epidemic response' 4. Coaxing the dragon: Why China should join the great aid debate 5. Women and malnutrition - the case of South Sudan 6. What you need to know about DRR 7. IRIN's Top Picks: Bad jokes, innovation and apathy 8. Going cold Turkey: African migrants in Istanbul see hopes turn sour 9. Ebola and HIV: how to change behaviour for the long term 10. Millions of aid dollars lost in currency swings 11. Killing us softly 12. Top picks: Blackboards, zakat and currency dives 13. Take the medicine trail What dissident's jailbreak means for a tense Burundi BUJUMBURA, 9 March 2015 (IRIN) - The escape from jail this month of Burundian politician Hussein Radjabu, which was well organised with outside assistance, adds to the uncertainty and tension in the run-up to a presidential election. Read report online Cautious welcome for new OCHA chief LONDON, 10 March 2015 (IRIN) - The newly named UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien will take the reins of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs from Valerie Amos in May. His appointment has been met with cautious optimism, but questions about UN selection processes remain. Read report online Plan to export medics 'threatens Uganda's epidemic response' KAMPALA, 11 March 2015 (IRIN) - Uganda's ability to respond to major epidemics will be undermined if plans to send 263 doctors, nurses and midwives to the Caribbean are carried out, civil society activists warn. Read report online Coaxing the dragon: Why China should join the great aid debate LONDON, 17 March 2015 (IRIN) - Amid the countless meetings, summits and conferences being held around the world to determine the post-2015 development agenda and the future of humanitarian aid, how much attention is being paid to the growing role of China? Not enough perhaps, but the wariness cuts both ways. James Wan, fellow at the Wits University China-Africa Reporting Project in South Africa, argues it's time for China to get its hands dirty in the great aid debate. Read report online Women and malnutrition - the case of South Sudan KODOK, 18 March 2015 (IRIN) - Pregnant breastfeeding women are the demographic group most at risk of malnutrition in South Sudan after children, making up some 12 percent of all those on supplementary feeding programmes. Read report online What you need to know about DRR NAIROBI, 18 March 2015 (IRIN) - A new global plan to prepare for future natural and climate-linked disasters agreed in Sendai, Japan today has been condemned by development NGOs as lacking in ambition and short-changing poorer countries that are most at risk. Read report online IRIN's Top Picks: Bad jokes, innovation and apathy DUBAI , 20 March 2015 (IRIN) - Welcome to IRIN's reading list. Every week our global network of specialist correspondents share some of their top picks of recent must-read research, interviews, reports, blogs and in-depth articles to help you keep on top of global crises. We also highlight key upcoming conferences, book releases and policy debates. Read report online Going cold Turkey: African migrants in Istanbul see hopes turn sour ISTANBUL, 20 March 2015 (IRIN) - In a nondescript cafe in one of Istanbul's more rundown neighbourhoods, migrants from Africa watch a Congolese soccer match as Afro-pop music blasts in the background. Read report online Ebola and HIV: how to change behaviour for the long term NAIROBI, 20 March 2015 (IRIN) - Ebola-hit countries are working hard to reduce their infection rates and get to zero, with mixed success. But when the day does come and the crisis is declared over, how can prevention lessons be made to stick? Are there models to emulate from the global HIV campaign? Read report online Millions of aid dollars lost in currency swings BEIRUT/GENEVA, 26 March 2015 (IRIN) - Currency fluctuations this year could cost relief agencies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost income, threatening aid to millions of people around the world. Read report online Killing us softly HONG KONG, 27 March 2015 (IRIN) - Of the 100 million Chinese who watched a documentary - later censored - about air pollution in their country, 172,000 are likely to die each year from air pollution-related diseases. Read report online Top picks: Blackboards, zakat and currency dives DUBAI, 27 March 2015 (IRIN) - Welcome to IRIN's weekly assortment of journalism and research about the humanitarian world that piqued our interest. This week how aid destroyed a culture, channeling Islamic duty into the humanitarian system and has 'development' run its course? Read report online Take the medicine trail OXFORD, 2 April 2015 (IRIN) - IRIN has delved into the global supply chains used by humanitarian aid agencies. Join us on the time-consuming and perilous journey many drugs have to make before they reach those most in need and can begin to save lives. Read report online

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