GLIC Daily Report Series 1.13
Humanitarian
- Sudan: Number of families suffering from hunger almost doubles
The number of families suffering from hunger has almost doubled in the past year in Sudan, where a war between generals has plunged the country into chaos for six months, WHO and UNICEF said. The conflict has killed over 9,000 people, according to a largely underestimated toll, and left millions displaced and refugees, worsening the country’s health crisis, where more than half of the inhabitants need aid. humanitarian to survive.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “the number of families suffering from hunger has almost doubled” over the past year. “700,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition and 100,000 children need life-saving treatment against acute malnutrition accompanied by medical complications,” alerted the two UN agencies in a press release.
African News:Sudan: Number of families suffering from hunger almost doubles October 20, 2023
Economy
2. Nigerian naira hits record black market low of 1,100 per dollar
The Nigerian naira faced a significant devaluation, reaching a new low of 1,100 naira per US dollar on the black market, as reported by online platform abokiFX. This depreciation comes after the official market also recorded a new low due to ongoing dollar shortages, with the naira dropping to 980 naira per dollar.The freefall of the naira in the unofficial market has been exacerbated by the removal of currency restrictions on the official market. These restrictions had previously propped up the naira’s value.
African News:Nigerian naira hits record black market low of 1,100 per dollar October 20, 2023.
Election
3. Liberia: close results, towards a second round of the presidential election
Liberia’s presidential election appears headed for a runoff, with the main candidates neck and neck and votes almost completely counted. President George Weah , who is seeking a second term, received 43.8% of the vote and his main opponent, Joseph Boakai , 43.4%, according to the National Electoral Commission. A candidate must obtain more than 50% of the votes to win.
Once the votes for this round are finalized, the second round will take place within 15 days. The elections of October 10 are the closest in almost 20 years, that is to say since the end of the civil war which left some 250,000 dead.
African News:Liberia: close results, towards a second round of the presidential election October 20, 2023
Environment
- California earthquake: Magnitude 4.1 quake sets off alert
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook part of Northern California between the state capital and the San Francisco Bay region on Wednesday (October 18,), setting off automated quake alerts.
AP News:California earthquake: Magnitude 4.1 quake sets off alert | AP News October 20, 2023
Environment
5. In Brazil’s Amazon, rivers fall to record low levels during drought
The Negro River, the Amazon’s second largest tributary, on Monday (October 16) reached its lowest level since official measurements began near Manaus 121 years ago. The record confirms that this part of the world´s largest rainforest is suffering its worst drought, just a little over two years after its most significant flooding.In the morning, the water level in the city´s port went as low as 13.5 meters (44.3 feet), down from 30.02 meters (98.5 feet) registered in June 2021 — its highest level on record. The Negro River drains about 10% of the Amazon basin and is the world’s sixth largest by water volume.Madeira River, another main tributary of the Amazon, has also recorded historically low levels, causing the halt of the Santo Antonio hydroelectric dam, Brazil´s fourth largest.
AP News:In Brazil’s Amazon, rivers fall to record low levels during drought October 20, 2023
