Madagascar on Friday restored global medical charity MSF's access to the country, where borders have been shut since the start of the pandemic, allowing relief work in the famine-hit south.

Teams from Medecins Sans Frontieres had lost their special authorisation to continue travelling to the Indian Ocean island nation, shuttered since March 2020, when the government reinforced coronavirus restrictions in July.

The inability to renew their visas would have ended food distribution and assistance to more than a million people hit by a devastating famine in an area the size of Bulgaria of Cuba.

"Nine new visas have been delivered thanks to action taken by the authorities, which will allow us to continue with food distributions and our response to malnutrition," MSF said in an emailed statement.

Madagascar authorities had previously failed to respond to requests for renewed humanitarian access.

The government has been operating in famine-hit districts for severals months alongside MSF, the World Food Program and other aid organisations.

Soldiers have also been deployed to distribute food and first aid.

Below-average rainfall and sandstorms have caused a succession of crop failures in areas where most people live off their land.

The United Nations has blamed global warming and warned the next dry season, starting in October, would likely aggravate the situation.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Civilians among dead in DRCongo army-rebel clashes
Beni, Dr Congo (AFP) Aug 20, 2021
Clashes between units of the Democratic Republic of Congo army and jihadist rebels in the east left at least 18 dead, half of them civilians, monitors and community sources said on Friday. "At least nine civilians were killed overnight in Katanda territory," the Kivu Security Barometer reported in a tweet. "Searches are still under way," added the violence monitor, which has experts in the area. The clashes happened when Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) guerrillas swooped on the village of Ka ... read more