Eiffel Tower summit closes, 1,350 schools shut in France heat wave
France is facing a severe heat wave forcing nearly 1,350 schools to shut fully or partially, nearly double from the previous day....
More than a million people in Myanmar are set to lose access to vital food aid from the World Food Programme next month due to a severe funding shortfall, exacerbating the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis amid escalating conflict and displacement.
Over a million people in Myanmar will lose access to life-saving food aid provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) starting next month, following severe funding shortages. This is the latest in a series of cuts to the U.N. agency's humanitarian efforts, as it grapples with escalating global crises and a lack of financial support.
The WFP issued a stark warning on Friday, stating that the cuts would severely impact vulnerable populations who are entirely dependent on food aid. The agency highlighted the ongoing challenges in Myanmar, where the combination of conflict, displacement, and access restrictions has significantly increased food assistance needs.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military coup in February 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government. The coup sparked widespread protests and has since evolved into a full-scale rebellion, further destabilizing the country. Nearly 20 million people in Myanmar are currently in need of humanitarian aid, and approximately 15.2 million, or roughly one-third of the population, are facing acute food insecurity, according to U.N. human rights experts.
Despite these dire circumstances, funding for humanitarian efforts has fallen short. The WFP has been forced to reduce operations in several countries, including Afghanistan and parts of Africa, as well as in refugee camps in Bangladesh. The agency has warned that without a $60 million influx of funding, it will be unable to maintain its current operations in Myanmar throughout 2023.
The funding shortfall is part of a broader global crisis in humanitarian assistance, with many organizations facing the challenge of meeting the needs of millions affected by conflict and poverty. The WFP did not specify whether the funding gap was linked to cuts in U.S. foreign aid under the Trump administration, but it has raised concerns about the sustainability of its operations moving forward.
The cuts will have a devastating impact on communities across Myanmar, particularly the internally displaced people (IDPs) and marginalized groups, including the Rohingya Muslim minority. Around 100,000 people in Myanmar, including the Rohingya, are at risk of losing access to food aid. The situation is particularly dire as Myanmar approaches its lean season, from July to September, when food shortages typically worsen.
In addition to the immediate food insecurity, the ongoing conflict has contaminated farmland with landmines and unexploded ordnance, while agricultural equipment has been destroyed. These factors make it increasingly difficult for local farmers to produce enough food to meet the needs of their communities. Furthermore, massive displacement has led to a shortage of workers, with many fleeing conscription by the military.
In Bangladesh, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, where over a million Rohingya refugees already live in dire poverty. Guterres promised to work with global partners to prevent further cuts to food rations in refugee camps, where the WFP will reduce food assistance to just $6 per month per person starting in April.
The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar is expected to worsen in the coming months unless significant international support is provided. The WFP has called for urgent financial contributions to avoid further disruption to food aid and to ensure that vulnerable populations receive the support they need during this critical time.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
Prices for goods made in China and sold on Amazon.com are rising at a pace faster than overall inflation, signaling the growing impact of U.S. tariffs on consumers, a new analysis by retail analytics firm DataWeave reveals.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened his counterparts from India, Japan, and Australia on Tuesday for a high-stakes meeting of the Indo-Pacific Quad, aiming to reaffirm the group's commitment to countering China’s influence in the region.
A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday rejected Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's request to dismiss the majority of charges in a sweeping indictment, allowing the Chinese telecoms giant to face trial over allegations of trade secret theft, bank fraud, and sanctions violations.
France is facing a severe heat wave forcing nearly 1,350 schools to shut fully or partially, nearly double from the previous day.
The U.S. Justice Department announced charges against two Chinese citizens accused of spying inside the U.S. on behalf of Beijing.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment