News highlights: European Union sued over forced labor in Eritrea in two courts, Election concerns cause political turmoil in Ethiopia, Call for suspension of forced returns
15 May 2020

News highlights: European Union sued over forced labor in Eritrea in two courts, Election concerns cause political turmoil in Ethiopia, Call for suspension of forced returns

by | posted in: Africa, COVID-19, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU funding, European Politics, European Union, FAO, Italy, Libya, Locust, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, Netherlands, Refugee Camps, Refugees in the EU, Relocation system, The Netherlands, Unaccompanied Minors, United Nations, Weekly news highlights | 0

This week’s news highlights: Dutch Foundation sues European Union over forced labor; Lawyers and UK organisation challenge UK funding to EU project in Eritrea; Advisory Committee urges The Netherlands to provide one billion EUR for Africa amid COVID-19; 1.600 unaccompanied minors on Greece to be relocated; Migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina threatened; Hungary illegally held asylum seekers in camps; Malta urged to join operation Irini; Italy to introduce special work permits for migrants; UNICEF steps up preparations to curb COVID-19 in Eritrea; Ruling party in Ethiopia states it will remain in power until next election; Flood and conflict threaten internally displaced people in Somalia; Number of internally displaced people in Horn of Africa drops; UN Network on Migration urges to suspend forced returns; UNHCR raises awareness for stateless people worldwide; UNHCR needs $745 million to protect displaced populations against COVID-19; Joint IGO statement on the threats in Libya; And 53% of migrants lost jobs in Tunisia due to COVID-19 lockdown

Lockdown of Kenyan Eastleigh commercial hub impacts the local economy
11 May 2020

Lockdown of Kenyan Eastleigh commercial hub impacts the local economy

by | posted in: COVID-19, Kenya | 0

By Francis Kinyua. Due to increased community transmission of COVID-19, the government executed a two-week cessation of movement in and out of Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday, May 6 2020. It immediately posed a negative impact on residents and thousands of business people who operate in the area. There was a heavy presence of security officers in all parts of the district, with roadblocks mounted at all major entry points to prevent movement in and out of the densely populated area inhabited mostly by natives of the Somali community.

Dry Water Taps in Nairobi’s Pumwani Slums during COVID-19 Pandemic
8 May 2020

Dry Water Taps in Nairobi’s Pumwani Slums during COVID-19 Pandemic

by | posted in: COVID-19, Kenya | 0

By Francis Kinyua: Hand washing is a precautionary measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, but residents of Majengo Pumwani slums in Nairobi are wondering what this means as taps have been dry for the past week. As water taps stopped working in Majengo slums, there is no water for drinking and cooking, let alone to wash hands to curb the spread of COVID-19.