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UN and Africa: focus on South Sudan, CAR and Timbuktu reconstruction

UN and Africa: focus on South Sudan, CAR and Timbuktu reconstruction

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“Serious human rights violations” continuing in South Sudan

“Serious human rights violations” are continuing in South Sudan and are more serious than previously thought according to a visiting UN Human Rights Commission. Civil conflict erupted in the African country three years ago leading to the deaths of thousands of people and forcing almost three million more to flee their homes. During their 10-day visit, the team of three commissioners met with government officials and visited communities displaced by conflict in the capital Juba and the towns of Malakal, Bentiu and Wau. Philip Wani reports from South Sudan.

Fabrizio Hochschild. UN Photo/Daniel Johnson

"Economy of war" threatens CAR's fragile recovery

The Central African Republic’s “economy of war” and chronic suffering are among the biggest threats to the country’s fragile recovery, the UN has heard. With nearly half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, around US$ 400 million needs to be found, to aid recovery efforts. Here’s Daniel Johnson in Geneva.

El Farouk monument in Timbuktu, Mali.Photo: MINUSMA/Sophie Ravier (file photo)

Satellite imagery provides clearer picture of Timbuktu reconstruction

Space technology is contributing to the reconstruction of one of the world’s most iconic heritage sites: Timbuktu in northern Mali. That’s according to an Information Management specialist with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Bertrand Frot. He said UNDP is helping to rebuild the centuries-old city, which was destroyed by conflict over the past few years. The agency is using satellite imagery to monitor the reconstruction and its impact on people living there. Mr Frot was in Dubai recently for the first High Level Forum on space as a driver for socio-economic sustainable development – a meeting organized by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). He told Dianne Penn why a single satellite map, beats a multipage report.

Presenter: Matthew Wells

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10'00″

Audio
10'
Photo Credit
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré