http://www.irinnews.org/Updated everydayen-gbWed, 15 May 2013 16:30:46 GMTWed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 15 May 2013 (IRIN) - Congo, which is heavily dependent on revenue from the oil industry, has been declared as “conforming to” a global standard that aims to ensure transparency of payments for natural resources; NGOs hope the announcement will improve the lives of the poor.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/98044/Call-for-oil-revenues-to-improve-living-standards-in-CongoBRAZZAVILLE 15 May 2013 (IRIN) - Congo, which is heavily dependent on revenue from the oil industry, has been declared as “conforming to” a global standard that aims to ensure transparency of payments for natural resources; NGOs hope the announcement will improve the lives of the poor.]]>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 28 March 2013 (IRIN) - Thousands of people remain homeless in the Republic of Congo (ROC) one year after being displaced following a deadly munitions blast at an army barracks in the capital, Brazzaville. The 4 March 2012 blast, in the area of Mpila, east of the capital, left some 282 people dead and 2,300 others injured, according to officials.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97751/In-Congo-thousands-still-homeless-one-year-after-munitions-blastsBRAZZAVILLE 28 March 2013 (IRIN) - Thousands of people remain homeless in the Republic of Congo (ROC) one year after being displaced following a deadly munitions blast at an army barracks in the capital, Brazzaville. The 4 March 2012 blast, in the area of Mpila, east of the capital, left some 282 people dead and 2,300 others injured, according to officials.]]>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 15 March 2013 (IRIN) - An influx of migrants from the countryside into the Republic of Congo's second largest city, Pointe-Noire, is exacerbating a cholera outbreak that began in November 2012. The outbreak infected at least 389 and killed 10, according to the health ministry and local authorities.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97661/Cholera-outbreak-in-CongoBRAZZAVILLE 15 March 2013 (IRIN) - An influx of migrants from the countryside into the Republic of Congo's second largest city, Pointe-Noire, is exacerbating a cholera outbreak that began in November 2012. The outbreak infected at least 389 and killed 10, according to the health ministry and local authorities.]]>Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 01 March 2013 (IRIN) - Indigenous women in the Republic of Congo, better known as pygmies - a minority group threatened with extinction - are virtually excluded from reproductive health services. They mostly give birth at home and are exposed to related health risks, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Ministry of Health with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97574/In-Congo-few-pygmy-women-have-access-to-reproductive-health-servicesBRAZZAVILLE 01 March 2013 (IRIN) - Indigenous women in the Republic of Congo, better known as pygmies - a minority group threatened with extinction - are virtually excluded from reproductive health services. They mostly give birth at home and are exposed to related health risks, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Ministry of Health with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).]]>Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>JOHANNESBURG 27 February 2013 (IRIN) - New data from the World Bank has revealed that African migrants pay more to send money home to their families than any other migrant group in the world.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97557/African-migrants-pay-high-prices-to-send-money-homeJOHANNESBURG 27 February 2013 (IRIN) - New data from the World Bank has revealed that African migrants pay more to send money home to their families than any other migrant group in the world.]]>Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 21 January 2013 (IRIN) - Improved maternal healthcare and better family planning programmes have led to a sharp decrease in the Republic of Congo’s maternal mortality rate over the past decade.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97300/Maternal-mortality-down-sharply-in-CongoBRAZZAVILLE 21 January 2013 (IRIN) - Improved maternal healthcare and better family planning programmes have led to a sharp decrease in the Republic of Congo’s maternal mortality rate over the past decade.]]>Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>NAIROBI 18 January 2013 (IRIN) - Africa could reduce its poverty levels faster by focusing more on the production of staples rather than export crops, according to a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97278/In-Brief-Staples-not-export-crops-key-to-tackling-Africa-s-poverty-reportNAIROBI 18 January 2013 (IRIN) - Africa could reduce its poverty levels faster by focusing more on the production of staples rather than export crops, according to a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).]]>Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 18 January 2013 (IRIN) - The HIV infection rate has declined among pregnant women in the Republic of Congo from 3.4 percent in 2009 to 2.8 percent in 2012, according to a study by the Ministry of Health, which said it had taken specific action to help this section of the population.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97275/Fewer-pregnant-women-with-HIV-in-CongoBRAZZAVILLE 18 January 2013 (IRIN) - The HIV infection rate has declined among pregnant women in the Republic of Congo from 3.4 percent in 2009 to 2.8 percent in 2012, according to a study by the Ministry of Health, which said it had taken specific action to help this section of the population.]]>Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 17 January 2013 (IRIN) - The director-general of Congo’s prison service, Paul Morossa, has admitted serious overcrowding in prisons, but does not think imminent improvements are possible.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97274/Congo-prisons-chief-admits-shortcomings-in-wake-of-damning-reportBRAZZAVILLE 17 January 2013 (IRIN) - The director-general of Congo’s prison service, Paul Morossa, has admitted serious overcrowding in prisons, but does not think imminent improvements are possible.]]>Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>DOLISIE 24 December 2012 (IRIN) - Over 150 experts from seven African countries - Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Cameroon - are calling on African governments to implement national plans to combat cancer.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97114/AFRICA-Congo-cancer-conference-urges-actionDOLISIE 24 December 2012 (IRIN) - Over 150 experts from seven African countries - Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Cameroon - are calling on African governments to implement national plans to combat cancer.]]>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 17 December 2012 (IRIN) - A group of Pygmy women singers from Likouala, in the extreme north of the Republic of Congo, has released a music album, which they and their backer hope will help safeguard the rights of the country’s Baka Pygmies.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97065/In-Brief-Putting-Congo-s-Baka-minority-on-the-mapBRAZZAVILLE 17 December 2012 (IRIN) - A group of Pygmy women singers from Likouala, in the extreme north of the Republic of Congo, has released a music album, which they and their backer hope will help safeguard the rights of the country’s Baka Pygmies.]]>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 13 December 2012 (IRIN) - Torrential rains have killed at least 13 people, injured 29 and displaced hundreds in districts south of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, say officials.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97038/CONGO-Torrential-rains-kill-13-displace-hundredsBRAZZAVILLE 13 December 2012 (IRIN) - Torrential rains have killed at least 13 people, injured 29 and displaced hundreds in districts south of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, say officials.]]>Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>NAIROBI 06 December 2012 (IRIN) - The African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) 2009, also known as the Kampala Convention, came into force on 6 December; it is the world’s first legally binding instrument to cater specifically to people displaced within their own countries.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96984/IDPs-African-IDP-Convention-comes-into-forceNAIROBI 06 December 2012 (IRIN) - The African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) 2009, also known as the Kampala Convention, came into force on 6 December; it is the world’s first legally binding instrument to cater specifically to people displaced within their own countries.]]>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 26 November 2012 (IRIN) - The Republic of Congo, which imports over US$240 million worth of food a year, has seen sharply rising staple food and fuel prices since the beginning of 2012, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a local consumer rights body.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96889/CONGO-Imports-corruption-drive-up-food-pricesBRAZZAVILLE 26 November 2012 (IRIN) - The Republic of Congo, which imports over US$240 million worth of food a year, has seen sharply rising staple food and fuel prices since the beginning of 2012, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a local consumer rights body.]]>Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 14 November 2012 (IRIN) - An NGO in the Republic of Congo has launched a campaign aimed at reducing the often fatally late diagnosis of cancer, which affects more than 7,000 people in the central African state.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96780/In-Brief-Towards-earlier-cancer-diagnosis-in-CongoBRAZZAVILLE 14 November 2012 (IRIN) - An NGO in the Republic of Congo has launched a campaign aimed at reducing the often fatally late diagnosis of cancer, which affects more than 7,000 people in the central African state.]]>Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>JOHANNESBURG 12 November 2012 (IRIN) - A new database by the Swiss-based NGO Geneva Call collating current and past armed groups’ attitudes towards international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (HRL), could be used to hold them accountable.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96759/SECURITY-Accountability-holding-armed-groups-to-their-wordJOHANNESBURG 12 November 2012 (IRIN) - A new database by the Swiss-based NGO Geneva Call collating current and past armed groups’ attitudes towards international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (HRL), could be used to hold them accountable.]]>Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 06 November 2012 (IRIN) - Torture has become routine in prisons and police stations in the Republic of Congo, according to a 2 November report by the Congolese Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH).http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96726/CONGO-Torture-commonplace-in-prisons-reportBRAZZAVILLE 06 November 2012 (IRIN) - Torture has become routine in prisons and police stations in the Republic of Congo, according to a 2 November report by the Congolese Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH).]]>Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>NAIROBI 13 September 2012 (IRIN) - In 1990, an estimated 12 million children around the world died under age five; by 2011, that figure had dropped to 6.9 million. The message, from a new report by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), is that with greater commitment to child survival from governments and their partners, these figures can go lower still.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96300/HEALTH-The-quot-unfinished-business-quot-of-lowering-child-mortalityNAIROBI 13 September 2012 (IRIN) - In 1990, an estimated 12 million children around the world died under age five; by 2011, that figure had dropped to 6.9 million. The message, from a new report by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), is that with greater commitment to child survival from governments and their partners, these figures can go lower still.]]>Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 06 July 2012 (IRIN) - Shaken by sporadic civil war between 1998 and 2003, the Pool Region of southeastern Congo is moving forward thanks, in part, to a US$1 billion state infrastructure development programme.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95813/CONGO-Pool-Region-moves-on-from-warBRAZZAVILLE 06 July 2012 (IRIN) - Shaken by sporadic civil war between 1998 and 2003, the Pool Region of southeastern Congo is moving forward thanks, in part, to a US$1 billion state infrastructure development programme.]]>Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>POKOLA 19 June 2012 (IRIN) - A community radio station broadcasting from Pokola, 800km north of the Congolese capital Brazzville, is helping to foster understanding between the Bantu majority and the indigenous Pygmy minority.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95689/CONGO-Community-radio-promotes-Bantu-Pygmy-understandingPOKOLA 19 June 2012 (IRIN) - A community radio station broadcasting from Pokola, 800km north of the Congolese capital Brazzville, is helping to foster understanding between the Bantu majority and the indigenous Pygmy minority.]]>Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>JOHANNESBURG 19 June 2012 (IRIN) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has halved food rations to refugees living in camps in at least four African countries citing a funding shortfall.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95597/AFRICA-Donor-fatigue-forces-WFP-to-cut-refugee-rationsJOHANNESBURG 19 June 2012 (IRIN) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has halved food rations to refugees living in camps in at least four African countries citing a funding shortfall.]]>Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>JOHANNESBURG 31 May 2012 (IRIN) - When night falls in the Dadaab refugee complex in eastern Kenya, nearly half a million refugees are plunged into darkness. The lack of light robs schoolchildren of the possibility of studying and provides perfect cover for thieves and rapists.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95558/REFUGEES-Moving-out-of-the-shadowsJOHANNESBURG 31 May 2012 (IRIN) - When night falls in the Dadaab refugee complex in eastern Kenya, nearly half a million refugees are plunged into darkness. The lack of light robs schoolchildren of the possibility of studying and provides perfect cover for thieves and rapists.]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>JOHANNESBURG 15 May 2012 (IRIN) - The UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched its first Africa Human Development Report today, stressing food security as a means to a better quality of life for all.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95459/FOOD-Power-to-the-peopleJOHANNESBURG 15 May 2012 (IRIN) - The UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched its first Africa Human Development Report today, stressing food security as a means to a better quality of life for all.]]>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 02 April 2012 (IRIN) - A cholera outbreak is adding to the woes of thousands of people displaced by a huge munitions blast in the Congolese capital Brazzaville about a month ago, say officials.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95225/CONGO-Cholera-hits-munitions-blast-displacedBRAZZAVILLE 02 April 2012 (IRIN) - A cholera outbreak is adding to the woes of thousands of people displaced by a huge munitions blast in the Congolese capital Brazzaville about a month ago, say officials.]]>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT]]>BRAZZAVILLE 23 March 2012 (IRIN) - Around 14,000 people are homeless in Congo’s capital, Brazzaville, two weeks after munitions in an army barracks exploded killing 223 people, wounding 2,500 and destroying large parts of the city.http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95143/CONGO-Thousands-still-homeless-after-munitions-blastBRAZZAVILLE 23 March 2012 (IRIN) - Around 14,000 people are homeless in Congo’s capital, Brazzaville, two weeks after munitions in an army barracks exploded killing 223 people, wounding 2,500 and destroying large parts of the city.]]>