Lack of access, rains hinder aid to Jonglei IDPs

JUBA, 17 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - Tens of thousands of people have been cut off from water, food and medical care in South Sudan's Jonglei State, after fleeing violence between rebels and the government in Pibor County. They now face escalated risks as the rainy season starts, but aid agencies say the government has denied humanitarian access to these populations. full report

Preparing for floods in West Africa

DAKAR/NIAMEY, 14 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - West African and Sahel countries are setting up measures to minimize flood damage as the annual rainy season approaches. The African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) in a seasonal weather outlook says near-average or above-average rainfall is likely over the western Sahel, which stretches across Mauritania, Senegal and western and central Niger. full report

Senegalese gear up for likely flooding

DAKAR/PIKINE, 7 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - Senegalese authorities and aid organizations say they have begun preparing for what will likely be another round of heavy flooding during this year's upcoming rainy season, but observers and local residents say not enough has been done to reduce the risk of annual floods ruining their homes. full report

Reshaping the fight against poverty

JOHANNESBURG, 31 May 2013 (IRIN Global) - After nine months of consultations, the UN High Level Panel on determining the world’s post-2015 development agenda has issued a report calling for a path to sustainable development which will transform the lives of the very poorest. full report

Responding to Namibia's drought crisis

JOHANNESBURG, 30 May 2013 (IRIN Africa) - Namibia, already the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, is experiencing a severe drought, with some regions receiving the lowest seasonal rainfall in three decades, according to figures released by the country’s meteorological service this week. full report

Equity takes centre stage

JOHANNESBURG, 30 May 2013 (IRIN Global) - As aid officials haggle over ways to reduce developing countries’ disasters risks, they are increasingly looking to target the inequalities that make some communities more vulnerable than others. full report

Global land treaty aims for more teeth

JOHANNESBURG, 29 May 2013 (IRIN Global) - Talks have begun on giving a global treaty on land degradation more teeth. full report

Analysis: Slowing Nigerian grain trade threatens Sahel food security

DAKAR/KANO, 27 May 2013 (IRIN Africa) - Northern Nigeria’s grain trade, which supplies almost half of the Sahel’s cereals, has slowed severely, while abnormally high prices of staple grains across the Sahel are causing serious food security concerns in this chronically vulnerable region. full report

Analysis: How to avoid a fourth year of serious flooding in Pakistan

SUKKUR, 21 May 2013 (IRIN Asia) - Since 2010, monsoon rain in Pakistan has brought with it some of the biggest seasonal flooding in living memory. Two months from this year’s rains, weather forecasters are already predicting above normal rainfall and in some areas standing water has yet to drain away from last year’s monsoon. full report