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

Calls for AU, UN to take action in Sudan’s Blue Nile State

NAIROBI, 12 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - The UN and the African Union must step forward and take decisive action to stop Sudan from committing war crimes against civilians in Blue Nile State, says a new Amnesty International report, dismissed as “false” by Khartoum. full report

Military’s shutdown of NE Nigeria telecoms disrupts trade

KANO, 11 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - With mobile phone signals shut down since 15 May in large parts of three northeastern states following a military offensive against Boko Haram (BH) Islamists, anxious residents say the sick are cut off from medical help, commercial supplies are dwindling and food prices rising. full report

Thousands still missing HIV treatment following CAR coup

KAMPALA, 11 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - More than 15,000 people living with HIV in the Central African Republic (CAR) had their life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) treatment interrupted as a result of the instability before, during and after the 24 March coup by the Séléka rebel group. NGOs are now struggling to ensure these people resume their regimens to reduce the risk of illness, drug resistance and death. full report

Pakistani families forced to flee FATA “paradise”

JALOZAI, 10 June 2013 (IRIN Asia) - The last thing Sher Mohammed remembers before fleeing fighting in his village in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan was watching an eight-year-old girl being shot and killed by her father. full report

Guineans flee Conakry unrest, ethnic tension

DAKAR, 7 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - Guinea’s political violence is hitting residents of the capital Conakry increasingly hard, with some families forced to flee their homes and others relocating for fear of ethnically based attacks. full report

Analysis: The dangers of rushing Mali elections

DAKAR/BAMAKO, 6 June 2013 (IRIN Africa) - As international donors, notably France and the USA, as well as the Economic Community of West African States, push for July presidential elections in Mali, critics say doing so could foment factionalization in the north thus further destabilizing it, threaten ongoing negotiations over Kidal town, and hamper reconciliation and dialogue. IRIN spoke to analysts, citizen activists and would-be voters to glean their views. full report

Aid projects in limbo after Karachi killings

KARACHI, 6 June 2013 (IRIN Asia) - The short queue outside a dispensary in the Sohrab Goth area of Pakistan’s mega-city Karachi hadn’t advanced for hours: the front door remained stubbornly shut, death threats having deterred staff from showing up for work several days previously. full report

Afghan reintegration scheme in the spotlight

KUNDUZ, 4 June 2013 (IRIN Asia) - A process of voluntary disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants, the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program (APRP), has been under way since 2010, but in the absence of a wider settlement, how successful can it hope to be? full report