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Aid

All articles tagged with #aid

Lebanon teeters on food insecurity as war disrupts supply chains, WFP says
middle-east1 day ago

Lebanon teeters on food insecurity as war disrupts supply chains, WFP says

The UN World Food Programme warns Lebanon faces a growing food security crisis as Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah disrupts supplies and pushes prices higher, with vegetable prices up more than 20% and bread up about 17% since March. Although official stockpiles and ports remain functional for now, southern markets have largely collapsed and hard-to-reach areas are becoming harder to supply, with aid convoys limited and displacement ongoing. About 900,000 people in Lebanon were already food insecure before the latest escalation, a number expected to rise as the crisis persists.

Ukraine lands lenient IMF loan as funding gaps loom
business1 month ago

Ukraine lands lenient IMF loan as funding gaps loom

The IMF approved an $8.1 billion loan to Ukraine with more flexible terms than initially planned, disbursing in installments through early 2030 and starting with a $1.5 billion tranche. Kyiv won a delay on unpopular tax measures (online retailer taxes, imported parcels, and VAT changes for the self-employed) to a later date. The program, aimed at addressing growth bottlenecks, corruption, and energy/financial sector reforms, is designed to cover about two-thirds of Ukraine’s needs through 2027, but Kyiv could face cash shortfalls by mid-2026 if other funding lags; Hungary’s blockade of a separate €90 billion loan adds pressure while EU leaders seek a rapid resolution.

Court pause shields Gaza aid lifeline amid NGO licensing crackdown
world1 month ago

Court pause shields Gaza aid lifeline amid NGO licensing crackdown

Israel’s High Court temporarily halted a ban that would have forced 37 international aid groups to stop work or meet new licensing rules, delaying a March deadline and preserving humanitarian operations in Gaza and the West Bank while the case is reviewed. NGOs argue the measures threaten essential aid and are politically motivated, even as there are ongoing claims of ties to armed groups and security concerns.

UK aid volunteer's 13th trip highlights Kyiv's winter blackout and hardship
world1 month ago

UK aid volunteer's 13th trip highlights Kyiv's winter blackout and hardship

Gary Fear, a Staffordshire-based volunteer, has completed 13 aid missions to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and has raised over £150,000 to help more than 7,500 families. He describes Kyiv as dark and freezing this winter amid energy outages, snow and tents in apartment complexes heated by gas, illustrating the civilian hardship. He plans another delivery in May with supplies such as food, generators and power banks, as European leaders mark the war’s fourth anniversary.

Guernsey donors ship village-sized generator to power Ukrainian community
world2 months ago

Guernsey donors ship village-sized generator to power Ukrainian community

A large standby generator donated by a Guernsey businessman arrived in Odesa to help power a small village in south-western Ukraine. Organised by Nick Reid with John Mellor’s donation and Marc Lainé driving the roughly 2,000‑mile journey, it’s Reid’s third such aid effort to Ukraine, following deployments to a hospital and a police bomb‑disposal centre.

Aid cuts could spark 22 million extra deaths by 2030, study shows
world2 months ago

Aid cuts could spark 22 million extra deaths by 2030, study shows

A Lancet Global Health modelling study links abrupt official development assistance (ODA) cuts to up to 22.6 million excess deaths by 2030 under severe defunding, including about 5.4 million among under-fives, with milder defunding causing about 9.4 million more deaths. The analysis—covering 2002–2021 data and projecting three scenarios—says the US, UK and other donors’ reductions could reverse decades of gains against infectious diseases and malnutrition, risking the collapse of health systems in some countries.

French Fishing Nets Turned Defense Shields Against Drones in Ukraine
world5 months ago

French Fishing Nets Turned Defense Shields Against Drones in Ukraine

Old fishing nets from France are being repurposed to create barriers against Russian drones in Ukraine, helping to entangle and disable the small, explosive-laden drones used in the conflict. This innovative use of discarded nets has been supported by Breton communities and other European countries, providing a simple yet effective defense mechanism amid the ongoing drone warfare.