New “Lujo” Virus Causes Ebola-like Bleeding in Africa

The “Lujo” virus, named after the two cities in which it was found, Lusaka, Zambia and Johannesburg, South Africa has five confirmed cases.  Four of those five cases have resulted in death.
Coming into contact with infected rodent waste can infect humans, as researchers believe the virus comes from a family of viruses that is found [...]

Recycling Grey Water in The MENA Region

The recycling of grey water may reduce the shortage of water in the Middle East and North African Region (MENA).
Grey water is used water that comes from kitchens, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, and laundry. Black water comes from toilette and cannot be reused. The MENA region has 5% of the world’s population, but only 1% of [...]

Somalia: Extremely Food Insecure

Somalia is close to going into famine.
According to FSAU, Somalia has an “ongoing and sustained humanitarian crisis,” with up to 200,000 children malnourished. Without immediate funding for emergency nutrition, more people will become malnourished and vulnerable to diseases. One in six children under the age of five are acutely malnourished and one in twenty are [...]

Caterpillars send Liberia into state of emergency

The Ravenous Caterpillar has invaded Liberia. According to CNN, “Tens of million of worm-like larvae have appeared in the northern part of the country where they are destroying green crops like cabbage and collard greens and contaminating the water supply.” These worms are causing people to flee their homes in fear, because of the lack [...]

New digital soil maps to help fight hunger

On January 13 the International Center for Tropical Agriculture introduced a new digital map technology that covers 42 countries, and will allow for soil scientists to pinpoint areas of soil degradation. According to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, “Low soil fertility is one of the major factors responsible for depressed yields on [...]

U.S. AIDS relief helps over 10 million

In 2003 the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) became the largest contribution to fighting a single disease in history, providing $18.8 billion in humanitarian aid to fight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to the PEPFAR annual report to congress, the program has been successful in treating over 2 million people, and providing care [...]

China to increase investment in African agriculture

The China Development Bank announced Friday that it plans to increase investment in African agriculture, just as the continent has been trying to increase production and curb rising food prices and shortages.
This is good news for Africa’s poor. Soaring food prices and shortages have made life more difficult for hundreds of millions people living [...]

World Hunger Rising

The number of people who are having trouble acquiring enough food to feed their household is rising and it’s projected to get worse. In a new report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reversed its hunger outlook and says there will be a rise — instead of a decline — in world hunger over [...]