U.N. humanitarian officials say drought conditions are expanding in Somalia, despite rainfall in parts of the country in late November. Widespread crop failure is expected, livestock are threatened and disease outbreaks are reported. VOA’s Joe De Capua has the story.

DE CAPUA -- SOMALIA DROUGHT  1 - 4-17

The World Economic Forum has released a new report outlining the top trends that could shape global developments over the next 10 years. About 750 experts contributed to the 2017 Global Risks Report. VOA’s Joe De Capua report.

DE CAPUA - GLOBAL RISKS REPORT  1 - 12 - 17

There was a big increase in the number of migrant children arriving in Italy last year, who either traveled alone or were separated from their relatives. UNICEF, the U.N. Children’s Fund, says they’re vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation and abuse. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - UNICEF - UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT KIDS  1 - 13 - 17

Around the world, thousands of children have been recruited or abducted for use as soldiers. Rights groups lay the blame on government forces, militias and rebel groups. The psychological scars that many of these children bear make it difficult for them to re-enter society or to trust government institutions. But a recent workshop in northern Uganda aimed to change that. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - FORMER CHILD SOLDIERS - UGANDA   2 - 13 - 17

THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION SAYS IT’S DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONGOING ANTI-IMMIGRANT VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA. AND IT SAYS IT’S ALSO WORRIED ABOUT AN ANTI-IMMIGRANT MARCH PLANNED FOR FRIDAY.

THE VIOLENCE BEGAN OVER THE WEEKEND IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND CONTINUED THROUGH YESTERDAY. SOME HOUSES, SHOPS AND BUSINESSES OWNED BY FOREIGN NATIONALS WERE LOOTED AND BURNED. THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION SAYS THERE MAY BE AS MANY AS FIVE MILLION MIGRANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA OR ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.

RICHARD OTS (OTTS IS THE I-O-M CHIEF OF MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA. FROM PRETORIA, HE SPOKE TO VOA’S JOE DE CAPUA.

DE CAPUA -- SAF IMMIGRANTS   2 - 22 - 17

New research shows three African countries hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic – Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia -- have made extraordinary progress in confronting the disease. A survey shows investments by the U.S. and other donors are paying off. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- HIV - TURNING THE CORNER  2 - 23 - 17

The crisis in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region is the focus of today’s emergency humanitarian summit in Oslo. At the summit, the United Nations announced a new one billion dollar appeal to respond to the terrible effects of the Boko Haram insurgency. Donors pledged more than 670-million dollars in humanitarian aid at today’s conference.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama estimates 26-million people in the region have been affected. About 20,000 people have been killed since the militants began their attacks in 2009. There’s widespread displacement and food shortages -- and famine-like conditions are reported in some makeshift camps for the displaced. Aid agencies are just gaining access to many areas.
Dr. Richard Brennan is director for emergency operations for the World Health Organization and is attending the summit. From the Norwegian capital, he spoke to VOA’s Joe De Capua about the scope of the crisis.

DE CAPUA - WHO - NIGERIA - LAKE CHAD  2 - 24 - 17

A new U.N. report describes global food supplies as robust, but famine, drought and conflict are preventing millions of people from getting enough to eat. VOA’s Joe De Capua report.

DE CAPUA -- GLOBAL HARVESTS HUNGER  3 - 3-17

For many Africans, justice remains elusive. That’s the finding of a new Afrobarometer survey conducted in 36 countries. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - AFROBAROMETER - JUSTICE  3 - 14 - 17

Sick people can be bad for the environment. A new study conducted at Lake Victoria in Kenya says human illness can cause people to be less concerned about nature when trying to make a living. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- SICK PEOPLE - ENVIRONMENT  4 - 6-17

Millions of people remain at risk in Northeast Nigeria, as humanitarian agencies struggle to overcome the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency. The militants are not the force they once were when their attacks began in 2009. But insecurity is still widespread and millions are going hungry. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - UN NIGERIA  4 - 7-17

The head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has just returned from Africa’s Lake Chad Basin, which is an extension of the humanitarian crisis gripping Northeast Nigeria. He blames the hunger and poverty there on conflict, years of neglect and the effects of climate change. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- FAO - LAKE CHAD BASIN  4 - 11 - 17

Most of the countries where Arab Spring uprisings took place have failed to achieve democratic and social reforms. A new study says one reason for that may be the lack of women’s rights in those nations. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- ARAB SPRING - WOMEN  4 - 13 - 17

The U.N. describes Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with more than 17 million people facing food insecurity. It’s one of the countries facing famine, along with South Sudan, Somalia and Northeast Nigeria. The U.N. says despite the size of the crisis it does not receive as much media attention as the other countries. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - YEMEN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS  4 - 14 - 17

Malaria was officially eliminated in the United States in the 1950s. Nevertheless, a new study says deaths or hospital stays from malaria infection are far more common in the U.S. than thought. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - MALARIA - US    4 - 25 - 17

About 100 thousand women die every year around the world from severe bleeding after childbirth. But a clinical trial says an inexpensive and readily available drug could save many lives. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - WOMEN - CHILDBIRTH - BLEEDING  4 - 26 - 17

Since the Boko Haram insurgency began in northeastern Nigeria in 2009, more than two million people have been displaced. While most have remained in Nigeria, many have fled to neighboring countries, including Niger.

The Diffa region of Niger has felt the full impact of the displacement. The medical aid group Doctors without Borders says immediate action is needed to deal with the humanitarian crisis.

Mari Carmen Viñoles is program manager for the organization, also known as MSF.  She spoke to VOA’s Joe De Capua about the crisis in Diffa.

DE CAPUA -- DIFFA NIGER  5 - 4-17

A new study says ethical businesses can flourish in countries with serious corruption problems. But it takes time to earn the support of the public and investors. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - ETHICAL BUSINESS - CORRUPTION  5 - 10 - 17

Health experts from the World Health Organization and the DRC continue to determine the scope of the Ebola outbreak in remote northern Congo. At least three deaths have been reported among the 20 suspected and confirmed cases in Bas-Uele Province. Some of the lessons learned in the huge West Africa outbreak a few years ago may be applied in the DRC. Penn State scientists in the U.S. led an international team that developed a new approach to gathering information on Ebola and quickly identifying the most effective ways to manage the outbreak.
Penn State alumni professor of biology Katriona Shea is the lead author of the study. She spoke to VOA’s Joe De Capua about the new study and her reaction to the DRC outbreak.

DE CAPUA -- EBOLA - NEW APPROACH   5 - 17 - 17

The World Health Organization says there are two confirmed and 18 suspected cases of Ebola in remote northern DRC. Three people have died. WHO officials gave an update Thursday on the situation. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - DRC - -EBOLA - -WHO   5 - 18 - 17

One of the researchers who discovered the Ebola virus in 1976 -- and helped name it after an African river -- is following developments in the DRC. Dr. Malonga Miatudila (mee-ah-too-dill-ah) is currently a consultant since retiring from the World Bank in 2005. He spoke to VOA’s Joe De Capua about the DRC outbreak.

DE CAPUA -- EBOLA EXPERT  5 - 19 - 17

While the civil war and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan grow worse, much of the country’s wildlife has found some safe havens. At least so far. That’s according to the first aerial assessment of the conflict’s effects on wildlife. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- SOUTH SUDAN - WILDLIFE  5 - 26 - 17

There’s grim news today about the status of pangolins – the extremely endangered scaly ant eaters. customs authorities in Hong Kong seized about seven tons of pangolin scales this week. The animals are the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world. there are eight species of African and Asian pangolins. The international fund for animal welfare warns the pangolin could “vanish for good.” Mark Hofburg is the group’s assistant campaigns officer. He spoke to Joe De Capua about how may animals had to be killed to generate seven tons of scales.

DE CAPUA -- HONG KONG - PANGOLINS  6 - 1-17

Every year, 26 million metric tons of fish are stolen through illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. As a result, populations of tuna – one of the most sought after fish - have plummeted. But now a new global declaration has been approved to help stop illegal tuna fishing. It was approved at the U.N.’s first Ocean Conference in New York this week. (6/5-9). VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - TUNA DECLARATION  6 - 6-17

Desert locusts are usually harmless. However, when conditions are just right they can swarm and destroy crops and pastureland. If things get really bad, a locust plague could put millions of people at risk for hunger. But now, a satellite early warning system is being developed to better predict when swarms might occur. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- LOCUSTS SATELLITES  6 - 15 - 17

Tens of millions of people around the world have been displaced by war, drought and natural disasters, like storms and earthquakes. But a new study warns by the year 2100 up to two billion people could become climate change migrants and refugees. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - CLIMATE CHANGE -- MIGRANTS & REFUGEES  6 - 29 - 17

INTRO: Up to two point seven million pangolins are hunted each year in Central Africa, pushing some species closer to extinction. A new study says hunting the world’s most illegally traded mammal has skyrocketed. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

Photo Credit: National Botanic Garden of Belgium

DE CAPUA -- PANGOLIN HUNTING  7 - 21 - 17

U-N humanitarian agencies warn that hunger is on rise in central and eastern DRC, due to escalating violence, prolonged conflict and displacement. They estimate seven point seven million people now face acute hunger -- a 30 percent increase over last year.
	The World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization say the crises in the Kasai and Tanganyika regions are made worse by an invasion of fall army worms, along with outbreaks of cholera and measles.
	Nearly two million people have been displaced over the past year in the two regions, mostly in Kasai. That brings the total number of displaced in the DRC Alexis Bonte is the interim FAO representative in Kinshasa. He spoke to VOA’s Joe De Capua.

DE CAPUA -- DRC HUNGER    8 - 14 - 17

Those who are fortunate enough to survive infection with the Ebola virus could still face multiple health problems. New research says 80 percent of Ebola survivors suffer disabilities one year after being discharged from the hospital. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA -- POST EBOLA SYNDROME  8 - 24 - 17

A new report says corruption, collusion and lack of law enforcement are seriously undermining efforts to crackdown on the illegal ivory trade in Central Africa. VOA’s Joe De Capua reports.

DE CAPUA - CENTRAL AFRICA IVORY  9 - 7-17

China is hosting a summit for those who ratified the U-N treaty to combat desertification. Experts are discussing the drought situation in Africa, which they say has been made worse by conflict and poor land management. They’re also discussing protecting, restoring and managing the world’s drylands, which include savannahs. The health of drylands is linked to food security and climate change mitigation.
Dr. Jonathan Davies is i coordinator of the global drylands initiative for the international union for the conservation of nature. From Ordos, China, he spoke to VOA’s Joe De Capua about the importance of drylands.

DE CAPUA -- DESERTIFICATION CHINA SUMMIT  9 - 8-17

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