The Namibian government has implemented interventions and strategies to eradicate poverty through social protection, community development and poverty eradication programmes in order to create an inclusive society.

This was said by President Hage Geingob in a press statement issued on the occasion of the International Day for the Abolition of Poverty yesterday.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the World Day to End Extreme Poverty and the 30th anniversary of the International Day to End Poverty.

The day recognises the essential global solidarity and shared responsibility to eradicate poverty and combat all forms of discrimination, as well as the millions of people suffering from poverty and their daily courage.

“Despite slow economic growth, the Government of the Republic of Namibia has created an enabling environment for society’s most vulnerable members as we work to combat poverty and hunger,” he said.

The president mentioned interventions such as social safety nets, which provide monthly social grants for the elderly, the disabled, orphans and vulnerable people.

He said these are testament to the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty, as government also provides dignified burials for destitute members of Namibian communities.

(NAMPA)

CW/HP/AS

2 (WINDHOEK, 18 OCT, XINHUA) – Namibia anticipates a boom in the tourism sector as well as a boost in the economy ahead of one of the world’s longest one-stage mountain bike races, the Nedbank Desert Dash slated on 09 and 10 December.

The Nedbank Desert Dash, launched today in Windhoek, is set to attract over 900 participants from across the globe as cyclists seek to tackle the 393-kilometre route on the main gravel road between the capital city of Windhoek and the coastal town of Swakopmund within 24 hours.

‘The race holds great economic benefits for local businesses in Windhoek as well as the Erongo Region,’ said Nedbank’s Chief Financial Officer, JG Van Graan, at the launch event.

According to Van Graan, a contribution which can be estimated at 25 million Namibia dollars will be pumped into the economy throughout the build-up to the race as well as during the race and after as hundreds of people are expected to fly in to witness and support the event.

The race not only attracts local cyclists over the years, but last year, in particular, it managed to attract participants from 15 countries.

XINHUA

3 (ADDIS ABABA, 18 OCT, AFP) – The Ethiopian government said today it has taken three towns in the war-stricken region of Tigray, as alarm grows about the resurgent conflict pitting federal forces and their allies against Tigrayan rebels.

‘The ENDF (Ethiopian National Defence Force) has taken control of the towns of Shire, Alamata and Korem without fighting in urban areas,’ the government said in a statement.

The announcement came after the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said that the strategic city of Shire and other areas had fallen to ‘invading forces’.

The government added that it would ‘coordinate with humanitarian agencies to provide humanitarian aid’ through the areas now under army control including Shire airport.

AFP

4 (GENEVA, 18 OCT, AFP) – Somalia faces famine on a scale last seen half a century ago, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) said today as it set a new target of more than $2 billion in funding needs.

‘Things are bad and every sign indicates that they are going to get worse,’ Unicef spokesman James Elder told reporters via video link from the drought-stricken Horn of Africa nation.

‘Without greater action and investment, we are facing the death of children on a scale not seen in a half a century.’

In August, 44 000 children were admitted to health establishments with severe acute malnutrition, a condition that means a child is up to 11 times likelier to die from diarrhoea and measles than a well-fed counterpart, Elder said.

‘That is a child per minute,’ said Elder, ‘A child whose mother has walked days to get her child to help, a child whose body is fighting to survive, a child whose life hangs in the balance.’

AFP

5 (WARSAW, 18 OCT, AFP) – Poland has banned Israeli school groups from using armed guards during visits to the country, including to former Nazi concentration camps.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina was quoted by PAP news agency as saying: ‘We are ready to receive Israeli excursions in Poland if they are not accompanied by armed security guards.’

Jasina spoke after Israeli ambassador Yacov Livne last week said Israeli school visits had been banned ‘because of the decisions taken by the Polish foreign ministry’.

The issue is over visits organised by Israel’s education ministry for secondary school children, which have been suspended since June.

Interviewed on a regional radio station in Lublin in eastern Poland, Jasina said there were no armed guards for Israeli school children on visits to France and Germany, which could create the impression they were more in danger in Poland than in those countries.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency