April 3, 2007

BBC reports on growth in Sudan

Khartoum to get new hotels, country grows economically

The BBC reports that Sudan expects to the Gross National Product to grow 11% this year. The skyline of Khartoum is changing as developments like Al-Mogran with its 10 hotels and 60,000 housing units, and a Lybian financed five star, sail shaped hotel are constructed. The one page article notes that growth takes place now, because the civil war with the south is over.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/6573527.stm
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April 2, 2007

New programme greatly reduces deaths of abandoned babies in Khartoum

Reporting to a major newspaper in Toronto,Canada, John Goddard describes the abandoned babies situation in Khartoum. He explores why they get abandoned, and the cultural and institutional methods of caring for those found alive. Efforts in 2002-4 to effect change are explored, including international visits to Romania, the gathering of accurate statistics, training social workers and developing new models of family-based care. A sad story that seems to be changing for the better. Offers insight into Sudanese culture.

http://sudan.net/news/posted/14480.html

April 1, 2007

Eritrean legislation bans clitorectomy

The Eritrean Information Ministry described female circumcision as a dangerous process that threatens the health and lives of women. The practice also causes significant suffering and pain to women, it said.

Legislation was passed in March 2007 to punish anybody that requests, incites or promotes female genital mutilation (FGM).

Practitioners (including many Beja) say that the procedure prepares the women for adulthood, protects their virginity, as well as cleansing them when they reach the age of puberty. It is usually performed when the female is a young girl, by older women.

Though a number of African countries have outlawed the procedure, it is a widespread practice. Eritrean women activists said over 90 percent of Eritrean women have gone through the pains of female circumcision.

http://www.afrol.com/articles/24973

Russians provide tons of wheat to help Sudan

The United Nations received a $2 million delivery of 4,205 tons of wheat. The UN will help feed 284,500 school children and 6,000 adults, in the World Food Programme that operates in Red Sea State, Kassala State, and North Kordofan State.

Source: http://sudan.net/news/posted/14529.html