Top stories from DAWNS Digest.
Shabaab Shuts Out Islamic Relief from Southern Somalia
One the the last remaining humanitarian groups operating in al Shabaab controlled territory has been evicted. Fortunately, the amount of territory under Shabaab control is steadily decreasing. “Somalia’s al Shabaab militants said on Monday they had banned Muslim aid agency Islamic Relief from areas under their control, a move that would deprive 1.3 million people of food, clean water and health care. Islamic Relief, one of few international aid agencies able to work in al Shabaab-run areas, said it had not been notified by the rebels that its permit had been revoked and that a ban would also threaten access to areas under government control. Faced with a military offensive by African Union and Somali forces, the al Qaeda-linked insurgents have pulled out of a number of urban strongholds in southern and central Somalia. They still hold sway over vast rural areas where the central government and regional administrations have minimal control. Al Shabaab accused the humanitarian organisation of working with other relief groups it had already expelled.” (AlertNet http://bit.ly/RrEOgn)
Sanofi Pasteur Recalls 700,000 Typhoid Vaccines
If you’ve visited a Typhoid endemic region recently and are feeling ill, you may want to get yourself checked out. “More than 700,000 people recently immunised against typhoid may not have full protection because of a dud vaccine that has now been recalled, say experts. Manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur MSD has recalled 88% of its stock – 16 batches – of Typhim Vi vaccine because tests found some samples were too weak. Anyone immunised with the vaccine since January 2011 could be affected. Officials stress that the vaccine was safe and posed no health threat. But it could mean as many as 729,606 people who potentially received the affected vaccine are not fully immunised against typhoid, according to the body that regulates drugs in the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).” (BBC http://bbc.in/RrFe6o)