DR Congo
Almost nine out of 10 health facilities in war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have run out of medicine, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In a survey of the region, the ICRC found more than 200 out of 240 clinics were out of supplies due to looting and supply chain disruption caused by the violence. Civilians are at “immediate risk” with cases of malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases unable to be treated, the ICRC said. Eastern DRC, which borders Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, has been the center of fighting between the government and a patchwork of armed groups for decades, with foreign powers regularly interfering in the conflict.
More from Reuters here.
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Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s foreign minister has traveled to India for the first time in what is being seen as an attempt by the ruling Taliban to develop relations with other countries in the region. The Taliban has struggled to build diplomatic ties since returning to power in 2021, with only Russia formally recognizing it as Afghanistan’s government so far. The country’s economy is buckling under the weight of sanctions and the forced return of refugees from neighboring countries, sparking one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The Taliban is desperate to build economic ties with other states so this is one to watch.
More from DW here.
Myanmar
Myanmar’s army has used a paraglider to carry out an air raid on a village, killing an estimated 20 to 40 people, including a number of children, according to local media reports. “The sickening reports emerging … should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection,” rights group Amnesty International said in a statement. Given that the military has Chinese and Russian-made aircraft, the use of motorized paragliders is believed to be an attempt to save money as it fights rebel groups who lack air defenses. Myanmar descended into civil war when the military overthrew a democratically elected government, led by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, in 2021.
More from AP here.