In Africa, the Middle East war threatens drug supply
via SeneNews4 min read
Rodrigue Alitanou of the medical NGO Alima, based in Dakar, warns of potential medicine shortages by the end of April, stating that the Middle East conflict exacerbates humanitarian medicine supply tensions in Africa. This comes after years of financial cuts. Mr. Alitanou, the operations director for Alima, which operates in 13 African countries, highlights that if the situation persists for one and a half to two months, these alerts will directly impact their activities. Increased fuel costs and logistical transport through the Strait of Hormuz are affecting medicine delivery to crisis zones in Africa, compounded by US financial cuts to international aid. Africa imports over 70% of its medicines and more than 90% of its pharmaceutical ingredients. Mr. Alitanou expresses concern over rising import costs due to soaring fuel prices, noting that an additional $2,000 in costs means 200 fewer children treated for malnutrition. He observes this trend in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other countries. The Middle East, a crucial gateway between Asia, a major medicine producer, and Africa, is experiencing disruptions. Humanitarian supply centers in Dubai's free zone have seen their activities affected, impacting logistical transport to Africa. The World Health Organization WHO emergency logistics platform in Dubai, which supplies medicines to over 150 countries, canceled shipments and rerouted supplies due to airspace closures at the conflict's start. Damien Dubois, supp
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation FSF, has ignited widespread controversy following his public statements regarding the national team's doctor, Dr. F茅dior. During a press conference reviewing the 2026 World Cup, Fall claimed he "late discovered" that Dr. F茅dior was a gynecologist and that "the players were not convinced." These remarks have drawn significant attention from international media and social networks, extending beyond internal Senegalese football discussions. Fall's comments have raised questions about the choice of the team doctor and the FSF's operational procedures. Dr. F茅dior, a well-known figure in Senegalese football medicine, has had his competence publicly challenged despite having stated in 2018 that he had extensive experience in sports medicine, beginning with US Gor茅e in 1986, alongside his gynecology specialization. The controversy has led to inquiries about why Dr. F茅dior remained part of the medical staff if his profile was deemed unsuitable for a World Cup, and why his specialization is now being highlighted as a reason for Senegal's performance. Furthermore, Fall's public attribution of the team's difficulties to a member of its medical staff has exposed the FSF's recruitment, validation, and monitoring processes for national delegation officials.
The controversy surrounding Senegal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup continues, with Idrissa Gana Gueye posting an enigmatic message on social media shortly after a press conference by Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation. Fall had justified the decision to part ways with coach Pape Thiaw, criticizing the team's preparation, technical choices, and staff operations. Gueye, who had previously supported Thiaw, did not directly name Fall or Thiaw but hinted at a different interpretation of events. He wrote, "Alhamdoulillah, in all circumstances. Proud of you, guys! But... now, let's talk about it. What do you think? Since the end of the match, I can't find the words or truly understand what happened. I do have my own little idea... And you?" This refers to the match against Belgium, where Senegal led 2-0 until the 85th minute before losing, leading to their World Cup elimination. Gueye's message is expected to fuel further debate on accountability for the failure, suggesting some players may have a different perspective than the Federation.
Must ReadYemen's Houthi rebels launched strikes against Saudi Arabia on Monday, accusing the kingdom of attacking Sanaa's airport, which the Houthis control. This action reignites the conflict after years of relative calm. The internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Riyadh, claimed responsibility for the airport attack, stating it aimed to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The delegation was returning from Tehran after attending the funeral of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The Yemeni Ministry of Defense stated that "the Houthi terrorist militias supported by the Iranian regime" insisted on allowing an Iranian plane to violate Yemeni airspace, leading to the targeting of the airport runway. Houthi media reported the plane ultimately landed in Hodeidah, a rebel-controlled coastal city. Iran condemned the attack as a violation of Yemen's sovereignty. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree accused Riyadh of the attack and vowed retaliation. Shortly after, the Saudi-led coalition announced it intercepted ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis in southern Saudi Arabia. Andreas Krieg, a security expert at King's College London, suggested Saudi involvement in the airport attack is more likely given the age and condition of Yemeni fighter jets. The Yemeni government had earlier accused the rebels of preventing an International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC plane from leaving Sanaa airport and detaining its crew, though an ICRC spo