Summer of extremes, record-breaking rainfall in China and Ukraine humanitarian response plan. Here is what you missed from last week’s headlines in the international development sector.
Exceptional heat and rain, wildfires and floods mark summer of extremes
Dangerous weather – intense heat and devastating rainfall – has impacted large parts of the Northern Hemisphere in this summer of extremes, causing major damage to people’s health and the environment. Marine heat waves are affecting large areas of the ocean. July is expected to be the hottest ever month on record.
China set a new national daily temperature record in July and was hit by record-breaking rainfall at the start of August. Many new station temperature records around the world were broken in July. The start of August also saw a winter heatwave in parts of South America.
Wildfires caused devastation and dozens of casualties and forced evacuations of thousands of people in Canada, and parts of the Mediterranean, including Algeria, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
Typhoons trigger destruction and record-breaking rainfall in China
Record-breaking rainfall induced by tropical cyclones has caused devastation and casualties in the Chinese capital Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei, prompting a major relief and rescue operation.
Beijing recorded its heaviest rainfall over the past few days since records began 140 years ago. It logged 744.8 millimeters of rain, the maximum amount of precipitation recorded during the rainstorm, between 8 p.m. 29 July, and 7 a.m. 2 August at a city reservoir, according to the Beijing Meteorological Service in a report cited by the Xinhua News Agency.
There were reports of more than a dozen casualties, with more than 125,000 people evacuated. Dramatic photos and film footage showed images of roads turned into rivers, sweeping away infrastructure and cars.
‘’The disaster is just the latest in a series of high-impact events which have affected Asia and other parts of the globe this summer, including extreme rainfall and dangerous heat,” said Dr Johan Stander, director of the WMO Services Department. “We see evidence literally on a daily basis of the urgency of the UN Early Warnings for All initiative to ensure that everyone on Earth has access to life-saving early warnings.”
Ukraine humanitarian response plan only 30 percent funded
Civilian infrastructure is under attack in cities across Ukraine, and the need for long-term aid grows. However, the United Nations’ 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine is only 30 percent funded, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, told journalists.
The response plan for the year calls for USD 3.9 billion to continue frontline deliveries several times a week, prepare Ukraine for winter, and support long-term recovery and rebuilding in the country. Brown said that funding meant to help at least 11 million Ukrainians has been inadequate due to unexpected demands.
Access to water for drinking and irrigation has become a key issue following the destruction of Ukraine’s Kakhovka Dam. Top-floor residents have watched their downstairs neighbors evacuate flooded apartments. Several thousand people have been displaced due to water damage. Brown said that while the situation has been managed in the short term, the UN team continues searching for long-term solutions to water contamination.
DevelopmentAid Editorials
Introducing the Grants for NGOs Membership Plan
Beginning in the second half of the 20th century, NGOs have played an increasingly important role in international development, particularly in humanitarian assistance and poverty alleviation.
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Hero Stories | Rodney Makube, CEO, Rhiza Babuyile
Rhiza Babuyile is a South African not-for-profit organisation that was established 12 years ago with just two employees. Today, the organization has 190 staff with 60 of these being permanent employees.
AI will not replace you, but someone who uses it might | Opinion
Welcome to a thought-provoking journey. This article is here to challenge you, to push your thinking beyond the usual, and yes, to stir a little discomfort. Why? Because we’re diving into a topic that’s reshaping our world: artificial intelligence (AI). The idea is simple yet powerful: AI will not replace you, but someone who uses it effectively might. It’s not a threat, but a wake-up call. It’s time to step up, investigate AI, and harness its potential. Ready for the challenge? Let’s begin.
Here’s what else has happened
Dengue: While the incidence of dengue increases across regions, especially in parts of the Americas, experts reviewed the global situation and methods to help control the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
Erasmus+: The Commission selected 159 projects for funding under Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education, which supports the modernisation and quality of higher education in third countries worldwide. These projects all respond to the overall aim to support the international cooperation of higher education, improve education systems and strengthen growth and prosperity on a global scale.
South Sudan: Amid the visit of the heads of the UN Rome-based Agencies (FAO, WFP, and IFAD) to South Sudan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is intensifying efforts to increase the resilience of the country’s agrifood systems to shocks and crises and reduce its dependency from food imports and external assistance, as hunger and malnutrition continue to rise nationally.
Afghanistan: As the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) draws closer, participants are already pushing for a strong outcome that supports climate action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Participants at last year’s COP27 reached a breakthrough agreement on a new Loss and Damage Fund for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. However, despite being one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and one of the lowest emitters of greenhouse gases, Afghanistan was not represented at COP27 because the Taliban de facto authorities are not recognized internationally.
Ukraine: As part of the EU-funded school repairs project in Ukraine, implemented by UNOPS, construction work commenced in late June on the first batch of educational institutions. This will help prepare them to welcome students at the beginning of the new academic year in September 2023.
Reports
ADB forecasts continued pandemic recovery for Pacific economies in 2023, 2024
Economies in the Pacific are projected to grow collectively by 3.3% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2024 as the subregion continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest issue of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Economic Monitor (PEM) launched.
WTO issues 2023 edition of the World Trade Statistical Review
The WTO issued the latest edition of the World Trade Statistical Review, its annual flagship publication featuring key data on global trade in merchandise and commercial services.
Events
The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
📅 17 – 18 August 2023
Gujarat, India
The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit will take place on 17 and 18 August 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. It will be held alongside the G20 health ministerial meeting, to mobilize political commitment and evidence-based action on traditional medicine, which is a first port of call for millions of people worldwide to address their health and well-being needs.
