Speeches Shim
On November 4, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) intercepted a missile launched by Al Houthi forces toward the KSA’s capital city of Riyadh, prompting the KSA to temporarily close all of Yemen’s air, land, and sea ports on November 6. Although the KSA officially reopened the ports in late November, the KSA-led Coalition has only cleared a limited number of commercial and humanitarian shipments to enter Yemen’s Red Sea ports. No fuel vessels have been allowed to enter Red Sea ports since November 6, resulting in sharp fuel price increases and forcing at least five major cities to shut down fuel-reliant water supply systems.
Since mid-November, Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) attacks have killed at least 200 civilians and exacerbated dire humanitarian conditions in the SARG-besieged Eastern Ghouta region of Rif Damascus Governorate, international media report. Relief agencies operating in the region have highlighted the urgent need for emergency medical evacuations, and report that Eastern Ghouta residents are resorting to extreme negative coping mechanisms, including skipping meals, eating expired food, begging, or consuming animal fodder and refuse, as a result of deteriorating food security conditions.
Persistent attacks against civilians are a major concern for humanitarian organizations. During the week of November 19, media reported that violence in Nigeria’s Adamawa State resulted in the deaths of 90 people, including an attack on November 21 in Adamawa’s town of Mubi that resulted in nearly 60 deaths, as well as an armed group attempt to gain control of Borno State’s Magumeri town that resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians on November 25.
The East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (the Hub) is the U.S. Government’s flagship project under the presidential Trade Africa initiative, launched in 2013 to boost trade and investment with and within Africa. The Hub partners with East African and U.S. businesses to attract investment needed to transform the East African private sector into vibrant global trading partners. Improving the region’s trade competitiveness, encouraging the diversification of exports beyond natural resources, and promoting broader, more-inclusive economic growth will lead to more food secure and resilient East African communities.
East Africa’s economic growth is among the fastest in the world and its countries are becoming increasingly integrated and interdependent. USAID supports regional institutions, including the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and their member states to address issues that require collaboration between countries.
The five-year (2016-2021) $15 million Feed the Future’s Nepal Seed and Fertilizer project facilitates sustainable increases in national crop productivity, economic welfare and household-level food security, working in 20 Feed the Future “Zone of Influence” districts and in five earthquake-affected districts.
Clashes among armed groups continue to endanger civilians and limit humanitarian access in South Sudan. On November 28, intercommunal violence in Jonglei State resulted in the death of at least 45 civilians, including six people working for two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and injured nearly 20 other civilians, the UN reports.
Water is the single most important natural resource underpinning Nepal’s economy and livelihoods. Inclusive, sustainable management of water resources in Nepal depends on addressing climate change and protecting healthy, biodiverse ecosystems.
USAID’s five-year (2015-2020), $9.9 million Nepal Hydropower Development Project (NHDP), supports the Government of Nepal's efforts to expand the country’s access to modern, high-quality hydropower services and realize its potential as an energy exporter in South Asia.
To contribute to address and minimize all the associated biodiversity threats and climate vulnerabilities, Hariyo Ban Phase II will build on accomplishments and learnings of Hariyo Ban Phase I.
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