Also in Global Health news: Sudan food aid; Congolese refugees; Ntds in U.S.

Oct 29 2009

Missing Grain Deliveries in South Sudan Suggest Corruption Or Mismanagement, Finance Minister Says

David Deng Athorbei, South Sudan's finance minister, "said he was trying to track down hundreds of millions of dollars worth of missing grain deliveries, at the heart of what could be a massive case of mismanagement or corruption," Reuters reports. An investigation could not turn up precise records for a $200 million trade for sorghum and maize, and it is unclear whether most of the grain was even delivered. "$200 million was paid out but we don't know where it went ... There are people who were paid and they have not delivered grain, this is true. There are people who delivered grain and they have not been paid ... It is so complicated," Athorbei said (Wheeler, 10/28).

Congolese Refugees In Uganda Clash With Police Over Food Distribution Issues

Police and Congolese refugees clashed at "a refugee settlement in southwestern Uganda" after "[m]any refugees in the camp of 60,000 people barricaded the roads beginning Tuesday to protest a disruption in food distribution and to show their anger at the half-rations they had been receiving since August," CNN reports. Five refugee children have died during the past week due to hunger, refugee leaders said. Hakan Tongul, deputy director for the World Food Programme in Uganda, said 12 trucks with 280 tons of food were expected to arrive at the settlement Wednesday and food distribution would begin Thursday. CNN writes, "Uganda's disaster preparedness and refugees minister, professor Tarsis Kabwegyere, also said no one was dying of hunger in [the camp], and expressed dismay that the refugees were protesting" (10/28).

NewsHour Examines 'Neglected Infections' In The U.S.

PBS' NewsHour examines what the CDC classifies as "neglected infections" that affect "millions of people" in the U.S., often found in "poor rural areas, inner cities, and among Latin American immigrants." The show looks at several diseases, including Chagas, Toxocara and trichomoniasis. It includes interviews with doctors, CDC officials, patients and others (Kaye, 10/27).