The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $4 million in additional humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of refugees who have fled to Tanzania from neighboring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to instability and violence.

This additional assistance will help USAID partner the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide cereals to refugees in Tanzania. With USAID support, WFP reaches 235,000 refugees in Tanzania with monthly food distributions, including cereals, pulses, fortified vegetable oil, and salt. WFP also provides vital nutrition assistance to children and pregnant and lactating women to prevent and treat malnutrition.

As the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance in Tanzania, the United States remains committed to supporting the people of Tanzania and the refugees sheltering there.

For the latest updates on USAID’s humanitarian assistance in Tanzania, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance/tanzania - USAID

A seven-member delegation from South Sudan led by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng Malek visited Pran-RFL's Industrial Park at Palash in Narsingdi yesterday.

The delegation also included General Chol Thon Balok, deputy minister for defence and veteran affairs, a press release said.

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman of Pran-RFL Group, Eleash Mridha, managing director of Pran Group, RN Paul, managing director of RFL Group, and Kamruzzaman Kamal, director for marketing at Pran-RFL Group, apprised the delegation about various aspects of the production process.

Expressing satisfaction about the overall activities of the factory, Deng Dau Deng Malek said, "There is a good demand for agro-processing products in South Sudan. Pran can grab the opportunity. The steps taken by the group for manufacturing products using modern technologies are praiseworthy."

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury said Pran-RFL is now exporting to 47 African countries and the demand for their products is increasing day by day.

"We hope we will do better to export our products to South Sudan in the upcoming days," Chowdhury said.

Md Tarikul Islam, director-general for Africa at the foreign affairs ministry, Brigadier General Md Shamim Kamal, chief instructor, armed forces war course at the National Defence College, and Abu Nayeem Mohammed Maruf Khan, deputy commissioner of Narsingdi, were present. - thedailystar.net

The East Africa Community (EAC) Secretary-General Dr Peter Mutuku Mathuki has lauded the European Union's decision to lift financial sanctions against Burundi.

The bloc slapped sanctions against Burundi in 2016 in retaliation to former president Pierre Nkurunziza declaration that he would run for a controversial third term, one which he went on to win despite mass protests.

The EU cited a peaceful political environment and progress by the Burundian government in several areas, including human rights and the voluntary return of refugees into the country.

In response, Dr Mathuki said the lifting of sanctions would not only spur development in Burundi but also rejuvenate the integration process in East Africa.

"This is a positive development for both Burundi and the EAC as it means that the EAC Partner States will now move together in the implementation of EU-funded programs. It also promotes harmony and synergy among partner states," he noted.

Earlier, Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye welcomed the lifting of sanctions.

He noted that "Burundi is ready to cooperate with all partners." - CGTN