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In August, China sent its first ship across the Arctic to Europe and it
is lobbying intensely for permanent observer status on the Arctic Council,
the loose international body of eight Arctic nations that develops policy
for the region, arguing that it is a “near Arctic state”. Read More
World:
UN Unable To Cure The Cholera* Epidemic
Cholera Plagues Haiti As UN Appeals For Relief Funds
*In most cases, cholera can be successfully treated with oral rehydration therapy
(ORT), which is highly effective, safe, and simple to administer.[5] Rice-based solutions
are preferred to glucose-based ones due to greater efficiency
By
Ryan Villarreal
The U.N. has requested $2.2 billion to battle a cholera epidemic in
Haiti that has killed nearly 8,000 people since 2010.
Working with the Haitian government, the U.N. has outlined a 10year
plan to improve water and sanitation systems and provide treatment
to those affected by the life-threatening disease.
“The new initiative will invest in prevention, treatment and education
-- it will take a holistic approach to tackling the cholera challenge,” U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday in a press conference.
“The main focus is on the extension of clean drinking water and
sanitation systems -- but we are also determined to save lives now through
the use of an oral cholera vaccine.”
Mr. Ban seeks to raise $500 million for the first phase of the plan
over the next two years. He said that slightly less than half of that amount
had already been raised.
“Today I am pleased to announce that $215 million in existing funds
from bilateral and multilateral donors will be used to support the initiative.
I thank the donor community for this generous commitment,” Mr. Ban
said.