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WHO countries reach landmark agreement on tackling future pandemics

Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding a repeat of the mistakes made during the Covid-19 crisis.After more than three years of talks and one last marathon session, weary delegates at the World Health Organization’s headquarters sealed the deal at around 2:00 am (0000 GMT) Wednesday.”Tonight marks a significant milestone in our shared journey towards a safer world,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.”The nations of the world made history in Geneva today.”Five years after Covid-19 killed millions of people and devastated economies, a growing sense of urgency hung over the talks, with new health threats lurking, ranging from H5N1 bird flu to measles, mpox and Ebola.The final stretch of negotiations also took place with cuts to US foreign aid spending and threatened tariffs on pharmaceuticals casting a shadow over the talks.- ‘It’s adopted’ -Right until the last minute, disagreement had lingered over a few thorny issues.Negotiators stumbled over the agreement’s Article 11, which deals with transferring technology for pandemic health products towards developing nations.During the Covid-19 pandemic, poorer states accused rich countries of hoarding vaccines and tests.Countries with large pharmaceutical industries have strenuously opposed the idea of mandatory tech transfers, insisting they must be voluntary.But it appeared the obstacle could be overcome by adding that any transfer needed to be “mutually agreed”.The core the agreement is a proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), aimed at allowing the swift sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to quickly start working on pandemic-fighting products.In the end, the 32-page agreement was entirely highlighted in green, indicating it had been fully approved by WHO member states.”It’s adopted,” negotiations co-chair Anne-Claire Amprou announced, to thundering applause.”In drafting this historic agreement, the countries of the world have demonstrated their shared commitment to preventing and protecting everyone, everywhere, from future pandemic threats.”The finalised text will now be presented for sign-off at the WHO’s annual assembly next month.- ‘More equity’ -As intense talks in corridors and closed rooms drew towards an end late on Tuesday, Tedros joined the negotiations, telling reporters he thought the current draft was “balanced”, and that a deal would bring “more equity”.While taking measures to coordinate pandemic prevention, preparedness and response could be costly, “the cost of inaction is much bigger”, he insisted.”Virus is the worst enemy. (It) could be worse than a war.”The United States, which has thrown the global health system into crisis by slashing foreign aid spending, was not present.US President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal from the United Nations’ health agency and from the pandemic agreement talks after taking office in January.However, the US absence, and Trump’s threat to slap steep tariffs on pharmaceutical products, still hung over the talks, making manufacturers and governments more jittery.But in the end, countries reached consensus.Many saw the approval of the text as a victory for global cooperation.”At a time when multilateralism is under threat, WHO member states have joined together to say that we will defeat the next pandemic threat in the only way possible: by working together,” said former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.As the congratulatory speeches continued on towards daybreak, Eswatini’s representative stressed that “whilst we celebrate this moment, we need not rest on our laurels”.”The real work begins now.”

Paramilitaries declare rival government as Sudan war hits two-year mark

Two years into a war that has left tens of thousands dead, Sudan’s RSF paramilitary force on Tuesday announced its own government to rival the army-backed administration it is battling.The United Nations says the conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023 is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with 13 million people displaced — including more than 3.5 million to other countries — and no sign of peace on the horizon.The Rapid Support Forces, headed by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the former deputy to the regular army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced the rival government amid growing international fears that Sudan could become split between the two sides, who have both been accused of abuses.”On this anniversary, we proudly declare the establishment of the Government of Peace and Unity, a broad coalition that reflects the true face of Sudan,” Daglo said in a Telegram statement.The RSF and its allies signed a charter in Kenya in February declaring a “government of peace and unity” in areas they control.Daglo’s latest statement said the paramilitaries, with “civil and political forces”, had signed a transitional constitution, that was a “roadmap for a new Sudan”.That constitution provides for a 15-member presidential council “representing all regions, symbolising our voluntary unity”.Analysts have warned that Africa’s third-biggest nation could permanently splinter.With the RSF emboldened in Darfur, “the territorial division that’s occurring could mean a de facto separation,” said Sharath Srinivasan, a professor at Cambridge University who studies Sudan.- Mass displacement -“In these two years, the lives of millions have been shattered. Families have been torn apart. Livelihoods have been lost. And for many, the future remains uncertain,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Sudan.The eruption of the war in 2023 left countless dead and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing Khartoum.Those left behind struggled to survive under the control of the RSF, which has been accused of looting and sexual violence.”I’ve lost half my bodyweight,” said 52-year-old Abdel Rafi Hussein, who stayed in the capital, which was under RSF control until the army retook it last month.”We’re safe (now), but still, we suffer from a lack of water and electricity and most hospitals aren’t working.”Now the RSF is seeking to cement its grip on Darfur, where it has laid siege to El-Fasher — the last major city in the western region outside its control.More than 400 people have been killed in recent days, the UN said, with the paramilitaries having claimed control of the nearby Zamzam displacement camp on Sunday.An estimated 400,000 civilians fled the famine-hit camp as the RSF advanced, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration.”Zamzam camp is inaccessible, and a communication blackout continues to hinder independent verification,” the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA said, adding: “Satellite images reveal widespread fire damage across the camp.”The army on Tuesday said it had carried out “successful air strikes” against RSF positions northeast of El-Fasher.An international conference in London demanded a halt to fighting while the United States condemned the death toll in Darfur.State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the RSF was carrying out an “escalation of attacks” on El-Fasher and nearby camps.”We are deeply alarmed by reports the RSF has deliberately targeted civilians and humanitarian actors in Zamzam and Abu Shouk,” Bruce said.- ‘End the suffering’ -In London, ministers from several countries discussed ways to end the conflict but both warring parties were absent.European nations led calls for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire” to end the devastating war. Nations also pledged more than 800 million euros ($900 million) in fresh humanitarian aid.Countries, and organisations including the African Union, also “stressed the necessity of preventing any partition of Sudan”.Group of Seven foreign ministers, meeting in Canada, also called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.In a statement the G7 powers urged both sides to “engage meaningfully in serious, constructive negotiations.”Precise death tolls are not available, but former US envoy Tom Perriello cited estimates last year of up to 150,000 dead.On Tuesday, the UN said 2.1 million people are expected to return to Khartoum over the next six months following the army’s recapture of the capital.In central Sudan — where the UN said nearly 400,000 people had returned to areas retaken by the army — many have come back to find their homes in ruins.Zainab Abdel Rahim, 38, returned to Khartoum North this month with her six children, to find their house looted beyond recognition.”We’re trying to pull together the essentials, but there’s no water, no electricity, no medicine,” she said.Aid agencies say hunger is now a widespread menace.The Zamzam camp, which had been sheltering up to one million people, was the first place in Sudan where famine was declared.Other nearby camps have followed and famine is expected to take hold in El-Fasher by next month.burs-bha/jsa/tw/dw/rjm/tym