Photo : Ashraf Shazly, AFP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Ashraf Shazly, AFP
IN BRIEF
Anu Maria Joseph
Sudan: UN begins to distribute aid in Darfur
On 5 April, Al Jazeera reported that the UN began distributing food in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan. The move came after months of warning of a looming famine in the region. According to the UN aid agencies, the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has left 18 million people facing acute hunger. In March, UNICEF warned that 222,000 children could die of malnutrition in the region. (“First UN food aid in months arrives in Sudan’s Darfur as famine looms,” Al Jazeera, 5 April 2024)
Zimbabwe: Gold-backed currency to tackle inflation
On 5 April, Zimbabwe’s central bank introduced a new “structured currency” backed by gold. It aims to address the inflation in the country which has reached 55 per cent. The governor of Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank, John Mushayavanhu, said that the new currency, Zim Gold (ZiG), “With effect from today … banks shall convert the current Zimbabwe dollar balances into the new currency.” He added that the currency aims at enhancing simplicity, certainty, [and] predictability” in the financial affairs of the country. (“Zimbabwe introduces new gold-backed currency to tackle inflation,” Al Jazeera, 5 April 2024)