World News in Brief: Latest Sudan fighting displaces thousands, second malaria vaccine, Russian dissidents ‘disappeared’

Wad Madani is located some 140 kilometres southeast of the war-torn capital Khartoum and sits at the heart of Al Jazirah state, known as Sudan’s breadbasket. A child recovering from malaria at the Gracia Health Center in Beni town, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s province of North Kivu

Immense ‘human tragedy’ 

“I call on the Russian authorities to immediately disclose Gorinov’s whereabouts and his state of health and grant him immediate access to adequate medical care, to his family and his defence lawyers. The practice of enforced disappearance of imprisoned political figures in Russia must end,” she said. Meanwhile, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, has expressed grave concern over the intensification of violence in and around Wad Madani as well as in El Fasher, North Darfur, and in Nyala, South Darfur.Ms. Nderitu was alarmed that the scale-up in clashes includes very serious allegations of ethnically motivated violence as well as deliberate attacks against medical personnel and facilities, which could constitute international crimes. She reiterated her concerns that the ongoing spread of violence could completely engulf Sudan.

Signs of atrocity crimes 

“After eight months of continued fighting and horrific levels of violence, with all the signs of atrocity crimes having been committed, the wheel of violence keeps turning.  The first malaria vaccine to get WHO prequalification was the RTS,S vaccine, which obtained this status in July 2022. People affected by the fighting have sought refuge in other neighbouring states and many have also crossed the border into South Sudan.UN News/George Musubao

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes and more than 608,000 people in 85 countries died from it in 2022. 

WHO prequalifies second malaria vaccine 

Both vaccines were shown to be safe and effective in trials at preventing malaria in children and are expected to have a high public health impact when used alongside other recommended prevention measures.A “pattern of enforced disappearances” of imprisoned dissidents in Russia must end, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the country said on Thursday.Since then, authorities have not allowed him any contact with his lawyer, family or the outside world, according to the expert.IOM reported that thousands are again uprooted following clashes that erupted in the outskirts of Wad Madani on 15 December. The disease places a particularly high burden on children in Africa, where nearly half a million youngsters die from the disease each year. A second malaria vaccine has been recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO), which called the development “a significant milestone in prevention of the disease”.“After his last visit to the penal colony, the lawyer was alarmed that Gorinov was in a life-threatening health condition,” she said. 

Russia urged to end enforced disappearance of jailed opposition figures 

WHO has added the R21/Matrix-M vaccine – developed by Oxford University and manufactured by Serum Institute of India – to its list of prequalified vaccines. “The price continues to be paid by those who are most vulnerable, who are imploring for safety and for justice, and who are receiving neither,” she said. They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work. Ms. Katzarova issued an alert just on Monday voicing concern over the enforced disappearance of jailed opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, whose whereabouts and well-being are still unknown after more than 10 days. Nearly half a million people have fled to the state since war broke out in April between the Sudanese Army and a rival military group known as the Rapid Support Forces.Independent expert Mariana Katzarova issued a statement expressing concern over the situation of opposition politician Alexey Gorinov who was sentenced to seven years in jail in July 2022 for criticizing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.Prequalification means that countries will have larger access to vaccines that can prevent malaria in children, with the help of the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.   Ms. Katzarova said she received information that his whereabouts and health status have been unknown since 8 December, when he was last seen at the Vladimir Region Penal Colony No. 2 by his lawyer.Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to monitor specific country situations or thematic issues.