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Zawya
13-06-2025
- Zawya
Sexual violence survivors and United Nations partners promote economic empowerment at workshop
Abuk Buol is a survivor in every sense of the word. The 39-year-old endured horrific sexual violence, brutality and was forced from her home in Bor during the civil war that ravaged South Sudan. 'I struggled to cope with what happened,' she says. 'Every time I saw a man, I felt scared, and I experienced long-lasting psychological distress.' Today, she personifies strength and resilience. Reunited with her family back home, the mother of six, is working to secure justice for the horrors that she and so many others endured and to rebuild her life. 'In 2018, I received training from the United Nations in tailoring and local soap-making. This empowered me to make soap and sell it to restaurants. Eventually, I was able to support my family.' Abuk was among 60 participants at workshop in Juba focused on building on an existing project that seeks to ensure the socio-economic empowerment of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). The project delivers survivor-centered services in Jonglei, Unity, Western Equatoria and Juba, including medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, and livelihood assistance, through referrals to specialised Family Protection or One Stop Centers. Supported by UNFPA, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and the International Trade Centre, it also supports survivors in speaking out and supporting others. 'The project has really helped survivors because, before we trained them how to be open, they could not really express their story in front of people, but now they are capable to talk about what happened to them and to advise others who have experienced sexual violence,' says Anna Reagan Tut from Rural Development Action Aid. The objective of the workshop was to learn about the challenges in accessing services and reintegrating into society, share best practices, and strengthen coordination and partnerships. Most of all, it was to amplify the voices of the survivors. 'Their courage in seeking healing and justice is nothing short of inspiring,' says Sheila Keetharuth, Senior Women's Protection Advisor at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. 'Each survivor's story is a testament of their unyielding spirit and the importance of standing together against sexual violence in conflict.' The workshop also provided an opportunity for partners to discuss the steps taken to prevent and respond to persistent sexual violence as well as to explore new measures. 'As we know, conflict-related sexual violence is pervasive and is underreported in South Sudan,' says Esther Ikere Eluzai, Undersecretary Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare. 'A lot of effort has been made to address this problem within communities and society more generally. But challenges remain, and I this project has been at the center of this response.' The workshop aims to improve future projects and secure new commitments from national and international stakeholders to sustain support for CRSV survivors, as well as to encourage policy reform in South Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Zawya
30-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
United for Peace: United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers Day commemoration promotes shared desire for unity in South Sudan
'For very long time, we have been waiting for peace. With peace, there will be no more war. The time for change is here now,' crooned prominent South Sudanese reggae singer, WJ De King and fellow artist Irene Toss. Their electrifying performance brought hundreds of people to their feet, singing and dancing together, at the flagship event commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeeping in Bor, Jonglei State. 'Peace begins with self-love, with self-reliance. Peace begins with celebrating diversity and embracing unity.' The dynamic duo embraced the theme for the day by launching a new song, commissioned by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, as part of a campaign to promote peace in the world's youngest country, under the theme 'Peace Begins with Me'. The campaign calls on every individual to take action, no matter how small, to contribute to a powerful, collective movement for peace. It also recognizes the persistence and unwavering commitment of the people of South Sudan to end conflict and secure sustainable peace and democracy. 'This event means a lot as coming together is the only way forward. If there is music, there is peace,' stressed WJ De King, who is also renown for being a peace activist. The event, held at the Jonglei State Secretariat, was all about engagement and inclusion, with participants including women's groups, children from a variety of schools, government officials, and UNMISS peacekeepers. 'Today is the day to make friendships. Make sure you don't go home without making a friend,' was the first thing people heard when entering the location, from young community mobilizer and writer, Mnyok Akech Atem, who seized the opportunity to promote the change he would like to see in his country. By giving space to different communities, the commemoration ceremony celebrated diversity and encouraged participants to embrace unity by resolving grievances, promoting reconciliation, and working together to implement locally led peace processes. 'It is our responsibility to foster mindsets and actions that will contribute to sustainable long-term peace in this country,' said the Guest of Honor, Jonglei State Deputy Governor, Matiop Lueth Atem. 'The UNMISS peacekeepers have been leading by example, and we want you to know that we, and the world beyond our nation's borders, see your sacrifice for the service to others.' UNMISS Head of Bor Field Office, Geeta Pious, stressed the mission's commitment to supporting South Sudan as it navigates the difficult journey from war to peace. She highlighted the contribution being made by peacekeepers in Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to protect civilians, deter violence, build critical infrastructure, and even help revolutionize the agricultural sector to encourage economic growth. For once, during the notorious rainy season, the weather was kind with the sun shining down on those gathered to celebrate the day, while it was noted that, at the same time, UNMISS peacekeepers were tirelessly labouring to drain water from areas hit by severe flooding, including the event venue, earlier in the week. It was the perfect conditions for hosting a wide variety of performances by Indian, Ethiopian, South Korean and Sri Lankan peacekeepers as well as the Nuer, Dinka and Anyuak communities. As event moderator UNMISS' Mach Samuel put it: 'It's like watching the world live'! 'The fact that so many local communities came here and showed their appreciation with their performances really made us feel the significance and impact of our work here,' shared UNMISS engineering peacekeeper, Captain Sylvia Nzila. At the end of the day, there was a sense that change is possible. Even after the event was officially concluded, participants from all communities stayed to exchange hugs, contact details, and share their feelings. The outcome demonstrates that peacekeeping is more than just protecting civilians, it is about building trust and confidence in support of sustainable peace, so that the people of South Sudan can secure the brighter future that they deserve. It illustrates that peace really does begin with me, you and all of us. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Over 2 Million Americans Went 'Missing' During 2020 And 2021
In the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans were dying at much higher rates than other wealthy nations. A new analysis now estimates that in 2020 and 2021, more than two million Americans went 'missing' from the population. These are the people who would still be alive if the US had the same death rate as other high-income nations. To be clear, not all of these 'excess' deaths are due to COVID-19, but a significant portion are tied to the timing of the global pandemic. "Imagine the lives saved, the grief and trauma averted, if the US simply performed at the average of our peers," says lead author and epidemiologist Jacob Bor from Boston University. The analysis is a broad, sweeping take on a big and complicated issue, but it supports previous studies that have also found Americans suffer poor survival outcomes compared to residents in other wealthy nations. The new study compares more than 107 million deaths of any cause in the US between 1980 and 2023 to death rates in 21 other wealthy nations. The selected countries each had a 2021 GDP exceeding US $24,000 per capita, and had data available in the Human Mortality Database spanning the study period. Over those 43 years, the US experienced 14.7 million excess deaths relative to its peers, with a significant uptick starting in 2020. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic began, however, data suggest health outcomes in the US were gradually slipping compared to the rest of the world. The spread of a novel coronavirus in 2020 only widened that gap. Bor and colleagues calculated that in 2019, there was a total of 631,247 missing Americans. In 2020 and 2021, that number shot up to over a million per year. By 2022, excess deaths had slipped back to 820,396, before dropping further to 705,331 in 2023. But that is still significantly higher than in 2019. If the US experienced the same expected death rates as other nations, the authors of the study think nearly a quarter of all deaths could have been avoided in 2023, many among younger people. "One out of every two US deaths under 65 years is likely avoidable," says Bor. "Our failure to address this is a national scandal." These excess deaths are not simply due to the consequences of the coronavirus, although the pandemic certainly exacerbated the issue. Sociologist Elizabeth Wrigley-Field from the University of Minnesota says that the increase in deaths from 2019 to 2023 is also "driven by long-running crises in drug overdose, gun violence, car collisions, and preventable cardiometabolic deaths." In a previous study from 2023, researchers used global data to show that the US experiences excess mortality in every single age group compared to its wealthy peers. If the US could achieve the lower mortality rates of Japan, for example, the 2023 study suggested more than 880,000 deaths could be prevented. That's comparable to eliminating all deaths from heart disease, diabetes, and unintentional injuries. "Other countries show that investing in universal healthcare, strong safety nets, and evidence-based public health policies leads to longer, healthier lives," says senior author Andrew Stokes, demographer and sociologist at Boston University. "These deaths reflect not individual choices, but policy neglect and deep-rooted social and health system failures. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural weaknesses – including gaps in healthcare access and social supports – that have continued to fuel premature deaths even after the acute phase of the pandemic ended." The research letter was published in JAMA Health Forum. Blood-Brain Barrier 'Guardian' Shows Promise Against Alzheimer's Anti-Aging Cocktail Extends Mouse Lifespan by About 30 Percent Sudden Death Among Professional Bodybuilders Raises Health Concerns
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United States had 1.5 million excess deaths following COVID-19 pandemic
Excess deaths in the United States have continued to mount following the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an early demise for hundreds of thousands, a new study says. More than 1.5 million "missing Americans" died in 2022 and 2023, deaths that would have been averted if U.S. death rates matched those of other wealthy nations, researchers reported Friday in JAMA Health Forum. In fact, nearly 1 of every 2 deaths among people younger than 65 (46%) in 2023 would not have occurred if U.S. death rates mirrored those of peer nations, researchers found. "The U.S. has been in a protracted health crisis for decades, with health outcomes far worse than other high-income countries," lead researcher Jacob Bor, an associate professor of global health and epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health, said in a news release. "Imagine the lives saved, the grief and trauma averted, if the U.S. simply performed at the average of our peers," Bor added. "One out of every 2 U.S. deaths under 65 years is likely avoidable. Our failure to address this is a national scandal." For the study, researchers tracked death record data from the United States and 21 other high-income nations from 1980 to 2023, including more than 107 million U.S. deaths and 230 million deaths among the peer nations. The other wealthy nations included Australia, Canada, France, Japan and Britain, researchers said. Overall, the United States had nearly 15 million excess deaths during the four decades in question, when stacking its death rate against that of other wealthy countries, results show. In 1980, the United States actually outperformed other nations, with 42,000 fewer deaths than might be expected compared to the death rates of peer nations. But in 1990, the United States had more than 89,000 excess deaths, leaping to nearly 355,000 in 2000 and 409,000 in 2010, results show. Excess deaths peaked in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 1 million dead in 2020 and nearly 1.1 million in 2021, researchers said. But excess deaths remained high even after scientists conquered COVID, with more than 820,000 in 2022 and 705,000 in 2023, the study says. "The 700,000 excess American deaths in 2023 is exactly what you'd predict based on prior rising trends, even if there had never been a pandemic," said researcher Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota. "These deaths are driven by long-running crises in drug overdose, gun violence, car collisions, and preventable cardiometabolic deaths," she added in a news release. In 2023, needless excess deaths accounted for nearly 23% of all deaths in America, researchers report. These excess deaths show how the policies of other peer nations better protect the health of their citizens, senior researcher Andrew Stokes said in a news release. "Other countries show that investing in universal healthcare, strong safety nets, and evidence-based public health policies leads to longer, healthier lives," said Stokes, an associate professor of global health and epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health. "Unfortunately, the U.S. faces unique challenges; public distrust of government and growing political polarization have made it harder to implement policies that have proven successful elsewhere," he added. The executive actions and policies enacted under the second Trump administration threaten to drive excess deaths even higher, Bor said. For example, the U.S. House of Representatives' approved version of legislation containing President Donald Trump's second-term agenda includes potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that would make excess deaths even more likely. "Deep cuts to public health, scientific research, safety net programs, environmental regulations, and federal health data could lead to a further widening of health disparities between the US and other wealthy nations, and growing numbers of excess -- and utterly preventable -- deaths to Americans," Bor said. More information KFF has more on U.S. life expectancy compared to other nations. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
UPI
27-05-2025
- Health
- UPI
United States had 1.5 million excess deaths following COVID-19 pandemic
Excess deaths in the United States have continued to mount following the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News Excess deaths in the United States have continued to mount following the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an early demise for hundreds of thousands, a new study says. More than 1.5 million "missing Americans" died in 2022 and 2023, deaths that would have been averted if U.S. death rates matched those of other wealthy nations, researchers reported Friday in JAMA Health Forum. In fact, nearly 1 of every 2 deaths among people younger than 65 (46%) in 2023 would not have occurred if U.S. death rates mirrored those of peer nations, researchers found. "The U.S. has been in a protracted health crisis for decades, with health outcomes far worse than other high-income countries," lead researcher Jacob Bor, an associate professor of global health and epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health, said in a news release. "Imagine the lives saved, the grief and trauma averted, if the U.S. simply performed at the average of our peers," Bor added. "One out of every 2 U.S. deaths under 65 years is likely avoidable. Our failure to address this is a national scandal." For the study, researchers tracked death record data from the United States and 21 other high-income nations from 1980 to 2023, including more than 107 million U.S. deaths and 230 million deaths among the peer nations. The other wealthy nations included Australia, Canada, France, Japan and Britain, researchers said. Overall, the United States had nearly 15 million excess deaths during the four decades in question, when stacking its death rate against that of other wealthy countries, results show. In 1980, the United States actually outperformed other nations, with 42,000 fewer deaths than might be expected compared to the death rates of peer nations. But in 1990, the United States had more than 89,000 excess deaths, leaping to nearly 355,000 in 2000 and 409,000 in 2010, results show. Excess deaths peaked in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 1 million dead in 2020 and nearly 1.1 million in 2021, researchers said. But excess deaths remained high even after scientists conquered COVID, with more than 820,000 in 2022 and 705,000 in 2023, the study says. "The 700,000 excess American deaths in 2023 is exactly what you'd predict based on prior rising trends, even if there had never been a pandemic," said researcher Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota. "These deaths are driven by long-running crises in drug overdose, gun violence, car collisions, and preventable cardiometabolic deaths," she added in a news release. In 2023, needless excess deaths accounted for nearly 23% of all deaths in America, researchers report. These excess deaths show how the policies of other peer nations better protect the health of their citizens, senior researcher Andrew Stokes said in a news release. "Other countries show that investing in universal healthcare, strong safety nets, and evidence-based public health policies leads to longer, healthier lives," said Stokes, an associate professor of global health and epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health. "Unfortunately, the U.S. faces unique challenges; public distrust of government and growing political polarization have made it harder to implement policies that have proven successful elsewhere," he added. The executive actions and policies enacted under the second Trump administration threaten to drive excess deaths even higher, Bor said. For example, the U.S. House of Representatives' approved version of legislation containing President Donald Trump's second-term agenda includes potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that would make excess deaths even more likely. "Deep cuts to public health, scientific research, safety net programs, environmental regulations, and federal health data could lead to a further widening of health disparities between the US and other wealthy nations, and growing numbers of excess -- and utterly preventable -- deaths to Americans," Bor said. More information KFF has more on U.S. life expectancy compared to other nations. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
