U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa

Tel: +27 11 880 4633
Fax: +27 11 880 1421
e-mail: irin-sa@irin.org.za


SOUTHERN AFRICA
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-Up 363
9 - 15 February 2008


CONTENTS:

SOUTHERN AFRICA: Money sought for flood victims
AFRICA: New round in the GM crop debate
ZIMBABWE: Heading for difficult choices in dire times
ZIMBABWE: New land owners face eviction
SWAZILAND: preparing for disaster
SOUTH AFRICA: Paying the price for mining


SOUTHERN AFRICA: Money sought for flood victims

After barely recovering from last year's floods and only halfway into 
the current rainy season, rivers have spread far beyond their banks and 
predictions of more rain have led aid agencies to call for US$89 million 
to keep four Southern African countries afloat.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76703


AFRICA: New round in the GM crop debate

Once heralded as an environmentally friendly "silver bullet" in the 
fight against poverty and hunger, genetically-modified (GM) crops today 
generate huge controversy over their safety and impact.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76728


ZIMBABWE: Heading for difficult choices in dire times

Political violence has been a traditional staple of Zimbabwean 
elections, but with the ruling ZANU-PF party now split, next month's 
ballot could see a whole new scale of trouble.


Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76748


ZIMBABWE: New land owners face eviction

Resettled farmers in Zimbabwe have been hit by input and financial 
shortages, and have failed to deliver on production, prompting the 
government to repossess their plots, according to analysts.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76682


SWAZILAND: Preparing for disaster

Swaziland's increasing vulnerability to a seemingly endless string of 
manmade and natural disasters is bringing about a comprehensive approach 
that will mitigate calamity with faster, more adequate responses.

Full report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76782


SOUTH AFRICA: Paying the price for mining

One legacy of South Africa's extensive mineral deposits is the 
infrastructure and wealth of the country. But another more troubling 
legacy is emerging as an increasingly urgent problem: environmental 
contamination from over 100 years of mining that could severely pollute 
the country's water, affecting the food chain and citizens' health.

See report: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76780


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