The FCT Sickle Cell Week will take place from 14th to 19th November 2011 in Nigeria.

Sickle Cell Disease is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to a structural abnormality in the red blood cells of its sufferers. This is passed on to them by their parents who are themselves either sufferers or carriers.

There is no known cure, hence sufferers need a lifetime of care and support including routine drugs, dietary modification and medical treatment if they are to lead meaningful and productive lives, devoid of severe complications.

Whilst about 40 million Nigerians are believed to carry the trait, over 150,000 babies are born annually with the disease condition and majority of them do not survive up to their 10th birthday. These disturbing statistics underscore the need for concerted efforts by all to effectively control the incidence of this dreadful condition.

Human Rights Watch has asked the Sudanese authorities to stop deporting Eritreans to their country without allowing them to claim asylum.

On 17th October 2011, Sudan handed over 300 Eritreans to the Eritrean military without screening them for refugee status, drawing public condemnation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The mass deportation follows dozens of other unlawful deportations by Sudan since May of Eritrean asylum seekers and of Eritreans who had been denied access to asylum.

Wilful killing of a person in custody is a war crime

Bowing to international pressure, Libya’s interim government has confirmed that they’ll carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of the National Transitional Council (NTC) admitted that the decision was in response to international pressure.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights led the call for an independent and impartial investigation into the deaths of the former leader Gaddafi and his son Muatassim Gaddafi.

International agency Oxfam has warned that the new escalation in fighting and insecurity along the Kenya-Somalia border risks increasing the suffering for civilians already devastated by drought and conflict.

Oxfam said that any increase in fighting is likely to cause further displacement and restrict the aid effort at a time when 750,000 Somalis are at risk of death due to deteriorating conditions. The agency urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and make all efforts to minimise civilian casualties, while ensuring that the flow of aid to famine zones is not affected.