OWSA Contributor

Sri Lanka is gearing up to apply for $25 million from the United Nations' Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). The application is intended to support recovery efforts.

This latest edict from Akhundzada, who rarely appears in public and rules from Kandahar, reinforces his absolute authority.

Public health experts caution that while C-sections remain a life-saving intervention when medically necessary, their overuse undermines maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

The problem isn’t unique to Sri Lanka, but the country’s rapid adoption of sugar-focused measures without NSS safeguards has amplified it.

The financial turmoil is already rippling through UN agencies, with humanitarian work bearing the brunt. BBC investigations show that agencies rarely receive full funding for crises, but the past year has been exceptionally grim.

The UN Human Rights Office has urged the Sri Lankan government to take immediate and concrete steps to address past abuses.

The roots of this epidemic trace back to a cultural fascination among Pakistan’s elite, where lions and tigers serve as status symbols – often paraded on social media or at events.

Afghanistan’s recurring natural disasters – from earthquakes to extreme winters – highlight the country’s vulnerability, amplified by political isolation, economic hardship, and restrictive governance.