Top stories from DAWNS Digest
Egypt: Death Toll Rises to At Least 51 in Pro-Morsi Rally Massacre
Rallies across the country show no signs of abating a day after a crowd of Muslim Brotherhood supporters were fired upon by security forces. “Tens of thousands of Mr Morsi’s supporters gathered at their traditional rallying place, near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, for a third day of protests. In a news conference later, the Muslim Brotherhood-led coalition called for more protests on Tuesday. ‘In protest against the military coup that was followed by suppressive actions, topped by the Republican Guard massacre that took place at dawn, we call on all citizens and honourable people to protest on Tuesday across Egypt,’ spokesman Hatem Azam said, quoted by Reuters news agency.” (BBC http://bbc.in/1aTGLPH)
Namibia Experiencing Worst Drought in 30 Years
The Red Cross launched a new appeal to respond to the drought in Namibia, calling it the worst in three decades. The government of Namibia, the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, declared a national emergency in May. Drought has resulted in crop failure and livestock deaths across the tiny country of 2.1 million people. Maize production is 34 percent below average and over 330,000 people, or 14 percent of the population, need immediate food aid. “A lot of the people I met had nothing in their food stores, absolutely nothing,” said Hanna Butler of the IFRC, who recently visited Kunene, one of the worst hit regions in northern Namibia. “People are foraging for wild fruits … Everyone just told me: ‘I have nothing. I’m not sure what’s going to happen’.” (AlertNet http://bit.ly/12gygth)