Hey, this is Sham Jaff, your very own news curator. Each week, I highlight some of the biggest stories from regions and countries that are historically underreported in "Western media". My goal is to burst our Western-centric bubbles, and expand the view we hold of the world. Questions, comments, concerns? You can reach me anytime by replying to this mail. And if this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up at whathappenedlastweek.com.
Issue #394 is looking at the latest Mpox outbreak and the age-old debate around equal access to vaccines (spoiler alert: it's very unequal) as well as the safety of journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Myanmar, Mexico and Gaza. Several journalists have lost their lives last week, and I want you to know some of their names. Plus (for VIP Members of this newsletter): African women's football, a sci-fi drama in South London, an investigative podcast series about one of the most high-profile war-crimes prosecutions in U.S. history and a documentary on the history of the Sudanese women's movement, and so much more. Sign up here to become a VIP member. You support 100% self-funded independent journalism with your subscription. You have no idea how much this means to me.
Btw, how do you like whlw so far? I'm collecting testimonials for the 400th issue in a few weeks. Can you reply and let me know your very personal feedback? Why do you continue reading this newsletter? <3
Good reading, and catch you in your inbox next week!
Sham
|
|
🔍 Estimated reading time: 10 min 🔍
You have access to all of my sources by clicking on what's underlined.
Big shout-out to Wikimedia Commons for the helpful maps.
|
|
The latest Mpox outbreak in the DRC is a reminder that not everyone in the world has equal access to vaccines
|
|
What happened
There’s a new strain of the Mpox virus making rounds (because, you know, viruses love to “upgrade”). It’s called Clade 1b, and it’s mostly spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but it’s also popped up in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Thailand, and Sweden. We don’t know much about how deadly it is yet, but people do die from it. This year alone, over 450 people have died from Mpox in the DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there are around 14,000 cases in Africa this year—a massive 160% jump from last year. Last week, WHO and the Africa CDC declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The other strain – Clade 2, far milder, caused a global public health emergency in 2022 – is still around in many countries.
Why this matters:
These declarations matter. Karl Minges, Ph.D. MPH, a public health expert at the University of New Haven, told PEOPLE that WHO issues these kinds of alerts to push for faster vaccine access in low-income countries. Because, vaccine equity is still not a reality; vaccine equity means ensuring that everyone in the world has equal access to vaccines.
Tell me more
Mpox is most common in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, with thousands of cases each year. It spreads through close contact—like during sex, skin-to-skin contact, or even just talking or breathing near someone. Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, and while it’s usually mild, it can be dangerous for young kids, people with weak immune systems, and pregnant people in places with limited medical resources. But don’t worry—outbreaks can be controlled. Mpox isn’t as contagious as something like COVID or measles, and it can be stopped.
How?
Raising awareness, tracking close contacts, and vaccinating people can help stop the spread. The issue is that vaccines aren’t widely available for those who need them most, especially in Africa. But there’s some good news—millions of doses are expected to arrive in the DRC soon, according to the BBC’s Flora Drury. Unfortunately, places like Burundi are still waiting. BBC’s Mercy Juma reported from Bujumbura, Burundi, where she found that many people didn’t even know about Mpox, and those who did had no idea it was spreading in their country.
Why don’t we know how deadly it is?
Carissa Wong for The Scientist talked to some experts who said that limited access to healthcare in some areas means only the worst cases of Mpox are being reported, which skews the fatality rates higher. Misdiagnosis is also an issue, with some cases being mistaken for measles or chickenpox. When people do die from Mpox, it’s often due to complications like sepsis or lung damage from the virus. Paul Adepoju from The Lancet also highlighted the huge testing challenge, especially in the DRC, where less than 30% of cases might even get tested. The lack of testing and surveillance is making it hard to see the full picture of the outbreak.
What mpox treatments are there?
Well, it depends on where you are. In the DRC and nearby countries at the heart of the outbreak, there aren’t many specific treatments for Mpox. Doctors mostly focus on easing symptoms—think paracetamol for fevers and headaches, and cleaning skin lesions to prevent infections. In the UK and US, though, doctors have more options, like the antiviral drug tecovirimat for severe cases, and even treatments involving antibodies against smallpox, reports Wong in The Scientist.
Dive deeper: Anne Jung wrote some insightful commentary on global health inequality and the latest Mpox outbreak for Medico International. She pointed out that while the word “international” in the WHO’s alert should mean global action, the reality is different. Not much is being done. During the COVID-19 pandemic, countries like Germany were against releasing vaccine patents, which hurt global efforts. Plus, there just aren’t enough vaccine doses because production slowed down after the 2022 outbreak ended. Mpox remains one of those “neglected diseases” that mostly affects the global South, so it doesn’t get much attention from profit-driven pharma companies.
Recommended read: Stephanie Nolen from The New York Times also criticizes the WHO for slowing down the process of prequalification unnecessarily. “Critics question why the W.H.O. did not act sooner to approve an mpox vaccine, since the virus has never stopped circulating in Congo.”
What if I’m traveling to an affected area?
If you’re heading somewhere with known Mpox outbreaks, the most important thing is to get vaccinated – if you can. Heavy on the if.
Zoom out: Mpox is not the only disease outbreak in the DRC at the moment. And the people who are severely affected by this are those forcefully displaced. “Congo currently has outbreaks of measles and cholera, as well as a severe malaria problem that threatens small children. Hundreds of thousands of people live in camps because they have been displaced by ongoing armed conflicts,” writes Nolen in The New York Times.
|
|
A suspected Turkish drone strike killed two journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq – "becoming one of the most dangerous zones for journalists"
|
|
What happened
On August 23, a suspected Turkish drone strike hit a car carrying journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). This attack killed two journalists, Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, and left several others injured. The team was on their way to film a documentary when the strike occurred, according to reports from Rudaw, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Medya News.
Why this matters:
There’s a big issue here—people are saying there’s an alarming “get-away-with-it” attitude when it comes to violence against journalists in the region. And let’s not forget, journalists are civilians, and targeting them in any conflict is a big no-no under international law. Plus, Jonathan Dagher, the head of Reporters Without Borders' Middle East bureau, noted: “With three media professionals killed in just two months, the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan is becoming one of the most dangerous zones in the world for journalists.”
Tell me more
Turkey has been ramping up its military campaign in the area as part of its decades-long fight against the PKK. Since mid-June, they’ve sent in hundreds of troops for cross-border operations in the Kurdistan Region. According to a report by Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) on August 14, Turkish forces have killed at least 344 civilians since the 1990s. The deaths of these two female journalists are the latest casualties.
Who were the journalists?
Gülistan Tara, 40 years old, is remembered by colleagues for her courage and dedication. “Despite the stress and danger of our work, Gülistan never wavered in her commitment to uncovering the truth. We owe it to her memory to ensure that her pen does not fall to the ground,” Berîtan Medûsa told Mezopotamya Ajansi. Hêro Bahadîn, who was only 27, worked as a video editor. Another journalist, Rebin Bakir, was seriously injured in the attack. All three journalists worked for Chatr Multimedia Production Company, which operates Sterk TV and Aryen TV—channels linked to the PKK. Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union have designated the PKK as a terrorist organization, and Iraq’s National Security Council banned the group earlier this year. The journalists were traveling in an unmarked car on the Sulaymaniyah-Halabja road near the village of Goptapa when they were hit. Kamal Hamaraza, head of Chatr Multimedia Production Company, emphasized that they were purely journalists with no ties to politics or military activities. He also mentioned that they’ve been under constant threat from Turkish attacks because they’ve consistently reported on Turkey’s operations in the region. The İHD, Turkey’s most prominent human rights organization, confirms this: “The Kurdish press, which was silenced through disappearances and bombings in the 1990s, continues to be a target today.”
What now?
There’s been an outpouring of outrage and grief. Journalists, press freedom groups, and human rights organizations are all condemning the attack.
- Rudaw reports that journalists gathered in Sulaimani’s Azadi Park on Saturday to protest, with the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate releasing a statement saying, “Our hearts are heavy and our spirits are crushed by the tragedy of the bloody Friday and the assassination of both women journalists Gulistan and Hero.
- The Human Rights Association (İHD) called the killings a "journalist massacre," urging independent investigations and accountability from the Iraqi government, the Turkish state, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), writes İHD on X. Gülistan Tara's former colleague Berîtan Medûsa and journalist Seydi Fırat agree, both demanding accountability.
- The Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association (DFG) and the Mesopotamia Women Journalists’ Association (MKJ) also condemned the attack in strong terms, labelling it as both “inhumane” and a clear violation of international laws and agreements. They highlighted that this was not the first such attack within the Kurdistan Region, recalling the murders of other Kurdish journalists like Nagihan Akarsel, Îsam Abdullah, Necmeddin Faysal and Murat Mîrza over the past two years.
- The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate attempt by Turkey to silence Kurdish journalists who are committed to exposing the truth about the ongoing conflict. KNK stated, “This is not just an attack on two journalists; it is an attack on the very essence of press freedom and the right to report the truth.” They urged the international community to take immediate action against Turkey for its continued violations of international law and its targeted attacks on journalists. “The world cannot stand by as Turkey systematically tries to silence those who document the Kurdish struggle. We call on all nations to condemn these actions and hold Turkey accountable.
Good to know: On July 8, another Turkish strike in Sinjar, northern Iraq, killed Murad Mirza, a reporter for Çira TV. Murad and another Çira TV reporter, Mydia Hussen, were returning from covering the tenth anniversary of an ISIS attack when their car, which lacked any media markings, was hit.
Zoom out: Last week saw not only the death and targeting of journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq but also in Myanmar, Mexico and Gaza. In memory of Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu, Ariel Grajales Rodas and the at least 116 journalists and media workers in Gaza who were among the more than 41,000 killed since the war began, according to Gaza's health ministry, making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ started keeping records in 1992.
|
|
Hey, I'm Sham, the person behind this newsletter. Since 2014, I email a bunch of strangers once a week, curating news headlines from Asia, Africa and the Americas. I work under the assumption that, here in the West (I live in Berlin, Germany), we don't read or know much about the global majority, aka the rest of the world.
My goal is to help you burst your Western-centric bubble.
If you want to know more about me, visit my website or follow me on Twitter or Instagram.
|
|
|
|
