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From Hardship to Servitude: Horrific Experiences of African Migrants in Modern Slavery

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African Migrants

According to Global Slavery Index in 2018, about 9.2 million Africans live in modern slavery, making it the continent with the highest figure. Unfortunately, this isn’t just a domestic situation; modern slavery of Africans also extends to foreign countries. Modern slavery is a menace, and many African immigrants are victims. With the promise of a better living and working condition, high-paying jobs and other incentives which are sometimes shattered, many African immigrants have ended up in unpalatable conditions in foreign countries. More saddening is the fact that not all of these immigrants get to their intended destinations alive.

 

In the past 10 years, there has been a spike in the number of immigrants from African countries to other continents, including Europe, America, and Asia. One of the major reasons is poverty. The list of nations with the highest unemployment rate is topped by Africa countries.  Namibia and Nigeria currently sit comfortably at first and second position. Notably, Nigeria is the African country with the most foreign immigrants. Many Africans are also in insecure employment and live hand to mouth despite toiling every day.  The minimum wage compared to the cost of living in most African countries is nothing to write home about.

 

Apart from poor living conditions, armed conflict is another reason Africans flee their home countries in droves. Data from Statista shows 6 African countries among the top 10 countries with the most death by terrorism. The lingering violent crises have made many African countries some of the most unsafe places to reside in. Furthermore, there’s the case of bad governance, as many African leaders are infamous for corrupt practices and negligence. Many countries lack basic amenities such as good roads, standard health care, quality education, and electricity. The humanitarian and economic challenges have created a severe refugee crisis in the continent. So, many Africans leave their home countries mainly to experience a better life.

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Legal immigration to most European and North American countries is a lengthy and expensive process. Not everyone can lay their hands on a visa.  In a bid to make it quicker and cheaper, many African immigrants consider dangerous immigration routes, some of which are managed by greedy human traffickers. There are both land and sea routes, with the most common being crossing the Sahara desert or the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. Hence, the majority of African immigrants go through Libya.  Often, the journey starts from Niger, and then they cross to Algeria. They walk a 50 km desert by foot to get to Mount Hugo and then 350 km to get to Obari in Algeria. These areas are open desert without any human settlement. From there, they walk for about 3 weeks to arrive in Libya.

 

The final part of the journey is crossing the large Mediterranean Sea in boats. From there, they get to different European countries like Italy, France, and Spain. Despite knowing how dangerous these routes are, many African immigrants are still willing to take the risk while being optimistic about greener pastures.

 

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The journey from Africa to foreign countries via the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea is risky and harsh. Immigrants who fall victims to human traffickers and slave masters become nothing but cargo throughout the journey. Not to mention the harsh conditions they have to travel in. With a minimum temperature of 86 degree Fahrenheit and a maximum temperature of 117 degrees Fahrenheit, the Sahara Desert is one of the hottest places in the world. Travellers are unable to move during the day when the sun is up. They move during sundown until the next morning so they could travel for weeks.

 

A lot of them die during this period due to the harsh climate. Aside from that, they easily run out of water and food with no alternative. Upon arriving in Libya, some of these immigrants are sold off at auctions for as low as $400. As reported by CNN, there are more than nine slave auction locations in Libya. Immigrants who reach Libya without issues aren’t safe too. Take Sunday Iabarot, for instance, as reported by Time Magazine. He was sold by a “seemingly friendly taxi driver” who offered him a free ride to Tripoli. Once sold, the immigrants are either smuggled to Europe or kept in Africa. Many African immigrants choose to enter Europe through the Mediterranean Sea, where thousands die every year. From 2015 to 2020, 17,931 migrants died in the Mediterranean Sea. There are cases of boat capsizes due to strong wind and waves and death due to cold. The lucky ones travel by air.

 

For many of these immigrants who successfully arrive in foreign countries, the better life they dreamt of isn’t what they get. Most of them, especially the males, are turned into slave workers at construction sites and farms or drug traffickers. The females are majorly trafficked into sex work. These immigrants work to pay off their debts. Debt here implies the money paid while purchasing them. When they finish paying off this debt, their owners might sell them to a different master, and the cycle continues.

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Depending on the benevolence of their owners, some of them get little rewards if they work very hard. These victims are beaten if they refuse to work and worse if they attempt to run away. There are cases of slaves tied with barb wires, burnt, or imprisoned. And sometimes, when the slave masters feel they don’t need them any longer, they take them back into the desert and abandon them.

Despite the poor living condition, these modern slaves must always work to make money for their owners. This hard labour leads to the death of many. Rather than going through all of that, some immigrants prefer taking their life. Others commit suicide out of frustration and depression. Some female victims introduced to sex work become victims of STDs, and many end up with unwanted pregnancies. In a study of 98 trafficking survivors, 28% got pregnant while trafficked.

Some are lured into drug trafficking by drug lords. Like many other organized crimes involving African migrants, the drug kingpins sometimes operate legal businesses to cover their shady activities. They recruit young Africans who deliver illicit drugs to various destinations across the world. These ‘recruits’ are at the mercy and command of the ring leaders and always have to live on the run hiding from law enforcement agents. Many of them are caught and ended up in jail. In countries where drug trafficking is a capital offence, many African migrants have been executed. Sometimes in 2019, there were 1,281 inmates on death row in Malaysia, and 199 of them were Nigerians convicted for drug-related crimes.

With the current economic and humanitarian challenges in many African countries, it is obvious that young Africans will keep exploring illegal and risky routes to Europe, Asia and the Americas out of desperation. This means modern slave masters and human traffickers will continue to capitalize on their desperation to keep their illicit business running. Since the motivation behind this desperate migration is a better living condition, the onus is on African leaders to create an enabling environment where young people can achieve their dreams and aspirations in their home countries without having to undergo servitude abroad. The ever-widening inequality gap between the ruling class and the masses must be addressed with strong political will. This will help curb the menace of modern slavery of African migrants abroad.

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Olusegun Akinfenwa is a correspondent for Immigration News, a news organization affiliated with Immigration Advice Service (IAS). IAS is a leading U.K. immigration law firm that helps people migrate, settle, and acquire British citizenship.

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Gavi and UNICEF welcome approval of new oral cholera vaccine

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Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF welcome the news that a new oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Euvichol-S, has now received WHO prequalification and can be made available to countries around the world. The prequalification of this new product will help EuBiologics, the manufacturer, produce more volumes of vaccine, faster, and at a lower cost – a key step to expanding supply amidst the ongoing acute global upsurge of cholera outbreaks.

Today’s approval will help increase the overall supply of OCV available in 2024, with approximately 50 million doses now forecasted to be available to the global stockpile this year, compared to 38 million in 2023. Euvichol-S is an important product innovation: a simplified formulation of Euvichol-Plus that reduces the number of vaccine components – delivering a vaccine that studies have shown remains equally effective against key cholera serogroups while lowering production cost and complexity – thus allowing for larger volumes to be produced faster.

Cholera has been surging globally since 2021, with high case fatality rates despite availability of simple, effective and affordable treatment. The large number of outbreaks has led to unprecedented demand for vaccines from impacted countries. While global OCV supply has increased eighteen-fold between 2013 and 2023, the large and sustained spike in demand has put a strain on the global stockpile of OCV. Partners and countries are working urgently on cholera response, prevention and control measures in the face of this crisis, and have called on countries, manufacturers and others to support. Most recently, Gavi, UNICEF and partners announced the largest ever global deployment of cholera diagnostics to support surveillance and response.

“Prequalification of Euvichol-S represents a lifeline for vulnerable communities around the world,” said Dr Derrick Sim, Managing Director of Vaccine Markets & Health Security at Gavi. “Every vaccine dose delivered through Gavi programmes today represents years of planning and investment to shape the market so supply matches countries’ needs. The approval of this new product could not have come at a more important time given the acute upsurge of cholera outbreaks we are seeing worldwide. We commend EuBiologics for their role in ensuring countries around the world have access to cholera vaccine as part of their response toolkit.”

EuBiologics is currently the only supplier of OCV to the global stockpile, although other manufacturers are expected to have products available in the coming years. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance works to shape the OCV market, and funds the global stockpile of OCV doses, along with transport and vaccination activities in lower-income countries. UNICEF leads on procurement and delivery of doses to countries. Use of the stockpile for emergency response is overseen by the International Coordinating Group for Vaccine Provision (ICG), led by WHO.

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“Despite cholera being preventable and easily treatable, children continue to suffer from this potentially fatal disease. UNICEF has already secured access to all the available doses of the just-approved vaccine and will deliver these to the countries at the highest possible speed,” said Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “The approval means that UNICEF can increase the procurement and delivery of cholera vaccines by more than 25%, pushing back harder on deadly cholera outbreaks.”

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Isap Music Drops ‘Naomi’ As First Single of The Year

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Ghanaian Hip-Life/Hip-Hop artiste, Isap Music has today officially released his premiere single of the year, “Naomi” on all digital streaming platforms.

The new single is an Afrobeats record that boarders on the thin line between love and obsession.

Isap Music opens with a reassurance for that special someone as he plans to put a ring on her finger soon. His sweet-singing voice together with the charming lyrics not only wins the heart of “Naomi,” but the listener as well.

On the DCM Records produced track, Isap Music brings a different energy to his first single of 2024, building a strong anticipation for subsequent releases as the year progresses.

However, until then, “Naomi” is simply one of the best Ghanaian Afrobeats songs released so far this year.

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Isap Music’s spectacular performance on the two minutes 27 seconds track has everything; vocals, lyrics, storytelling and ad-libs, all on point.

It’s hard to believe such a good song was produced from another person’s experience but that is exactly how the song came to life.

In an online interview with Amplify Ghana, Isap Music disclosed that “Naomi” was inspired by a friend.

“The love song was actually inspired by a friend who was so much into his girl that he couldn’t stay a day without hearing her voice,” he said.

The latest single comes after his collaboration with 2022 VGMA Best Rap Performance award winner Lyrical Joe, Suuparstar TZ and Siicie on “Yesu Frɛwo” released last year.

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Isap Music is one of the exciting new voices in the music scene. This new release, “Naomi” continues his streak of superb releases. Gaining recognition as one of the few street preachers, Isap Music’s versatility as an artist is of no doubt. He continues to share different messages and produce bangers in many genres.

“Naomi” by Isap Music is currently available on all digital streaming platforms.

Listen to “Naomi”

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Immediate Nexus: Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024

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Immediate Nexus

Within the ever-changing financial environment, it’s an issue of immense importance that an investor remains at the forefront. Immediate Nexus is a beacon that avails the indispensable resources and insight to navigate an investor through manning the complexities in investment come 2024 and thereafter. Let’s delve into why immediate-nexus-ai.com is your ultimate gateway to free investment education in 2024.

Understanding Immediate Nexus: Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024

It is nothing less than a whole ecosystem to be built with the idea of allowing investors at different levels of experience to obtain the knowledge and tools needed to gain a foothold in this business. Whether you are a seasoned investor or one learning the ropes of how to dabble in the finance world, the Immediate Nexus has got your back.

The Evolution of Investment Education

Traditional teachings of investment have a very short shelf life due to the fast pace with which technology and the trend of the global markets move. Immediate Nexus fills that need by providing modern investors with current, readily accessible, practical information.

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Free Resources for All

But what really strikes the most is the kind of free education toward all people without having any expense of seminars or the elite high-cost memberships. Truly, Immediate Nexus advocates that financial literacy should be made available to all, no matter where you come from or belong in terms of background or current financial status.

Expert Insights and Analysis

Investment can be cumbersome to wade through, especially for beginners. Immediate Nexus makes it easier with an expert insight and analysis curated from none but the best sources. Be it market trends or effective investment strategies, everything is there to make your decision wise.

Harnessing the Power of Community

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It doesn’t need to be a lonely journey. Immediate Nexus is a dynamic, live community where investors network, share ideas, and draw wisdom from one another. That interactive approach makes it conducive to learning at the same time, availing valuable networking opportunities.

Why Choose Immediate Nexus?

While Immediate Nexus may be a new kind of educational platform, in many ways, it is poised to soon become the go-to solution for those seeking to grow and succeed in the world of investing. Here are ten great reasons why you need to make it your go-to resource this year.

  • Holistic Content: From the guidelines of a beginner investor to the strategies which are to be followed at an advanced level, Immediate Nexus encompasses and provides information relevant to every single stage an investor might be in.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform friendliness comes with ease of navigating through the site, intuitive design, and a friendly interface.
  • Timely Updates:** Actual happenings in the capital and financial markets, economic development, and investment opportunities.
  • Interactive Learning: Engjson Quizzes, Interactive Tutorials, and Live Webinars assist learners in polishing skills and strengthening their learning.
  • Community of Trust: Be a part of an elite community of like-minded investors, share knowledge and support each other in growth.

Conclusion

Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024 is not a platform—it’s a revolution, an immediate nexus revolutionizing ways people think about investment education. Equip your financial future with all the expert insights and resources that you would have needed, including a lively community. Join the movement today and take your first steps toward financial freedom.

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Mastering Bitcoin Trading: The BitLQ Matrix Advantage: A Path to Financial Freedom

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The financial opportunities, though, in mastering the trading Bitcoin are huge in this dynamic world of cryptocurrency. BitLQ Matrix strategy stands like a beacon of assurance and profitability among the myriad strategies available. This paper, therefore, seeks to detail the encapsulated greater benefits within the bitlq.app Matrix and illustrate how one could optimize his trading to achieve financial freedom.

Understanding Bitcoin Trading

Bitcoins are the first and leading cryptocurrency ever to evolve, and it altered the thinking of how the world used to look at finances. Bitcoin trading is a process through which one can speculate on the price movements of them and, in turn, takes home profits by analyzing the markets and makes a deciding move. Trading in bitcoins is very demanding in nature since it is very unpredictable. Good knowledge and strategic acumen are expected to surge through the market fluctuations victoriously.

Embracing the BitLQ Matrix Advantage

Mastering Bitcoin Trading: The BitLQ Matrix Advantage

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The BitLQ Matrix is not some trading strategy but a whole, complete framework aiming to trade optimal results while controlling risks most efficiently. This revolutionarily uses LQ to guide traders through informed considerations in making decisions for the best possible profits with the least possible vulnerability to market volatility.

Liquidity: The Backbone of Trading Success

Liquidity is the base that underlies any trading pursuit to support transactional ease and participation in the market. Priority to the BitLQ Matrix trade is given, executed seamlessly without slippage, or at least at the most minimal level, for the efficient trade execution at the best entry and exit levels.

Quantity: Balancing Risk and Reward

In this respect, good risk management becomes highly imperative while trading in Bitcoins, and with the BitLQ Matrix, there is a good balance since traders can put in the emphasis on the importance of trade quantity. By doing so, the traders will accurately calibrate the position sizes to market conditions and the risk-taker’s risk-bearing ability to ensure they make a better risk-reward ratio and protect the capital from likely losses.

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Quality: Elevating Trading Standards

Quality, in this case, regards the level of trades executed within BitLQ Matrix. This gives traders the opportunity to spike up their trading standards further, promoting the desired consistency and profitability from their undertakings.

Unveiling the Benefits

The BitLQ Matrix offers a plethora of benefits to traders seeking to master Bitcoin trading:

  • Increased Precision: With these details of liquidity, quantity, and quality at disposal, traders can be able to execute their trades with pinpoint accuracy, zero error tolerance, and hence reap all the profitability possible in their trades.
  • Risk Mitigation: The strategy of risk management integrated into BitLQ Matrix enables traders to be in a position where they could avert their possible losses and preserve capital in times of market downturn.
  • Consistent Profjson: The BitLQ Matrix principles will assure that you profit on a consistent basis, fostering sustainability for long-time success in trade.

Conclusion

This exciting journey into Bitcoin trading within the BitLQ Matrix soon turns into an adventure of financial independence and prosperity in one of the most lively and fast-changing cryptocurrency markets. You apply liquidity, quantity, and quality principles toward revealing limitless opportunities for profit multiplication and growth sustainability. Seize the advantage today and embark on your path to financial freedom with the BitLQ Matrix.

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Nana Quasi-Wusu Celebrates 10 Years In Broadcasting

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Renowned multiple Award winning Ghanaian media personality and a Humanitarian, Nana Quasi-Wusu, popularly known as PM, commemorates a decade in media as a broadcast journalist filled with exceptional stories and excellence. (more…)

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BLISS GVS PHARMA GHANA DONATES MEDICINES AGAIN TO CAPE COAST TEACHING HOSPITAL

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Spearheading the initiative for the fourth consecutive year, Bliss GVS Pharma’s campaign, “Act for Africa: A Malaria-Free Continent,” aims to provide crucial medical support to combat malaria, particularly in vulnerable communities.

In a significant stride towards eradicating malaria from the African continent, Bliss GVS Pharma Ghana reaffirms its commitment to corporate social responsibility by donating over GHC 250,000 worth of medicines to Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Winneba Trauma Hospital to commemorate approaching World Malaria Day 2024.

The gesture underscores Bliss GVS Pharma’s dedication to ensuring that every individual gets access to high-quality medicines, particularly in regions heavily burdened by malaria. The donation encompasses anti-malarial and other essential medicines like LONART, GSUNATE, Fricks, Gacet and many more.

The driving force behind this noble vision is the Managing Director of Bliss GVS Pharma, Mr. Gagan Sharma. His unwavering belief in the fundamental right to healthcare motivates the company’s endeavours to make a tangible difference in the fight against malaria.

Pharm Rosemary, the representative of Bliss GVS Pharma, underscored the company’s steadfast commitment to malaria eradication, she said it is our social duty to contribute towards ensuring that no one is deprived of essential healthcare, especially in the battle against diseases like malaria. Through our ‘Act for Africa’ campaign, we aim to play our part in making Africa a malaria-free continent.”
Dr. Eric Kofi Nyedu, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, who lead a delegation to receive the items expressed profound gratitude for Bliss GVS Pharma’s benevolent gesture, stating, ” We’re grateful for Bliss GVS Pharma’s generous antimalarial and other essential medicines donation, which strengthens our ability to treat patients, especially during peak malaria season and health outreaches in villages around the Cape Coast enclave. We have identified that Bliss GVS is dedication to improving community health through our partnership and we will always recommend them”
The donation of GHC 276,000 worth of medicine symbolizes Bliss GVS Pharma’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its belief in the transformative power of collective action. By partnering with healthcare institutions such as the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Winneba Trauma Hospital, the company endeavours to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to malaria treatments.

In addition, the students of the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery College were engaged in a health talk where resource persons equipped them with topics on personal and vaginal hygiene, malaria prevention, and spread.
On World Malaria Day 2024, as the global community unites to amplify efforts against malaria, Bliss GVS Pharma Ghana stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a healthier, malaria-free future for Africa.

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