Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
U.S. EPA Rolls Back PFAS "Forever Chemicals" Protections in Drinking Water
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The Plastic Pollution Coalition issued the following news:
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U.S. EPA Rolls Back PFAS "Forever Chemicals" Protections in Drinking Water
On May 18, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would repeal limits and delay regulations on PFAS "forever chemicals" in drinking water, putting public health at risk. While the agency framed the move as a "scientifically sound" strategy offering "real solutions to reduce PFAS exposure for Americans," it is, in reality, a handout to PFAS polluters disguised as public protection.
"There are thousands of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The Plastic Pollution Coalition issued the following news:
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U.S. EPA Rolls Back PFAS "Forever Chemicals" Protections in Drinking Water
On May 18, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would repeal limits and delay regulations on PFAS "forever chemicals" in drinking water, putting public health at risk. While the agency framed the move as a "scientifically sound" strategy offering "real solutions to reduce PFAS exposure for Americans," it is, in reality, a handout to PFAS polluters disguised as public protection.
"There are thousands ofvariations of PFAS 'forever chemicals,' yet drinking water standards have only been established for six of them. Now, those few protections will be rolled back or weakened. Forever chemicals are found in everyday plastic products, exposing men, women and children to serious known health risks. Our leaders have more than enough evidence to act to reduce our exposure immediately" -Julia Cohen, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Plastic Pollution Coalition
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of nearly 15,000 manufactured chemicals that are frequently added to consumer products made of plastics, including clothing, cookware, and furniture, as well as beverage and food packaging. The EPA plans to repeal limits on four types of PFAS in drinking water--GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFBS--rolling back drinking water standards established under the Biden Administration. Those standards marked the first time in 30 years that the EPA had set limits for a new drinking water contaminant. Actions to repeal these limits could soon come under legal scrutiny due to anti-backsliding provisions in the Safe Drinking Water Act intended to ensure water standards are maintained or expanded, not weakened.
While the EPA is funding $1 billion to states for reduction efforts, the Agency is simultaneously undercutting progress by granting water utilities a two-year delay to regulate PFOS and PFOA, pushing the deadline from 2029 to 2031. The Biden Administration had determined there was no safe level of those contaminants in drinking water, and this setback will result in two more years of communities drinking polluted water. If the EPA is indeed "reaffirming its commitment to Make America Healthy Again," it must take action now to prevent human exposure to PFAS.
The Dangers of PFAS
PFAS are often added to products because of their ability to resist water, heat, and oil. Unfortunately, this useful set of qualities also indicates their danger--PFAS do not readily degrade, and instead persistently accumulate in the environment and living beings. PFAS have been consistently detected in air, soil, water, and human bodies, demonstrating extensive contaminationof the planet and people.
In the United States, at least 45% of tap water is contaminated with PFAS. Their presence may be even greater in private wells, which are not tested as regularly or rigorously as public water systems. PFAS contamination in the U.S. disproportionately harms low-income, rural, Black, Indigenous, frontline and fenceline communities. These communities are significantly more likely to have high levels of PFAS in their drinking water and live in close proximity to sites contaminated with PFAS, from either current or historical industrial sites.
PFAS in drinking water can be harmful to a person's health even at low levels. Exposure has been linked to increased risk of some cancers, interference in vaccine response,harm to the immune system function, liver damage, hormone interference, significant developmental effects in children, and decreased fertility, among others. In the U.S., many communities have first-hand experience of the devastating, if not deadly effects of PFAS contamination in water.
This announcement follows a string of efforts by the Administration to roll back critical environmental and human health protections. While dressed-up as a "holistic approach" to addressing PFAS, the EPA is handing concessions to polluters, and ultimately delaying meaningful protections from a dangerous chemical class with well documented evidence of harm.
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Original text here: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2026/5/19/u-s-epa-rolls-back-pfas-forever-chemicals-protections-in-drinking-water
[Category: Industrial Materials]
Save the Sound Releases Long Island Sound Beach Grades in Advance of New Swimming Season
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, May 20 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release:
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Save the Sound Releases Long Island Sound Beach Grades in Advance of New Swimming Season
Grades based on water quality data collected during 2025 swimming season
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About three-quarters of the Sound's beaches had consistently clean water last summer. Seventy-seven percent of the 192 public and private Long Island Sound beaches that were sampled at least nine times during the 2025 swimming season received A or B grades from Save the Sound--the highest percentage since 2022. That represents a 5 percent improvement
... Show Full Article
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, May 20 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release:
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Save the Sound Releases Long Island Sound Beach Grades in Advance of New Swimming Season
Grades based on water quality data collected during 2025 swimming season
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About three-quarters of the Sound's beaches had consistently clean water last summer. Seventy-seven percent of the 192 public and private Long Island Sound beaches that were sampled at least nine times during the 2025 swimming season received A or B grades from Save the Sound--the highest percentage since 2022. That represents a 5 percent improvementin As and Bs from the 2024 Beach Grades.
At the same time, the total number of Sound beaches that struggled with poor water quality (Ds and Fs) remained the same. Sixteen beaches received either a D or F--the same as in 2024, though no beach received an F in 2024; there were four in 2025. Eleven of those 16 beaches are located in either New York City or Westchester County, including all four Fs.
"As we have seen over the years, there consistently is a high number of beaches that receive great marks for swimming all around Long Island Sound," said Peter Linderoth, director of healthy waters and lands for Save the Sound. "But as we also have seen, nearly one-quarter of Sound beaches face some level of water quality challenges that need to be looked into and addressed."
Save the Sound's Beach Grades, calculated and released annually, reflect water quality data collected the previous summer at each beach by local health departments and uploaded to the Environmental Protection Agency's Water Quality Portal database. Samples are collected throughout the swimming season during wet and dry conditions and are analyzed for levels of fecal indicator bacteria.
High counts of fecal indicator bacteria are associated with pathogens in the water that can make people sick. These high counts of bacteria can be associated with untreated sewage, improperly disposed of dog waste, local wildlife inputs such as resident Canada geese, or polluted stormwater entering the waters at or near a beach.
In 2025, 17.7 percent of all samples collected around the Sound under wet conditions (when one-quarter of an inch of rainfall is recorded in the 48 hours prior to sampling) failed to meet those safe-swimming criteria. That the 2025 swimming season saw only 16 inches of precipitation around the region, the lowest since 2022, could explain in part the year-over-year improvement in overall grades.
Whenever it rains, stormwater runoff is particularly problematic in developed areas with swaths of impervious surface coverage near a beach and in the nearby lands that drain to it. Rainfall cannot penetrate hardened surfaces like roofs, driveways, streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. Instead, it cascades into catch basins and storm drains, carrying along fertilizer, pesticides, oil and fuel residue, tire debris, and fecal indicator bacteria, which can originate from improperly discarded pet waste or waste from raccoons, rodents, or other wildlife living inside stormwater pipes. Too often, stormwater also picks up spills and leaks from sanitary sewer infrastructure and septic systems, adding human waste to the mix of polluted runoff delivered to our beaches.
"Stormwater pollution is a leading challenge to water quality at Long Island Sound beaches," said Linderoth. "Expanding the use of green infrastructure--rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, constructed wetlands--is a critical step toward reducing stormwater runoff. The more stormwater can be filtered or diverted before reaching the Sound, the more water quality will improve, and the better a beach's grade will be."
Grades from 2025 for individual Long Island Sound beaches are available on Save the Sound's interactive website, Sound Health Explorer, as are grades and sampling results dating back to 2003 for most beaches.
Save the Sound shares these Beach Grades with the public and municipal leaders. Residents concerned with the grade received by their local beach are encouraged to discuss the issue with their local elected officials, health departments, and beach managers. Community members also are welcome to contact Save the Sound with any questions, comments, or leads on potential sources of fecal contamination for a given beach.
To take a deeper dive into the Beach Grades, join Peter Linderoth and our water quality team for a webinar on June 2 at 12:00 p.m.
The next biennial Long Island Sound Beach Report will be issued in the spring of 2027. This fall, be sure to look for the 2026 Long Island Sound Report Card, which measures the ecological health of the open Sound and its bays and harbors.
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Original text here: https://www.savethesound.org/2026/05/19/press-release-save-the-sound-releases-beach-grades-in-advance-of-new-swimming-season/
[Category: Environment]
Save the Children: Ebola Outbreak - 'Unless A Collective Effort Is Made, This Crisis Is Going To Get Worse'
WESTPORT, Connecticut, May 20 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, posted the following news release:
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EBOLA OUTBREAK: "Unless a collective effort is made, this crisis is going to get worse"
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo - Save the Children is rushing to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where decimated healthcare systems are ill equipped to stop its spread.
At least 500 suspected cases of Ebola, and 130 deaths, have been reported in the DRC since
... Show Full Article
WESTPORT, Connecticut, May 20 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, posted the following news release:
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EBOLA OUTBREAK: "Unless a collective effort is made, this crisis is going to get worse"
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo - Save the Children is rushing to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where decimated healthcare systems are ill equipped to stop its spread.
At least 500 suspected cases of Ebola, and 130 deaths, have been reported in the DRC sincethe new outbreak began in early May, according to the World Health Organization.
As Save the Children prepares to launch a large-scale response to support local health systems and help Ebola-impacted families and children, the humanitarian organization is calling for an urgent global effort to contain the virus.
In previous outbreaks of Ebola, young children infected by the disease through contact with unwell caregivers and family members were associated with high mortality rates. Beyond the health risks of the disease itself, children are also at a particular risk of trauma and exploitation during an Ebola outbreak. Due to the high fatality rate with the Ebola virus disease, many children may lose one or both parents in an outbreak and face being stigmatized, isolated or abandoned.
The Ebola outbreak is yet another crisis to hit DRC, which has seen a sharp uptick this year in conflict, creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. 5.6 million people, including about 2.5 million children, are displaced internally and 15 million people - almost one in seven people - need humanitarian assistance.
Greg Ramm, Save the Children's Country Director in the DRC, said:
"The Ebola outbreak is a new massive crisis on top of an already difficult situation with a unique set of circumstances making this outbreak much more difficult to contain than we've seen recently. It is in an area of conflict, an area of humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and healthcare systems already severely compromised.
"This is also a different strain of Ebola to what has been seen in the province before, so the limited testing that was available in the province was testing for the Zaire strain and not coming up positive. By the time the Bundibugyo strain was detected, it had already spread quite far. We are in a game of catch-up.
"There's been a healthcare crisis across the DRC for years, yet the world's attention tends to peak at a moment of an unusual disease, like mpox two years ago and now, with Ebola. It is important that the world doesn't lose interest when this outbreak is over and that everything is done so that the children of DRC can get the basic healthcare services they need, any time they need them.
"Our priority is to stop further spread, which means getting messages out about how to stay safe, about how to reduce contact, about avoiding direct contact with somebody who is sick. It's about getting basic infection prevention and control measures into health centers and, where there's not enough chlorine or disinfectant, get those supplies out.
"Right now, it's critical the international community steps up to support efforts to protect children and families in DRC while helping to halt further spread. We need the equipment, we need teams on the ground, and we need people to do what they can to keep people safe."
Save the Children started working in DRC in 1994. Today, we collaborate with 13 local partners, alongside international organizations and government authorities, to provide life-saving support in health, nutrition, education, child protection, food security and water, sanitation and hygiene for children and their families.
We operate in the three eastern provinces most affected by the humanitarian crisis--North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri-- where nearly six million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees are in urgent need of assistance, as well as in Kasai, Kasai Oriental and Lomami on development projects in education, health and nutrition.
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children - every day and in times of crisis - transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that Save the Children is a charity you can trust. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/media-and-news/2026-press-releases/ebola-outbreak-drc
[Category: Sociological]
National Center on Sexual Exploitation: SCOTUS Declines to Hear Child Exploitation Case Against Twitter, Teeing Up Battle in Congress Over Section 230 Reform
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The National Center on Sexual Exploitation issued the following news:
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SCOTUS Declines to Hear Child Exploitation Case Against Twitter (X), Teeing Up Battle in Congress Over Section 230 Reform
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) issued a statement about the U.S. Supreme Court decision not to review a shocking 9th Circuit Court ruling in John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 v. Twitter, Inc. that held Section 230 provided Twitter (now X) with legal immunity for knowingly possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and for knowingly benefitting
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The National Center on Sexual Exploitation issued the following news:
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SCOTUS Declines to Hear Child Exploitation Case Against Twitter (X), Teeing Up Battle in Congress Over Section 230 Reform
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) issued a statement about the U.S. Supreme Court decision not to review a shocking 9th Circuit Court ruling in John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 v. Twitter, Inc. that held Section 230 provided Twitter (now X) with legal immunity for knowingly possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and for knowingly benefittingfrom a sex trafficking venture.
"We are disappointed that the Supreme Court didn't take our case. It raises the question: Does our country really allow corporations to commit federal crimes, like knowingly distributing child sexual abuse material, without consequences? If this can happen to our clients without accountability, every parent and every American should be asking what protections children truly have online today," said Dani Pinter, Chief Legal Officer and Director of the Law Center, National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
"SCOTUS has declined to weigh in on Section 230 immunity for 30 years, so Congress must address Section 230 reform. Congress must clarify that it did not intend for tech companies to have legal immunity for harms they facilitate on their platforms or their own criminal conduct in knowingly possessing and distributing CSAM. Congress should Sunset Section 230 and pass the Kids Online Safety Act, among other actions, to demand accountability from social media companies and create meaningful protections for children online.
"Section 230 continues to stand in the way of justice for victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, despite the fact that tech platforms have knowingly facilitated these abuses. No company, online or otherwise, should be above the law.
"For our clients, this is not the end of the road. We are still moving forward in our lawsuit against Twitter on products liability claims and claims that it failed to report child sexual abuse material on its platform," Pinter said.
Plaintiffs John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 together were solicited and recruited for sex trafficking as minors. After they escaped from the manipulation, child sexual abuse material depicting them was disseminated on Twitter while they were still children. When Twitter was alerted to this fact and the ages of the children, Twitter refused to remove the illegal material and instead continued to distribute and profit from the sexual abuse of the children. Twitter even reported back to John Doe #1 that it had reviewed the video and decided that it did not violate their policies and would not be taken down. This resulted in the child sexual abuse material accumulating over 167,000 views before it was finally removed through federal law enforcement intervention.
John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 are being represented by The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) Law Center, the Haba Law Firm, P.A., Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, The Matiasic Firm, P.C. and Paul G. Cassell of The Utah Appellate Project at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.
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About National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
Founded in 1962, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national non-profit organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation such as child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and the public health harms of pornography.
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About The Haba Law Firm, P.A.
The Haba Law Firm is an award-winning law firm in Florida that provides excellence in civil litigation on behalf of human trafficking and sexual abuse survivors. Haba Law prides itself on its aggressive and effective representation, honesty, and trauma-informed, victim-centered advocacy.
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About The Matiasic Firm
The Matiasic Firm is an award-winning law firm based in California dedicated to providing the highest caliber trial advocacy to victims of sexual abuse, wrongful death, and catastrophic injuries. The firm is perennially lauded for its unrivaled acumen in these areas and its record-setting results, as the firm has garnered the highest recovery across three different categories of cases and four separate jurisdictions. The firm is regularly called upon to prosecute the highest-profile, socially impactful cases.
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URL: Haba Law Firm
URL: Matiasic Firm
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Original text here: https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/scotus-declines-to-hear-child-exploitation-case-against-twitter-x-teeing-up-battle-in-congress-over-section-230-reform/
[Category: Sociological]
India's Energy Storage Push Gathers Momentum, But Tariff Viability and Financing Hurdles Loom Large
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, May 20 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release with JMK Research and Analytics:
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India's energy storage push gathers momentum, but tariff viability and financing hurdles loom large
Overcoming these challenges will require procurement reforms and sustained policy support.
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(IEEFA and JMK Research): As India pursues its ambitious target of 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2030, a new report by the JMK Research and Analytics and Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows that
... Show Full Article
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, May 20 (TNSbrep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release with JMK Research and Analytics:
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India's energy storage push gathers momentum, but tariff viability and financing hurdles loom large
Overcoming these challenges will require procurement reforms and sustained policy support.
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(IEEFA and JMK Research): As India pursues its ambitious target of 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2030, a new report by the JMK Research and Analytics and Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows thatthe country's clean energy ambitions hinge on the pace and scale of energy storage deployment.
India's cumulative tendered energy storage capacity has surged from 6.8GW in 2018 to 90.7GW in 2025. Standalone energy storage system (ESS) tenders, that contract storage capacity without being tied to a specific renewable generation asset, have emerged as the dominant segment. ESS accounts for more than 71% of total capacity tendered in 2025, with standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) projects making up 60% of this.
"The surge in standalone storage tenders has coincided with declining battery prices and supportive policy measures such as the introduction and expansion of viability gap funding for standalone BESS projects," says Vasu Mor, Research Associate at JMK Research and Analytics, and co-author of this report titled 'Viability of standalone battery energy storage tariffs discovered in 2025'.
The report examines tariff outcomes observed in standalone BESS tenders in India, and examines the factors influencing tariff discovery, while evaluating economic viability under current market conditions, and mapping the near-term outlook for standalone energy storage deployment.
Among the 10.4GW of standalone BESS capacity allocated in 2025, the 2-hour, 2-cycle configuration dominated. This type of tender configuration empowers energy offtakers to address both morning and evening peak demand windows within a single day.
"Since mid-2025, though, the 4-hour segment has been increasingly gaining prominence, as its higher single-cycle energy throughput is well suited to meet evening peak demand requirements," says co-author Mouli Srivastava, Research Associate at JMK Research and Analytics.
Tariff viability, however, remains a concern for the 2025 standalone BESS bids. Tariffs fell sharply, with the lowest discovered tariff in the year reaching INR1.48 lakh/megawatt/month (USD1,576/MW/month) for 2-hour systems, against an indicative benchmark tariff of INR2.3 lakh/MW/month (USD2,448.95/MW/month) for 2025. Nearly 75% of allocated 2-hour capacity now sits in the risky category, indicating a significant gap between discovered tariffs and actual project costs. Viable outcomes have largely been confined to early-stage, smaller-scale procurements through five state-led standalone BESS auctions in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Gujarat.
Addressing this will require revisiting procurement frameworks, including introducing cost-reflective tariff floors, tightening eligibility criteria, and aligning auction framework with execution realities.
The report also evaluates the factors influencing the execution of allocated BESS capacity, focusing on battery cost trends, developer capabilities, and financing conditions. Execution risks in standalone BESS are expected to have broader implications for the sector. Implementation delays of up to 18 months may persist due to challenges related to financial closure, procurement and commissioning. Cost pressures at lower tariffs could also lead to compromised asset quality.
"Although the near-term challenges may lead to some project cancellations or delays, the eventual growth of ESS is inevitable. This momentum is already visible, with the majority of the around 1.8 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of grid scale BESS capacity installed as of March 2026 having come online in the last six months of FY2026. Meanwhile, the aggressive bidding observed in 2025 is expected to gradually normalise as market participants recalibrate to execution realities," says Prabhakar Sharma, Senior Consultant at JMK Research and Analytics, and a co-author of this report.
Overwhelming reliance on lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology has also exposed the Indian energy storage sector to global supply chain shocks, the report shows. Tendering agencies are likely to start focusing on alternative battery technologies with longer lifespans, higher salvage value, and lower exposure to supply-chain risks.
"Going ahead, the BESS technology landscape will be a diversified mix of storage technologies including Li-ion, flow batteries, sodium-ion etc. Their co-existence will be driven by different use cases, capacities, and tender designs, each offering distinct advantages in terms of duration, safety, lifecycle, and cost structure" says Charith Konda, Energy Specialist, India Mobility and New Energy at IEEFA - South Asia, and a contributing author.
Read the report: Viability of standalone battery energy storage tariffs discovered in 2025 (https://ieefa.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/Viability%20of%20standalone%20battery%20energy%20storage%20tariffs%20discovered%20in%202025.pdf)
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About IEEFA: The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) examines issues related to energy markets, trends, and policies. The Institute's mission is to accelerate the transition to a diverse, sustainable and profitable energy economy. (ieefa.org)
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About JMK Research: JMK Research & Analytics provides research and advisory services to Indian and international clients across renewables, electric mobility, and the battery storage market. www.jmkresearch.com
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Original text here: https://ieefa.org/articles/indias-energy-storage-push-gathers-momentum-tariff-viability-and-financing-hurdles-loom
[Category: Energy]
Ebola Variant Declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Threatens Children's Lives, World Vision Warns
FEDERAL WAY, Washington, May 20 -- World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development and advocacy activities for children, families and communities, issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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A new Ebola variant declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo threatens children's lives, World Vision warns
Highlights
* Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to more than 900,000 internally displaced people
* Thousands of children are exposed to a high risk of infection
* The newly identified Ebola variant does not match
... Show Full Article
FEDERAL WAY, Washington, May 20 -- World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development and advocacy activities for children, families and communities, issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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A new Ebola variant declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo threatens children's lives, World Vision warns
Highlights
* Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to more than 900,000 internally displaced people
* Thousands of children are exposed to a high risk of infection
* The newly identified Ebola variant does not matchany previously known strain and currently has no vaccine available
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KINSHASA - Global Christian humanitarian organization World Vision is deeply concerned about the spread of a new Ebola variant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and warns children are among the most vulnerable.
On May 15th, the government of the DRC declared a new Ebola outbreak in the health zones of Bunia, Mongwalu, and Rwampara in Ituri province. The initial toll, considered alarming, reports 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths, including 4 confirmed positive cases. On May 17th, the World Health Organization declared the spread of the virus in DRC and Uganda a global health emergency.
This new outbreak comes amid an already fragile humanitarian situation marked by massive population displacement, persistent insecurity, and limited access to basic healthcare services. Children are among the groups most exposed to this health threat.
"Our main concern is for children, who are the most vulnerable in a region already heavily affected by conflict and where humanitarian assistance remains insufficient due to a lack of resources," said Philippe Guiton, World Vision's national director in the DRC.
"Drawing on our experience and working alongside all stakeholders, we are taking appropriate measures to limit the spread of this outbreak and save lives, particularly through hygiene promotion, with a special focus on areas hosting increasing numbers of internally displaced people. World Vision is working closely with health authorities to respond to this new disease. "
David Munkley, World Vision's east zone director, also stressed the urgency of a rapid response.
"Ituri is already facing an alarming situation of acute malnutrition, which further weakens people's immune systems, combined with extremely limited access to healthcare in remote areas," he said. "A rapid and coordinated response will help save lives and reach the greatest number of affected people."
World Vision does not currently have direct programs or operations in the affected area in DRC. Still, it reaffirms its commitment to supporting the response alongside health authorities and humanitarian partners, particularly in the areas of child protection, and prevention through the promotion of good hygiene practices, and infection prevention and control.
World Vision has a long history of responding to Ebola outbreaks, not only in the DRC but also in Uganda, Sierra Leone, and West Africa. During the 2018-2019 outbreak in eastern DRC, World Vision trained faith leaders and motorbike riders to deliver life-saving messages to remote communities. This approach, dubbed Channels of Hope, helped counter misinformation and stigma, building trust and resilience at the grassroots level.
World Vision also contributed to the recent response to the Ebola outbreak in Bulape in Kasai by providing support to more than 200,000 children and patients, which enabled it to respond immediately to the outbreak, which was declared over in December 2025.
As the situation in Ituri evolves, World Vision is calling for:
1. Urgent funding for frontline response: We urge donors to release emergency funds to support health workers, community mobilization, and protective equipment in Ituri and neighboring provinces and countries.
2. Strengthened regional coordination: We call on humanitarian actors and the DRC government to enhance cross-border surveillance and preparedness, especially in high-risk zones.
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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God's unconditional love for all people. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit worldvision.org or follow on X @WorldVisionUSA.
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Original text here: https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/media-center/a-new-ebola-variant-declared-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-threatens-childrens-lives-world-vision-warns
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR-NY Condemns Egg-Throwing Targeting Worshippers at Brooklyn Mosque During Friday Prayer
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on May 19, 2026:
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CAIR-NY Condemns Egg-Throwing Targeting Worshippers at Brooklyn Mosque During Friday Prayer
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a disturbing act of intimidation targeting worshippers at Baitul Mamur Masjid (Mosque) and Community Center in East New York, Brooklyn, after eggs were allegedly thrown at congregants during Jummah (weekly communal)
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on May 19, 2026:
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CAIR-NY Condemns Egg-Throwing Targeting Worshippers at Brooklyn Mosque During Friday Prayer
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a disturbing act of intimidation targeting worshippers at Baitul Mamur Masjid (Mosque) and Community Center in East New York, Brooklyn, after eggs were allegedly thrown at congregants during Jummah (weekly communal)prayer on Friday, May 15.
According to masjid leadership, the incident occurred at approximately 1:50 p.m. while worshippers were performing Friday prayer services. Approximately three to four congregants were directly impacted when eggs were thrown.
No verbal threats or slurs were reportedly made during the incident. The number of individuals involved remains unknown, and it is currently unclear whether the eggs were thrown from the sidewalk, a vehicle, or another nearby location.
The incident was reported to law enforcement approximately one hour later. Two officers and a supervising officer from the NYPD responded to the scene. Masjid leadership stated that the matter is currently being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Unit.
In a statement, Baitul Mamur Masjid and Community Center President Arman Chowdhury said:
"We are extremely grateful to the 75th Precinct, under the leadership of Deputy Inspector Dion Hinds, for their prompt response and thorough attention to this matter. The community feels much safer knowing they are being looked after."
Chowdhury also expressed appreciation to elected officials and community leaders who stood in solidarity with the masjid community, including Roxanne Persaud, Erik Dilan, Nikki Lucas, Chris Banks, and Sandy Nurse, along with interfaith partners, neighborhood advocates, and civic organizations who condemned the incident. He said their collective responses "sent a clear message that hatred and intimidation have no place in East New York."
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
"Muslims should never have to fear harassment or intimidation while attending prayer. Acts targeting houses of worship strike at the heart of our communities and must be taken seriously. We welcome the swift response from local officials and community leaders and remain committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers can practice their faith free from fear."
CAIR-NY noted that houses of worship must remain safe spaces for all communities and urged law enforcement to fully investigate the incident and determine whether bias motives were involved.
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CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-condemns-egg-throwing-targeting-worshippers-at-brooklyn-mosque-during-friday-prayer/
[Category: Sociological]
