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Africa
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
While many countries are beginning to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, Africa may have to wait years to begin mass vaccination campaigns. The first shipment of various COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive to several African countries later this month with the help of COVAX, a global initiative aiming to establish equitable vaccine access. The first shipment will contain only 90 million doses, which will be used to inoculate just 3% of the continent’s population. This initial vaccine phase will be used to vaccinate health care workers and those at highest risk for contracting the illness. By the end of 2021, a total of 600 million doses will be available across the continent. This means 20% of the African population will be vaccinated by the end of 2021. In addition to COVAX support, the African Union secured an additional 670 million doses which will be distributed in late 2021 and 2022 based on the availability of funding. In addition to uncertain funding for the necessary doses, African countries face unknown delivery dates from the vaccine providers, which could further delay vaccine availability and increase the time until the majority of the population is vaccinated.
This map depicts the initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution amongst the African nations. Click on the map to learn more.
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Nigeria
Kagara Kidnappings
Gunmen killed one student and kidnapped 42 people from a school in Kagara, Nigeria last night. Among those kidnapped were 27 students, 3 teachers, and 12 relatives of the teachers. The attack took place at Government Science College, where 650 students were present at the time of the kidnappings. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has since ordered security forces to coordinate a rescue operation for those taken. School abductions are becoming more common in Nigeria due to a rise in gang activity in the northwest and central states. Just two months ago, 300 students were abducted from a school in nearby Kankara, and only three years ago, 111 schoolgirls were taken from Dapchi. Gang activity is not limited to kidnappings, however. Largely driven by financial motives, bandits in the surrounding region are also known to raid villages and loot homes. Yesterday’s kidnappings adds to growing concerns over a potential jihadist insurgency to establish Nigeria as an Islamic state.
This map depicts the the location of the Nigerian kidnappings. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Yahoo News
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Libya
Ten Years Since Uprising
Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the beginning of the Arab Spring in Libya, the uprising and widespread protest movement which led to the ousting of dictator Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi. Since the onset of the Arab Spring, the country has remained in a state of civil war, with one internationally recognized government in Tripoli, and forces of the Libyan National Army claiming large swaths of eastern and central areas of the country. While Russia has been providing support to the Libyan National Army, a recent intervention from Turkey on behalf of the Tripoli government forced both sides into a ceasefire and eventually led to UN-brokered peace talks. Last week, a new interim government was announced following UN negotiations in Geneva, marking the UN’s fourth attempt to establish a government in the war-torn country. Tens of thousands of international troops remain in the country in attempts to manage violence, and the country’s economy and infrastructure has been decimated after a decade of conflict.
This map depicts the current divisions of control in Libya, ten-years after the onset of the Arab Spring. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: With a distance of 3,967 miles (6,384 km) from the center of the planet, what mountain is home to Earth’s closest point to the moon?
A: Mount Chimborazo
When we think of the highest point on Earth, it is logical to infer that that it would be the tallest mountain, Mount Everest. How is it that a mountain nearly 9,000 feet shorter than Everest can be considered Earth’s highest point: with a boost from the planet’s equatorial bulge. The Earth is round, but not a perfect sphere, and flatter at the poles with a bulge around the Equator. Since Mount Chimborazo is located on the Equator, the mountain is actually 7,000 feet (2,030 meters) higher in the sky than Everest, making Chimborazo the furthest point from the Earth’s core.
Source
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Q: Rivaling the salt content of the Dead Sea, earth’s most saline sea, with 40% salinity, this strawberry-colored lake can be found on what peninsula?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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