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'They accomplished something important' - Bamako residents relieved as fuel availability improves after weeks of disruption

'They accomplished something important' - Bamako residents relieved as fuel availability improves after weeks of disruption

"Fuel availability in Mali has significantly improved, offering much-needed relief to commuters and restoring road traffic after weeks of severe disruption. Footage from Bamako on Sunday shows petrol stations operating smoothly. Meanwhile, road traffic has also resumed its usual pace, with dozens of vehicles driving around the city. Motorcycle taxi drivers, among the worst affected by the fuel shortages, have now resumed full operations. "We salute our authorities and all our acquaintances until the end of our days. They have accomplished something important, and we are convinced of it," said one driver, Aboubacar Sidiki Sangare. Sangare expressed support for President Assimi Goita, praising the Malian leader for fulfilling his promise of easing the fuel crisis. "He is a great man, and we trust him," he said. "We support Assimi today, and we will continue to support him tomorrow. He really does everything he says he will do, and he is a great man." "The fuel problem is over today and will be over tomorrow too. Petrol is easy to find, and that allows us to work without difficulty. We sincerely thank the authorities," he stressed. Vieux Samake, a biker from Bambra, said that during the shortage, one could spend two or three days at a petrol station without finding any fuel. "Previously, people had difficulty getting around on their motorbikes. Now, with just 500 CFA francs (0.88 cents US), you can easily take a motorbike taxi. Our hope is that this improvement will continue," he added. In late November, a donation of more than 80 fuel tankers from Niger reached Bamako in an effort to alleviate Mali's fuel shortage while advancing AES efforts of self-reliance and regional solidarity. The fuel delivery comes as Mali's fuel shortage disrupted transport and daily routines nationwide, leaving stations empty and creating long queues of waiting vehicles. It comes after JNIM militants reportedly escalated attacks and blocked fuel convoys from neighbouring countries, causing shortages and disruptions to transport and essential services."

Kaduwela underwater - Neighbourhoods submerged as Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after Cyclone Ditwah kills 334

Kaduwela underwater - Neighbourhoods submerged as Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after Cyclone Ditwah kills 334

"Torrential rains from Cyclone Ditwah have submerged entire communities in Sri Lanka, forcing local authorities to declare a nationwide state of emergency after the storm left at least 334 people dead. Footage from Kaduwela on Sunday shows residents wading through knee-deep floodwaters and trying to salvage what remains of their belongings. "Since last night, we have moved our belongings outside. I am very sad about this situation. We request that the government do something for us," said Diyasini, a local resident. The state of emergency was declared on Saturday, as rising waters from the Kelani River forced evacuation orders that remain in effect across several districts. "Currently, there is no access to Athuragure Road from this way. If there is an alternative on the other side, it will be about two kilometres from here. There may be even more flooding in this area," warned Dhurusha Herat, another resident. Herat says many neighbourhoods uphill are completely inundated, with some residents unable to access shelters. "They don't have any access to food or any sanitary items or anything like that." he added. Cyclone Ditwah brushed past Sri Lanka's eastern coast on Friday before moving away from the island. The country is in its monsoon season, but officials say extreme weather of this scale is rare. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called it the 'most challenging natural disaster' in Sri Lanka's history, adding that the scale of destruction was so vast that reconstruction costs would be high. The Disaster Management Centre said some 20,000 homes have been destroyed, forcing 108,000 people into state-run shelters. Meanwhile, officials said that about a third of the country was without electricity or running water, with around 400 still missing in the aftermath. Authorities warn that more heavy rainfall linked to Cyclone Ditwah is expected in the coming days. The government has appealed for international assistance and urged Sri Lankans abroad to help support affected communities."