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The Fifth Floor

Factual: Life Stories

Global stories from the BBC’s 40 Language Services, with Faranak Amidi

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services.

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services

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The Fifth Floor: Families facing starvation in Tigray

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Displaced Tigrayan family in a camp

25/08/2023 GMT

Families facing starvation in Tigray

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Families facing starvation in Tigray

Thousands in Ethiopia's Tigray region have to beg for food to survive

Thousands in Ethiopia's Tigray region have to beg to survive, after food aid was suspended amid allegations of theft and corruption.

Officials in Ethiopia's Tigray region have reported that more than 1,400 have died of starvation since international food aid was suspended a few months ago.  Deliveries were halted after reports of widespread theft and corruption, but the impact has been catastrophic for many people living there.  BBC Tigrinya’s Girmay Gebru tells us what he's seen in displaced people's camps in the region, where people are forced to beg to survive.

‘With my own eyes’: witnessing historic moments in Azerbaijan
A new BBC Azerbaijani series hears from people who witnessed key moments in the country's history.  Presenter Vusal Hamzayev tells us about one guest, Alexey Manvelyan, who's BBC Azerbaijani's correspondent in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Alexey recalls the era when Azerbaijan and Armenia were part of the Soviet Union. He, like many Armenians, lived in Azerbaijan, and many Azerbaijanis lived in Armenia. Then war broke out over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.  

Africa’s first English slave fort
An archaeological dig in Ghana has discovered what is thought to be the first English slave fort in Africa. Parts of the foundations of Fort Kormantine, as well as 17th century artefacts, were discovered beneath the existing Fort Amsterdam, ending decades of speculation.  BBC Africa’s Favour Nunoo visited the site and met those making the discoveries.  

Ecuador votes against oil extraction in the Amazon 
The Yasuni National Park in Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and home to the country’s last remaining uncontacted tribes.  But the discovery of oil there 20 years ago divided Ecuadorians, with some wanting the park to remain untouched, and others arguing that this oil was vital for economic development.  Now a referendum has decided to ban oil extraction. BBC Mundo’s Ana Maria Roura explains why this area and this decision are so unique.

Jakarta tops the list of polluted cities
Earlier this month, Jakarta was ranked the world's most polluted city. The government has instructed civil servants to work from home, blaming vehicle emissions and global warming, but some experts claim that the power plants which surround the city are to blame. BBC Indonesian's Trisha Husada has been following one of the, literally, hottest topics in the country. 

(Photo: Tigrayan woman and her children in an IDP camp in Shire. Credit: BBC)

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