NEWS in brief
Global Highlights
Lyon is accused of “failing to alert the majority-black
population about an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in
the Flint area, which has been linked by some experts to
poor water quality in 2014-15,” it was reported.
Robert Skidmore, an 85-year old former auto worker, died
in late 2015 after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease
in Flint. Eleven others died under similar circumstances,
according to reports.
Schuette stressed the need to hold public officials
accountable for the water crisis in Flint.
“The health crisis in Flint has created a trust crisis
for Michigan government, exposing a serious lack of
confidence in leaders who accept responsibility and solve
problems,” Schuette said.
OFID signs US$21.8m Dam Vac Bridge loan
agreement on mission in Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam, May 25, 2017. A delegation headed
by OFID Director-General Suleiman J Al-Herbish has
concluded its high-level mission to Hanoi, Vietnam.
During the visit, which took place from May 21 to May 24,
Al-Herbish met with Vietnamese officials including Prime
Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Minister of Finance
Dinh Tien Dung.
The delegation was in Hanoi to sign the US$21.8m Dam
Vac Bridge project loan agreement. This project aims
to improve connectivity and accessibility between the
northern urban and southern rural regions of Vinh Phuc
province.
During his meeting with the Prime Minister, Al-Herbish
praised Vietnam on the tremendous progress it has made
in the last decade. “Next year we will celebrate 40 years
of partnership with Vietnam,” he said. “I look forward
to continuing our work together to develop infrastructure
in the country. This project is of a special nature. It is a
bridge, and indeed OFID is a bridge: between South and
South, and between our member countries and Vietnam.”
In turn, the Prime Minister thanked OFID for its close
cooperation: “We have enjoyed OFID’s concessional loans,
including for the Dam Vac Bridge project signed this week.
We look forward to further cooperation and assistance.”
Water UK appoints new directors
Press release
Two new directors will be joining Water UK in September
as part of a re-structuring of the organization. Rae Stewart
is to become Director of Corporate Affairs and Stuart
10
Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • July - August 2017
Colville will join as Director of Strategy.
Rae Stewart has held a number of posts in Whitehall,
following a long period in journalism where he worked
for ITN, GMTV, Sky News and Scottish Television. He
joined the Cabinet Office in 2009 before moving to Defra
in 2010, where he led the co-ordinated communications
strategy for the 2012 drought. He took on the role of
Director of Communications for the department in 2013.
Rae then held a similar post at the Department for Energy
and Climate Change prior to being asked in 2016 to start
up and lead the communications function at the new
Department for Exiting the European Union.
Stuart Colville began his career in consulting, before
joining the Civil Service over a decade ago. He has
worked on infrastructure, EU and energy policy, and in
Government strategy roles, in both the Department for
Transport and the Department for Energy and Climate
Change.
In his current role, Stuart is Defra’s Principal Private
Secretary, supporting ministers to identify and deliver their
priorities, shaping departmental policy, and working across
Whitehall. This has involved the coordination of crisis
responses to a range of issues, including flooding, and
developing longer term policies, including reducing water
pollution and EU exit.
Commenting on the appointments, Michael Roberts, Water
UK Chief Executive, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Rae and Stuart on board.
Their energy, experience and insight will complement the
existing strengths in the Water UK team and help us meet
the challenges we face in the water sector.”
Embracing water as an asset
Copenhagen has designed a climate neighbourhood in the
northern part of the city
At the International Water Association’s ‘Embrace the
Water’ conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, Helle Søholt,
CEO of Gehl, highlighted how water can benefit public