Madagascar

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has welcomed the power-sharing deal that Madagascar's bitter political rivals agreed to and urged them to quickly agree to build a transitional government.

UN deputy spokesperson, Marie Okabe, says that the UN is ready to support the implementation of the agreements signed on Sunday, along with the African Union, southern African nations and other regional and international organisations.

The United Nations has appealed for US$35 million to "save lives" in Madagascar, where over three million people need help following political instability and natural disasters.

In a press statement, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), points out that, “To prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, the Madagascar Humanitarian Country Team is seeking US$35.7 million to save lives."