Kate Bartlett

They were eventually allowed in on humanitarian grounds.

Israel has said South Africa had previously agreed to take the Palestinians.

The Palestinian embassy in South Africa says the Palestinians were exploited by an untrustworthy organization.

South African activists say the group that organized the flight, Al-Majid Europe, has links to Israel.

For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

Since the city of Al-Fasha fell to a paramilitary group, Doctors Without Borders has been treating people who fled at their health point in the nearby town of Tawila, Darfur.

Seven out of ten of those turning up are showing signs of starvation.

Mohamed Javid Abdelmonim, the newly elected international president of the charity, told a press briefing in Johannesburg Friday.

He said 71% of children and 87% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are suffering from acute malnutrition.

For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

Ballot stations opened an ivory coast with over 8 million people registered to vote in the West African country, which is the world's biggest cocoa producer.

Alassane Moutara, who came to power in 2010, says changes he oversaw to the constitution in 2016 allow him to run for more than the two-term limit.

Ahead of today's vote, he restricted gatherings and deployed thousands of security personnel.

Four candidates are challenging the 83-year-old for the presidency, but the major candidates have been blocked from running.

Contested elections in the country, which fought a brutal civil war in the early 2000s, have seen deadly violence break out in the past.

For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

Ballot stations opened in Ivory Coast, with over 8 million people registered to vote in the West African country, which is the world's biggest cocoa producer.

Alassane Moutara, who came to power in 2010, says changes he oversaw to the constitution in 2016 allow him to run for more than the two-term limit.

Ahead of today's vote, he restricted gatherings and deployed thousands of security personnel.

Four candidates are challenging the 83 year old for the presidency, but the major candidates have been blocked from running.