cripple

The blockade - a potentially serious escalation of Mali's jihadist insurgency - is particularly affecting the supply of fuel, which could cripple the country.

Massive staffing reductions have crippled the agency’s ability to serve beneficiaries effectively, with regional office staff mostly eliminated, headquarters staffing cut by nearly half, and field office workers reassigned from face-to-face service to phone duties.

The southern African country has also been crippled by nationwide power outages and fuel shortages.

In addition, Malawi has been forced to devalue its currency and was recently crippled by fuel shortages and nationwide power outages.

The takeover by the Friedkin Group has been transformational, with Everton's crippling debts turned into equity, repaid or refinanced on more favourable terms.