Month: December 2022
UN calls for support for international force for Haiti
Addressing the Security Council, Ms. Mohammed underlined the UN Secretary-General’s call for support to the Haitian National Police, as set out in a letter to ambassadors in October. “I urge every country with the capacity to do so to give urgent consideration to the Haitian Government’s request for an international specialized armed force to…
Read MoreWHO’s Tedros recaps challenging year, appeals for more information on COVID spread in China
To make a comprehensive risk assessment of the situation on the ground, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu told journalists at a regular briefing in Geneva that WHO needs more detailed information on disease severity, hospital admissions and requirements for ICU support. “WHO is supporting China to focus its efforts on vaccinating people at the highest risk across the…
Read MoreSyria: Needs rise amid deepening humanitarian and economic crisis
Ambassadors were briefed by the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, who stressed the need to give Syrians hope. Some 14.6 million people require support – a 1.2 million increase over 2021 – and the number is expected to reach 15.3 million next year. “Syrians are facing an…
Read MoreHorn of Africa faces most severe drought in more than two generations – UNICEF
Around 20.2 million children are under threat of severe hunger, thirst and disease – compared to 10 million in July – as climate change, conflict, global inflation and grain shortages devastate the region. “While collective and accelerated efforts have mitigated some of the worst impact of what had been feared, children in the Horn of…
Read MoreSouth Sudan: Amidst ‘unimaginable suffering’, over 260,000 in need slated for humanitarian support
Interconnected shocks have had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable, said the UN humanitarian office, OCHA. “This funding will support reducing people’s vulnerability and protection risks through activities implemented by the United Nations humanitarian agencies in South Sudan”, stated Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan. And it will ensure that the assistance…
Read MoreWMO releases ‘tell-tale signs’ of extreme weather conditions around the world
The clear need to do much more to cut greenhouse gas emissions was again underscored throughout events in 2022, said the UN weather agency, advocating for strengthened climate change adaptation, including universal access to early warnings. “This year we have faced several dramatic weather disasters which claimed far too many lives and livelihoods and undermined…
Read MoreUN refugee agency urges rescue of 190 desperate people adrift in Andaman Sea
However, its pleas continue to be ignored. “This shocking ordeal and tragedy must not continue”, said Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR’s Director for Asia and the Pacific. “These are human beings – men, women and children”, he added. Unraveling the situation Reports indicate that they have been at sea in dire conditions for a month, lacking sufficient food or water, and…
Read MoreHonduras: new internal displacement law ‘much-needed step’ towards restoring hope and dignity
The action taken by the National Congress will help with the more than 247,000 Hondurans who have been displaced by violence, 55 per cent of whom are women and 43 per cent children and adolescents. “This law on internal displacement is a much-needed step towards restoring their dignity, hope and rights,” said UN High Commissioner…
Read MoreMillions of Afghan children inoculated against measles, polio in 1st Statewide drive since 2021 transition
Afghanistan has vaccinated 5.36 million nine- to 59-month old children against measles while 6.1 million infants to 59-month-olds received oral polio vaccine during the vaccination drive held from 26 November to 12 December. Based on the data from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health Expanded Programme on Immunization, the campaign covered 329 districts in all 34…
Read MoreUN expert on Myanmar: Security Council resolution not strong enough on ‘systematic gross human rights violations’
Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, acknowledged as “notable” that the Council crafted and advanced a draft that managed to avoid a veto, but “with all due respect”, said that the resolution adopted yesterday was not enough. “‘Demanding that certain actions be taken without any use of the Security Council’s…
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