Refugees

The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has launched a joint operation in Djugu Territory, in Ituri Province, with the Congolese Armed Forces against the armed group CODECO in response to recent attacks against civilians and the presence of CODECO members in the area.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today that more than 11,600 children crossed the Central Mediterranean Sea to Italy without a parent or legal guardian. That’s between January and mid-September 2023. This is an increase of 60 per cent compared to the same period last year.

A report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners is offering solutions to decarbonize the building and construction sector. The report says that the construction sector is currently responsible for 37 per cent of global emissions.

In Costa Rica, Resident Coordinator Allegra Baiocchi and the UN Team launched a new guide addressing online hate speech against women in politics, ahead of the country’s local elections scheduled to take place in February 2024. Online hate crime specifically targeting women jumped 72 per cent in the past year.

In Liberia, the United Nations team there is boosting its response to national efforts to address food insecurity. This follows a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showing that over half a million people are currently facing acute food insecurity in the country.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

For the first time in six years since 700,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled Myanmar to Bangladesh, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that decreasing funds have resulted in a reduction of refugees’ food assistance and is appealing for financial support to sustain the humanitarian response.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) have provided support to the Central African and Ugandan Governments as they carried out the voluntary repatriation of 61 Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ex-combatants and their families to Entebbe, Uganda.

Wrapping up her visit, Bintou Keita, Head of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, met with representatives of displaced communities, civil society and the local community in Bukavu, South Kivu, to discuss ways to strengthen partnerships to support provincial peace and security efforts.

The United Nations led two monitoring and assessment missions from Türkiye into North-West Syria. Staff from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs arrived on a monitoring mission via the al-Ra’ee crossing and the World Health Organization entered via Bab al-Salam to conduct a routine assessment.