More than 3 billion people globally are at risk of disease because the quality of their rivers, lakes and groundwater is unknown due to a lack of data, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today. UNEP’s survey of over 75,000 bodies of water in 89 countries found more than 40 per cent severely polluted.
Food systems caused more than one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new Food and Agriculture Organization/European Commission study, which says food system emissions are estimated at 34 per cent of the total. Top emitters are China, Indonesia, United States, Brazil, European Union and India.
On International Women’s Day, peacekeeping colleagues report that Bangladesh, for the first time, is deploying four justice government-provided personnel, all women, to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), later this month.
In Mozambique, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today launched a $12 million humanitarian appeal to urgently provide life-saving sexual and reproductive health and protection services to 330,000 women, girls, and youth who have been impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado and COVID-19.
The United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan for Niger, launched on 5 February, seeks $523.2 million in 2021 to assist 2.1 million people. The combined effects of conflict, chronic food insecurity and health emergencies, including COVID-19, have severely impacted the economy, as well as access to basic services, such as health and education.
Marking the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, the Secretary-General told the Security Council today that the world has a choice: continue down the path of increasing militarization, conflict and inter-generational losses or work towards greater inclusion and gender equality.
On 2 October, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Coulibaly Siaka of Côte d’Ivoire as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Senegal, with the host Government’s approval.
Some 3.3 billion people employed globally in 2018 had inadequate working conditions, the International Labour Organization’s report “World Employment and Social Outlook” states. Released today, it found that despite progress in reducing unemployment, work quality is not improving in many parts of the world.
The Government of the Philippines declared a major outbreak of measles last week in Metro Manila and Central Luzon, which has now expanded to other areas, according to humanitarian affairs officials. More than 4,300 suspected cases of measles have been reported since January, with at least 70 deaths.
The new Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations, Cheikh Niang, presented his credentials to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres today.
About 83,000 people have been impacted by Tropical Cyclone Ava, with some 29 dead and 22 missing. The cyclone damaged 17 health centres and affected 141 schools. It also cut off road access to some south-eastern and south-western parts of the country. Humanitarian partners are supporting the Government in the provision of sanitation, water and medical supplies, as well as camp management.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the parties to the Syrian conflict to allow badly needed food and medical supplies to get into Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus, where at least 350,000 civilians remain besieged.
