The planned withdrawal of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) by 30 June 2020 is on track, but the political situation in Sudan has changed drastically and could affect implementation of the mission’s mandate going forward, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union and the Secretary-General for the country’s western Darfur region told the Security Council today.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) called for action to better manage the 50 million tons of electronic waste, known as e-waste, the world produces annually so it can be turned into a valuable source of decent work. Currently, only 20 per cent of all e-waste, valued at $62 billion, is formally recycled.
The World Food Programme (WFP) says it has reached 1 million people in Mozambique with food assistance in the month since Cyclone Idai made landfall. WFP intends to assist 1.7 million people needing urgent food and nutrition support, but still requires $130 million to implement its response through June.
The Security Council decided today to renew until 15 October the support provided by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, recognizing that the current situation in the disputed region and along the Sudan-South Sudan border continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security.
The Secretary-General continues to follow the developments in Sudan very closely and reiterates his call for calm and utmost restraint by all. The Secretary‑General reaffirms that the United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese people as they chart a new way forward.
Briefing the Security Council, the High Commissioner for Refugees stressed today that there is an unprecedented stigmatization of refugees and migrants in the media and in politics, and that this should concern us all as it is creating a toxic environment that makes it increasingly difficult to tackle this issue.
The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Global Vaccine Alliance and the Sudanese Ministry of Health today launched a vaccination campaign in Sudan to vaccinate over 11 million children against measles and polio. Measles is the third largest cause of mortality in infants in Sudan.
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The World Health Statistics 2019 — disaggregated by sex for the first time — found that women outlive men everywhere, particularly in wealthy countries. The gap in life expectancy is narrowest where women lack access to health services. WHO published the report to coincide with World Health Day on 7 April.
The current situation in Darfur is “completely different” from 2005, when sanctions were imposed, the representative of Sudan said today, urging the lifting of the arms embargo, as the Security Council heard a briefing on the work of its Committee established to implement the restrictive measures.
