We spoke earlier this week about the aerial attack on the embattled Mawza District of Yemen’s Taizz Governorate. The United Nations Human Rights Office said today that Tuesday’s air strike by the Arab Coalition Forces is believed to have killed at least 18 civilians, including 10 children and two women.
Yemen
Briefing the Security Council today on South Sudan, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations warned that the security environment remains extremely volatile and stressed that the country needs an effective and credible ceasefire.
The United Nations refugee agency said today it is deeply shocked and saddened at reports of deaths and injuries suffered by internally displaced people in an aerial attack on embattled Mawza District in Yemen’s Taizz Governorate. Civilian casualties are still being verified, but initial reports indicate at least 20 people killed, including women and children.
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen told the Security Council today that the situation in the country remains extremely grave, with the conflict intensifying daily and the tragic humanitarian situation continuing to worsen.
In Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) said it will be able to provide food assistance to more than 577,000 people in need thanks to a $20 million contribution by the United States. The money will be spent to buy local wheat flour, salt, yellow peas and cooking oil, among other supplies.
The Secretary-General yesterday strongly condemned the launch of a ballistic missile of possible intercontinental range conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He said that the action is yet another brazen violation of Security Council resolutions and constitutes a dangerous escalation of the situation.
Three planes chartered by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have delivered 36 tons of life-saving medical and water purification supplies to Yemen to combat the outbreak of cholera which has surpassed 200,000 cases. The supplies include oral rehydration salts to treat 10,000 people, as well as 10.5 million water purification tablets.
The Secretary-General condemns the series of suicide bombing attacks on 25 and 26 June in Maiduguri, Borno State, in Nigeria. He extends his condolences to the people of Nigeria for the loss of life, and wishes a quick recovery to those injured and hopes that those responsible for this act will be swiftly brought to justice.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today that the announcement of an end to famine conditions in South Sudan this week should not distract from the fact that severe food insecurity continues to put the lives of millions of children at risk in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and north-east Nigeria.
The Secretariat has concluded a review of the deployment of uniformed personnel from the Republic of Congo in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA. It found that the nature and extent of existing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse point to systemic problems in command and control.