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Continuing its regular session for 2018, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today recommended 61 organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and deferred action on the status of 24 others.

Following is UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed’s briefing, as prepared for delivery, via videoconference to the Security Council on the activities of Boko Haram and the situation in the Lake Chad Basin, in New York today:

Speakers today called for urgent action to stop the rampant rise of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, as the General Assembly commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed on 21 March.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola in Bikoro in Equateur Province yesterday after lab results confirmed two cases of the deadly virus.  The World Health Organization is working closely with the Government to rapidly scale up its operations and mobilize health partners.

In Syria, a United Nations‑Syrian Arab Red Crescent‑International Committee of the Red Cross inter‑agency convoy entered Douma, in besieged eastern Ghouta, for the first time since 15 November 2017.  Teams delivered food for 27,500 people, along with health and nutrition supplies, while fighting and air strikes continued.

From Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that some 11,500 people have been displaced to Rokero town and nearby Jemeza village in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur, following fighting that took place in April between armed groups.  The figure is a preliminary estimate by an inter-agency assessment team that recently visited the area.

Real world examples of technology and innovation being deployed to build a more resilient Africa in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were presented to the Economic and Social Council today as it concluded its annual three‑day integration segment.

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund has released over $9 million in funding to coverprovide for the immediate needs of those affected by a strong earthquake that recently struck Papua New Guinea.  The event follows a February earthquake that had left some 270,000 people needing assistance..

Today is World Malaria Day and on this occasion, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recalls that every two minutes, a child dies of malaria.  Although preventable and treatable, malaria remains a major public health problem and the number of cases worldwide is growing.

The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia condemned the murder of Wilman Asprilla Allim and Ansel Montoya Ibarra, two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) political party members who were participating in electoral activities in Peque municipality.  The Mission urges all the competent institutions to investigate and prosecute those responsible for this crime.