BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE
Linked to that initiative, the first maritime shipment of Ukrainian wheat for humanitarian operations run by the UN World Food Programme left Ukraine today. It is another important milestone in efforts to get much needed Ukrainian grain out of the conflict-hit country, back into global markets, and to countries worst affected by the global food crisis.
The shipment of 23,000 metric tons of wheat will go to WFP’s humanitarian response in the Horn of Africa where the threat of famine stalks the drought-hit region. It is one of many areas around the world where the near complete halt of Ukrainian grain and food on global market has made life even harder for families already struggling with rising hunger. 
According to the World Food Programme, a record 345 million people in 82 countries are now facing acute food insecurity while up to 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without humanitarian support. The World Food Programme notes that with commercial and humanitarian maritime traffic now resuming in and out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, some global supply disruptions will ease with relief for countries facing the worst of the global food crisis. Crucially, WFP says it will allow Ukraine to empty its grain storage silos ahead of the summer season harvest.
WFP said that despite these positive developments, the world still faces an unprecedented food crisis. They stress that immediate action is needed that brings together the humanitarian community, governments, and the private sector to save lives and invest in long term solutions.                                  

KENYA
On Kenya, I just want to flag to you that a very short while ago the Secretary-General spoke by phone with William Ruto, and will try to speak with Raila Odinga tomorrow, based on Mr. Odinga’s own availability.
The Secretary-General expressed his admiration for the way the Kenyans conducted these elections and hopes the process is concluded soon within the existing constitutional and legal framework.

INTERNET GOVERNANCE
Today, the Secretary-General has appointed ten high-level and eminent persons to serve on his inaugural Internet Governance Forum Leadership Panel.
In line with the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum and as recommended in the Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the Secretary-General has established the Panel as a strategic, empowered, and multi-stakeholder body to support and strengthen the Internet Governance Forum. The Panel will address strategic and urgent issues and highlight Forum discussions and possible follow-up actions.
We have a list of the ten distinguished members of the Panel and five ex-officio members are available in a press release that is being released right now.

MYANMAR  
Turning to Myanmar, you will have seen that yesterday we issued a press statement for the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, traveled yesterday to that country. Following up on the latest call from the Security Council for an immediate cessation of all forms of violence and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need. She will focus on addressing the deteriorating situation and immediate concerns, as well as other priority areas of her mandate. 
The Special Envoy’s visit follows her extensive consultations with people from across the political spectrum, civil society as well as communities impacted by the ongoing conflict. 

MALI
And an update from Mali, where UN peacekeeping troop rotations resumed yesterday with a contingent from Bangladesh. Some 400 soldiers from Senegal are also slated to rotate soon. 
We welcome the coordination efforts between the Malian Transitional Government and our peacekeeping mission. We are also grateful to the more than 60 troop and police contributing countries for their support and commitment to peace in Mali.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO  
The UN Peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports that it evacuated 16 civilians who were seriously wounded during an attack carried out by Zaire militia in the Damas area in Ituri province. The civilians were airlifted by helicopter to Bunia at the request of the provincial authorities. The Mission reiterates its determination to continue delivering on the protection of civilians’ mandate, in support of the Congolese authorities. 

CUBA
We have an update from our team in Cuba, led by the Resident Coordinator Consuelo Vidal, as they continue engaging with the Government and partners to support needs, following the multiple explosions of fuel tanks in the province of Matanzas nine days ago. 
The UN team is gearing efforts to provide water treatment plants and pumps, as well as health supplies. We have also offered expertise to assess the possible environmental damage and impacts on the economy and services offered to the local population.

UZBEKISTAN
An interesting event took place in the Swiss capital of Bern. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, and the Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan, Ruslanbek Davletov, signed an agreement on the restitution of funds to be returned to the people of Uzbekistan through a UN-managed trust fund to support the ongoing work of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Central Asian country.
The funding will arrive in Uzbekistan in multiple tranches. At present, some $131 million are ready to be returned. The money will be channelled through the United Nations’ Multi-Partnership Office Gateway Fund. 
This is part of the partnership between our UN team on the ground, led by Resident Coordinator Roli Asthana, and the Government of Uzbekistan. At the event in Bern today, Ms. Asthana welcomed both countries’ initiative, saying that the United Nations is committed to helping ensure that the resources are used to strengthen public trust by providing tangible and sustainable benefits and improvements to the lives of the people of Uzbekistan.

MINAMATA CONVENTION
Lastly, today marks five years since the Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force. The convention protects human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. Mercury’s toxicity devastated the fishing villages in Minamata Bay, Japan, in the middle of the 20th century and as a result, governments took action and adopted the convention in 2013, and it entered into force five years ago. The United Nations Environment Programme administers the agreement, which has 137 parties. Its provisions include a ban on new mercury mines and the phase-out of mercury use in a number of products.