ETHIOPIA
The Secretary-General expresses his alarm over the reported armed clashes in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and calls for immediate measures to de-escalate tensions and to ensure a peaceful resolution to the dispute. He underlines the importance of the stability of Ethiopia for the Horn of Africa region.
The Secretary-General renews the commitment of the United Nations, and its partners in the region, to support the Government of Ethiopia in its reform efforts aimed at building a peaceful and secure future for all of its peoples.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General took note of the announcement by the Independent Electoral Commission of the provisional results of the presidential elections in Côte D’ivoire.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the violence that occurred prior to and during and after the election. He is saddened by the multiple fatalities and expresses his deep condolences to the bereaved families.
He calls on all political stakeholders to respect the country’s constitutional order and adhere to the rule of law. He urges the President and the main opposition leaders to engage in meaningful and inclusive dialogue to chart a way forward out of the prevailing crisis by working together towards consensus and national cohesion.
UN POLICE
This week is UN Police Week. This morning, the Security Council was briefed by Alexander Zouev, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations, as well as the UN Police Commissioners serving in the Central African Republic, Haiti, Mali and South Sudan. Speaking on behalf of Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Mr. Zouev highlighted the vital role the UN police play across the spectrum of conflict prevention to peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
And turning to the protection of civilians, he gave examples from the Central African Republic, where UN Police have helped foster a protective environment through police capacity-building and added that the UN Police have also been instrumental in efforts to raise awareness about COVID-19.
Mr. Zouev reiterated that gender-responsive policing is a core priority to ensure that the security needs of men, women, boys and girls are met.
LIBYA
Stephanie Williams, the Acting Special Representative for Libya, spoke to the press following the end of the two-day meeting of the Joint Military Commission that took place in Ghadames in Libya. She noted the opening of the oil installations, work on the resumption of flights and continuing exchange of detainees.
Ms. Williams said that this is the beginning of a process that is going to require determination, courage, confidence and a lot of work. Now, she said, in Tunis, we are going to work with the 75 participants on the political roadmap going forward with key objectives being the scheduling of national elections.
She expressed the hope that the spirit and the sense of responsibility seen in the Joint Military Commission is reflected in the political dialogue.
LEBANON
Today marks three months since the Beirut port explosions, which impacted thousands of people and caused widespread damage.
The UN, along with its humanitarian partners continue to help those most in need. At least 180,000 people have received humanitarian assistance since August.
Further shelter repairs, food assistance and medical services are the top priorities reported by those affected by the explosions.
Meanwhile, an unsteady and deteriorating economic situation, COVID-19-related lockdown measures and other factors have pushed vulnerable Lebanese and refugee families further into poverty.
COVID-19 remains a serious concern. As of Monday, more than 83,000 cases have been diagnosed, 672 deaths recorded. Hospital capacity remains stretched.
To date, the UN-coordinated response to the explosions - seeking $354.9 million to address immediate lifesaving needs for three months - is just under 36 per cent funded. Additional funds are needed to scale up relief for the most vulnerable and to prevent the situation from worsening.
NICARAGUA
Nicaragua was hit by Hurricane Eta early yesterday morning. UNICEF and its partners have prepositioned emergency supplies and developed a joint response plan to address the needs of children and families, including 10,000 people evacuated from the northern coast. UNICEF has prepositioned 3,000 family hygiene kits, 3,000 water containers, 87 boxes of water disinfection tablets and 50 chlorine test kits for water quality monitoring capable of making 12,000 tests. These supplies, which can meet the needs of 15,000 people, including 6,000 children, are on standby for delivery to the Government. UNICEF is also coordinating closely with authorities to ensure that shelters are suitable, safe and equipped with the necessary provisions for children.
For its part, the World Food Programme has positioned 80 metric tons of food assistance in the region. WFP has also been providing telecommunications and logistics support, including mobile warehouses, prefabricated offices, generators, radio and satellite systems to support the local operational centres.
TYPHOON GONI
In the Philippines, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that more than 2 million people have been impacted by Super Typhoon Goni, the strongest typhoon of this year.
UN agencies, the Red Cross and humanitarian partners are conducting assessments and are providing food, shelter items and psycho-social services, among others, and also supporting the Government’s search-and-rescue efforts.
After sweeping through the Philippines, the typhoon was downgraded to a Tropical Storm and is now forecast to make landfall in Viet Nam tomorrow afternoon.
Viet Nam is already reeling from the impact of Typhoon Molave, which made landfall late in October. The UN and partners have launched a six-month response plan seeking $40 million to help 177,000 people of the most vulnerable and flood-affected.
CAMBODIA/FLOODS
As of yesterday, more than 800,000 people have been impacted by floods, nearly half them being poor and vulnerable who need humanitarian assistance. The UN is working on a Humanitarian Response Plan.
COVID-19/REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Chris Mburu, has partnered with authorities and civil society organizations to assess the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. These findings were crucial to develop the country’s response to the virus.
The UN team has also beefed up the health response, with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the UN Population Fund supporting vaccinations for nearly 70,000 children, as well as sexual and reproductive health for nearly 80,000 women. They have also provided nutrition support for more than 4,000 children.
To address the challenges posed by the close of schools, UNICEF offered a distance education programme for nearly 240,000 students, while the World Food Programme ensured the continuation of food supplies for 83,000 children.
WFP and the UN Development Programme also helped 53,000 people, more than half of whom were women, with immediate cash and food supplies as a cushion to protect livelihoods from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has paid its regular budget dues in full – for this year, and last. That makes up 132 countries that have paid in full so far this year.
