SECRETARY-GENERAL/BARBADOS
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke in person at the opening ceremony of the fifteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which took place in Bridgetown, in Barbados. He pointed out that the Sustainable Development Goals are at risk of failure and stressed that we need to turn this around with a bold, sustainable and inclusive global recovery.
He said that he sees four glaring challenges, which – if not addressed – make any notion of prosperity for all a distant dream. These are debt distress; systems starved for investment; unfair trade, and a climate emergency that leaves Small Island Developing States like Barbados perilously vulnerable.
The Secretary-General noted that Small Island Developing States - like Barbados - are looking to the future with worry, and that they hear the words, but do not see the actions behind them. He repeated his call to donors and multilateral development banks to allocate at least 50 per cent of their climate support towards adaptation and resilience.
Yesterday, the Secretary-General saw firsthand the impacts of climate change in Barbados. Accompanied by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Mr. Guterres visited an area impacted by sea-level rise, coastal erosion and land slippage. He learned about the enormous efforts being undertaken by the Government of Barbados to address these challenges.
ETHIOPIA
On Ethiopia, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the humanitarian crisis in Tigray remains dire, with 5.2 million people needing food aid, including 400,000 people living in famine-like conditions.
The spread of conflict into the Amhara and Afar regions is pushing more people into desperate conditions.
As we have been telling you, the delivery of aid has been difficult. Since July 12th, the UN has brought in 606 trucks of humanitarian supplies – but we need 100 trucks to carry aid into Tigray every day.
The UN has not been allowed to bring in fuel since the end of July, leading to some of our partners having had to severely reduce or suspend their activities.
Cash to run operations is also running out. Medical supplies are depleted, with nearly 200,000 children having missed critical vaccinations.
The UN is engaging with the Government of Ethiopia for sustained and regular access for aid convoys.
Meanwhile, in Amhara, fighting along the Tigray regional boundary has led to hundreds of thousands of people being displaced. People in some areas reportedly do not have access to aid or basic services including electricity, water and telecommunications.
In Afar, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people are directly affected by the conflict, including several tens of thousands of people who have been displaced and are in need of urgent assistance.
Our humanitarian partners continue to scale up their response in both Amhara and Afar.
The UN urges all parties to the conflict to ensure that aid can reach all civilians in need. Our colleagues say that, without a ceasefire, humanitarian needs will continue to grow and there will be no way to sustainably address the suffering in Tigray, Amhara and Afar.
HAITI
At the Security Council this morning, Helen La Lime, the Head of the UN mission in Haiti, said that the country is undergoing one of the most fraught periods in its recent history. For most observers, she added, it is difficult to envision an end to the country’s seemingly never-ending crises.
Despite this, the Special Representative said that Prime Minister Ariel Henry has adopted an inclusive approach and sought to create minimal conditions for the holding of legislative, local and presidential elections.
In a positive step, she said, actors from across the political spectrum and civil society organizations have adhered to an agreement, which includes the formation of a new Provisional Electoral Council, the inclusion of the diaspora, as well as the holding of elections no later than the second half of 2022. One can only hope that Haitian political and civil society leaders will continue to work together to find common ground, Ms. La Lime added.
Moving on to response to the recent earthquake, Ms. La Lime said that we are in a race against time to ensure that children can return to school, that farmers do not miss the next planting season, and that people currently living in spontaneous displacement camps return to their homes as quickly as possible.
MALI
In a statement we issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the improvised explosive device attacks against a convoy of the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The attack took place near Tessalit in the Kidal region. A peacekeeper from Egypt was killed and four others were seriously injured.
The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the family of the victim, as well as to the Government and people of Egypt. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
This morning, the Mission is telling us that one peacekeeper was evacuated to Bamako, while the three others are receiving treatment at a MINUSMA facility in Kidal.
The Secretary-General calls on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of these attacks so that they can be brought to justice swiftly.
SOUTH SUDAN
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) says that it is deeply concerned over clashes this weekend between armed groups in Kacuat, in Warrap State, in which some 35 people were killed, dozens more injured and hundreds were displaced from their homes.
There have been clashes in the region in recent months, linked to cattle raids and revenge attacks. This is worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
Despite logistical challenges due to heavy flooding, last month, the UN Mission set up a temporary base in Marial Lou, also in Warrap State, to help deter violence.
The Mission is also supporting reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts, including holding conferences to resolve border and land disputes, tensions over pastures and water points, and the proliferation of small arms among civilians.
The Mission is also helping to bolster legal institutions in the area, such as mobile courts, to hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON PREVENTING FAMINE
Earlier this morning, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Group of Friends on Action on Conflict and Hunger, convened a High-level Event on Action in Support of Preventing and Ending Famine Now.
At the virtual event, participants took stock of recent efforts to stop the advance of famine and famine risk. They also discussed urgent actions the international community must take to prevent a deterioration in the global severity and scale of acute food insecurity.
Member States and partners also heard about the efforts of the High-level Task Force on Preventing Famine.
MYANMAR
On Myanmar, our colleagues there continue to be alarmed by the dire humanitarian situation due to the intense clashes and volatile security situation in many parts of the country. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 240,000 people have been newly displaced and need humanitarian aid and protection services.
The UN, together with our partners, is responding to the growing displacement, food insecurity and overall increased vulnerability.
For example, WFP and its partners reached some 360,000 vulnerable and displaced people in Kachin, northern Shan, Rakhine and Chin in September with food and cash assistance.
We continue to deliver water, sanitation, health, protection and shelter support, among other services.
The UN team calls on all parties to facilitate safe and unhindered access for humanitarian responders to reach people in need.
It also appeals to donors for strengthened commitment to the humanitarian cause.
Just one-third of the $385 million for the Humanitarian Response Plan and Interim Emergency Response Plan have been funded, and our colleagues appeal to donors for a strengthened commitment.
COVAX
I have a COVAX update for you:
Nicaragua recently received nearly 140,000 vaccine doses through COVAX to boost its national vaccination campaign. This brings the total number of doses Nicaragua has received from COVAX to more than 1.4 million.
The UN team calls for the continued use of masks, physical distancing and handwashing, among other measures, to prevent the spread of the virus.
WORLD SPACE WEEK
Today is the start of World Space Week. This year’s theme is “Women in Space,” which aims to bring more awareness to the issue of gender diversity in the space sector and identify the obstacles that women are facing when entering space-related careers. According to reports, 20-22 per cent of the entire space industry workforce consists of women. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) created the campaign Space4Women to promote women’s empowerment in space, being mindful that women from different backgrounds and from different regions face different issues.
WORLD HABITAT DAY
Today is also World Habitat Day, with the theme: “Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world.”
The theme recognizes that cities are responsible for some 70 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban greenhouse gas emissions. Events and activities during World Habitat Day will explore how national, regional and local governments and organizations, communities, and the private sector can work together towards carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns.
