CHIEF EXECUTIVES BOARD
The Secretary-General finished chairing the meeting of the UN Chief Executives Board in Vienna, which engaged in a discussion on the challenges to the global economic recovery and how to reverse the trend of losing momentum on attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.
In a statement issued afterwards on the multiple crises with which the world is contending, the Secretary-General said that a critical ingredient of the UN system’s ability to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals and provide humanitarian assistance is predictable and additional funding. We acknowledge that a number of donors have met and, in some cases, gone beyond the 0.7 per cent commitment to Overseas Development Aid (ODA).
However, he added, there are recent indications that other Member States are making deep cuts of ODA, in a reversal of their commitment. This will have direct negative impacts on the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals. This is alarming and the Secretary-General urges Member States to reconsider, given the dire consequences for the vulnerable among us in these turbulent times.
He pointed out that the UN system remains committed to strengthened coordination to support coherent country strategies for the 2030 Agenda. We can deliver results and ensure they meet the needs and rights of the people whom we are meant to assist. He said that the evidence demonstrates that investing in development is the best way to prevent crises and maintain international peace, which remains the UN’s central mission.
UKRAINE
On the humanitarian front, our colleagues tell us that more than 6.4 million people have been reached in Ukraine with vital assistance since the war started on 24 February. This includes more than 5.7 million people who have been able to put food on their table, thanks to the UN and our humanitarian partners.
Cash assistance has been provided to over 655,000 people allowing them to cover some of their most basic needs. More than 1.5 million people have received healthcare support, and around 352,000 people have been provided with clean water and hygiene products.
We have also reached nearly 430,000 people with protection services, psychosocial support and critical legal services, including support to internally displaced persons.
Our humanitarian colleagues note that, despite this remarkable scale-up, many more people urgently need support, including those living in areas experiencing heavy fighting in both Government and non-Government-controlled areas of the country.
As emphasized by the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, to the Security Council yesterday, the UN urges parties to the conflict to remove any barriers to the movement of humanitarian staff to ensure the continued delivery of life-saving assistance across Ukraine.
SECURITY COUNCIL
Speaking at a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security, Thomas Markram, the Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, reiterated that the United Nations is not aware of any biological weapons programme in Ukraine.
He said that the UN currently has neither the mandate nor the technical or operational capacity to investigate information shared by the Russian Federation.
Mr. Markram added that the Biological Weapons Convention does contain measures to address situations in which States Parties have concerns or suspicions about the activities of their peers. The Russian Federation, the United States, and Ukraine are all States Parties to this Convention.
He said that the Office for Disarmament Affairs stands ready to support any procedures under the Biological Weapons Convention that States Parties might decide to use.
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE
I also want to flag that, this morning, Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, spoke at a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe permanent council in Vienna.
In her remarks, Ms. DiCarlo focused on the impact of war in Ukraine, including on the European security architecture.
Ms. DiCarlo's remarks are available online.
HORN OF AFRICA
Moving to the Horn of Africa, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, continued his visit to Kenya today to draw attention to the severe drought affecting the country, as well as neigbbouring Somalia and Ethiopia. This drought follows three consecutive failed rainy seasons.
Today, Mr. Griffiths is meeting virtually with people directly affected by the drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region.
More than 8 million people in Ethiopia are affected by the drought across may regions of the country. More than 7.2 million people need food aid and 4 million people need water assistance.
At least 286,000 people in Ethiopia have migrated in search of water, pasture, or assistance, and these are people with the means to travel. Others, often the elderly or the sick, have had to stay behind.
At least 1.5 million livestock have died due to lack of pasture and water, while an additional 10 million livestock are at risk. Many of the remaining livestock are weak and provide little or no milk, which is affecting children’s nutrition. Schooling for more than half a million children has also been impacted.
Our partners are scaling up assistance. Some 4.9 million people have been provided with food, more than 2 million livestock have been treated or vaccinated, and over 3.3 million people are receiving water assistance.
Additional funding is urgently needed, as we and our partners require $480 million to support the humanitarian response through October.
Last month, Mr. Griffiths released $12 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund, while the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund has also apportioned $17 million to the response.
JORDAN/SYRIA
The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, will visit Syria and Jordan from 15 to 20 May.
During her visit, Ms. Msuya is expected to meet with senior Government officials and representatives of the humanitarian and donor communities. She also plans to visit humanitarian projects and meet with affected communities to discuss the challenges they face.
Eleven years of conflict have inflicted immense suffering on the civilian population. A deepening economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have further driven humanitarian needs to record levels. More people are in need now than at any time since the start of the conflict, with 14.6 million people in need of assistance and protection this year.
MIDDLE EAST
Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, yesterday condemned the decision by Israeli authorities to advance plans for over 4,000 housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank. These include the retroactive approval of two illegal outposts and a park.
Mr. Wennesland said that continued settlement expansion further entrenches the occupation, encroaches upon Palestinian land and natural resources, and hampers the free movement of the Palestinian population. He reiterated that all settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to peace.
The Special Coordinator urges the Israeli authorities to cease the advancement of all settlement activity and refrain from such unilateral and provocative actions that fuel instability and undermine the prospects for establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian State as part of a negotiated two-State solution on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Our colleagues from the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo report today that 60 community members, including 20 women and 10 ex-combatants, are benefiting from its Community Violence Reduction project in a village of North Kivu’s Masisi Territory.
They are gaining skills in the installation and maintenance of street lighting, which is improving community safety and supporting income generation.
Also, the ex-combatants that are part of this programme handed over their weapons to the peacekeeping mission as part of the Government’s new community-based disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme.
DRYLANDS
The Food and Agriculture Organization today released a report which said that 1 billion hectares of land, which are “presumed drylands,” are under threat from overgrazing, deforestation and climate change. The report, which was launched at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Abidjan, says that all these threats lead to land degradation and desertification; reduces productivity; and threatens the food security, livelihoods and well-being of presumed dryland populations.
Presumed drylands are areas with dryland features and seasonal water shortages, but with a higher aridity index than drylands. They are found all over the world including in Brazil, Southern Africa and China.
You can find the full report online.
PRESS BRIEFING ON MONDAY
On Monday, at 12:30 p.m. in this room, there will be a press briefing by Francesco Rocca, the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. He will discuss the upcoming International Migration Review Forum.
