HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2022
SOUTH SUDAN
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today said it is concerned about the safety and security of thousands of civilians who are caught up in recent clashes between rival armed groups in Upper Nile State. UNMISS noted that fighting in and around Tonga town that began on 14 August has displaced over 15,000 people, while flooding is hindering their access to humanitarian aid and safer areas. So far, more than 200 of the displaced persons have sought refuge at the UN Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, which is the capital of Upper Nile State. Many children are reported to be missing or separated from their families.
To help address the situation, the UN Peacekeeping Mission is engaging with the impacted communities, and also with the Government and local authorities, to quell tensions and support efforts towards a peaceful solution. Furthermore, UNMISS is supporting the movement of humanitarian organizations and deploying additional peacekeepers to the UN Protection site to increase security and mitigate the risk of spillover fighting.
The UN Mission calls on all parties to respect international law and safeguard freedom of movement for humanitarian organizations in Upper Nile area.
HORN OF AFRICA/CHILDREN
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today said that children in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel could die in devastating numbers unless urgent support is provided, as severe malnutrition and the risk of water-borne disease collide. Catherine Russell, the head of UNICEF warns that across the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, millions of children are just one disease away from catastrophe.
The Agency says that the number of drought-hit people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia without reliable access to safe water rose from 9.5 million in February of this year to 16.2 million in July, putting children and their families in increased danger of contracting illnesses like cholera and diarrhoea. According to the WHO’s latest data, already, more children die as a result of unsafe water and sanitation in the Sahel than in any other part of the world.
NORTH-EAST NIGERIA
In north-east Nigeria, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the number of severe acute malnutrition cases being admitted to treatment facilities has risen by over 30 per cent compared to the same period - January to July - last year. With the lean season underway, up to 4.1 million people are projected to face acute food shortages in the north-east and the malnutrition situation is quickly deteriorating.
OCHA says that some 8.4 million people in the north-eastern states will need humanitarian aid in 2022.
In the first quarter of 2022 the UN, along with its partners, have reached 1.8 million people with assistance in the north-east. 1.3 million people received water, sanitation and hygiene assistance and nearly 50,000 benefited from services to address gender-based violence.
OCHA warns that without immediate funding, the situation could deteriorate sharply over the coming weeks marking the peak of the lean season.
The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), requiring $1.1 billion, is currently only 37 per cent funded.
ESWATINI
In Eswatini, the UN team there, led by Resident Coordinator George Wachira, continues to strengthen Eswatini’s responses to the impacts of multiple crises, including COVID-19, as well as Cyclone Eloise, civil unrest in June 2021, and most recently, the war in Ukraine.
With the support of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Orgaqnization (WHO), the Ministry of Health has vaccinated 33 per cent of the population for COVID-19. UNICEF and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have contributed over $7 million towards making teaching and learning accessible to all children, including through diversified remote and web-based learning platforms.
A cash-for-work initiative by the World Food Programme (WFP), through the Ministry of Public Works, is creating labour-based employment in communities to alleviate poverty and food security among 340,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO’s and WFP’s “Home Grown School Feeding” initiative is enhancing efficiency and access to nutritious and safe food for school meals produced by local smallholder farmers in Eswatini.
ROHINGYA REFUGEES
Today, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) noted that this week marks five years since more than 700,000 Rohingya women, men and children fled Myanmar for Bangladesh, joining hundreds of thousands of other Rohingya who had sought and found refuge in the country in previous years. UNHCR said that the latest exodus from Myanmar is now officially defined as being a protracted situation.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE SLAVE TRADE AND ITS ABOLITION
Today is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition. Audrey Azoulay, the head of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), stressed that it is time to abolish human exploitation once and for all, and to recognize the equal and unconditional dignity of each and every individual. Today, she said, let us remember the victims and freedom fighters of the past so that they may inspire future generations to build just societies.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Honduras has now paid its regular budget dues.
***The guest at the Noon Briefing was Yasmine Sherif, the Director of Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. She spoke with reporters about the launch of ECW’s new Annual Report, which highlights results achieved for crisis-affected girls and boys.
