The international community must stand with the women of Afghanistan and ensure that their hard-won gains since the collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001 are not sacrificed in any peace agreement, a leading Afghan human rights activist told the Security Council today ahead of presidential elections in September.
Honduras has declared a national health emergency due to the prevalence of dengue, with 29,000 cases registered as of 25 July. So far, 54 people have died, mostly children. The United Nations is assisting authorities with medical supplies and equipment, door-to-door awareness campaigns and other support.
Today, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund released $19.5 million to assist 500,000 people in need of emergency food and other crucial support. Toby Lanzer, the Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, said it comes at a critical time as aid agencies are running out of funds.
The humanitarian situation in north-west and south-west Cameroon continues to deteriorate and 1.3 million people are now in need of assistance. The humanitarian response for the country is one the most critically underfunded in the world. Only 20 per cent of the $300 million requested has been received.
Across parts of Bangladesh, monsoon rains have led to flooding and landslides that has reportedly killed at 30 people affected 2 million. The Government is providing food, shelter and emergency cash assistance, and the United Nations and aid partners are supporting water and health-related efforts.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have agreed to work together in implementing Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment — GLOBE. UNEP and GLOBE will cooperate on citizen science and in collecting and distributing environmental data.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gustavo Meza-Cuadra (Peru):
Following Sunday’s demonstrations in Sudan, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the authorities to lift restrictions on the Internet and launch proper independent investigations into allegations of excessive use of force, specially attacks on hospitals.
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
More than 1.4 million refugees in over 60 host countries will need resettlement in 2020, the High Commissioner for Refugees finds in its report, “Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2020”. Those most at risk include refugees from Syria (40 per cent), South Sudan (14 per cent) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 per cent).
