In progress at UNHQ

Africa


SG/A/1795*-BIO/5073*

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania as his Special Adviser for the Sahel.  He will support Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, in ongoing efforts to advance the recalibration of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and the emerging Sahel Support Plan.

Since 11 March, the United Nations estimates that more than 50,000 people have left eastern Ghouta, Syria.  Amid visits from United Nations teams in recent days, most of the existing shelters do not have the capacity or infrastructure to accommodate the large number of people arriving in rural areas near Damascus.