Algeria

On 25 September, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Alejandro Alvarez of Argentina as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Algeria, with the host Government’s approval.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are concerned about the impact on children of new cases of the bubonic plague in the eastern province of Ituri.  They say the plague has been reported in areas that had not seen a case in more than 15 years.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has launched a new Peace Fellows programme to increase participation in the country’s peace process.  It brings together representatives from all 10 states and three administrative areas to share information about the 2018 Peace Agreement, with a focus on education.

Africa Amnesty Month begins today.  Linked to the Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020 initiative, the disarmament effort is designed to reduce the flows of illicit small arms and light weapons, allowing anyone to hand in illegal weapons throughout the month of September.

The new Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, Sofiane Mimouni, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund issued the first comprehensive global report on water, noting that one in four health facilities around the world lack basic water services.  In the least developed countries, that number rises to 55 per cent of health facilities lacking services.

The first-ever International Jaguar Day, 29 November, aims to boost conservation efforts to guarantee the survival of the largest feline in the Americas.  Half of the original range of the species has been lost and its population is declining due to poaching, conflict with humans and disintegration of their habitat.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that, in the last 48 hours, the largest United Nations medical shipment to have entered Gaza since the beginning of 2018 has provided hospitals there with lifesaving drugs and other supplies to meet urgent medical needs.  It will help respond to the needs of 100,000 children and mothers.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: