Bahamas

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the fiftieth anniversary of the Bahamas’ membership of the United Nations:

The new Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations, Stan Smith, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations, Chet Donovan Neymour, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations, Chet Donovan Neymour, presented his credentials to the Secretariat today.

In north‑east Syria, despite very difficult challenges, the United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid and provide basic services to 1.8 million people in need where access allows.  This includes emergency food rations for 83,000 newly displaced people, hygiene kits and drinking water.

The International Organization of Migration today launched a $10 million appeal to support recovery efforts in the Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahamas, which were hit by Hurricane Dorian in September.  The funds will be used to assist shelters, provide non-food items and track missing persons.

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced today the launch of Stop the Waste, a global campaign to raise awareness about the 4 billion tons of edible food that is discarded daily, costing the global economy nearly $1 trillion annually.  Top restaurateurs and celebrity chefs can join the movement through #StopTheWaste.

A group of 66 vulnerable refugees was evacuated from Libya to Rwanda yesterday evening on a flight chartered by the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the first group to be moved under the Emergency Transit Mechanism established by the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and the African Union.

Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights, signed an agreement in New York with the Government of Sudan to open several offices in that country.  Ms. Bachelet said that with this milestone pact her office is poised to offer its support to make the transition a success for the human rights of all Sudanese.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in the Bahamas from New York on Friday afternoon, 13 September.