Belgium

Some 1.47 million refugees will be in need of resettlement in 2021, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today.  The agency said that, despite the coronavirus pandemic, wars and conflict continue to rage across the world, displacing millions and barring many from returning home.

Clashes in northern Mozambique are driving one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), says with the number of people who have fled their homes in Cabo Delgado having surged by nearly 650 per cent in 2020, and more than 732,000 people currently displaced.

The United Nations learned with deep sadness that Edward Mortimer, Head Speechwriter and Director of Communications for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, died at the weekend.  During a tumultuous period in world affairs, Mr. Mortimer made an imprint on many of the Secretary-General’s signature achievements and initiatives.

The new Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, Philippe Kridelka, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, Philippe Kridelka, presented his credentials to the Secretariat today.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Brussels from Vienna on Tuesday afternoon, 15 May.

In Syria, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is delivering United Nations humanitarian aid for more than 92,000 people to Talbiseh in northern rural Homs and Tlul Elhomor in southern Hama.  This is the first convoy to northern rural Homs since a convoy reached Dar al‑Kabira and surrounding areas on 4 March.

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

Michael Keating, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, joined that country’s President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmaajo” on Tuesday in calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities between “Somaliland” and Puntland forces following recent fighting in the Tukaraq area of the Sool region.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Brussels from New York on Tuesday morning, 4 April, where he would participate the following day at the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, which the United Nations co-hosted with the European Union.