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

In Chad, torrential rains have killed 22 people and destroyed more than 2,000 hectares of farmland since June. The United Nations, along with its partners, are supporting the Government in providing emergency assistance of food, shelter, malaria management and other critical help.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today launched an appeal for $10.7 million to deliver life-saving health care in the next six months to over 2 million women and girls in Sri Lanka, where the health system risks collapsing amid debilitating power shortages and a lack of critical supplies and equipment.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message, delivered in French, to the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the Chadian transitional authorities and politico-military groups, in Doha, Qatar, today:

The new Permanent Representative of Chad to the United Nations, Mouctar Abakar, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, addressed the General Assembly at the Nelson Mandela Day event, saying that the best tribute to Madiba is to realize the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, to stand united against hate, and to work for peace, prosperity, and human rights for all.

United Nations humanitarian colleagues in Madagascar report that food and nutrition security has improved, saying that since January, 1.1 million people in the Grand Sud region have been reached with critical assistance following large-scale humanitarian assistance in 2021 and this year.

Humanitarian affairs officials in Somalia say an estimated 4.5 million people — including 671,000 who are internally displaced — are affected by the intensifying drought emergency.  Health authorities have reported a measles outbreak, and at least nine related deaths in Jubaland state.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is deeply concerned about renewed violence in the south of the Area, which has led to deaths and the displacement of thousands, saying long-standing grievances and disputes between communities in Abyei and neighbouring areas have resulted in weeks of violence.

The World Food Programme warned that it is running out of funds to continue its provision of food assistance to 13 million people in Yemen.  From January, 8 million people will receive a reduced food ration, while 5 million who are at immediate risk of slipping into famine conditions, will remain on a full ration.