Children

A United Nations Children’s Fund report released today shows that at least 200 million schoolchildren are living in 31 low- and middle-income countries that remain unprepared to deploy remote learning in future emergency school closures.  It warns that the situation could be far worse than the available data shows.

During its informal consultations held on 15 October 2021, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan was briefed by Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for Children and Armed Conflict.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new crisis response initiative in Afghanistan, known as ABADEI, as part of efforts to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.  Among other things, it provides grants to small businesses, cash-for-work projects and support to marginalized individuals.

Global foreign direct investment flows in the first half of 2021 reached approximately $852 billion, showing stronger than expected rebound momentum, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said today (UNCTAD).  Developed economies saw the biggest rise at an estimated $424 billion, UNCTAD noted.

United Nations humanitarian personnel in Yemen report escalating clashes in recent weeks, with more than 10,000 people displaced in Marib Governorate in September.  They warned of devastating impacts on civilians and expressed particular concern over the situation in Al Abdiyah district, home to an estimated 35,000 people.

In northern Syria, a reported 5 million people lack reliable access to and suffer from insufficient levels of safe water due to low water levels and disruptions to water systems.  The United Nations and aid partners have released a plan to target 3.4 million of those most affected by the water crisis in the next six months.

The Office for Children and Armed Conflict have released a new report covering 2019 and 2020 which documents grave violations committed against 3,500 children in Yemen, the most prevalent being the denial of humanitarian access, killing and maiming, and the recruitment and use of children.

A new report by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) underscores the need to cut global emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.  By contrast, recent data reveal that emissions are currently on track to increase by 16 per cent over 2010 levels by that date.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared an outbreak of meningitis in Tshopo Province, in the country’s north-east, with some 261 suspected cases, including 129 deaths.  National health authorities have deployed an initial emergency team and efforts are under way to quickly ramp up the response.

The United Nations observed the first International Day of People of African Descent on 31 August.  The Secretary-General said the Day is a long overdue recognition of the profound injustices and systemic discrimination that people of African descent have endured for centuries, and celebrates their contributions to every field of human endeavour.