Congo

Before presenting a UN report on global military spending, the Secretary-General said he had just learned about the Israeli attacks in Qatar. He condemned this flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar. All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it, he said.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Abdourahamane Diallo of Niger as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Congo, with the host Government’s approval, on 5 January.

In the Republic of Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that more than 520,000 people need life-saving assistance following severe floods in country. A joint UN-Government assessment found that nine of the country’s 12 departments are now impacted, since the floods started in October.

The Commissioner General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that makeshift structures of plastic sheeting have mushroomed everywhere around Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, as people are displaced by the hostilities.

The new Permanent Representative of Congo to the United Nations, Lazare Makayat Safouesse, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

Humanitarian needs in Sudan are rising to unprecedented levels due to the economic crisis, prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall.  The World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization predict that the number of people facing acute food insecurity could double from 9.8 million in 2021 by September.

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

More than 3 billion people globally are at risk of disease because the quality of their rivers, lakes and groundwater is unknown due to a lack of data, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today.  UNEP’s survey of over 75,000 bodies of water in 89 countries found more than 40 per cent severely polluted.

In Nicaragua, UNICEF and its partners have prepositioned emergency supplies and developed a joint response plan to address the needs of families impacted by Hurricane Eta, including 10,000 people evacuated from the northern coast, while the World Food Programme has positioned 80 metric tons of food assistance in the region.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Chris Mburu of Kenya as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Congo, with the host Government’s approval.