UNICEF says that a year after the Balkan border closures and the European Union-Turkey Statement meant to stop mass migration flows, refugee and migrant children face greater risks of deportation, detention, exploitation and deprivation. More of them are embarking on even more dangerous and irregular routes with smugglers.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Escalating fighting pitting Government of Yemen and Coalition forces against Houthi and General People Congress combatants has reached Hudaydah Governorate, leading to the killing and displacement of civilians. Survey results indicate the number of food-insecure people has reached 17 million, up 20 per cent since June.
The Security Council is holding an open debate today on trafficking in persons in conflict situations. Addressing the body, the Secretary-General noted that human trafficking is not a thing of the past, with trafficking networks having gone global and victims being found in more than 100 countries.
The Secretary-General spoke at the opening of the sixty-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women. In his remarks, delivered earlier this morning in the General Assembly, he said that in a male dominated world, the empowerment of women must be a key priority.
The Security Council met for its debate on Afghanistan this morning, during which it renewed the mandate for the United Nations Mission there (UNAMA). The Secretary-General’s Special Representative highlighted the challenging security environment in the country, which in 2016 resulted in UNAMA recording the highest number of civilian casualties in a single year.
The Secretary-General’s new report “Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: A New Approach” focuses on victims’ rights and dignity; more transparent reporting and investigation; multi-stakeholder network support for prevention and response efforts; raising awareness and sharing best practices.
The Secretary-General was in Nairobi today. He expressed his solidarity with the Kenyan people in dealing with the drought that has hit the country. He added that he had deep gratitude for Kenya’s commitment to multilateralism and also the Government’s commitment to peacekeeping and peace-enforcing.
The Secretary-General, in his first field visit, arrived in Somalia earlier today to highlight the ongoing risk of famine and cholera faced by millions in the country and appeal for international support. More than half the population is in need of humanitarian aid and 300,000 children are acutely malnourished.
Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien travelled to Somalia today to assess the impact of the drought which has left the country on the brink of famine. He met with humanitarian partners to discuss ways to scale up the response to save lives, and called on all parties to step up efforts to facilitate increased humanitarian access.
United Nations staff in Yemen report that the first humanitarian truck from Ibb since August 2016 arrived in Taizz City today with eight tonnes of medicines and medical equipment, after authorities blocked a visit by United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien to Taizz City on 28 February.