The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today condemned the killing of three Ecuadorian newspaper staff workers: Javier Ortega, Paul Rivas and Efrain Segarra. The three workers, employed by the newspaper El Comercio, were kidnapped on 26 March, near the border between Ecuador and Colombia.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Donors in Geneva today pledged $528 million to support the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The announcements were made at a humanitarian conference in co‑chaired by the United Nations, the European Union and the Netherlands.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launched its 2018 needs and priorities plan for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, seeking $111 million to assist 6 million of the most vulnerable people. Undernutrition, a serious concern, continues to stunt more than one quarter of children in the country.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that, in the last 48 hours, the largest United Nations medical shipment to have entered Gaza since the beginning of 2018 has provided hospitals there with lifesaving drugs and other supplies to meet urgent medical needs. It will help respond to the needs of 100,000 children and mothers.
A new report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, warns that armed groups in that country, including those affiliated with the State, hold thousands of people in prolonged arbitrary and unlawful detention, submitting them to torture and other rights violations.
Forces from the Central African Republic and the United Nations Mission in the country launched a joint disarmament and arrest operation targeting criminal groups in the PK5 neighborhood in Bangui, resulting in arrests and the seizure of arms, ammunition and drugs. The joint efforts will continue until the criminal groups are dismantled.
A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme found that solar energy dominated global investment like never before in 2017. Investment in solar power grew by 18 per cent to $160.8 billion, surpassing new investments in coal and gas.
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index rose for the second consecutive month, led by prices of wheat and maize, whose production FAO expects will decline in 2018. This follows global record high levels of cereal production in 2017.
Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller is in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to take stock of the ongoing humanitarian crisis there and advocate for unfettered access to, and protection of, civilians.
The temporary base in Tagbara, north-east of Bambari, of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic was attacked by anti-balaka fighters today. One peacekeeper was killed and 11 others were injured after several hours of exchange of fire. The Mission condemned the attack and deployed reinforcements to Tagbara.