United Nations and humanitarian partners say that more than 118,000 people have fled conflict in Afghanistan the first four months of 2016. The Common Humanitarian Fund has allocated $20 million towards providing emergency trauma services, as well as lifesaving aid for displaced communities.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Atul Khare and Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Jane Holl Lute briefed a General Assembly meeting today on the subject, saying more resources were needed to help victims and citing progress in some areas of support.
About 80,000 people have been newly displaced by escalating armed conflict in Iraq since the beginning of March, as military operations by Iraqi security forces and allied armed groups intensify against Da’esh. New displacement has occurred in the Anbar corridor, the Mosul corridor and in northern Salah al-Din.
Winding up a visit to Madagascar today, the Secretary-General met with the President to discuss the country’s political situation and encourage continued dialogue and national reconciliation. He also addressed a joint congress, urging parliamentarians to fight corruption and endangered species’ trafficking.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today expressed concern about alleged violations committed by Turkish military and security forces in the south-east over the past months, including a deadly fire that killed 100 people in shelters. He urged authorities to give investigators full access to the area.
The Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen confirmed that the parties had resumed discussions today at the working group level. Talks in the three working groups dealing with political issues, security issues and prisoners are ongoing in Kuwait and being held under United Nations auspices.
The Secretary-General today established the United Nations Zika Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund to finance critical unfunded priorities in response to the Zika outbreak. The Fund will provide a rapid, flexible and accountable platform to support a coordinated response from the United Nations system and its partners.
The Secretary-General, opening the Climate Action 2016 summit in Washington, D.C., said rising to the challenges of climate change required strong partnerships. Addressing representatives from Governments, businesses, civil society, academia and philanthropy, he said no sector of society and no nation can succeed alone.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said today that he was concerned about security incidents that have taken place along the border with Gaza over the past 24 hours. He called upon all to exercise restraint and take all necessary action to prevent the risk of escalation.
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The Secretary-General told the Security Council’s open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict this morning that intentional, direct attacks on hospitals are war crimes and inexcusable. No government should stand by and all must take concrete action to uphold norms to safeguard humanity.