Some 6.7 million people in Zimbabwe urgently need humanitarian aid as drought, crop failure, Cyclone Idai’s aftermath and macroeconomic challenges force many to spend at least 70 per cent of their disposable income on basic food, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports.
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Noon Briefings
In Nigeria, civilians were reportedly executed or abducted by armed groups in northern Borno state and on the Damaturu-Biu road yesterday. Condemning the violence, the United Nations and humanitarian partners have urged Nigerian authorities to prevent further violence and to protect the civilian population, including aid workers.
The World Health Organization announced today that Kenya, Mozambique and Niger have curbed polio outbreaks that erupted in different episodes over the last 24 months, allowing them to regain their polio-free status.
The United Nations and its partners launched a $34 million Flash Appeal to help 260,000 people facing food insecurity in Lesotho due to a severe drought. The Government declared a national disaster on 30 October. Between January and March, an estimated 71,000 people will be one step away from famine.
In Syria, the World Food Programme is now bringing aid to 1 million people per month through cross-border mechanisms. The situation in the north-west remains alarming, with families in Idlib burning tires and old clothes to stay warm, reports Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller.
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified its first biosimilar medicine, Trastuzumab, that could broaden access to this life-saving breast cancer treatment. In 2018, 2.1 million women contracted breast cancer, and 630,000 of them died from it, many due to the lack of access to affordable treatment.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus announced today the clearance of nine suspected hazardous areas on both sides of the island, amounting to a total area of 210 square meters. This confidence-building measure was agreed upon by both leaders on 26 February as part of their commitment towards a mine-free Cyprus.
The Qatar Fund for Development and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees signed an agreement yesterday under which Qatar will contribute $20.7 million to support Palestine refugees’ access to basic services in Syria. This contribution brings the Qatar Fund’s total support to the Agency to $40 million.
In a report on Chile published today, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says that during the recent mass protests and state of emergency the police failed to adhere to international human rights norms and standards relating to management of assemblies and the use of force.
The United Nations and partner organizations today launched the Humanitarian Response Plan 2020 for South Sudan, requesting $1.5 billion to assist 5.6 million people, particularly women and children whose need for aid remains high despite a relative stable period since the Revitalized Peace Agreement was signed last year.