A group of 66 vulnerable refugees was evacuated from Libya to Rwanda yesterday evening on a flight chartered by the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the first group to be moved under the Emergency Transit Mechanism established by the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and the African Union.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights, signed an agreement in New York with the Government of Sudan to open several offices in that country. Ms. Bachelet said that with this milestone pact her office is poised to offer its support to make the transition a success for the human rights of all Sudanese.
An immersive show called “Voices for the Future: Antarctica While You Were Sleeping” will light up the United Nations General Assembly and Secretariat buildings from 7:30 p.m. today, ahead of the Climate Action Summit, setting the scene for the voices of six young climate advocates, including Greta Thunberg.
In the Central African Republic, violence in the town of Birao has displaced more than 14,000 people, who are now being protected by United Nations peacekeepers in a camp next to the United Nations base and airstrip. The United Nations Mission has taken additional steps to prevent new clashes and restore calm.
In Ukraine, the United Nations and aid agencies are urgently calling for $52 million to address the most acute, time-critical humanitarian needs before sub‑zero temperatures arrive. Only 32 per cent of the Organization’s $162 million Humanitarian Response Plan for the country in 2019 has been funded so far.
The United Nations Network on Migration reiterated today its call to end the detention of children for immigration purposes in every region of the world. They said detaining children in such a context – whether they are travelling alone or with their families – has been recognized as a violation of children’s rights.
The World Food Programme launched its biggest emergency response for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh this year, following this week’s heavy rains and flooding. In 24 hours, WFP reached 16,000 people with food aid — more than the total number of people it has reached since the start of the monsoon season.
More than half the population of South Sudan — 6 million people — do not know where they will find their next meal. The Food and Agriculture Organization is providing crop seeds, while the United Nations Children’s Fund is distributing food for women and children and the World Food Programme is responding with food and cash.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator completed a two-day visit to Ethiopia, calling for additional funding to support the Government-led response to the displacement crisis and humanitarian need brought on by drought, flooding, disease outbreak and inter-ethnic violence that has forced millions of people to flee their homes.
The UNICEF installation unveiled this weekend on the North Lawn of United Nations Headquarters shows the devastating scale of child deaths in conflict zones during 2018. It features 3,758 backpacks in rows reminiscent of a graveyard, each representing the loss of a young life to conflict.