Democratic Republic of the Congo

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.

The Security Council today decided to extend until 20 December 2020 the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), along with its Intervention Brigade.

On 2 December 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo received a briefing from the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in connection with the Group’s midterm report in pursuance of paragraph 4 of resolution 2478 (2019).

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.

Today, the United Nations Development Programme released its 2019 Human Development Report on Inequality titled “Beyond Income, Beyond Averages, Beyond Today”, which identifies a new generation of inequalities that are driving the global protests sweeping the world, including the gap in basic living standards.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that more pregnant women and children were protected from malaria, but accelerated efforts and funding are needed to reinvigorate the global response.  According to WHO, malaria afflicted 228 million people and killed an estimated 405,000, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Ricardo Augusto Ferreira Costa Neves of Brazil as Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations concluded a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, following last week’s deadly violence, where he met with the Prime Minister, authorities and other stakeholders while urging the national security forces to do more to protect civilians.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed today Somalia’s ratification of the Kampala Convention to protect internally displaced people in Africa as a “landmark achievement for the country and the African continent”.  Somalia became the thirtieth African Union member State to ratify it since 2009.

Following earthquakes that struck Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina this morning, two United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination technical support members will be deployed to Albania.  The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance if required, and is in contact with local authorities.