The Economic and Social Council opened its annual financing for development forum today amid warnings that, with more than 3 million lives lost to COVID-19 and infections still on the rise, Governments must urgently heed the lessons learned thus far if they are to avoid a lengthy global recession.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the opening of the 2021 Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development, in New York today:
After La Soufriere volcano erupted today in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the United Nations Emergency Technical Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries met to discuss the pre-positioning of relief items. The World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund are also readying supplies.
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The World Food Programme (WFP) said today that, due to significant funding gaps, it is cutting food rations for refugees and internally displaced people in South Sudan. The cuts will affect nearly 700,000 of them and they will now receive 50 per cent of a full ration, down from 70 per cent.
At least 11,000 people have fled their homes following an attack by insurgents on the town of Palma, Mozambique, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Officials are working around the clock to provide assistance, including blankets and sleeping mats, but warn that hunger is rising.
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s opening remarks at the consultation of Ministers of Education on the E9 Digital Learning Initiative on the theme “Scaling Up Digital Learning to Accelerate Progress towards SDG 4”, today:
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, observed on 6 April:
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ closing remarks to the High-level Event on Debt and Liquidity, as delivered in New York and online by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed today:
With many countries continuing to struggle to overcome the human and economic devastation from COVID-19, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres convened a meeting of world leaders on Monday, 29 March, to urge the international community to take additional and urgent action to ensure a robust recovery.
