Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the glaciers from the Mount Everest region, in Nepal today:

The text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the Three Basins Summit is not available in English.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) — by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza — warned that, unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, it will be forced to halt its operations tonight.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s keynote remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the EU Global Gateway Forum, in Brussels today:

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Andrea Cook of the United Kingdom as the first Executive Director of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office.  The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to Matthew Varghese, who served as Acting Executive Director.

In Libya, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, five weeks after Storm Daniel brought catastrophic flooding to the country’s north-east, more than 43,000 people are still displaced.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today that at least 10,000 children in Sudan under the age of five may die by the end of this year due to increased food insecurity and disruptions to essential services since conflict broke out in the country.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the High-Level Forum on the Green Silk Road for Harmony with Nature, in Beijing today:

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that this past September was the hottest on record — putting 2023 on track to be the warmest year on record. September saw a record-high monthly global ocean surface temperature and Antarctica also had its warmest September with sea ice remaining at record lows.

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports the cumulative number of displaced people rose 30 per cent just over the past 24 hours to over 338,000; two thirds are taking shelter in schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).