Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the United Nations observance of International Women’s Day 2022, observed on 8 March:

Humanitarian affairs officials in Somalia say an estimated 4.5 million people — including 671,000 who are internally displaced — are affected by the intensifying drought emergency.  Health authorities have reported a measles outbreak, and at least nine related deaths in Jubaland state.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the fifteenth Forum for the Future of Agriculture, held virtually:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Forests, observed on 21 March:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Water Day, observed on 22 March:

Malawi confirmed its first polio case in 30 years on 16 February, which was also Africa’s first polio case in in more than five years.  So far, there has been no further spread of the disease, thanks to swift and concerted efforts by the national authorities, with support from the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is deeply concerned about renewed violence in the south of the Area, which has led to deaths and the displacement of thousands, saying long-standing grievances and disputes between communities in Abyei and neighbouring areas have resulted in weeks of violence.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is substantially scaling up its assistance in Myanmar, where ongoing security challenges, humanitarian access restrictions and COVID-19 cases are impacting the population.  It is targeting at least 4 million people across the country, where 1 in 4 is facing food insecurity.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, in Kigali, Rwanda, today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the UNEP@50 special session commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in Nairobi today: