Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the World Food Programme (WFP) said today that their funding — and food stocks — are quickly running out.  The country is struggling with the effects of devastating back-to-back droughts.  Some 7.8 million people need food assistance right now, and that number is expected to rise in the coming months after another failed rainy season.

A group of 36 Yazidi women, men and children have been rescued from slavery after being held for nearly three years by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).  The women and girls are under care at dedicated United Nations Population Fund service points supported by the Government of the Netherlands.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) reports extensive damage in western Mosul, Iraq, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed.  Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande says the damage in western Mosul is already far greater than that in the east, even before the battle to retake the Old City begins.

The Secretary-General spoke today at the Security Council’s debate on conflicts in Europe, saying that such conflicts are not only a tragedy for those directly involved, but they are also reversing development gains and preventing communities and societies from achieving their potential and contributing to regional and global prosperity.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres left New York on Friday, 27 January, to participate in the African Union Summit in Ethiopia.  He arrived in Addis Ababa late on Saturday, 28 January.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the high-level event on the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa today:

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council today that despite the relative tranquillity of the Israel-Palestinian conflict compared to other regional crises, the spectre of violence is always near.  He said that all stakeholders must avoid any unilateral action that would prejudge a negotiated final status solution.