Food

The cholera outbreak in Malawi is finally slowing down, thanks to the continued work of the national and international community. The United Nations and its partners provided more than 1,000,000 people with access to clean water, appropriate sanitation facilities and hygiene supplies.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

Amid Haiti’s rapidly deteriorating situation in which nearly half its population is facing severe food insecurity, the international community must take urgent action now, speakers stressed to the Economic and Social Council today during its Special Meeting on that country.

In Peru today, the United Nations and local partners redirected $3 million to support the Government’s efforts to protect 140,000 people impacted by El Niño, which has brought torrential rains to the country. Over 711,000 people require urgent food, water services, sanitation and health aid.

In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, along with five United Nations agencies and some non-governmental organizations, were in Kherson today to assess the impact of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and coordinate the humanitarian response with local organizations and authorities.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today released its monthly Food Price Index for May, which said that world food commodity prices declined amid significant drops in quotations for most cereals, vegetable oils and dairy products.

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, initiated in 2010 by the former Secretary-General, continues its drive to improve nutrition for all people, everywhere, with the stewardship of 22 appointed global leaders who are committed to fighting malnutrition in all its forms as members of the SUN Movement Lead Group.

In Sudan, at least 100 trucks of humanitarian assistance reached their destinations in several states, including the capital, Khartoum. They carried 2,600 tons of supplies, including nutrition, water, sanitation and health items for up to 2 million men, women and children.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Director General Qu Dongyu announced today the appointment of Carl Skau of Sweden as WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, to serve at the Assistant Secretary-General level.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today warned that at least 573,000 children under the age of five are at risk of suffering from malnutrition in Malawi. UNICEF noted that the country is still grappling with the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy, with over 650,000 people internally displaced.