Humanitarian issues

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the high-level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), in New York today:

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched its “Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration” report, which shows that the rate of climate change surged alarmingly between 2011-2020, which was the warmest decade on record.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) notes with concern that exchanges of fire across the Blue Line continued throughout the weekend, with reports that people were injured on both sides of the border. This follows the reported deaths of three people there following exchanges of fire on 1 December.

In Somalia, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator there, George Conway — together with the Government and the Somali non-governmental organization consortium — have jointly warned that the country is in the midst of a disaster as devastating rains and floods continue to spread.

In Gaza, the humanitarian pause has enabled a major increase in aid delivery, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. UN agencies have sent lifesaving medicines and surgical supplies to two hospitals in Gaza City — Al Ahli and Al Sahaba — and enough fuel to operate generators for about seven days.

Over 70 peacebuilders from around the world will meet at the UN in New York for the first Civil Society-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding, a new annual initiative that will facilitate exchanges among civil society organizations and enable discussions on strategy and policy in peacebuilding.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the humanitarian pause, agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, has been largely maintained on 27 November for the fourth consecutive day. This has enabled humanitarian actors to enhance the delivery of assistance into and across Gaza.

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

As fighting in Myanmar between ethnic armed organizations and the Myanmar Armed Forces expands, and humanitarian access is blocked, UN partners on the ground are still providing life-saving assistance wherever possible. The Humanitarian Response Plan for Myanmar, only 28 per cent funded, needs an urgent injection of funding.

In Algeria, the United Nations launched the Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan, covering the next two years — 2024-2025. The plan calls for $214 million to ensure food stability, a reliable water supply as well as to address the nutritional requirements of people living in camps in Tindouf.