Humanitarian issues

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) announced today a decision by the Secretariat to repatriate all Gabonese military units, effective immediately, following credible reports of sexual abuse by Gabon’s contingent deployed to the Mission.

Humanitarian needs in Syria are greater than ever, with an estimated 13.4 million requiring assistance, the highest number since 2017, the United Nations humanitarian chief told the Security Council today, as speakers welcomed a breakthrough cross-line delivery of food rations to the north-western city of Idlib by the World Food Programme (WFP).

Ahead of the historic Food Systems Summit on 23 September, the Secretary-General emphasized the moral imperative of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, stressing that a well-functioning food system can help prevent conflict, protect the environment and provide health and livelihoods for all.  “In food, there is hope,” he said.

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it will be forced to suspend food aid delivery to more than 100,000 displaced people in parts of South Sudan, beginning in October, due to funding shortfalls.  It warned that further cuts may be inevitable if an additional $154 million is not raised in the next four months.  

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the high‑level meeting on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, in Geneva today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the high-level event on Anticipatory Action, held today:

Food insecurity in Somalia is set to increase until the end of 2021 due to the impacts of poor rainfall and continued insecurity, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today.  FAO said approximately 1.2 million children under the age of five are likely to be acutely malnourished during that period.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared an outbreak of meningitis in Tshopo Province, in the country’s north-east, with some 261 suspected cases, including 129 deaths.  National health authorities have deployed an initial emergency team and efforts are under way to quickly ramp up the response.

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

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