India

The World Health Organization’s new report noted that, in this decade, almost 500 million people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes or other noncommunicable diseases due to physical inactivity. If Governments do not urgently encourage more physical activity, costs for this could reach $27 billion annually.

Following are the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on the partnerships between India and the United Nations on India’s seventy-fifth anniversary, at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, in Mumbai, today:

The latest Every Woman Every Child progress report was released today, and it shows that women’s and children’s health has suffered globally, as the impacts of conflict, the pandemic and climate change have converged with devastating impacts.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today released a report which says plastics are accumulating in the world’s soil at a high rate. The report found that plastics used extensively in farming — from plastic coated fertilizers to mulch film — are contaminating the soil and potentially threatening food security.

​​​​​​​United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Ríos of Argentina as Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

The new Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned today that the deteriorating drought conditions in Somalia could displace more than 1 million people by April if urgent action is not taken now.  IOM noted that water scarcity in some parts of the country is the worst in 40 years.

In Afghanistan, United Nations humanitarian colleagues report that aid and support continues to be distributed across several provinces, with more than 33,600 people receiving cash as winterization support and more than 27,000 people receiving food assistance under the World Food Programme.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres appointed Shombi Sharp of the United States as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, with the host Government’s approval.

The 2021 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis will be launched on 18 May, hosted by Bangladesh, along with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration, targeting 1.4 million people.  “This must not become a forgotten crisis,” UNHCR stated.