Iraq

As the possibility of famine looms, more children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, cholera or acute watery diarrhoea in Somalia and the number receiving food aid more than doubled in January and February from the same period in 2016, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Parties to the conflict in Syria have reportedly reached an agreement to evacuate people from Madaya and Zabadani in Rural Damascus, and Foah and Kefraya in Idleb, known as the Four Towns.  The United Nations was not part of the negotiations or the agreement, but is monitoring developments closely.

The Secretary-General visited the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan today in what he called a visit of solidarity.  While there, he toured a number of projects run by UN agencies for some 80,000 residents of the camp.  Addressing the press, he appealed to the parties to the conflict in Syria to understand that we must make peace.

This week marks two years since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien said last night.  Yemen is now on the brink of famine, with nearly 19 million people — more than two thirds of the population — in need humanitarian aid.

Today is World Tuberculosis Day, and UNAIDS is urging countries to do much more to reduce the number of tuberculosis (TB) deaths among people living with HIV.  The most common cause of death among people living with HIV, TB caused the deaths of 400,000 of the 1.1 million people who died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2015.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya said today he is concerned at continued reports of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law across the country.  He said that credible, effective and accountable security institutions are urgently required to end the deteriorating security situation.

The Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly’s meeting this morning commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  He expressed concern that migrants have become convenient scapegoats and that, far too often, hate speech, stereotyping and stigmatization are becoming normalized.

The Government of Iraq reports that 180,000 civilians have fled western Mosul since mid-February, when military operations to retake the city’s western districts began.  Humanitarian agencies are bracing for the possibility of an additional 300,000 to 320,000 civilians fleeing in the coming weeks.

UNICEF says that a year after the Balkan border closures and the European Union-Turkey Statement meant to stop mass migration flows, refugee and migrant children face greater risks of deportation, detention, exploitation and deprivation.  More of them are embarking on even more dangerous and irregular routes with smugglers.

Escalating fighting pitting Government of Yemen and Coalition forces against Houthi and General People Congress combatants has reached Hudaydah Governorate, leading to the killing and displacement of civilians.  Survey results indicate the number of food-insecure people has reached 17 million, up 20 per cent since June.