Mali

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Hanaa Singer-Hamdy of Egypt as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mali, with the host Government’s approval, effective 24 January.

In Ukraine, the Humanitarian Coordinator there called for Moscow’s attacks on critical infrastructure to stop, as thousands face harsh winter conditions amid a new round of weekend attacks. According to local authorities, between 23 January and today, those attacks killed and injured several civilians, including children.

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the ongoing humanitarian scale-up is still being held back by restrictions affecting visas and import approvals, too few crossing points operating and limited facilitation of humanitarian movements inside Gaza, among other challenges.

In Mali, the UN and its partners, together with the country’s transitional authorities, today launched a $770 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to support millions across Mali. The Plan aims to address the needs of 4.7 million people affected by conflict, displacement, health emergencies and climate shocks.

Despite pledges to slash methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 — key to getting global warming under control, only 1 per cent of the Methane Alert and Response System in the past year were responded to, a UN Environment Programme report released today states. The system is an untapped opportunity for climate action.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Samuel Žbogar (Slovenia):

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

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a statement today — jointly with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) — noting the presidency’s decision to extend the country’s transitional period by 24 months until February 2027.

Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya has allocated $5.3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support some 195,000 vulnerable Sudanese refugees and host communities in Libya. More than 15 months of conflict in Sudan has forced one fifth of the country’s population to flee.

The Secretary-General said today that 195 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff members have been killed, the highest staff death toll in UN history. UNRWA’s $1.2 billion appeal to cover critical humanitarian needs until year’s end is less than 20 per cent funded.