Mali

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Abdou Abarry (Niger):

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.

Despite the extraordinary circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Security Council’s Mali sanctions committee held several important consultations in 2021 — including the first virtual meeting of any subsidiary body to employ simultaneous interpretation — the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the body’s recent activities.

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

With reports that the Omicron variant has been detected in Botswana, the United Nations team is increasing its support for the Government’s COVID-19 response, including by providing medical and protective equipment.  To date, 75 per cent of people in the country have received at least one dose, while 68 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Abdou Abarry (Niger):

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

The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that 8.7 million people are at risk of facing famine-like conditions in Afghanistan, with an additional 14.1 million facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity.  Conflict has displaced more than 600,000 people and the country is experiencing drought following a poor rainy season.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Cornelis Johannes Matthijssen of the Netherlands as Force Commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez (Mexico):