United Nations humanitarian officials say violent protests in Ethiopia’s Somali region have led to at least 29 deaths, and that houses of worship, homes and businesses have been attacked and destroyed.  The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that some 22,000 households were already provided with emergency supplies, but more than 150,000 still need assistance.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message, delivered by Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Service, in Hiroshima today:

The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations (IAAC) held its forty-third session from 18-20 July 2018 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.  Presiding over the session was the Chair, Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan.  All the other members of the IAAC — Patricia X. Arriagada Villouta (Vice-Chair), Natalia A. Bocharova, Richard Quartei Quartey and Janet St. Laurent — were in attendance.

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

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Karen Pierce (United Kingdom):

On 25 July 2018, members of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan were briefed by the Acting Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan and the United Nations Mine Action Service on trends observed and activities conducted related to the flow of arms and management of weapons and ammunition in South Sudan.

UNHCR says that more than 1,500 refugees and migrants have lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in the first seven months of 2018.  The bleak milestone was confirmed after more than 850 lives were lost in June and July alone, marking the Mediterranean crossing as the world’s deadliest sea route.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on International Youth Day, observed on 12 August:

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Yemen told the Security Council today that he plans to invite parties to the conflict in that country to Geneva on 6 September for consultations on a potential framework for talks, confidence‑building measures and plans for moving the peace process forward.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that volcanic activity on Vanuatu’s Ambae Island, which has a population of more than 10,000 people, has intensified in the last few weeks.  The Vanuatu Council of Ministers has called for the immediate compulsory evacuation of Ambae residents to the neighbouring island of Maewo.