The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that more than 14 million people — almost 1 in every 10 Pakistanis — have so far been affected by the flooding in that country. The monsoon season could last for at least another month, worsening the flooding that has been seen so far, including in parts of the country not so far affected. The Office also estimates that at least 6 million people are in desperate need of emergency aid.

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, told the Security Council this morning that events in recent months, including the July Kabul Conference and this month’s legislative elections, have been crucial for the country’s transition.

Ms. Yanghee Lee, Chairperson for the Committee on the Rights of the Child, highlighted new developments regarding protection and promotion of child rights, including ongoing work towards elaboration of a “groundbreaking” third optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, during the first ever press conference held on the Convention, which took place at Headquarters today.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula caused by today’s artillery attack by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the Yeonpyeong Island. He condemns the attack — one of the gravest incidents since the end of the Korean War — and calls for immediate restraint.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the recent reports of clashes in the Abyei area of Sudan. He condemns the reported loss of life and says the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has intensified its patrolling activities on the ground and is on standby to reinforce its peacekeeping presence if the need arises.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe opened the Security Council’s debate on the Middle East today by warning of heightened tensions in both the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Lebanon. On the Israeli-Palestinian track, he expressed serious concern at the continuing lack of progress; on the dissolution of the coalition Government in Lebanon, he called for dialogue among all Lebanese leaders to address the current political situation.

A cargo plane chartered by the United Nations refugee agency landed yesterday in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, carrying 83 tons of aid for tens of thousands of refugees who have fled post-election tensions in Côte d'Ivoire. The supplies, including blankets and plastic mats, will be transported to eastern Liberia, where more than 31,000 Ivorians have been sheltering.

Marketing deadly designer drugs online under innocuous names like “ivory wave” bath salts or plant food, drug dealers were turning hefty profits by selling to young people worldwide — a practice which the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was working hard to end — one of its members said during a Headquarters news conference today.

The Secretary-General convened a video and telephone conference call today with regional organizations and UN agencies to discuss the humanitarian situation in Libya. All urgently appealed to the authorities for immediate and unimpeded access into Libya to determine humanitarian needs and provide assistance.

The United Nations and its international humanitarian partner agencies were steadily ramping up efforts to assist civilians affected by violent clashes in Libya, the Organization’s Emergency Relief Coordinator said during a Headquarters press conference today, just hours before she headed to North Africa to assess the situation first-hand.