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

Countries must up the ante on development cooperation, which is vital to tackle the dual challenge of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and fighting climate change, speakers said today as the Economic and Social Council concluded a two-day forum on the subject.

Multilateralism — the cornerstone of international relations for 75 years — is eroding under the weight of multiple challenges, from climate change and migration to ideological confrontation, terrorism and above all, the COVID-19 crisis, delegates said in the Security Council today.

According to United Nations experts, southern Madagascar is experiencing its worst drought in four decades, with about 75 per cent of the population of Amboasary Atsimo district facing severe hunger and 14,000 people in famine-like conditions.  A humanitarian Flash Appeal launched in January stands funded at only 22 per cent.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the Futures Festival — Raise Your Hand:  a youth-led livestream on education financing — today:

The global COVID-19 pandemic is testing international development cooperation like never before, magnifying existing challenges, but also creating a unique opportunity to embrace risk-informed approaches in the final push towards the Sustainable Development Goals, speakers said today as the 2021 high-level meeting of the Development Cooperation Forum got under way.

The confidence of the international community in eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons production depends on its Government’s swift action to resolve all new and outstanding issues in light of fresh reports and a recent decision at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs told the Security Council today during a videoconference meeting.

The Organization released today $65 million for the humanitarian response in Ethiopia, comprising $45 million from the United Nations-managed Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund and $20 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund, as the security situation in Tigray remains volatile.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the 2021 Petersberg Climate Dialogue today:

Following are UN Secretary General António Guterres’ remarks at the annual memorial service to honour United Nations personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty from 1 January to 31 December 2020, today: