The United Nations Human Rights Office on Ecuador says a small team will visit the country Ecuador from 20 October to 8 November to look into allegations of human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of the recent protests. The mission will be conducted at the invitation of the Government.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Figures released today by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan show record-high levels of civilian casualties in the country during the third quarter of 2019, including 2,563 killed and 5,676 injured, a 42 per cent increase from the same period in 2018.
In north‑east Syria, despite very difficult challenges, the United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid and provide basic services to 1.8 million people in need where access allows. This includes emergency food rations for 83,000 newly displaced people, hygiene kits and drinking water.
Armed attacks and insecurity continue to affect parts of northern, eastern and central Burkina Faso, driving forced displacement and increasing the number of people in need of protection and assistance. Some 486,000 people have been displaced, up from 80,000 in January.
The Secretary-General is following with increasing concern the situation in Guinea, where demonstrations have been called against a Government proposal to review the Constitution. The United Nations continues to monitor the situation and remains in contact with key stakeholders with a view towards de-escalating tensions.
The International Organization of Migration today launched a $10 million appeal to support recovery efforts in the Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahamas, which were hit by Hurricane Dorian in September. The funds will be used to assist shelters, provide non-food items and track missing persons.
Today is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme focuses on preventing suicide, which claims the lives of nearly 800,000 people annually – or one every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is asking people to join in “40 seconds of action” to raise awareness about the problem and help prevent it.
A World Health Organization study shows that more than one third of women in four lower-income countries — Ghana, Guinea, Myanmar and Nigeria — experience mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities: 42 per cent of women who participated experienced physical or verbal abuse, stigma or discrimination.
UNICEF chartered a plane carrying 1.6 million doses of oral cholera vaccines to Sudan, delivering the medicine at a critical time as cholera cases continue to be reported. The agency and its partners are also strengthening water treatment systems, distributing water purification products and providing technical support.
The International Atomic Energy Agency and its partners kicked off a five-day conference today on climate change and the role of nuclear power. Topics include challenges and opportunities for existing nuclear power plants and the prospect for synergies between nuclear power and other low-carbon energy sources.