The World Health Organization (WHO) has scaled up efforts to support five western African countries as they respond to outbreaks of Lassa fever. The largest outbreak thus far has affected 16 states in Nigeria, with 213 confirmed cases to date.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Efforts to find and treat an additional 1.5 million undiagnosed, unreported and untreated tuberculosis patients by the end of 2019 have been showing signs of success, according to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, driven by six Asian countries bearing the world’s highest TB burdens.
The United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are carrying out their largest-ever convoy today, with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance to more than 40,000 displaced people in Syria’s remote Rukban makeshift settlement. The operation is expected to last about one week.
The United Nations and Libya’s Government of National Accord launched the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan for that country today, seeking $202 million to provide health support, protection, water and sanitation, as well as shelter and education in support of more than 550,000 vulnerable people.
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon visited the Goura refugee site, which is hosting 35,000 Nigerian refugees following clashes between non-State armed groups and the Nigerian military. The 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroon seeks nearly $300 million to assist 2.3 million vulnerable people.
In Bangladesh, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Oxfam have installed the largest human waste treatment facility ever built in a refugee settlement, in Cox’s Bazar, which is home to nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees.
At least 34 United Nations and associated personnel were killed in malicious attacks while on duty in 2018, according to the annual report of the UN Staff Union’s Standing Committee for the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service. It is among the lowest casualty rates of the last five years.
Following a sea tragedy on Tuesday off Djibouti’s Red Sea coast, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that 16 survivors have been recovered, as well as the remains of 43 victims. IOM staff have been helping the Djibouti authorities patrolling the shorelines in search of other survivors.
The United Nations is concerned about reported violence and use of force by security forces during recent demonstrations in Douala, and condemns incidents of violence at Cameroon’s embassies in Paris and Berlin. It is also concerned about the reported arrest of Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement.
A two-day event on women, peace and security began in Addis Ababa today in preparation for the 2019 United Nations peacekeeping ministerial conference set for New York in March. President Sahle Work Zewde of Ethiopia and Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative to the African Union, addressed the gathering.