Noon Briefings

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the number of Rohingya refugees having fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since 25 August has now reached 621,000.  As of this morning, the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response Plan has received nearly $140 million, or 32 per cent of requirements.  Donors had pledged $360 million for the October response.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights report having noted an increase in murders and threats against human rights defenders and community leaders in the country’s Pacific Coast region.  In most cases, the victims are from indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

Secretary-General António Guterres called for continued calm in Zimbabwe.  Closely following developments, he underlined the importance of resolving political differences through peaceful means, including through dialogue and in conformity with the country’s Constitution.

A total of 925,000 suspected cholera cases in Yemen included more than 2,200 associated deaths, as of 12 November, aid agencies reported.  Fuel to run hospital generators and pump clean water would run out in weeks and the blockade continued to prevent air and sea humanitarian supply deliveries.

Today is World Diabetes Day, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting women’s right to a healthy future.  The agency says there are some 422 million people living with diabetes, 205 million of whom are women.  More than half are in the Western Pacific and South-east Asia regions.

This week is Antibiotic Awareness Week, and it kicks off today under the theme “Learn how to handle antibiotics with care”.  The development of resistance is a big issue, and more information about can be found on the the World Health Organization’s website.

The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia issued a joint press release highlighting the first month of ceasefire monitoring by the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN).  The Mission has established 33 local or regional verification teams that are now operational.

An innovative debt-swap between the Russian Federation and Mozambique has unlocked $40 million, which will be used by World Food Programme (WFP) to provide school meals for 150,000 children in Mozambique over the next five years.  The largest in WFP history, the debt-swap will free up new resources for development, as well as provide debt relief.

Among today’s highlights from the Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, were a pledge by HSBC Bank to mobilize $100 billion in sustainable financing and investment in support of the transition to a low-carbon economy and green growth around the world, and the release of a report by the European Union saying it is on track to meet its 2020 emissions-reduction target.

A joint study on food security released by the Government of South Sudan and humanitarian partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Food Programme, warns that the current harvest season will not end the hunger crisis in the country.