Noon Briefings

In Myanmar, amid an expanding conflict, an estimated 1 million people are also suffering from the impacts of deadly flooding. To bolster emergency relief efforts, the Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, allocated $4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund at the end of September.

In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that intense attacks in the south and east of the country this week have killed and injured dozens of civilians and damaged homes, a hospital and schools.

Marking one year since Hamas attacked Israel and killed over 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals, the Secretary-General urged the global community to condemn “in the loudest voice” Hamas’s acts, demanded the immediate release of all hostages and called for the Red Cross to be allowed to visit the hostages. 

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, today announced an additional $2 million from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund to address the deteriorating situation in that country, bringing the total allocation to $12 million so far.

The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and the UN country team there have intensified efforts to support communities following heavy rains that caused flooding. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 18,000 people in Abyei have been impacted and displaced by the floods.

New estimates indicate that nearly 67 million people in Eastern Africa are now in need of humanitarian assistance, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the total number of people in need globally. Humanitarians continue to provide assistance to millions of people.

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that Israeli bombardments are continuing from the air, land and sea, which has resulted in civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure.

In Haiti, half of the country’s population, 5.4 million people face acute hunger, according to new analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Two million are in the grips of emergency levels of hunger and at least 6,000 displaced people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

The Secretary-General’s annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, was issued today, documenting how human rights defenders, activists, journalists, victims and witnesses, among others, continue to experience reprisals for actual or perceived cooperation with the United Nations.

The Special Coordinator for Lebanon is in Israel where she is meeting with Israeli authorities to discuss the latest situation and the Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission is in contact with both Lebanese and Israeli parties, stressing the urgent need for de-escalation. Efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions and halt shelling.