Somalia

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

The Secretary-General said he is deeply disturbed by the scale, severity and recurrence of grave violations endured by boys and girls, in a new report on the impact of conflict on children in Afghanistan.  More than 12,000 children were verified killed or maimed between 2015 and the end of 2018.

After a long journey across the seas, youth climate activist Greta Thunberg is arriving this afternoon in New York.  The United Nations will be there to welcome her with a flotilla of 17 sailboats, each branded with a sustainable goal.  Ms. Thunberg is scheduled to attend the Secretary-General’s climate summit.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Adam Abdelmoula of Sudan, as well as a national of the United States, as his Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, where he will also serve as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

UNICEF appealed today for more than $70 million to provide life-saving humanitarian aid to 900,000 children across Venezuela until the end of 2019.  The agency says it is stepping up efforts to help children and families facing food shortages and limited access to health care, safe water and education.

Amid a fragile security landscape marred by terrorist attacks and a drought leaving more than 2 million people facing acute food insecurity in Somalia, officials told the Security Council today that the success of forthcoming elections and enhanced stability across the country hinges on genuine, dedicated cooperation and coordination among all parties.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) launched a new website to identify laws and policies related to response efforts, featuring an interactive map with data from 140 nations and covering such areas as a country’s ability to diagnose HIV among babies and whether people are prosecuted for carrying condoms.

Two years after the 2016-2017 drought, poor rainfall between March and mid-May 2019 across the Horn of Africa is leading to increased food insecurity, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports, with nearly 13 million people severely food insecure in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.

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