South Sudan

The UNICEF installation unveiled this weekend on the North Lawn of United Nations Headquarters shows the devastating scale of child deaths in conflict zones during 2018.  It features 3,758 backpacks in rows reminiscent of a graveyard, each representing the loss of a young life to conflict.

Today, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund released $19.5 million to assist 500,000 people in need of emergency food and other crucial support.  Toby Lanzer, the Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, said it comes at a critical time as aid agencies are running out of funds.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gustavo Meza-Cuadra (Peru):

A new Food and Agriculture Organization report finds that 41 countries — 31 of which are in Africa — require food assistance, as cyclone damage and rainfall deficits in 2019 caused significant agricultural production shortfalls in Southern Africa, and severe dryness in East Africa negatively affected harvests.

On 21 June 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan held joint informal consultations with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan.

Following Sunday’s demonstrations in Sudan, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the authorities to lift restrictions on the Internet and launch proper independent investigations into allegations of excessive use of force, specially attacks on hospitals.

On 25 June 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan enacted the amendments specified with underline in the entry below on its List of individuals subject to the travel ban and financial measures set out in paragraphs 9 and 12, respectively, of Security Council resolution 2206 (2015) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

The reduction of violence in South Sudan, while fragile, has revealed a “glimmer of what’s possible with peace”, the senior United Nations official in that country told the Security Council today, as delegates urged the belligerents to use the time afforded by the extended period in which to form a transitional Government to resolve thorny outstanding issues.

Today is the Day of the Seafarer.  This year’s theme, “I Am on Board with Gender Equality”, focuses on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks of the maritime world.  The theme is also in line with this year’s theme for World Maritime Day:  “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.

Today is World Blood Donor Day.  The Day serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood, and to raise awareness about the universal need for safe blood in the delivery of health care.  The World Health Organization encourages more people all over the world to become blood donors.