Sudan

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today said that more than 5 million families across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean spend over 40 per cent of their non-food household expenses on maternal health services.  The costs of prenatal care and delivery services can deter women from seeking medical attention.

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

Amid the clashes in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, 149 vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers from Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia, were safely evacuated today to Rome, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Algeria and Argentina have been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being malaria-free.  The head of WHO said today that the nations have eliminated malaria thanks to the unwavering commitment and perseverance of the people and leaders of both countries.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Dian Triansyah Djani (Indonesia):

In Sudan, the African Union-United Nation Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) condemned an incident that took place on 14 May in its El Geneina camp, when a crowd forcefully entered, looting Organization property and contingent-owned equipment, vandalizing premises and putting lives of staff and personnel at risk.

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

The Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 November today, deciding also to reduce its authorized troop ceiling to 3,550 and increase its authorized police ceiling to 640 personnel, including 148 individual police officers.

The World Food Programme says it reached 10.6 million people with emergency food assistance across Yemen in March – more than in any other month.  An estimated 10 million people in the country are one step away from famine, and the United Nations and partners are doing everything to help them and roll back the risk.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) remains essential to the stability of the border regions between Sudan and South Sudan, the Organization’s Peacekeeping chief told the Security Council today, proposing the creation of a civilian unit to support progress towards political resolution of the dispute and requesting a six-month extension of its mandate.