Syria

Close to 2,000 irregular migrants who made the journey from Africa to Europe — over 90 per cent — would do it again, according to a new United Nations Development Programme survey.  The report finds that getting a job was not their only motivation to move and that not all were “poor” or had little education.

The United Nations Human Rights Office on Ecuador says a small team will visit the country Ecuador from 20 October to 8 November to look into allegations of human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of the recent protests.  The mission will be conducted at the invitation of the Government.

Figures released today by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan show record-high levels of civilian casualties in the country during the third quarter of 2019, including 2,563 killed and 5,676 injured, a 42 per cent increase from the same period in 2018.

In north‑east Syria, despite very difficult challenges, the United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid and provide basic services to 1.8 million people in need where access allows.  This includes emergency food rations for 83,000 newly displaced people, hygiene kits and drinking water.

Armed attacks and insecurity continue to affect parts of northern, eastern and central Burkina Faso, driving forced displacement and increasing the number of people in need of protection and assistance.  Some 486,000 people have been displaced, up from 80,000 in January.

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 International Organization of Migration today launched a $10 million appeal to support recovery efforts in the Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahamas, which were hit by Hurricane Dorian in September.  The funds will be used to assist shelters, provide non-food items and track missing persons.

Today is World Mental Health Day.  This year’s theme focuses on preventing suicide, which claims the lives of nearly 800,000 people annually – or one every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is asking people to join in “40 seconds of action” to raise awareness about the problem and help prevent it.

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