Syria

Secretary-General António Guterres called for continued calm in Zimbabwe.  Closely following developments, he underlined the importance of resolving political differences through peaceful means, including through dialogue and in conformity with the country’s Constitution.

The Security Council failed to renew the mandate of the investigative team formed to determine the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria following the rejection of two draft resolutions, tabled by the United States and Bolivia, respectively.

A total of 925,000 suspected cholera cases in Yemen included more than 2,200 associated deaths, as of 12 November, aid agencies reported.  Fuel to run hospital generators and pump clean water would run out in weeks and the blockade continued to prevent air and sea humanitarian supply deliveries.

Today is World Diabetes Day, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting women’s right to a healthy future.  The agency says there are some 422 million people living with diabetes, 205 million of whom are women.  More than half are in the Western Pacific and South-east Asia regions.

This week is Antibiotic Awareness Week, and it kicks off today under the theme “Learn how to handle antibiotics with care”.  The development of resistance is a big issue, and more information about can be found on the the World Health Organization’s website.

The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia issued a joint press release highlighting the first month of ceasefire monitoring by the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN).  The Mission has established 33 local or regional verification teams that are now operational.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) had been identified as responsible for the use of sulfur mustard at Umm Hawsh, and Syria as accountable for the use of sarin at Khan Shaykhun, Edmond Mulet, Head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)‑United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, told the Security Council this afternoon.

Among today’s highlights from the Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, were a pledge by HSBC Bank to mobilize $100 billion in sustainable financing and investment in support of the transition to a low-carbon economy and green growth around the world, and the release of a report by the European Union saying it is on track to meet its 2020 emissions-reduction target.

Some 4,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar and crossed the border into Bangladesh in the last 48 hours.  The newly arrived refugees say thousands more people are waiting on Myanmar’s coast to make the crossing.  United Nations agencies and their partners are providing food and other supplies.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomed Myanmar’s commitment to implement recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported slower rates of refugees entering Bangladesh.