In Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is amplifying its efforts to counter a growing outbreak of diphtheria that has affected children in 27 states. As of last month, 3,850 suspected cases were reported with 1,387 confirmed as diphtheria.

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process today said that he was deeply concerned by the Government of Israel’s decision on 18 June to alter settlement planning procedures that have been in place since 1996, which is expected to expedite settlement expansion.

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

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Lana Zaki Nusseibeh (United Arab Emirates):

Today, on World No Tobacco Day, under the theme “Grow food, not tobacco”, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging Governments to stop subsidizing tobacco farming and support more sustainable crops that could feed millions.

Uganda today marked the end of its Ebola outbreak, with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Head of the World Health Organization, stressing that Ebola can be defeated when the whole system works together, and Resident United Nations Coordinator in Uganda Susan Ngongi Namondo appealing to the public to continue embracing prevention measures.

Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, was announced today as the recipient of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) 2022 Nansen Refugee Award. The award is given to an individual, group or organization that has worked to protect refugees, internally displaced or stateless people.

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

In Burundi, the United Nations has allocated $1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help 340,000 people in areas affected by Rift Valley fever. The viral disease primarily affects livestock, a large component of the economy which accounts for 14 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

In Uganda, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has just allocated $4 million to address the rising food insecurity in the Karamoja region, in the north-east of the country.  Poor food production there has caused hunger to increase in the last two years.