Ukraine

Senior humanitarian directors of United Nations agencies and partners wrapped up a visit yesterday to Somalia where the threat of famine looms, with more than seven million people already acutely food insecure. Assistance has reached over four million drought-affected people, but aid workers face severe funding shortfalls.

​​​​​​​While the newly signed deal to resume grain exports through Ukrainian ports offers a “beacon of hope” for countries in increasingly desperate need, close coordination among the parties involved will be critical to its success, the United Nations political affairs chief stressed today, as delegates in the Security Council both welcomed its potential for staving off famine and condemned the strike on the port of Odesa less than 24 hours later that threw that likelihood into jeopardy.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Denise Brown of Canada as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, with the host Government’s approval.  Ms. Brown takes up her post on 30 July.  She will also serve as Humanitarian Coordinator.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and the Development Programme continue to help build national capacity, with 27 Internal Security Forces heads of units, including five women, participating in training on “Central African model community policing”.

In Ukraine, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners delivered 50 tons of relief supplies for 5,000 people to Stepnohirsk, which is close to the front lines in south-eastern Zaporizka oblast. The convoy contained life-saving supplies, including medicine, food, blankets and other essentials.

In Haiti, United Nations humanitarian colleagues have started delivering humanitarian assistance to help people in the commune of Cité Soleil, as well as in other Port-au-Prince neighbourhoods. Enough food to feed 7,000 people for a week has been distributed, along with drinking water and kits of basic relief items.

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.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has funded a renovation of a radio station in Bentiu. The network, which previously reached 35 kilometres, has been upgraded to cover a 200-kilometre radius. The station will help people better understand the peace agreement and how it is being implemented.

In Botswana, the United Nations team led by Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury reports that the country is set to become the first in Africa to achieve the “95-95-95” AIDS targets set out by the United Nations General Assembly, eight years before the 2030 target.