Yemen

The United Nations welcomes the release of an additional 82 of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgent group in April 2014.  The Organization appeals to all Nigerians to fully embrace the liberated girls and provide all necessary support to ensure their reintegration into society.

Stephen O’Brien, Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefing the Security Council on Syria today, voiced his concern about the situation in eastern Ghouta where the United Nations has been unable to get access to some 400,000 people since last October.  He called for a pause in fighting to allow for the delivery of aid.

In Geneva, the Secretary-General called the pledging conference for Yemen a considerable success, with more than half of the $2.1 billion appeal for the year reached.  Those pledges now needed to be translated into effective support for the people of Yemen.  Three things would ensure that:  access, access and access.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening remarks to the high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, in Geneva today:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ closing remarks to the high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, in Geneva today:

More than 25 million children between 6 and 15 years old, or 22 per cent of children in that age group, are missing out on school in conflict zones across 22 countries, according to a UNICEF report issued today.  South Sudan has the highest rate at almost 72 per cent, followed by Chad and Afghanistan.

The number of children used in “suicide” attacks in the Lake Chad Basin conflict has surged to 27 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to nine over the same period last year, according to UNICEF, which states, in a report released today, that the increase reflects an alarming tactic by the insurgents.

As the possibility of famine looms, more children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, cholera or acute watery diarrhoea in Somalia and the number receiving food aid more than doubled in January and February from the same period in 2016, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The Secretary-General visited the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan today in what he called a visit of solidarity.  While there, he toured a number of projects run by UN agencies for some 80,000 residents of the camp.  Addressing the press, he appealed to the parties to the conflict in Syria to understand that we must make peace.

This week marks two years since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien said last night.  Yemen is now on the brink of famine, with nearly 19 million people — more than two thirds of the population — in need humanitarian aid.