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Category: United Nations

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the G20 Tax Side Event – Domestic Resource Mobilisation: Bridging the Tax Gap [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    H.E. Mr. Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance of South Africa, 
    Excellencies,
    It is a pleasure to join you for this important discussion on domestic resource mobilization and bridging the tax gap.
    This challenge stands at the heart of financing sustainable development, and demands our urgent attention.
    We are not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 
    We have an estimated $4 trillion sustainable development financing gap annually. 
    Domestic public finance is essential for financing the Sustainable Development Goals, increasing equity and strengthening macroeconomic stability. 
    Robust fiscal systems, including both tax and expenditure, drive economic growth, industrial transformation and environmental sustainability – contributing to alleviating poverty and reducing inequalities. 
    Beyond raising revenue, taxation remains fundamental to fairness, trust, and sovereignty.
    Yet, after significant increases in taxation in developing countries in the decade before 2009, average tax-to-GDP ratios for all developing country groups are below 2010 levels, remaining far below those of developed countries. 
    Successive shocks over the last two decades have severely impacted the mobilization of domestic resources for development.  
    As global crises intensify, it becomes more critical than ever to increase countries’ taxation capabilities. 
    The good news is that there is a large unmet tax potential in many developing countries. 
    Many governments have invested in tax reforms, demonstrating how nations can unlock unmet potential. 
    Strengthening tax systems requires sustained investment in capacity development based on country needs and priorities.  
    As economies evolve, so must tax systems. 
    The increasingly digitalized economy presents new opportunities, but also poses new challenges to an international tax system that has been designed for traditional business models. 
    We must develop future-ready tax policies that ensure global fair taxation without imposing excessive burdens – both on taxpayers and tax authorities. 
    Many organizations – including the UN, IMF, OECD, World Bank, and regional and national tax bodies – are supporting countries in this effort. 
    Initiatives like Tax Inspectors Without Borders help countries enhance domestic revenue mobilization. The Addis Tax Initiative and broader multilateral and regional efforts provide platforms for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and technical assistance. 
    However, political will remains insufficient – with countries not investing enough in tax system reform and administration capacity, and donors not delivering promised assistance for supporting revenue mobilization.
    The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, in Sevilla in June, offers a pivotal moment to turn commitments for domestic tax reforms into actions, and make tax systems more fair, transparent, efficient and effective.
    In our interconnected world, strengthening countries’ fiscal frameworks must go hand-in-hand with international tax cooperation. 
    Every year, billions of dollars that should fund education, healthcare, and infrastructure are lost to tax avoidance and evasion, illicit financial flows, and financial crime. 
    Africa alone loses approximately $88.6 billion annually to illicit financial flows – around 3.7% of the continent’s GDP – draining resources vital for economic development. 
    The G20 has played an important role in advancing tax transparency and tackling tax avoidance. Expanding the automatic exchange of information and enhancing transparency in beneficial ownership remain paramount. 
    But more must be done to ensure that all countries – particularly those with limited administrative capacity – can fully participate in shaping global tax norms. 
    The ongoing negotiations on a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, present a historic opportunity for progress toward a fair, inclusive, and effective international tax system.
    Through the Pact for the Future, Member States have committed to improving the inclusiveness and effectiveness of tax cooperation under the UN. 
    Ensuring that international tax rules reflect the diverse needs, priorities, and capacities of all countries is central to this effort.  
    The two early protocols in the UN Convention – on taxation of income from cross-border services in a digitalized and globalized economy and on preventing and resolving tax disputes – can demonstrate an inclusive and impactful approach. 
    The UN process can strengthen global cooperation, enhance legitimacy, certainty, resilience, and fairness of international tax rules, while addressing challenges in domestic resource mobilization and ensuring that all countries have a seat at the table.  
    Today’s discussion is an opportunity to drive forward these critical issues. 
    The United Nations remains fully committed to these efforts.
    Together, we can build a fairer, more transparent, and more effective international tax system – one that provides every country with the means to invest in its future and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Syria: UN scales up aid deliveries as regional fighting continues

    Source: United Nations 2

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    UN humanitarians on Wednesday reported a scaling up of humanitarian aid into northwest Syria, even as hostilities continue to impact civilians and limit access in different parts of the country.

    UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at a regular news briefing in New York that aid trucks from Türkiye to Idlib via Bab Al-Hawa are continuing to get through with vital assistance to communities in need.

    “Yesterday, 43 trucks carrying more than 1,000 metric tonnes of food from the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as blankets, solar lamps and other items provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) crossed the border,” he said.

    Since the start of the year, nearly 400 trucks have crossed from Türkiye into Syria – five times the number recorded during the same period last year.

    Rehabilitation efforts underway

    Across Syria, humanitarian organizations are working to rebuild infrastructure and restore essential services.

    In northwest Syria, 350 homes have been rehabilitated since last month, while in Damascus and surrounding rural areas, more than 700 people have received support to repair their damaged homes.

    Over the past two weeks, three water stations in Latakia have been restored, providing much-needed access to clean water.

    “We and our partners continue to provide this assistance as security, logistical and funding conditions permit,” Mr. Dujarric added.

    Despite these efforts, “the toll of destruction remains overwhelming”, he added.

    In Aleppo, 34 facilities in former frontline areas have sustained severe damage or complete destruction, requiring urgent rehabilitation to restore healthcare, education, and other essential services.

    Hostilities continue

    While humanitarian assistance is reaching many communities, the fighting continues to take a toll on civilians and restrict aid access in various regions.

    “In eastern Aleppo – including in the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam and the Al-Khafsa water pumping station – and in the south of the country, hostilities have resulted in casualties, as well as restrictions in humanitarian access and movements of people,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    Returns top a million

    Meanwhile, more than one million displaced Syrians have returned home since the fall of the Assad regime in early December last year, according to a recent update from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

    The number includes approximately 292,150 Syrian refugees returning from neighbouring countries, including Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt as of 20 February. An additional 829,490 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have also returned to their places of origin.

    UNHCR continues to monitor voluntary returns, offering legal counselling, as well as support with transportation, particularly in Jordan.

    Inside Syria, the agency is delivering protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees moving home and IDPs, including early recovery interventions.

    “In view of the cold winter months and continued electricity shortages, distributions of core relief items and warm winter clothing, as well as urgent shelter repairs, such as new windows and doors, continued to be priority interventions,” UNHCR said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Council: Gaza ceasefire must hold, Türk insists

    Source: United Nations 4

    Human Rights

    UN human rights chief Volker Türk issued a strong appeal on Wednesday for the fragile ceasefire in Gaza to hold, amid delays to talks between Hamas and Israel on extending the truce into the second phase.

    Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva on conditions inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Mr. Türk condemned the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel that sparked the war in October 2023.

    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also said there was no justification for Israel’s devastating military operations in Gaza, which have left more than 48,000 Palestinians dead, according to local authorities.

    Search for a better future

    “At this tenuous moment the world must ask itself how to resolve this decades old conflict and stop the cycle of violence,” he said.

    “Any plans for a better future must deal with the past, so accountability and justice for violations are crucial.”

    The High Commissioner added that each phase of the ceasefire must be implemented “in good faith, and in full. All of us must do everything in our power to build on it.”

    He said it must be for the Palestinians themselves to determine their own future.

    According to news reports, the delayed release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners is expected to go ahead imminently, in exchange for the return of the bodies of four hostages.

    ‘Unprecedented disregard’

    Summing up the “raft of human rights violations” inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory and lack of accountability, he said there had been “an unprecedented disregard” for basic principles of international humanitarian law by both sides since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023.

    Mr. Türk maintained there were serious doubts over Israel’s capacity and will to deliver full accountability, notably in relation to unlawful killings in Gaza and the West Bank.

    With Hamas and other Palestinian militants who have taken and tortured hostages, fired indiscriminate projectiles into Israel – amounting to war crimes – there are concerns that they may also have committed serious breaches “including the intentional co-location of military objectives and Palestinian civilians.”

    “Any attempts at shaping a peaceful future where such horrors do not recur must ensure that perpetrators are held to account,” said the High Commissioner. 

    Impunity when given free rein, harms not only those directly impacted but generations down the line, he contended.

    In an apparent response to the outlawing of the UN Palestine refugee relief agency, UNRWA, by Israel and the sanctions against the International Criminal Court by the US earlier this month, the UN rights chief said that “delegitimising and threatening international institutions that are there to serve people and uphold international law also harms us all.”

    He also said any attempt to annex Palestinian land or “forced transfer” of civilians must be resisted.

    “This is the moment for voices of reason to prevail; for solutions that will deliver justice and make space for compassion, healing and truth telling,” said Mr. Türk.

    ‘Systemic’ repression in Nicaragua

    Investigators tasked by the UN Human Rights Council to track alleged grave abuses of power by top Nicaraguan officials insisted on Wednesday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should prosecute what they called the systematic and systemic repression of the country’s people.

    The Group of Experts on Nicaragua – who act in an independent capacity and are not UN staff – have previously reported that the Government’s violations appear to constitute crimes against humanity of murder, imprisonment and torture – including rape.

    Their latest report will be presented later this week to the Council.

    The group maintains that President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have created “an authoritarian State where no independent institutions remain, opposition voices are silenced and the population…faces persecution, forced exile, and economic retaliation”.

    Stifling dissent

    It was in response to grave concerns about the severe repression of civil rights in Nicaragua that the international community decided in 2018 to establish an investigative body to report back to the Council.

    “We call on States to hold Nicaragua accountable for its violations of the UN Convention on Torture and the UN Convention on Statelessness before the International Court of Justice…the international community cannot just bear witness. It needs to take concrete measures,” said Reed Brody, member of the Group of Experts.

    “No country in the world has used the arbitrary detention of nationality against political opponents at the same scale that Nicaragua has done; and this is a violation of its obligations under international law under the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,” Mr. Brody continued.

    ‘Machine of repression’

    According to the panel’s chair, Jan-Michael Simon, State machinery and the ruling Sandinista party “have virtually fused into a unified machine of repression with domestic and transnational impact.”

    This development – which has reduced the judicial, legislative and electoral powers “to mere bodies coordinated by the presidency” – has resulted in myriad deaths, “arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, expulsion of nationals, arbitrary deprivation of nationality,” Mr. Simon insisted.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan war: Any peace deal must respect national sovereignty, UN envoy says

    Source: United Nations 2

    By Abdelmonem Makki 

    Peace and Security

    As the war in Sudan approaches a second year, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the country has emphasized the need to re-double and coordinate efforts towards a peace agreement that respects national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity – and end the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. 

    In an exclusive interview with UN News’s Arabic service in New York, Ramtane Lamamra stressed that the solution must be political, calling for reliance on wisdom and the ability to deal with the root causes that led to the brutal conflict. 

    He affirmed that the Sudanese people are sovereign and have the final say in their future.

    A deteriorating situation

    The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a powerful formerly allied paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023, causing widespread death, destruction and displacement.

    More than 12 million people have fled to safety, whether elsewhere in the country or across the border. Famine has been confirmed in 10 locations, and another 17 are on the brink.

    Mr. Lamamra addressed the deteriorating situation in Sudan and the challenges facing peace efforts, noting that he is making every effort to convince the warring parties and decision-makers that the only solution is one that stems from their shared political will.

    The envoy underscored the critical need to prioritize the protection of civilians, reiterating the Secretary-General’s call for a cessation of hostilities during the Holy Month of Ramadan, which begins this Friday evening.

    © UNFPA/Karel Prinsloo

    Central African Republic, 2024. Newly arrived Sudanese refugees at Korsi refugee camp.

    Learn from the past

    Mr. Lamamra urged the Sudanese to learn from the lessons of past experiences, stating that ongoing efforts to reach a peaceful solution must take place within the context of respecting sovereignty, independence, and unity – both of the people and the land. 

    “I believe that this is fundamental and indisputable,” he said.

    “As for the United Nations – and for myself personally – I will continue to reiterate and insist on this point because it is essential, as we want to emerge from this ordeal with a strong and unified Sudan: a Sudan that learns from the lessons of its contemporary historical experiences and makes the necessary decisions so that the mistakes that led to the outbreak of wars in the recent past, including the current war, are not repeated.” 

    Nairobi Declaration

    Regarding the recent developments in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, where political and military groups signed a declaration expressing their intention to establish a governing authority in the areas controlled by the RSF, the envoy referred to the statements of the UN Secretary-General which expressed grave concern over the move as it further increases the risk of Sudan’s fragmentation. 

    Mr. Lamamra cautioned that anything that would widen the gap between the Sudanese instead of uniting them, is “undesirable.”

    He also mentioned the roadmap that was issued in Port Sudan on 9 February, which he said the UN chief welcomed and asked all interested Sudanese to share their ideas for possible inclusion, as this would facilitate the necessary discussions to rebuild a cohesive and unified Sudanese State.

    The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy stated that building on the current proposal is the next step that he is ready to take “despite its sensitivity and difficulty.”

    He emphasized the need for coordination among the various initiatives proposed to reach a comprehensive national dialogue in Sudan.

    Soundcloud

    The role of the international community

    In this regard, Mr. Lamara called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and coordinate efforts to support peace in Sudan.

    He warned that any serious international engagement to resolve the crisis requires “careful and objective study and a thorough understanding” of the situation, including the roots of the conflict, its history, dimensions, those influencing it, foreign interventions, and other factors that must be taken into account.

    Mr. Lamamra underscored that international and regional efforts must be unified to become “one strong voice” to avoid conflicts between initiatives.

    “Undoubtedly, resolving the crisis in Sudan, ending the war, the tragedy, and the suffering of the citizens are all integral. There are many entry points, and efforts must be coordinated through serious work at each entry point of the crisis,” he added.

    Consultations with Sudanese society

    The UN envoy also shed light on the extensive consultations he has held with a wide sector of the Sudanese people – including youth, women, and civil society organizations – to listen to their views and suggestions. 

    He stressed the importance of these consultations in understanding the situation and setting priorities.

    Mr. Lamamra explained that he is careful to work with “discretion,” away from “megaphone diplomacy.” He said that he officially submitted to the two leaderships a list of recommendations that emerged from these consultations regarding protection of civilians and urged decision-makers to act. 

    “Work is underway at full speed, and we will make our full and complete effort,” he added, noting that the absence of a breakthrough will not diminish the determination to reach a desirable outcome.

    Respect, balance and trust

    In the same context, Mr. Lamamra said that his meetings with Government officials in Port Sudan are characterized by respect, noting that he is careful to listen to all parties. 

    “I believe that the duty of balance and gaining everyone’s trust is what drives me when taking the viewpoints of the parties,” he told UN News.

    “I believe that each party has a complete and integrated perspective built – naturally – on the love of Sudan, because I believe that none of them has an alternative homeland, so the focus must be on this one homeland that accommodates everyone,” he added.

    “And I believe that the time will come when this feeling of the desired peaceful solution will emerge.”

    UNECA/Daniel Getachew

    African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Momentum at AU Summit

    Mr. Lamamra recently participated in the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa as part of the UN Secretary-General’s delegation.

    There, he discussed ways to achieve a peaceful solution in Sudan in coordination with neighbouring countries, and regional and international organizations, starting with the AU, the League of Arab States, East African bloc IGAD, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. 

    He affirmed that the Sudan crisis had been at the forefront of discussions. 

    In this context, he welcomed the election of Mahmoud Ali Youssef as Chairperson of the AU Commission and praised his role in supporting peace efforts in Sudan. 

    Hope for the Jeddah Declaration

    Nearly two years ago, the warring parties in Sudan signed a declaration in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aimed at protecting civilians and providing unhindered humanitarian access.

    When asked about the possibility of implementing the agreement on the ground, and the obstacles that prevent it, the Mr. Lamamra described the declaration as “a promising and positive document, which is the only document that everyone signed and agreed upon days after the outbreak of the war.” 

    He stressed that preparatory technical talks needed to start soon in order to start implementing the declaration. 

    ‘A message of brotherhood’

    Concluding his interview with UN News, Mr. Lamamra addressed a message to the Sudanese people and the warring parties on the occasion of Ramadan.

    He said the Sudanese people love freedom, peace, and peaceful coexistence.

    “My message is a message of brotherhood. A message with the values of Islam that are valued by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Those concerned must always follow the teachings of true Islam and appreciate the sanctity of human life,” he said. 

    “Our hope is that our brothers will seize this opportunity to think about a Ramadan free of violence, a Ramadan filled with brotherhood and the aspiration for a better future.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: AdHoc Meeting of ISO/PWI 25534-1

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Following the successful Kick-off Meeting of ISO/PWI 25534-1 (Digital Product Passport—Part 1: Overview and Fundamental Principles), the Ad-hoc Meeting aims to further develop the discussion by reviewing stakeholder input and refining the scope and direction of the project.

    This session will:
    ✅ Present key takeaways from the Kick-off Meeting and survey results on advancing Digital Product Passports (DPPs).
    ✅ Discuss alignment needs, industry challenges, and potential standardization approaches.
    ✅ Foster collaboration between stakeholders to ensure global interoperability and adoption.
    ✅ Define next steps leading up to the formalization of the project work.

    This meeting provides a valuable opportunity for experts and stakeholders to actively shape the future of DPPs. We encourage all interested participants to contribute their insights and help drive meaningful progress.

    Contact

    For any inquiries or further information, please contact [email protected]  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Conflict has turned parts of Sudan ‘into a hellscape,’ Security Council hears

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    A senior UN aid official has called on the Security Council to ensure better protection for civilians in Sudan together with unhindered humanitarian access, as the brutal war between rival militaries approaches a second year. 

    “Now more than ever, two years on, the people of Sudan need your action,” Edem Wosornu of the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said in a briefing to ambassadors on Wednesday.

    “Nearly two years of relentless conflict in Sudan have inflicted immense suffering and turned parts of the country into a hellscape,” she added, listing some of the impacts.

    Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left more than half the country, 24.6 million people, experiencing acute hunger.

    Additionally, more than 12 million are now displaced, including 3.4 million who have fled across the border. Health services have collapsed, millions of children are out of school and relentless patterns of sexual violence have occurred.

    Recent alarming developments

    Ms. Wosornu focused on the latest alarming developments in North Darfur state, including the Zamzam displacement camp, and in Khartoum as well as the south of the country.

    She said eight months after the Council adopted Resolution 2739 (2024), civilians in North Darfur remain under attack. The resolution demanded the RSF stop besieging the state capital, El Fasher.

    Meanwhile, violence in and around Zamzam camp has further intensified. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of civilians are living there, where famine conditions have been confirmed. 

    She said satellite imagery confirms the use of heavy weaponry in and around Zamzam in recent weeks, and the destruction of the main market facilities there. 

    “Terrified civilians, including humanitarian workers, were unable to leave the area when the fighting was most intense. Many were killed, including at least two humanitarian workers,” she added.

    Fierce fighting elsewhere

    Civilians also continue to be directly impacted by ongoing fierce fighting in parts of Khartoum, where the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has verified reports of summary executions of civilians in areas that have changed hands.

    “We remain deeply concerned about the very serious risks faced by local responders and community volunteers, in Khartoum and elsewhere,” she said.

    Ms. Wosornu noted that in southern Sudan, there are reports of fighting spreading into new areas in North Kordofan and South Kordofan states, increasing risks for civilians and further complicating movements of humanitarian personnel and supplies.

    Shocking reports of further atrocities in White Nile state have also emerged, including a wave of attacks earlier this month reported to have killed scores of civilians.

    © WFP

    Sudan. Offloading of barge transported food aid

    Support humanitarian response

    She recalled that last week saw the launch of the 2025 humanitarian response plans for Sudan and the region. Together they call for $6 billion to support nearly 25 million people in Sudan and up to five million others, mainly refugees, in neighbouring countries.

    She said the international community, particularly Security Council members, must spare no effort to mitigate the crisis.

    Ms. Wosornu concluded her remarks by presenting three “key asks”. 

    “We call on the Security Council – and all Member States with influence – to take immediate action to ensure all actors comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians and the infrastructure and services they rely on,” she said. 

    Her second request highlighted the importance of access, as “we need real implementation of the repeated commitments to facilitate and enable unhindered, unfettered humanitarian access to civilians in need.”

    Finally, she highlighted the funding shortfall. 

    “The scale of Sudan’s needs is unprecedented and requires an equally unprecedented mobilization of international support, including flexible funding,” she said. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Greatest threat to UN Peacekeeping is divisions between nations, says UN Peace Operations Chief

    Source: United Nations 2

    The two-day event was an opportunity to highlight the importance of women in peacekeeping, and delegates also discussed the current challenges to peacekeeping, and how the UN and Member States can work together to adapt to the new realities of today’s geopolitical landscape.

    This interview has been edited for clarity and length

    UN News: What is the biggest threat to peacekeeping in the next 20 years, and how can we prepare for it today?

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix: The biggest challenge is divisions between our member states, because we rely on their strong and united political support.

    Unfortunately, that unity is less certain today. When they encounter challenges and difficulties existing peacekeeping missions cannot always count on strong and united support from Member States, including host governments.

    Another critical point is that peacekeeping operations are deployed to support political efforts. But for those political efforts to succeed, we need a united, committed, and strong international community.

    The nature of conflicts has evolved. There are more non-state actors, including private security companies. The drivers of conflicts are increasingly transnational, whether they are terrorism, organized crime, or the impact of climate change.

    Although we cannot control the level of unity among our Member States, we must work on addressing the evolving nature of conflicts and improving our ability to respond effectively.

    UN India/ Shachi Chaturvedi

    The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations (USG DPO, Jean-Pierre Lacroix takes a look at the ‘Make in India’ exhibition on the sidelines of the conference.

    UN News: How can peacekeeping stay ahead of the threats posed new technology, such as AI, cyber attacks and drones?

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix: That is a critical objective, and the reason we have launched a strategy for the digital transformation of peacekeeping, which aims to improve situational awareness, enhance the safety and security of our peacekeepers and counter misinformation, which is currently being weaponized in many peacekeeping settings.

    However, to achieve this we need to improve digital literacy among our staff, which will require significant efforts in terms of training and enhancing their level of preparedness. We cannot do that alone as the UN Secretariat, we need to work with our partners.

    UN News: From frontlines to leadership roles, what do you think would it take for women to be the face of UN peacekeeping?

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix: We are doing better when it comes to the number of women serving in peacekeeping, and the proportion of women has been constantly improving.

    However, we want to have more female officers in senior positions, such as Force Commander and Deputy Force Commander. Not many armed forces have women at this kind of level, but India is doing a lot to achieve that and is providing more female officers.

    We also have to look at how we make the peacekeeping environment welcoming for both women and men. This includes practical issues such as facilities, and a lot of effort is being made to improve the quality of our camps and their suitability for women as well as for men.

    © UN Photo/ Gema Cortes

    Captain Sandra Hernandez Vega (right) in Timbuktu, Mali (file)

    There is also a psychological dimension to this, ensuring that all peacekeepers, men and women, do their best to make the work environment welcoming to all, and certainly to women. We are working on this, but I think it’s also a shared responsibility that we have with the troop- and police-contributing countries.

    UN News: How can we improve the advancement of women in peacekeeping?

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix: First of all, it is UN policy to empower women. Having more female peacekeepers generates a better work environment and they become role models for other women. I believe that we have a better record of conduct and discipline when we have more women in peacekeeping.

    It’s particularly important to have more women in peacekeeping when it comes to building trust with communities, and that is something that has been regularly emphasized.

    However, their role is not limited to community engagement. For example, we have female officers who are helicopter pilots and basically every task that we have in peacekeeping is open to women as well as to men.

    UN News: How do you think the countries of the Global South can play a more active role in peacekeeping?

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix: The majority of the peacekeepers that we deploy come from the Global South, including India, which is one of the biggest contributors. Their role is critically important, not only in terms of numbers but also in other areas.

    India, for example, is helping with all efforts currently being carried out to improve peacekeeping, from safety and security to how we use digital technology. Of course, this includes improving the number of women in peacekeeping, enhancing how performance assessments are carried out, and other areas.

    I think there is a wealth of experience in the Global South which we really want to take advantage of so that we continue to adapt and address current challenges: we need to make sure that tomorrow’s peacekeeping operations remain relevant.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Somalia faces escalating crisis amid drought, conflict and price hikes

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    The humanitarian situation in Somalia is worsening as drought, conflict and soaring food prices push millions toward extreme hunger, UN agencies warned on Wednesday.

    New food security assessments indicate that 4.4 million people – nearly a quarter of the population – could face “crisis” levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher) between April and June 2025, marking a sharp increase from 3.4 million people currently experiencing acute hunger.

    “Worsening drought, erratic rainfall and ongoing conflict are eroding livelihoods, pushing families deeper into crisis,” said Etienne Peterschmitt, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Somalia.

    The hunger crisis is expected to be most severe among internally displaced persons (IDPs), pastoralists with limited livestock and farming households that have exhausted their food supplies.

    Consecutive climate shocks

    Somalia has suffered consecutive climate shocks, with below-average rainfall in late 2024 severely reducing crop yields, depleting water sources and leading to livestock losses. The effects of erratic rainfall and riverine flooding in key agricultural areas – such as Hiraan, Middle Shabelle and Middle Juba –further devastated crops.

    As a result, food prices remain high, worsening food insecurity for millions of Somalis already struggling with poverty and conflict-driven displacement.

    According to the latest report by the global food security tracker, IPC, 1.7 million children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2025, including 466,000 with severe acute malnutrition – an increase of 9 per cent compared to last year.

    Nearly two-thirds of these cases are concentrated in southern Somalia, where food insecurity is most extreme.

    Children most at risk

    “Past climate events demonstrate that children are the most affected, facing severe malnourishment and diseases that increase their risk of death and long-term developmental issues,” said Nisar Syed, Officer-in-Charge for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Somalia.

    He underscored the need to urgently implement better prevention measures, emphasising a multi-sector approach.

    This must combine immediate humanitarian response with long-term investments in resilience and health systems, he added.

    Multiple pressures

    Somalia’s food crisis is driven by multiple, overlapping factors: the 2024 Deyr rainy season (October–December) brought below-average rainfall, impacting both agropastoral communities and urban dwellers reliant on local food markets.

    The upcoming Gu season (April–June) is also forecast to be drier than normal, raising fears of further crop failures.

    At the same time, conflict and insecurity continue to displace families and disrupt livelihoods. Fighting in central and southern Somalia has hindered access to markets and aid, making it harder for affected communities to access food and basic services.

    “Recurrent climate shocks, protracted conflict, disease outbreaks and widespread poverty, among other factors, have aggravated the humanitarian crisis in Somalia,” said Crispen Rukasha, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Somalia.

    “Aid agencies are doing their best to save lives, but they urgently need adequate funding to meet the most critical needs at this juncture in Somalia,” he stressed.

    © UNDP Somalia

    Droughts are a constant threat in Somalia, in the horn of Africa.

    Action stations

    The agencies warned that without swift intervention, the situation could deteriorate to catastrophic levels.

    Though they are working to scale up food assistance, nutrition and livelihood support, programmes could be forced to scale down or stop altogether amid “critically low” funding.

    The 2025 Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires $1.42 billion, is currently only 12.4 per cent funded.

    “Famine was narrowly avoided in 2022 due to large-scale humanitarian support, which is needed again to provide immediate assistance while implementing longer-term solutions,” said El-Khidir Daloum, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Somalia.

    “However, funding shortfalls are forcing us to prioritize and reduce assistance at the worst possible time,” he added, urging greater international support.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Upcoming Financing for Development Conference ‘Perhaps Last’ Chance for Real Commitments, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Summit

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following is UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s message for the opening of the Finance in Common Summit, held in Cape Town, South Africa, today:

    I thank Remy Rioux and Adama Mariko from Finance in Common’s leadership, and this event’s co-hosts, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, for bringing us together.

    The world is dangerously off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  While we have made progress on many aspects of our development agenda, we have also faced multiple setbacks, including the pandemic, new conflicts, slowing global growth and escalating borrowing costs.

    Looking ahead, accelerating climate impacts, crushing debt burdens, and the spectre of escalating trade and geopolitical tensions are darkening the horizon.  The only way out of this storm is financing.

    But, right now, developing countries are unable to mobilize SDG investments in the face of debt overhangs, capital flight, climate risks and illicit financial flows that bleed their economies dry.  Even official development assistance (ODA), which has long provided a minimum safety net, is now under threat.

    The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla in July will be a pivotal moment to renew the global financing framework and redouble our collective efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development].  It presents a significant, and perhaps the last, opportunity before 2030 for real financial commitments to turn aspirations into actions.

    Addressing the sustainable development crisis requires two essential changes — both of which require the work of the institutions here at the Financing in Common Summit.

    The first change is a massive investment push.  The now-adopted Pact for the Future called for a massive financial stimulus to help developing countries invest in sustainable development.

    This push must be publicly led, but designed to leverage private investment and innovation.  It must work to mobilize capital at low cost.  And it must focus on transformative investments that can yield the greatest impact. Public development banks are integral to meeting this challenge.

    Doing so requires good governance, careful risk management and effective, independent management.  Development banks also need clear direction from policymakers to align their operations with the 2030 Agenda.

    The second change is reforming the international financial architecture.  This was another key commitment in the Pact for the Future.  The existing architecture was crafted 80 years ago when many countries were still under colonial rule.

    It’s high time for change.  This system needs to be fit for purpose in today’s world, which means putting developing countries squarely in the driver’s seat.  The elevation of public development banks is a critical part of this change.

    National banks are best placed to source projects and work with Governments to develop project pipelines that align with country priorities.  MDB [Multilateral development bank] financing, co-financing and working with national development banks can all combine to expand developing country ownership and improve the efficiency of the international system.

    The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is uniquely placed to support this agenda.  The zero draft of the Conference’s outcome document already contains ambitious proposals related to public development banks.  While Member States will ultimately decide how to proceed, I urge you to support them.

    Across this work and more, your engagement with the Financing for Development process will help ensure the Conference has political traction and the best chance of success.  I wish you a successful Summit this week and hope to see you again in Sevilla.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP and Spain launch first-time partnership to enhance access to education and food security in upper Egypt

    Source: World Food Programme

    Assiut, EGYPT – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Egypt and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) have launched a first-time partnership to support Egypt’s national school feeding programme. With a focus on school-based support and cash assistance, the collaboration aims to improve food security and nutrition for students, teachers, and families among Egypt’s most vulnerable communities in Assiut governorate in Upper Egypt.

    With a contribution of EUR 650,000 from the Spanish Cooperation, WFP will support about 4,100 community school[1] students and their family members through school feeding, conditional cash assistance, and awareness-raising sessions. 

    Over the course of the two-year programme, students will receive daily fortified in-school snacks in the form of date bars, securing 25% of their daily caloric needs. As part of the national safety net “Takaful and Karama”, students’ families will also receive monthly cash transfers, conditional on their child achieving an 80% school attendance rate. This initiative helps incentivize education and improve families’ ability to secure their basic needs, while helping reduce school dropout rates, child labour and early marriage among girls.

    Additionally, the supported community schools will serve as hubs for awareness-raising activities focused on social and behavioural change, promoting healthy nutrition, gender equality, and inclusion among students, parents, and the wider community.

    To mark the launch of the programme, WFP Egypt Representative and Country Director, Jean-Pierre de Margerie, Spanish Ambassador to Egypt, Álvaro Iranzo, and Head of the Spanish Cooperation in Egypt, Eva  Suárez, visited one of the participating community schools in Assiut. They engaged with students, families, and teachers to discuss the programme’s activities and met with women and youth who have benefitted from the proven success of WFP’s already ongoing vocational training programme. 

    “We are thrilled to launch this first-time partnership with the Spanish Cooperation complementing Egypt’s national school feeding programme. As the world continues to face socio-economic challenges, this collaboration not only invests in children’s education and nutrition, but it provides an essential safety net for vulnerable families. By alleviating financial pressures and promoting consistent school attendance, we are helping communities build resilience and improve their food security,” said Jean-Pierre de Margerie, WFP Egypt Representative and Country Director.

    “In partnership with Spain and the Egyptian government, we are addressing immediate needs while also laying long-term stability and opportunities for children and their families,” added de Margerie.

    “Spain is committed to leaving no one behind in a situation of vulnerability, through all instruments and the collaboration of all cooperation actors, including international development and humanitarian agencies, with WFP being one of the actors that receives regular and established contributions from our government,” said Álvaro Iranzo, Spanish Ambassador to Egypt. 

    “We hope that this project, which is inaugurated today, will lay the foundations for a fruitful cooperation between Spanish Cooperation and WFP in Egypt to jointly contribute to the achievement of SDG 4: Equitable, inclusive and quality education and lifelong learning, and SDG 2: Food security and the fight against hunger, in order to achieve sustainable human development worldwide,” added Iranzo.

    “This project, which is being inaugurated today, is the first one funded by the  Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) for the World Food Programme in Egypt, with a budget of €650,000 to achieve “Improvement in access to education and nutrition through sustainable interventions in schools and cash transfers to help students, teachers, and households in vulnerable situations,” said Eva  Suárez, Head of the Spanish Cooperation in Egypt. 

    “It is highly appreciated that the project is being carried out in the province of Assiut, given its geographical dimensions, as well as its difficulties in achieving good access to education and full food security. Therefore, we consider that the selection of this location is very favourable to ensure that no one is left behind and to increase human development in all provinces of Egypt,” added Suarez.

    This new partnership builds on WFP’s ongoing programmes—ranging from nutrition and support for refugees and migrants to the empowerment of women and youth, as well as rural development—benefiting over 830,000 people in 2024 alone.

    #                       #                       #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. 

     

    Follow us on Twitter @WFP_Egypt 

    And on Instagram @WFP_Egypt 

    [1] Community schools are one-classroom, multi-grade schools established in remote areas to help students who have missed out on education reintegrate into the school system.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 26 February 2025 Departmental update WHO champions data quality for stronger HIV programmes

    Source: World Health Organisation

    WHO, in collaboration with The Global Fund, UNAIDS and partners, has published a new technical brief on HIV data quality management and improvement. This technical brief underscores the critical role of accurate and reliable data in enhancing HIV programmes and health outcomes, while also highlighting the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in this domain.

    Since 2018, WHO has been at the forefront of efforts to enhance data quality, partnering with countries and stakeholders to conduct over 40 data quality assessments across the six WHO regions. These efforts have not only bolstered programme impact but have also supported evidence-based decision-making, optimized service delivery, procurement and supply chain management. It has also enabled accurate tracking of progress and outcomes.

    Enhancing programmes through improved data quality

    Implementing robust data quality assessment and improvement activities is crucial for strengthening data systems and enhancing programmatic impact. WHO and partners have developed comprehensive data quality assessment tools and guidance, such as this newly published brief, the 2024 data quality assessment implementation tool for HIV treatment, or the 2024 module for assessing and strengthening the quality of viral load testing data.

    “Investing in data quality is essential to ensure value for money, boost efficiency, inform data-driven decisions and amplify impact of HIV programmes,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes. “This technical brief is a vital resource for national HIV programmes, implementing partners, and funders. By prioritizing data quality, learning from country experiences and embracing digital solutions, HIV programmes can achieve greater impact and sustainability.”

    Lessons learnt and success stories from countries

    The technical brief showcases successful practices and lessons learned from countries, illustrating the importance of tailored approaches to data quality management. While every country needs to adapt the key principles outlined in the brief to their situation, the good practice examples can serve as inspiration for other countries facing similar challenges.

    Embracing the future with digital solutions

    Looking ahead, integration of artificial intelligence and other digital solutions is poised to further enhance data quality and utilization in a cost-effective manner. These advancements which are highlighted in the technical brief offer new avenues for improving data accuracy, reducing manual errors, and boosting the overall efficiency of health data systems. By leveraging digital innovations, HIV programmes can ensure sustainable and impactful responses.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 26 February 2025 Departmental update New WHO partnership with Indian Institute to advance technology transfer and health equity

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The WHO Health Technology Access Programme (HTAP), the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia and the WHO Country Office for India met with the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) at the Institute’s campus in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, on 12—13 February 2025 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organizations in January 2025.

    The visit and technical discussions mark an important milestone in facilitating the transfer of selected technologies from institutions with a public health mandate to HTAP and subsequently to suitable manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

    HTAP’s mission is to bridge the health technology access gap by providing an evidence-driven mechanism for selecting, securing and facilitating the geo-diversified transfer of existing technologies. In the long run, it also seeks to build end-to-end product development capacity in LMICs through global and regional health technology consortia.

    Discussions focused on potential technology candidates and key areas for potential collaboration, including education and training, technology transfer and the business incubation unit designed to allow small startups the opportunity to develop projects, informed by interactions with SCTIMST scientists, if requested.

    SCTIMST is a unique publicly funded institution that carries research and development of prioritized medical technologies all the way to proof of concept while also providing the necessary support for technology transfer. Fields of research discussed in detail during the visit include biomaterials, biomedical engineering, in vitro diagnostics, other medical devices and assistive technologies, which jointly contribute to a growing list of technologies that have now been commercialized in India and beyond.

    The MOU with SCTIMST will support HTAP’s vision of establishing a global network of public institutions that could provide technologies under transparent, non-exclusive licenses, addressing critical access gaps in underserved regions. This effort is guided by a robust prioritization process that considers both need and the likelihood of success.

    A two-year workplan is currently being developed to translate the objectives of the MoU into concrete, actionable activities.

    HTAP, which builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP), remains focused on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. At the same time, it promotes access to health products that address existing public health priorities by actively targeting platform technologies and other essential health products relevant both during and beyond health emergencies. 

    From left to right: Dr Anoop Kumar, Scientist, molecular medicine, SCTIMST, Dr Madhur Gupta, Technical officer, WHO Country Office for India, Mr Einstein Kesi, Medical device expert, WHO HTAP, Dr Dragana Milic, Diagnostics and medical device expert, WHO HTAP, Mr Michael Ward, Senior technical specialist, WHO HTAP, Mr Jofy Paul, Vice president, R&D-Reagent, Agappe.

    From left to right: Mr Einstein Kesi, Medical device expert, WHO HTAP, Dr Roy Joseph, Scientist, Polymeric medical devices, SCTIMST, Dr Sanjay Behari, Director, SCTIMST, Dr Anoop Kumar, Scientist, molecular medicine, SCTIMST, Mr Michael Ward, Senior technical specialist, WHO HTAP, Dr Madhur Gupta, Technical officer, WHO Country Office for India, Dr Jayasree RS, Scientist, biophotonics and imaging, SCTIMST, Mr Nagesh DS, Scientist, extracorporeal devices, SCTIMST, Dr Manikandan S, Deputy director, SCTIMST.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks to the opening of the Finance in Common Summit 2025 [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

    I thank Remy Rioux and Adama Mariko from Finance in Common’s leadership, and this event’s co-hosts, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, for bringing us together.

    Excellencies,

    The world is dangerously off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

    While we have made progress on many aspects of our development agenda, we have also faced multiple setbacks, including the pandemic, new conflicts, slowing global growth, and escalating borrowing costs.

    Looking ahead, accelerating climate impacts, crushing debt burdens, and the specter of escalating trade and geopolitical tensions are darkening the horizon.

    The only way out of this storm is financing.

    But right now, developing countries are unable to mobilize SDG investments in the face of debt overhangs, capital flight, climate risks, and illicit financial flows that bleed their economies dry.

    Even official development assistance, which has long provided a minimum safety net, is now under threat.

    The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla in July will be a pivotal moment to renew the global financing framework and redouble our collective efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

    It presents a significant, and perhaps the last, opportunity before 2030 for real financial commitments to turn aspirations into actions.

    Addressing the sustainable development crisis requires two essential changes – both of which require the work of the institutions here at the Financing in Common Summit.

    The first change is a massive investment push.

    The now-adopted Pact for the Future called for a massive financial stimulus to help developing countries invest in sustainable development.

    This push must be publicly-led but designed to leverage private investment and innovation. It must work to mobilize capital at low cost. And it must focus on transformative investments that can yield the greatest impact.

    Public development banks are integral to meeting this challenge.

    Doing so requires good governance, careful risk management, and effective, independent management.

    Development banks also need clear direction from policymakers to align their operations with the 2030 Agenda.

    The second change is reforming the international financial architecture.

    This was another key commitment in the Pact for the Future.

    The existing architecture was crafted 80 years ago when many countries were still under colonial rule.

    It’s high time for change.

    This system needs to be fit for purpose in today’s world, which means putting developing countries squarely in the driver’s seat.

    The elevation of public development banks is a critical part of this change.

    National banks are best placed to source projects and work with governments to develop project pipelines that align with country priorities.

    MDB financing, co-financing, and working with national development banks can all combine to expand developing country ownership and improve the efficiency of the international system.

    The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is uniquely placed to support this agenda.

    The zero draft of the conference’s outcome document already contains ambitious proposals related to public development banks. While Member States will ultimately decide how to proceed, I urge you to support them.

    Excellencies,

    Across this work and more, your engagement with the FfD process will help ensure the Conference has political traction and the best chance of success.

    I wish you a successful Summit this week and hope to see you again in Sevilla.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: West Bank security situation remains alarming, warn UN aid agencies

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    Weeks of deadly Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank have turned Palestinian communities into “battlefields” and left 40,000 people homeless, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday.

    The violence has seen exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants – and the use of bulldozers in refugee camps for the first time in 20 years which have destroyed public services, including vital electricity and water networks.

    Israel’s defence minister said on Sunday forces could remain in the camps for the “coming year”. 

    Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN’s Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, said that “fear, uncertainty, and grief once again prevail. Affected camps lie in ruins…Destruction of public infrastructure, bulldozing roads and access restrictions are common place,” said

    More than 50 people including children have been killed since Israeli military raids started five weeks ago, the UN agency said, warning that the West Bank “is becoming a battlefield” where ordinary Palestinians are the first and worst to suffer.

    Lethal force

    Meanwhile, UN aid coordinating office, OCHA, also condemned the “lethal, war-like tactics” being employed by the Israeli military against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank.

    OCHA confirmed further civilian casualties and mass displacement after a two-day Israeli military raid in the northern town of Qabatiya in Jenin governorate that ended on Monday.

    Palestinians were detained in the operation, OCHA noted, before reiterating deep concerns about the use of excessive force against civilians and the additional humanitarian needs among people left homeless.

    Responding to needs

    UN partners on the ground are doing their utmost to help people uprooted by the violence despite growing “physical and administrative” challenges, OCHA said.

    According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), it reached 190,000 people in January with cash assistance and has provided one-off cash assistance to more than 5,000 displaced people from the Jenin refugee camp.

    Gaza cold kills six children

    In neighbouring Gaza, UN and its humanitarian partners have continued to scale up food security and livelihood support, while six children reportedly died from the cold.

    Needs remain enormous amid desperate humanitarian conditions caused by 15 months of constant Israeli bombardment sparked by Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel that left 1,200 dead and some 250 people captured as hostages.

    Citing the Gazan health authorities, OCHA said that six children from the Gaza Strip have died in recent days because to the severe cold, bringing to 15 the total number of youngsters killed by the winter conditions.

    Meanwhile, more than 800 trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday alone, OCHA said. Since the start of the ceasefire on 19 January, WFP has brought more than 30,000 tonnes of food into Gaza. More than 60 kitchens supported by the UN agency across the Strip have handed out nearly 10 million meals, including in North Gaza and Rafah in the south.

    The biggest aid provider in Gaza, UNRWA, has reached nearly 1.3 million people with flour and reached about two million people with food parcels since the start of the ceasefire.

    The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also reported that it has delivered animal feed to northern Gaza for the first time since the escalation of hostilities.

    The aid delivery last week has helped 146 families with livestock in Gaza City alongside another 980 in Deir al Balah.

    Between the start of the ceasefire and 21 February, FAO distributed more than 570 metric tonnes of animal feed across the Gaza Strip to some 2,300 families with livestock.

    OCHA noted in addition that aid partners working in education have identified additional schools in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah that were used as shelters for displaced people. “These schools will be assessed and repaired to prepare for their reopening,” it said. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Last Chance’ to Achieve Two-State Solution, UN Mediator Tells Security Council, as Speakers Highlight Need to Sustain Gaza Ceasefire

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    This may be “the last chance” to achieve a two-State solution — the creation of independent Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully side by side — a United Nations mediator told the Security Council today, as it considered the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the first phase of which is set to expire on 1 March.

    While welcoming the implementation of this initial phase, including the release of 34 hostages, Sigrid Kaag, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim, added:  “None of us will forget the harrowing pictures of the coffins of the Bibas children taken hostage with their mother and killed while in captivity.” Condemning Hamas’ public parading of hostages, she also noted the release of 1,135 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and reports of the ill treatment and humiliation they experienced.

    In Gaza, far more remains to be done to address over 15 months of deprivation of basic human necessities and “above all, a loss of human dignity”, she said, while noting some improvements in humanitarian aid access.  “Palestinians must be able to resume their lives, to rebuild and to construct their future in Gaza,” she stressed, adding that there can be no question of forced displacement.  Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State, and the Strip must be unified with the West Bank including East Jerusalem, “politically, economically and administratively”, she said, calling on the Council to ensure continued support for the full realization of the ceasefire deal, urgent de-escalation in West Bank and support for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction — which would cost $53 billion.

    Also briefing the Council today was Daniel Levy, President of the US/Middle East Project, who stressed that Israelis and Palestinians both deserve security, while acknowledging the “power asymmetry” between a colonizing State and a colonized people.  Recalling the Israeli ambassador’s “gimmick” of shredding the UN Charter at the General Assembly podium, he said:  “When a State like Israel conducts itself in ways that render the Charter meaningless and which assault [international] conventions, including on genocide […] then that is a challenge that cannot be allowed to pass.”

    Calling for a full ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages and a surge in humanitarian assistance, he cautioned:  “There is good reason to fear that this could collapse.”  In that vein, he warned against the attempt to permanently depopulate the north of Gaza, adding:  “Hamas non-governance in Gaza is achievable, the movement itself has said so.”  But, there will be resistance if the structural violence of occupation and apartheid continue.  He also cautioned against zero-sum thinking, also stressing that the unlawful forced displacement of Palestinians must not be endorsed or encouraged by any State, let alone, one of the permanent five.

    Testimony from Ex-Hostage

    “I was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023 from the Nova music festival with my partner,” recalled Noa Argamani, who also addressed the Council today.  She added that she was taken by force into Gaza and “held in total fear, living in a nightmare”.  Noting that she was rescued by Israeli soldiers after eight months in captivity, she said:  “Being here today is a miracle, but I’m here today to tell you we have no time.” There are still 63 hostages in captivity — 24 believed to still be alive — “the [ceasefire] deal must go on, in full”, she urged.

    Recalling that her captors murdered her friend, she underscored:  “Every second in captivity is dangerous.”  The Council must “not let the darkness take over”, she warned, stating that she came to the Council so that the international community understands that “the hostages are in hell” and deserve to return home immediately.

    Determined to Eradicate Hamas

    “This is the story of every hostage and every family shattered by Hamas’ terror,” said Israel’s delegate, urging the Council to adopt a resolution condemning the group — a move he argued the 15-member organ could have taken 16 months ago.  Stressing that the tragedy will not end “until each one of them is back home”, he continued: “The question now is whether this Council will help write that ending, or continue to look away.”

    “No matter what happens, our commitment to freeing all the hostages and completely eradicating Hamas is unshakeable,” he underscored. Turning to the humanitarian situation, he pointed to thousands of trucks entering Gaza every week to deliver aid and stressed:  “The only starved people in Gaza are the hostages.”  He added that “it is time to think beyond the frameworks of the past and build a new reality — one where terrorists do not hold entire communities hostage and where life is sacred once more”.

    Recordings of Gunfire at Family 

    Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, said while “nothing justifies” what happened to the Bibas family, Palestinian children are “not any less deserving of your outrage for their killing”.  He went on to play recordings of the calls made to emergency services by 15-year-old Layan Hamadeh and her 6-year-old cousin Hind Rajab — both found dead later — after their family members were shot dead while evacuating Gaza City by car. He also remembered the Palestinian parents who had to collect “what remained of their children’s bodies in plastic bags”.

    “Did you see the images of our released prisoners, often starved, with marks and scars on their bodies?”, he asked, noting that Israel subjects them to beatings and humiliating treatments.  “How many hostages were released by military actions and how many hundreds of Palestinians have perished in these military attacks that were supposed to rescue the hostages but led to the death of many of them?”, he asked, adding:  “Ceasefire works.”  The next few days is a test of Israel’s true priorities, he said.

    Support for Ceasefire’s Second Phase

    Council members stressed the need to uphold the ceasefire and reach an agreement on the second phase, which aims to establish a permanent truce.  Under this phase, Israel would fully withdraw from Gaza, while Hamas would release all remaining hostages in exchange for additional detainees.

    The representative of Sierra Leone, voiced a “renewed sense of relief and optimism” despite “the uncertainty that still looms”.  The representative of the Republic of Korea noted that the agreement shows “what firm political will can bring to the region” as Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners reunite with their families.  The ceasefire is also saving lives, Denmark’s delegate said, adding that it is vital that it moves to its second phase.  Georgios Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, added that the ceasefire will “allow planning for a more prosperous and secure ‘day after’ for the whole region”.

    The representative of France said that his country has deployed specialized personnel within the framework of the European Union Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point to support the ceasefire.  He also noted that his country and Saudi Arabia will co-chair an international conference for the implementation of a two-State solution in June.

    The Russian Federation’s delegate expressed concern about the “opaque monitoring mechanism”, highlighting accusations from both sides about the other side’s bad faith in the implementation of individual steps.  Somalia’s delegate said that the continued attacks, illegal arrests, settlement-expansion and excessive use of force “undermine the spirit of the ceasefire deal” and that “mediation efforts will not succeed if the aggression continues unchecked”.  If the ceasefire fails, Panama’s delegate warned, “then the human toll will be incalculable and prospects for regional peace and stability will fade further”.

    The representative of the United Kingdom welcomed improved aid supplies since the ceasefire agreement as having “demonstrated the central role of the UN and humanitarian actors, including UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East]”.  She also expressed concern over tightening humanitarian space, as well as the expansion of Israel’s operations killing and displacing civilians in the West Bank.

    Gaza’s Future without Hamas

    The representative of the United States expressed support for Israel’s “sovereign decision” to close UNRWA offices in Jerusalem, adding:  “UNRWA is not and never has been the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza”.  Her country stands with all hostages, she said, adding that the desecration of the remains of Shiri Bibas shows “the depth of Hamas’s cruelty”.  President Donald J. Trump has made clear that the future of Gaza must look different, she said, adding that Hamas must be fully removed from power and held accountable for its 7 October 2023 terrorist massacre.

    Save West Bank from Becoming Next Gaza

    Other speakers, however, highlighted the impact of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, and the escalation of settlements and violence in the West Bank.  “Israel is not trying to return to calm,” said Kuwait’s delegate, speaking for the Arab Group.  Asking the Council if it is waiting for a repeat of the Gaza tragedy, he called on the international community to help end the occupying Power’s aggression in the West Bank and its attacks on Christian and Muslim holy sites in the Aqsa Mosque compound.

    Algeria’s delegate drew attention to the Israeli Finance Minister’s declaration that the “goal for 2025 is to demolish more than what Palestinian are building in the West Bank”.  Stressing the need to support UNRWA and empower the Palestinian Authority, he added that weakening the Authority is a deliberate strategy by the Israeli occupying Power which dreams “of a land free of Palestinians”, from the river to the sea.  Five newborn babies froze to death yesterday in a hospital in Gaza City, he noted, adding “we have no more time to waste”.  The ceasefire agreement should serve as a foundation for a durable peace plan.

    Slovenia’s delegate stressed:  “Gaza belongs to Gazans and it is an integral part of the Palestinian State.”  Pointing to the “many more steps” needed for lasting peace to persist in the Middle East, he observed:  “While peace seems to be a big word, it essentially boils down to everyday decisions to work for it.”

    “The cumulative effect of Israel’s violent occupation of Palestinian territories has entrapped the Palestinian people in a cycle of violence and poverty,” Guyana’s delegate noted.  Pakistan’s representative pointed to the forcible displacement, military raids, settler violence and illegal land annexations Israel is conducting, describing these as “ethnic cleansing in real time”.

    The representative of China, Council President for February, speaking in his national capacity, urged the international community to support the parties in moving ahead with negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and called on Israel to cease its military and settler activity in the West Bank, underscoring:  “The West Bank must not become the next Gaza.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: At Least Five Peacekeeping, Associated Personnel Killed in Malicious Attacks During 2024, United Nations Staff Union Committee Says

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    At Least 116 Staff Members of United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency Killed in 2024, Bringing Total to 263 Staff Fatalities Since War in Gaza

    At least five United Nations personnel — four military peacekeeping personnel and one civilian UN security coordination officer — were killed in deliberate attacks in 2024, the United Nations Staff Union Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service said today.  By nationality, the UN personnel who died in 2024 were from Cameroon (1), Ghana (1), India (1) Pakistan (1) and Uganda (1).

    This does not include the personnel of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) who died in the war in Gaza, since they were not deliberately targeted.  However, at least 116 UNRWA personnel had been confirmed killed in 2024 in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in response to the terror attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023, the largest loss during a conflict in the 79-year history of the United Nations.  As of 29 December 2024, the total number of UNRWA team members killed since 7 October 2023 is 263 (UNRWA Situation Report #153).

    Peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were also affected by conflicts in the region.

    On 11 October, two peacekeepers from Indonesia serving with UNIFIL were injured after two explosions occurred close to an observation tower near the mission’s base in Naquora.

    On 29 October, eight peacekeepers from Austria serving with UNIFIL were wounded after a rocket, likely fired by Hizbullah or an affiliated group, hit UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon.

    On 7 November, a UNIFIL convoy bringing newly arrived peacekeepers from Malaysia to south Lebanon was passing Saida when a drone strike occurred nearby.  Five peacekeepers were lightly injured.

    On 19 November, four peacekeepers from Ghana serving with UNIFIL were wounded when a rocket most likely fired by Hizbullah hit their base in southern Lebanon.  Peacekeepers and facilities were targeted in three separate incidents.

    On 22 November, four peacekeepers from Italy serving with UNIFIL were wounded when two rockets, likely launched by Hizbullah or affiliated groups, struck the Sector West Headquarters in Shama.

    In addition, three members of the World Food Programme (WFP) Sudan country team — the Head of field office, a programme associate and a security guard — lost their lives on 19 December after an aerial bombardment hit the WFP Field Office Compound in Yabus, Blue Nile State.

    The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was the deadliest for peacekeepers with two fatalities, followed by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) with one.

    In 2023 at least 11 United Nations personnel (seven military and four civilians) were killed in malicious attacks, and in 2022 at least 32 (28 peacekeepers and four civilians).  The drop in fatalities can partly be attributed to the conclusion in 2023 of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the deadliest peacekeeping mission with 175 fatalities due to malicious acts.

    Deliberate Attacks

    Following is a non-exhaustive list of deliberate attacks in 2024 that resulted in the death or injury of United Nations and associated personnel, compiled by the United Nations Staff Union Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service.

    On 10 January, Al-Shabaab militants seized a helicopter with United Nations personnel travelling onboard in Galmdug, Somalia.  The helicopter was captured after it had to make an emergency landing in an area controlled by the armed group.  According to media reports, the helicopter took off from the city of Beledweyne and landed close to Gadoon village (near Hindhere village) in central Somalia’s Galgaduud region due to a technical glitch.  The UN-contracted helicopter was conducting an air medical evacuation.  According to media reports, nine people were on board:  four Ukrainian crew members, two Kenyan nurses, an Egyptian working for a contractor who provides emergency medical evaluations, a Somali military doctor and a Ugandan protection officer.  At least one passenger was reportedly killed and six were seized by al-Shabaab.

    On 11 January, Maimudu Edema, a peacekeeper from Uganda, serving with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, was killed when mortar rounds landed inside the Aden Adde International Airport area, in which the UN Compound was located.  Al-Shabaab has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

    On 15 January, Emmanuel Steve Atebele, a peacekeeper from Cameroon serving with MINUSCA, was killed when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Mbindali, in Ouham-Pendé Prefecture, north-west of Paoua, Central African Republic.  Five other blue helmets were injured in the attack.

    On 27 January, Kyere Evans, a peacekeeper from Ghana serving with UNISFA, was killed when the mission’s base in Agok came under attack by an armed group.

    On 28 January, Muhammad Tariq, a peacekeeper from Pakistan serving with UNISFA, died in Abyei when a UNISFA convoy transporting civilians came under attack.

    On 2 February, two peacekeepers from South Africa serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), were injured in an attack on a UN helicopter in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The helicopter was carrying out a medical evacuation when it came under fire from presumed members of the M23 armed group in the Karuba region, North Kivu Province.  The helicopter was able to land safely in the provincial capital, Goma.

    On 16 March, eight peacekeepers serving with MONUSCO were wounded during clashes between the M23 armed group and Government troops.  The incident occurred in the vicinity of Sake, 20 kilometres from Goma.  The wounded peacekeepers, who were part of Operation Springbok initiated in November 2023 to safeguard civilians in the region, sustained their injuries amidst the ongoing fighting, where MONUSCO troops had been assisting Government forces to protect vulnerable civilians.

    On 13 May, Waibhav Anil Kale, a former military officer from India working as a security coordination officer for the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), was killed in Rafah, southern Gaza, when a weapon impacted the back of his clearly marked United Nations vehicle.  The vehicle was driving to the European Hospital in Rafah.  Another UNDSS staff member, a Jordanian woman travelling in the same vehicle, was injured.  The shots were thought to come from an Israel Defense Forces tank in the area.

    On 10 October, two peacekeepers from Sri Lanka serving with UNIFIL were injured after an Israel Defense Forces tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting the tower and causing its fall.

    Violations of the Independence of the International Civil Service

    On 24 January, the Houthi authorities in Yemen ordered United Nations and other humanitarian staff holding United States and United Kingdom passports to leave the country within a month.  The de facto authorities, who controlled the capital, Sana’a, along with many other areas of the country, thus violated the independence of the international civil service.

    On 11 June, the Secretary-General called for the immediate release of all United Nations staff held in Yemen by the de facto Houthi authorities, following the arbitrary detention of 13 of the Organization’s personnel, including six staff members of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).  Four additional United Nations staff members had been detained and held incommunicado by the de facto authorities since 2021 and 2023, without access to their families or their respective organizations and agencies.

    On 12 October, the heads of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and OHCHR, as well as the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, renewed urgent calls for the immediate release of their staff arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen, amid reports that some of them might face “criminal prosecution”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP forced to pause food distributions in Sudan’s Zamzam camp as fighting intensifies

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: WFP/Mohamed Galal. A family that doesn’t have money or anything and they don’t have what to eat, they eat the residuals from the production of groundnut oil called Ombaz. Sudan, North Darfur, Zamzam Camp.

    PORT SUDAN, Sudan – Intense fighting in Zamzam camp in Sudan’s North Darfur region has forced the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to temporarily pause the distribution of life-saving food and nutrition assistance in the famine-hit camp for displaced people. Over the past two weeks escalating violence left WFP’s partners with no choice but to evacuate staff for safety.

    “Without immediate assistance, thousands of desperate families in Zamzam could starve in the coming weeks,” said Laurent Bukera, Regional Director for Eastern Africa and acting Country Director for Sudan. “We must resume the delivery of life-saving aid in and around Zamzam safely, quickly and at scale. For that the fighting must stop, and humanitarian organizations must be granted security guarantees.” 

    In February, WFP and its partners only managed to provide 60,000 people with food vouchers, when heavy shelling forced the pause of aid operations earlier this month. 

    The food vouchers allow families to purchase essential food supplies, such as cereals, pulses, oil and salt, directly from local markets which WFP helps to keep stocked through its local private sector retail network. 

    The recent violence left Zamzam’s Central Market destroyed by shelling, pushing residents of the camp – estimated to be around 500,000 people – further away from accessing essential food and supplies.

    WFP and other partners have been working to deliver food and nutrition assistance to displaced people in and around North Darfur’s Zamzam camp. These people will not receive support until WFP is able to safely resume activities and get humanitarian assistance to the area. 

    Famine was confirmed in Zamzam last August. Since then, WFP has managed to transport just one convoy of humanitarian supplies into the camp despite repeated attempts. Poor road conditions during the rainy season, purposeful obstruction by the Rapid Support Forces, and fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the SAF-affiliated joint forces along the route to Zamzam has frustrated WFP’s many attempts. 

    The closure of the Adre border in the first half of 2024 also prevented WFP from stockpiling food in Zamzam, which would have meant consistent support through the latter part of the year. 

    “We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to assist millions of people facing famine or at risk across Sudan. We are trying every possible way to get vital aid into the hands of people whose lives hang in the balance,” Bukera said.

    To provide assistance when insecurity prevents access, WFP launched an online self-registration link for digital cash transfers in North Darfur. This initiative helps ensure that people receive critically necessary assistance when the agency must suspend its operations until conditions permit the safe passage of humanitarian personnel and convoys. 

    WFP has made breakthroughs in delivering support to hard-to-reach areas across Sudan with areas of Gezira State and Khartoum reached for the first time since the war started. 

    In 2024, two out of every three people in famine or risk of famine areas received WFP assistance. However, access remains sporadic, and two million people in 27 locations across Sudan are currently experiencing, or on the brink of, famine. Regular, monthly deliveries to starving communities are the only way to push back the famine in Sudan.

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @wfp_sudan

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 26 February 2025 UHC-Partnership: Namibia tackles antimicrobial resistance

    Source: World Health Organisation

    In June 2024, a 66-year-old woman was admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Intermediate Hospital Katutura in Windhoek, Namibia. She was diagnosed with pneumonia, and tests showed that the organism responsible for her severe illness was resistant to all antibiotics except tigecycline. At the hospital, the pharmacy department had to obtain a compassionate clearance permit to procure and import tigecycline for the patient.

    “The patient completed the course, stabilized, and was discharged from the intensive care unit to a general ward. Unfortunately, due to various complicated comorbidities, the patient eventually passed away”, said Ms Taimi Ipinge, a Chief Pharmacist at Intermediate Hospital Katutura.

    Tragically, this type of resistance to antibiotics is all too common in Namibia, as with elsewhere in the world.

    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.

    AMR is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

    In 2019, Namibia recorded 451 deaths attributable to AMR and 1,900 deaths were associated with AMR.

    Acting to stop AMR

    The Government of Namibia recognizes that AMR is a threat to health security across the country and region and that a range of health system interventions are necessary to protect the population’s health and ensure good progress towards universal health coverage (UHC).

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), with support from WHO through the UHC Partnership and others, is implementing various activities in line with the AMR National Action Plan in compliance with the Global Action Plan to address AMR.

    The Government responded to the overuse of antibiotics by setting up a national multi-sectoral AMR governance to guide, oversee, coordinate, and monitor AMR-related activities in all sectors to ensure a systematic and comprehensive implementation of Namibia’s National Action Plan on AMR.

    In November 2021, Namibia commemorated its first World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW). In 2023, MoHSS in collaboration with AMR quadripartite organizations, commemorated the week under the theme of ‘Preventing antimicrobial resistance together’ with the slogan ‘Antimicrobials: handle with care’. The event brought together the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

    Namibia launched its infection prevention and control action plan and national guidelines. WHO provided support to a range of activities for this including distribution of information, education and communication materials around infection prevention and control, regional orientation on quality standards, in-service training focal points, and training on water, sanitation, and hygiene for hospital quality improvement plans. Thanks to capacity-building support from WHO, Namibia also reached a significant milestone for the first submission of data on AMR to GLASS in December 2023.

    “AMR is extremely serious. If left unchecked it means we are heading to a world where medical treatment of routine ailments or operations is life threatening and a greater number of people might stop responding to drugs. It challenges all our efforts to strengthen health systems and achieve universal health coverage. WHO commends the Namibian Government for the strategic and multiple approaches taken through collaboration between sectors and work across the region to raise awareness amongst the public,” said Dr Richard Banda, WHO Representative to Namibia.

    Strengthening health security

    Namibia’s response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is part of the broader effort to strengthen health security across the country. By integrating a One Health approach and engaging key sectors, Namibia is actively working to strengthen its health systems, improve surveillance, and ensure that it is prepared to respond to emerging health threats. The launch of the National Tripartite One Health Strategy 2024-2028 further underlines the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health, both within the country and in collaboration with regional and international partners.

    The UHC Partnership operates in over 125 countries, representing over 3 billion people. It is supported and funded by Belgium, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and WHO.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNDRR Regional Office for Africa – CREWS Initiative Factsheet

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Since 2022, with the support of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Office for Africa (UNDRR ROA) has been providing technical support, policy guidance and capacity building across sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen national and regional disaster risk management and early warning/early action systems.

    We are pleased to share some highlights of our impact between 2022 and 2024.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Somalia: Drought, conflict and high food prices risk pushing 4.4 million people into hunger, The Federal Government of Somalia and UN warn

    Source: World Food Programme

    MOGADISHU, Somalia, 26 February 2025 – New data from Somalia shows that 4.4 million people could face hunger by April 2025, driven by worsening drought conditions, conflict and high food prices.

    The Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations agencies warn that without adequate funding for humanitarian action, the country – which in 2022 was pushed to the brink of famine by severe drought, resulting in thousands of deaths, with nearly half being children – could once again face deepening hunger.  

    Today’s warning from the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) comes as the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows that 3.4 million people are already experiencing crisis-levels, or higher, of hunger in Somalia (IPC3+). This number is projected to rise to 4.4 million (23 per cent of the population) between April and June 2025, when below-average Gu rains are forecast.  

    “Worsening drought poses a severe threat to communities already grappling with immense hardship and ongoing conflict. Urgent action is required to save lives, protect livelihoods, and prevent further suffering,” said His Excellency Mohamuud Moallim, Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA). “This time, we are not only confronting the devastating impacts of drought but also compounding risks, including conflict and an unprecedented decline in humanitarian funding. These overlapping crises demand immediate, collective and well-coordinated action to strengthen Somalia’s resilience and safeguard our most vulnerable communities.” 

    The hardest-hit households include those with low agricultural yields who have depleted their food stocks, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pastoralists with limited livestock and below-average earnings from livestock sales.

    “Worsening drought, erratic rainfall, and ongoing conflict are eroding livelihoods, pushing families deeper into crisis,” said FAO Somalia Country Representative Etienne Peterschmitt. “FAO is responding by scaling up its support for increased agricultural production, promoting climate-smart solutions, and strengthening resilient agrifood systems. Through early warning systems and anticipatory action, we help communities prepare for shocks before they escalate, mitigating the worst impacts of food crises.”

    Acute funding shortfalls have resulted in life-saving programmes being reduced or cut altogether. The UN is calling for more urgent funding to scale up food assistance, nutrition support, water and sanitation services, as well as livelihood initiatives to mitigate the impacts of the expected drought in Somalia. Today, the 2025 Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, calling for US$1.42 billion, is only 12.4 per cent funded. 

    “Recurrent climate shocks, protracted conflict, disease outbreaks and widespread poverty, among other factors, have aggravated the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. Aid agencies are doing their best to save lives, but they urgently need adequate funding to meet the most critical needs at this juncture in Somalia,” said Crispen Rukasha, Head of Office, OCHA Somalia.  

    An estimated 1.7 million children under the age of five face acute malnutrition through December 2025. Of those, 466,000 face severe acute malnutrition – an increase of nine per cent compared to the same period last year. Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of the total malnutrition burden is concentrated in southern Somalia, where drought conditions and insecurity are the worst. 

    “Past climate events demonstrate that children are the most affected, facing severe malnourishment and diseases that increase their risk of death and long-term developmental issues,” said Nisar Syed, UNICEF Somalia Representative Officer in Charge. “As prevention is key, UNICEF provides access to clean water and sanitation, provides micronutrients, trains caregivers to identify early signs of malnutrition and operates in remote areas. Given the recurring nature of these crises, we must emphasize a multi-sector approach while working with all stakeholders and the Government to invest in resilience, anticipatory action and a robust health system.” 

    The IPC findings also confirm that erratic rainfall in 2024 led to low crop yields, rapid depletion of pasture and water sources, flooding of food crops, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

    “Recurrent shocks such as droughts are leaving millions of Somalis at risk of hunger as food prices increase and harvests dwindle. Famine was narrowly avoided in 2022 due to large-scale humanitarian support, which is needed again to provide immediate assistance while implementing longer-term solutions. However, funding shortfalls are forcing us to prioritize and reduce assistance at the worst possible time,” said El-Khidir Daloum, WFP’s Country Director in Somalia.  

    MORE INFORMATION

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 26 February 2025 News release WHO strengthens support for grassroots crowdsourcing campaign: a global movement of unity and solidarity

    Source: World Health Organisation

    What started as a grassroots initiative by a WHO staff member has grown into a global movement for health. Building on the success of the 1 Dollar 1 World campaign, the World Health Organization (WHO) is now amplifying and evolving the initiative to encourage more people around the world to show their solidarity.

    Inspired by an individual’s initiative, WHO is now backing the 1 Dollar 1 World movement, encouraging regions, countries, champions, and its own workforce to unite behind the effort. Together with the WHO Foundation, WHO will strengthen its efforts to create awareness about its critical work and engage communities worldwide.

    With this initiative, WHO is embracing a new approach by leveraging crowdfunding to support its mission. For the first time, WHO is activating its existing infrastructure – spanning 150 country offices – alongside the WHO Foundation’s reach, to amplify this grassroots movement. This strategic shift not only strengthens community engagement but also aligns with WHO’s broader strategy to diversify funding sources and support its ongoing Investment Round.

    Since its launch in early 2025, almost 5000 people from over 140 countries have contributed to the campaign through the WHO Foundation, created to bring together funders and high impact health initiatives to further the mission of WHO. The high level of success and engagement demonstrates that there is a broad sense of solidarity and shared commitment to global health. This campaign is not just about crowdfunding – it’s about people standing together to remind us that health is a right, not a privilege.

     “The power of the 1 Dollar, 1 World movement comes from the people. In particular, I would like to thank my colleague Tania Cernuschi for her inspiration to launch this initiative,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It shows that in times of crisis, people everywhere can unite and commit to protecting and promoting the health of others. WHO is proud to stand behind this initiative, which embodies the values of solidarity, action, innovation and hope.”

    A moment for action

    The challenges global health has faced in recent years – from pandemics to humanitarian crises – make it clearer than ever that no one is safe until everyone is safe. The 1 Dollar 1 World movement is a chance for people everywhere to turn concern into action and show that solidarity, just like health, knows no borders.

    “This campaign started with one person, but it belongs to all of us,” said Tania Cernuschi, the WHO staff member who launched the original initiative. “It’s proof that individuals can make a difference, and that together, we are stronger.”

    Join the movement

    Media and the public are invited to support and share this movement. Every action – whether a donation, a post, or a conversation – helps spread the message that health should be for all, not just for some. Every stakeholder – whether a person, an organization, a community or a government – has a role in building efficient and effective collaboration for health.

    A grassroots campaign with global impact

    The 1 Dollar 1 World movement invites everyone to take action for global health in three simple ways:

    • Donate through the WHO Foundation – Every dollar counts. Contributions support WHO’s lifesaving work worldwide.
    • Share – Post a photo holding up your index finger to symbolize unity. Use #1Dollar1World & #HealthForAll, and link to the donation page.
    • Amplify – Encourage others to join the movement. More information is in the communications toolkit.

    All donations, collected by the WHO Foundation, support lifesaving efforts around the world, with a strong focus on country-level initiatives. These resources are essential in driving impactful implementation where it matters most based on the decisions of WHO’s 194 Member States. Together, we can drive real change.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘We’re afraid to return home’: Uprooted again, Congolese civilians face hunger and more insecurity

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    Around 700,000 people were forced to leave Goma, one of the biggest cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) when it fell in January to rebels, known as M23. With the conflict spreading, many of them are on the move again but a return home is no guarantee of safety.

    On 9 February, M23 fighters gave Tumusifu, her six children and all the other residents of Bulengo displacement camp just 72 hours to leave. For the second time in a matter of weeks they would have to pick up their belongings and flee. 

    In January they were among the hundreds of thousands who sought refuge from the fighting when Goma fell to M23, but Bulengo is no longer safe. Going back to the city region may be the only option, but it is fraught with danger.

    © WFP/Michael Castofas

    A man dismantles his shelter in a camp before leaving for a safer location.

    “We’re afraid to return home,” Tumusifu, a mother of six, told UN aid workers at the time. “There is still fighting in our home village. We are hungry and do not have money to help ourselves. We’re waiting alongside the road because we do not know where to go.” 

    Since then, the crisis has continued to escalate. After Goma, M23 fighters took over Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, and other key towns, and thousands more have been displaced.

    This insecurity extends to Goma itself, where there have been reports of crime and targeted violence, including home invasions and kidnappings. The UN peacekeeping mission for DRC, MONUSCO, has described the security situation in areas seized by M23 rebels as “unstable and highly unpredictable.”

    ‘Some children are starving to death’

    Despite the dangers, and with nowhere else to go, Tumusifu and her family went back to their home village near Goma. Conditions are extremely precarious. “Food is our biggest need right now,” she says. “Some children are starving to death. There are no medicines because the clinics are closed.”

    © WFP/Michael Castofas

    Like many displaced people at Bulengo, Francine feared for her family’s safety.

    When Francine fled the displacement camp she lived in near Goma, she was separated from her husband. She fled in one direction with five of her children, whilst her husband ran in another with the couple’s sixth child. 

    “We have not seen each other since,” she said. “I’m currently taking shelter in a school, and our lives are even more challenging than they were in the camps. The most difficult thing for us is the scarcity of food and the lack of water. We have no access to a health centre.”

    After two of WFP’s warehouses in Goma were looted, 70 per cent of the food stored there, some 9,000 metric tons, was taken, severely limiting the World Food Programme, WFP’s ability to support the population.

    Across the country, looting has severely disrupted humanitarian operations, leaving over 450,000 people without shelter, food, or water. 

    “Displaced people have not had assistance for six weeks,” said Shelley Thakral, WFP spokesperson in DRC. “It is critical to bring food in – people are running out.”

    Markets are collapsing under the strain. A recent WFP study found that maize flour – one of the region’s staples – has risen in price by almost 70 per cent, with sharp increases also seen for salt and peanut oil.

    © WFP/Benjamin Anguandia

    An UNHAS plane lands at Bunia airport in the eastern DR Congo. (file)

    Another critical factor is transport. Goma’s airport has been closed for more than two weeks, cutting off a vital humanitarian supply route, and the WFP-operated UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is facing a funding crisis that could see services suspended by the end of March, unless the agency can raise $33.1 million to keep the planes in the air.

    Women and girls on the frontline

    As conditions worsen, women and girls face an increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation. Many are attacked while searching for firewood, and in extreme cases, some resort to providing sexual services to feed their families. Female-headed households are particularly vulnerable.

    © WFP/Michael Castofas

    WFP continues to deliver food aid in Goma.

    “Putting food in the hands of women and providing them with livelihood opportunities is key to curbing violence targeting women and girls,” said Ms. Thakral, adding that WFP plans to distribute 57 metric tons of food to support 11,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding women at risk of severe malnutrition.

    Amid all the hardship, people’s dreams of returning to the homes they had before they were forced to live in displacement camps are intact. 

    “We will not choose a life of displacement over the peace of our homeland,” said Tumusifu. “Even if we have lost everything – including our farms and our livestock – we have the skills to restart.”

    Surnames in this story are omitted for protection reasons
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Ukraine’s People Have Endured Three Years of Relentless Death, Destruction, Displacement, Senior Official Tells Security Council ‘It Is High Time for Peace’

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    ‘We Cannot Have the Aggressor Impose a Deal on the Victim,’ Stresses Special Envoy

    “It is high time for peace in Ukraine,” a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as Member States echoed that call and outlined contrasting visions of ending the three-year conflict.

    “For three long years, the people of Ukraine have endured relentless death, destruction and displacement,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, adding that the resolution the Council adopted earlier on 24 February urges a swift end to the conflict.  The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that, since 24 February 2022, at least 12,654 Ukrainian civilians — including 673 children — have been killed and 29,392 — including 1,865 children — have been injured.

    The war has created the largest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War, she observed, adding that over 10 million Ukrainians remain uprooted — 3.6 million displaced within Ukraine and 6.9 million seeking refuge abroad.  Furthermore, the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure impacts millions. For three consecutive winters, repeated strikes on the energy grid have left communities without power, heating or other essential services.  At least 790 attacks have damaged or destroyed medical facilities, putting the lives of countless patients at risk.  In 2024 alone, attacks on medical facilities tripled compared to 2023.  The education system has also been decimated, preventing 600,000 children from attending in-person classes.

    Over the past three years, the conflict has expanded into parts of the Russian Federation, she said, pointing to reports of increased civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions due to alleged Ukrainian attacks.  The war’s impact is also felt globally, destabilizing economies, disrupting food security and threatening international peace.  The further internationalization of the conflict is deeply alarming, particularly with the reported deployment of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea into the conflict zone.  Moreover, she cautioned that the risk of a nuclear incident remains “unacceptably high”.

    Detailing the systematic and widespread use of torture — including sexual violence — by Russian Federation authorities against Ukrainian prisoners of war, as documented by OHCHR, she said 95 per cent of them and three quarters of Ukrainian civilian detainees interviewed have suffered torture or ill-treatment in captivity. Additionally, at least 71 Ukrainian prisoners were executed since February 2022, with an alarming spike in executions since August 2024.  Meanwhile, about half of the 469 Russian Federation’s prisoners of war interviewed by OHCHR described torture and ill-treatment, and 26 of those interviewed reported having been subjected to sexual violence.  The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has also verified the execution of 26 Russian Federation prisoners of war.  “These crimes must not go unpunished,” she asserted, underscoring that “accountability is not optional — it is an obligation under international law”.

    “We recognize it will be challenging to get an agreement, but the time for Moscow to make difficult choices and end fighting is now,” stated the representative of the United States, underscoring her country’s commitment to ending the war.  Washington, D.C., has been in close contact with Ukrainian counterparts throughout the conflict and will continue to do so.  It has also opened a direct dialogue with the Russian Federation in the past week. Following discussions in Riyadh, the United States and the Russian Federation have committed to negotiating towards an end of the conflict, which is enduring and acceptable to all engaged parties.  She called on all Member States to push for a durable peace “to bring stability to Europe and deter further aggression”.

    The Russian Federation’s delegate noted significant dissonance in European support for Ukraine, with ministers reading out “cookie-cutter statements”.  Calling the meeting an “open attempt to thwart the positive progress that has been made which will soon help result” in a lasting settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, he emphasized that the “Kyiv regime and its European sponsors are interested not in peace, but in pursuing war until the last Ukrainian”.  Welcoming the new positive policy of the Administration of United States President Donald J. Trump, he pointed to emerging details about what “took place and continues to take place under the [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy regime” despite Moscow’s persistent efforts to prevent this.

    Condemning Ukraine’s “anti-Russian project”, financed from the beginning by the West, he noted that, from 2021 to 2024, the United States Agency for International Development spent $30.6 billion in Ukraine, without which Ukrainian gross domestic product (GDP) “independently did not exist”.  He stated that up to 90 per cent of Ukrainian media outlets were financed by the Agency, with payments for public opinion leaders to appear on social networks, compelling “everybody to believe in the universal popularity of the erstwhile comic”, which “turned out to be a lie”, but was shaping Ukraine’s political landscape.  He noted that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, upon election, immediately abandoned his promises regarding the East and for the defence of the Russian language.

    Meanwhile, Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said the Council resolution just adopted “lacks the qualification” of the war as an aggression of one Member State against another.  Despite the disparity in military strength — with over 600,000 Russian Federation troops deployed on Ukraine’s territory today — Ukraine’s defence forces continue to stand firm.

    “We gave up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in the hope of making the world a safer place,” she said, citing the Budapest Memorandum as “a deal without viable security guarantees”.  Meanwhile, Moscow has significantly expanded Soviet-era stockpiles, and today, it is capable of striking Ukrainian front-line positions and residential areas, with thousands of guided aerial bombs every month.  In 2024 alone, its aviation launched 40,000 such bombs.  Moreover, the Russian Federation engaged Tehran and Pyongyang in its war of aggression.

    Nonetheless, she said the Russian Federation has failed to break Ukraine on the battlefield.  “There is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and there is nothing about Europe without Europe,” she asserted.  And while Ukraine wants peace “more than anyone”, that doesn’t mean just any peace, she emphasized, calling for clear security guarantees.  She added that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union are indispensable elements of regional security, and “Ukraine is eager to be part of them”.

    Many speakers highlighted the devastating and long-lasting consequences of Moscow’s aggression on food security, the environment and nuclear security, calling for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace — not an agreement imposed under duress on the victim.

    “We cannot have the aggressor impose a deal on the victim, an aggressor who continues to intensify its attacks on civilian population and infrastructure,” underscored Erica Schouten, the representative of the Netherlands and Special Envoy for Ukraine.  She called for “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” and for Europe — whose security is directly impacted — to be involved, too.  This war must end, not just for the sake of Ukraine and Europe but for the sake of the world, she stressed.

    In the same vein, France’s delegate stressed that Europe — whose security is at stake — must participate in any negotiations and affirmed that any resolution to the conflict without Ukraine will be a dead letter and “lay the groundwork for future wars”.  He recalled that the Russian Federation alone decided on 24 February 2022 to bring war back to European soil — carrying out deliberate strikes against the Ukrainian civilian population and energy infrastructure, using sexual violence as a weapon of war and forcing deportations of Ukrainian children.

    A war Russian Federation President Vladimir V. Putin said would take three days is now three years on, concurred his counterpart from the United Kingdom.  Ukraine is more than ready for the war to end, but its voice must be at the heart of any talks towards a peace that “shows aggression does not pay, and ends forever Putin’s imperialist ambitions”, she stressed.  By contrast, President Putin “only wants capitulation”.  The strength and courage shown by Ukraine must be underpinned by robust security agreements from the outset, she stated, adding that President Putin has repeatedly demonstrated that he will break a weak deal and has long denied Ukraine’s right to exist as a free State.

    Georgios Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, affirmed that his Government’s stance on Ukraine “has been crystal clear from the very beginning of the war, which now enters its fourth year”. All Member States must work towards an end to the suffering and destruction in Ukraine; however, it is incumbent to explicitly refer to international law and the Charter of the United Nations in the resolution.  He stated it was not easy to understand why amendments proposed by European Council members were not upheld — including that the Council would employ a swift end to the conflict, urging a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

    Radosław Sikorski, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, also speaking for the High Representative of the European Union, urged Moscow to “stop the killing and leave territories it illegally occupies”. Calling on Member States to never forget the crimes committed by Russian Federation troops in Bucha, Mariupol and many other places across Ukraine, he also acknowledged the far-reaching repercussions beyond Ukraine.

    “We will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk or any other region of Ukraine,” echoed Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, also speaking for Estonia and Lithuania.  Underlining that borders must not be altered by force, she recalled that, three years ago, the International Court of Justice ordered the Russian Federation to stop its military activities in Ukraine.  “Three years on, Ukraine has stopped a nuclear-armed State of 140 million from realizing its imperialist goals,” she added.

    Pasi Rajala, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Finland, also speaking for Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, demanded the immediate return of thousands of children who have been unlawfully deported or transferred by the Russian Federation, which violates the laws of war at every turn.  Hailing the General Assembly’s decision earlier today to support just and fair peace in Ukraine, he affirmed that Ukrainians want peace and love freedom, and the Council must advance these goals.  Any solution for lasting peace will necessitate a strong European involvement as Member States have “a collective interest to prevent a resurgence of violence and destruction”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Success for polio campaign in Gaza while West Bank tensions continue

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Humanitarian Aid

    UN humanitarians reported on Tuesday that aid workers in Gaza supporting local health authorities have now managed to vaccinate nearly 550,000 children under 10 – nearly all those it aimed to reach.

    The campaign has been extended until Wednesday to ensure full coverage, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York, citing UN humanitarian coordinators.  

    As of Monday, the third day of the campaign, some 548,000 children had been inoculated, or 93 per cent of the target population.

    Aid efforts continue

    Humanitarian partners have been working to expand aid distribution since the fragile ceasefire began last month.  

    According to latest news reports, the Israeli Government is seeking to extend the first stage of the agreement, threatening to resume fighting without progress in talks this week on phase two.  

    The World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered over 30,000 metric tonnes of food, with more than 60 community kitchens across the Strip distributing nearly 10 million meals.

    Similarly, the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has provided food parcels to two million people and flour to 1.3 million.

    The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also delivered animal feed in northern Gaza for the first time since the ceasefire, benefiting livestock-owning families in Gaza City and Deir al Balah.

    Efforts are also underway by partner organizations to repair and reopen schools that had been used as shelters for displaced families in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Deir al Balah.

    Biting cold claims lives

    Despite the steady flow of aid, children in Gaza continue to suffer.

    The head of Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that six children died from the severe cold in recent days, bringing the total number of cold-related child deaths to 15, Mr. Dujarric said.

    Ongoing military operations in the West Bank

    In the West Bank the security situation remains volatile, with Israeli military operations in the north leading to further casualties, mass displacement and destruction of essential infrastructure.

    A two-day military operation in Qabatiya, Jenin governorate, ended Monday, Mr. Dujarric said.

    The operation involved bulldozers and exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinians, as well as detentions, disruption to electricity lines, water lines, and school closures.

    “We once again warn that lethal, war-like tactics are being applied, raising concerns over use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards,” Mr. Dujarric emphasised.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Haiti: Gang violence displaces 6,000 people in one month

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    More than 6,000 people in Haiti have been forced from their homes by gang violence in almost a month, hampering aid efforts by humanitarian agencies, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.

    Since the end of January, a wave of extreme brutality has led to widespread loss of life and the displacement of over 6,000 people in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

    “We are deeply alarmed and appalled by the unacceptable and inhumane intensity of violence in Haiti,” the Haiti Humanitarian Country Team, which is made up of UN agencies, national and international NGOs and donors, said in a statement.

    Entire families were killed in their homes, while others, including children and babies, were shot dead as they tried to escape.

    The killings follow a massacre last December, when an outbreak of violence in the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince led to the execution of more than 200 people by the Wharf Jérémie gang.

    UN condemns attacks on civilian population

    According to the UN, the daily life of many Haitians is marked by violence, fear, exhaustion, hunger, disease and an uncertain future. Women, girls and children are increasingly at risk, particularly that of sexual violence.

    By the end of 2024, violence had claimed the lives of at least 5,600 Haitians and displaced more than a million.

    “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack against the civilian population and infrastructure, in this case the one that targeted the hospital of the State University of Haiti on February 13. These acts violate human rights and deprive the most vulnerable of essential vital services,” said Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson.

    On the ground, the humanitarian community is showing its determination to continue providing life-saving assistance to millions of children, women and men in vulnerable situations.

    Beyond immediate humanitarian assistance, the agencies are also committed to coordinating efforts with development and peacebuilding actors, so that these collective efforts contribute to sustainable solutions that build community resilience.

    “The mobilization actions of the international community in favour of Haiti will continue in order to guarantee the necessary funding to meet urgent needs and restore the dignity of the affected people,” the Humanitarian Country Team stressed.

    © IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

    The UN continues to support people who have been displaced by ongoing violence in Haiti.

    Humanitarian response plan: Over $900 million to save Haitians on the brink

    An appeal for $908 million to help some 3.9 million Haitians facing food insecurity, in a country where basic services are nearing collapse, has been launched by the UN.

    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released the 2025 humanitarian response plan on 19 February, which focuses on addressing acute needs caused by recent events, including armed violence, forced displacement, epidemics, and the consequences of natural disasters.

    The funding is earmarked to tackle Haiti’s profound challenges, including mobile teams to help humanitarians deliver aid, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, and programmes aimed at supporting the country’s long-term development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Farmers must be at the heart of biodiversity action

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    “Without the farmers, it is only political policy without implementation” – that was the stark message delivered by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Director-General on Tuesday to delegates attending the latest round of UN biodiversity talks in Rome. 

    Over 150 countries will be meeting from 25 to 27 February to advance biodiversity finance, accountability and the integration of agrifood systems into global conservation strategies.

    Despite groundbreaking agreements on genetic data and recognising the stewardship role of Indigenous Peoples at the first round of the COP16 conference in Colombia late last year, this new Conference of the Parties – or COP16.2 – aims to close some crucial gaps which are instrumental for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

    With nature declining at an alarming rate, the challenge now is turning commitments into action.

    Farmers on board

    FAO chief Qu Dongyu called for urgent action to transform agrifood systems, stressing that biodiversity must be embedded in food and farming policies. A key focus is the Agri-NBSAPs Support Initiative, launched at COP16 in Cali, Colombia.

    The initiative is designed to help governments integrate agrifood systems into their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, to eliminate any conflicts between agricultural policy and biodiversity goals.

    Colombia’s COP16 President, Environment Minister María Susana Muhamad, and Agriculture Minister Martha Carvajalino, underscored the importance of full implementation.

    Mr. Dongyu highlighted the deep connections between biodiversity and food security, noting that over half of the Kunming-Montreal Framework’s 23 targets are directly linked to agriculture.

    He explained that “biodiversity is also in the soil and in the water” and that it is critical “to look at biodiversity from a holistic, three-dimensional perspective”.

    ‘On the brink’: Guterres

    Despite commitments made at COP15, funding remains a sticking point.

    Secretary-General António Guterres, warned in a statement that biodiversity is “on the brink” and urged governments to translate pledges into investment. “Success requires accountability. And action demands finance,” he said.

    With only a fraction of the required $200 billion per year mobilised, developing nations are pushing wealthier countries to meet their financial obligations.

    Discussions in Rome are expected to focus on accountability frameworks to track spending and ensure resources reach the communities most affected by biodiversity loss.

    What’s next?

    In the coming days, negotiators will work to finalise agreements on biodiversity finance, implementation strategies and monitoring frameworks.

    Mr. Dongyu closed his statement by calling for an integrated approach across government sectors.

    “We need an integrated approach across government sectors, across Ministries, to ensure the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind,” he said.

    With time running out to meet the 2030 targets, COP16.2 is a key test of global commitment – whether countries will step up or risk falling short on protecting the planet’s ecosystems.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Conflict in DR Congo, Europe’s ‘cradle to cane’ crisis, millions may go hungry in Chad

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    Ongoing fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and Congolese troops has claimed more lives and forced even more families from their homes. 

    In an alert on Tuesday, UN aid coordinators OCHA said that six humanitarian workers have been killed since January – the latest victim was shot during clashes last week near a hospital in Masisi Territory about 80 kilometres west of Goma, in North Kivu.

    The same clashes reportedly killed three other civilians and injured a child, according to OCHA, which said that more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to further clashes last week in Lubero Territory, 250 kilometers north of Goma. 

    Rape and other violations reported

    Because of the insecurity several local health facilities have had to suspend activities. Humanitarian partners on the ground also report that there have been widespread human rights violations amid the fighting, including rape, OCHA said.

    Meanwhile, local officials in South Kivu report schools are gradually re-opening in Kalehe Territory, located some 65 kilometres north of the provincial capital Bukavu.

    Unexploded ordnance remains a problem in many areas affected by recent fighting, including two schools in the city of Minova, north of Bukavu, according to humanitarian partners.

    The head of UN Peacekeeping Operations expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis and loss of life in the DRC during a press conference in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Monday.

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix stressed that there is no military solution to the crisis and reiterated that while “it’s encouraging to see progress and involvement from stakeholders…the priority is a cessation of hostilities, implementation of decisions from the Luanda Process, and ensuring humanitarian access.” 

    He added that the UN Mission faces limitations in M23-controlled areas but continues to protect civilians and reduce violence in other areas, safeguarding hundreds of thousands of civilians daily. 

    Europe faces a ‘cradle to cane’ health crisis, warns WHO 

    And in a medical update on Tuesday, UN health agency WHO warned that countries across Europe and Central Asia have a major problem with “stagnating” healthcare systems.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 76,000 children in the region die before their fifth birthday every year.

    In addition, non-communicable diseases claim the lives one in six people before they’re 70.

    Wide regional variations

    WHO’s latest European Health Report showed that under-five mortality ranged from 1.5 to 40.4 deaths per 1,000 live births across 53 countries in the region.

    The top causes of death include pre-term birth complications, birth asphyxia and congenital heart anomalies.

    Despite much progress in tackling non-communicable diseases across Europe and Central Asia, conditions such as heart and lung disease, stroke and diabetes remain by far the biggest killers. 

    At least 10 countries have achieved a 25 per cent reduction in premature mortality from these four non-communicable diseases. 

    Nonetheless, one in six people still die before they reach their 70th birthday from cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease, WHO said.

    Chad: Nearly four million could go hungry during lean season

    Humanitarians in Chad are warning about the impact of the forthcoming lean season on food security, amid already dire conditions, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

    A regional assessment found that some 2.4 million people are not getting enough to eat, which is expected to rise to 3.7 million people, or 20 per cent of the population, during the lean season from June to August.

    More than two million children under the age of five are malnourished, including more than half a million who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition who are at risk of dying in the coming months without the appropriate treatment. 

    Additionally, nearly 300,000 pregnant and breast-feeding women are suffering from acute malnutrition.

    Multiple shocks

    Mr. Dujarric told journalists in New York that “this crisis is due to shocks, including natural catastrophes such as floods, which have destroyed croplands, in addition to the increasing price of basic commodities.”

    Humanitarians warn that unless significant funding is received before the end of March, there will be no time to prevent a full-scale food security and nutrition crisis.

    They are appealing for $1.45 billion to support operations in Chad this year but have so far received under $60 million, roughly four per cent. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WHO marks 20 years of its lifesaving tobacco control treaty

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    A UN treaty that addresses the global tobacco epidemic has saved millions of lives over the past two decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. 

    The agency is this week celebrating the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) – one of the most widely embraced UN treaties in history.

    The Convention provides a legal framework and a comprehensive package of evidence-based tobacco control measures which include large pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages, smoke free laws and increased taxes on tobacco products.  

    Up to 5.6 billion people are now covered by at least one tobacco control policy in line with the treaty and studies have shown a decline in global smoking rates.

    ‘A plague on humanity’

    “Tobacco is a plague on humanity – the leading cause of preventable death and disease globally,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

    He noted that “since the entry into force of the WHO FCTC and the MPOWER technical package that supports it, global tobacco use prevalence has dropped by one-third.”

    The Convention is the first ever public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It came into effect on 27 February 2005 and currently there are 183 Parties covering some 90 per cent of the global population.

    An event will be held on Thursday in Geneva to mark the milestone anniversary.

    Bans and warnings

    Thanks to the Convention, 138 countries now require large pictorial health warnings on cigarettes packets. Dozens more have implemented plain packaging rules which require a standard shape and appearance without branding, design or a logo. 

    Both measures serve as powerful tools to reduce tobacco consumption and warn users about the dangers of tobacco use, WHO said.

    Furthermore, over a quarter of the world’s population is now covered by policies that ban smoking indoors and in workspaces, saving millions from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

    Meanwhile, over 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which include prohibitions against tobacco advertising in the media and sponsorship deals.

    Confronting a ‘deadly’ industry

    The treaty has also been instrumental in establishing legal defences in the face of the tobacco industry, which spends tens of billions of dollars on promotion. 

    “The tobacco industry is a deadly industry behind the tobacco epidemic, now trying to position itself as part of the solution while actively derailing efforts at tobacco control which could save millions more lives,” said Dr. Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat.

    The treaty “equips Parties with a comprehensive set of measures to protect populations from the industry’s ever-evolving tactics – designed to profit at the cost of people’s lives and the health of our planet,” she added, urging countries “to remain ever watchful against its predatory tactics.”

    The tobacco burden

    Tobacco use is a major driver of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), causing premature death and disability, WHO explained.

    Tobacco-related illnesses lead to catastrophic health expenditures, particularly for the world’s poor. Smokers are also more likely to lack access to nutritious food compared to non-smokers, including in wealthier countries. 

    The impacts go even further. 

    Tobacco cultivation uses large areas of land that could otherwise support sustainable food production systems, while its production further depletes vital resources such as land and water that are needed to produce food. 

    Additionally, trillions of discarded plastic-heavy cigarette butts pollute ecosystems every year, further harming the planet.

    Undermining public health

    WHO said the tobacco industry “continues to undermine public health efforts, aggressively targeting youth through marketing, lobbying against tobacco control policies, and positioning itself as part of the solution to the problem it created.” 
     
    Dr. Blanco Marquizo added that although great strides have been made in tobacco control, more remains to be done as “the tobacco industry continues to kill millions of people per year and its socio-economic burdens cause strains on entire populations.” 

    She urged countries to fully implement the measures under the WHO FTC, including by increasing tobacco taxes, implementing smoke free laws, enforcing comprehensive advertising and sponsorship bans, prohibiting and regulating ingredients that form tobacco products, and addressing the challenges brought by new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products. 

    “Through these measures we can save the lives of millions more people globally,” she said. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General, at Asia-Pacific Forum, Urges Faster Regional Action Warning on Current Trends Less Than One Sixth of Sustainable Development Goals Will Be Met

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message at the twelfth session of the Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development 2025, in Bangkok today:

    I thank the Government of Thailand for hosting this important Forum and Executive Secretary Ibu Armida Alisjahbana for bringing us together.  We stand at a critical juncture in history, where our actions over the next five years will define the future of our planet and its people.  All of you here today share the immense responsibility of steering the Asia-Pacific region towards a sustainable and prosperous future.

    The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is not just a set of goals, it is our collective promise to future generations.

    Yet, globally, only 17 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track.  Progress on almost a third of targets has stalled or gone into reverse. Here in the Asia-Pacific, less than a sixth of the SDG targets will be met on current trends.  Though economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty, it has been uneven, and a series of global crises have disproportionately affected vulnerable populations.

    Five years to the 2030 deadline, we need urgent action to get the Goals on track.  The Pact for the Future, agreed by countries last year, includes commitments to action to turbocharge sustainable development.  We must come together to ensure they are delivered.

    This region has immense potential to accelerate SDG progress — through action to harness the power of technology, accelerate the energy transition and transform food systems, driving progress across all the Goals.

    You are a global leader in digital innovation and connectivity.  You have accessible emerging technologies.  And you are transforming financial inclusion and service delivery through rapid fintech adoption and initiatives.  The Republic of Korea’s Digital New Deal and Thailand’s Big Data Initiative are prime examples.

    The region is also uniquely positioned to lead the global energy transition.  You are rapidly deploying clean energy and embracing cross-border energy integration.  Initiatives like the South Asian Hydropower Trade and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Power Grid are enhancing energy security while reducing emissions.  Innovations in food systems, such as regenerative agriculture in India, are improving sustainability and food security.

    Accelerating action requires regional collaboration.  With a common vision of sustainability and prosperity, we can create new opportunities for economic resilience and social progress.  Strengthened financial cooperation can enhance cross-border connectivity and drive regional supply chain integration.

    The United Nations and the Regional Economic Commissions will continue to work closely with Resident Coordinators and the UN country Teams to strengthen support for sustainable development across the region. Helping to forge investment paths. Shape policy and regulatory frameworks. And garner support from United Nations agencies and partners, including multilateral and regional development banks and private investors.

    The strong link between the Regional Economic Commissions and our Resident Coordinators since the reforms made by Secretary-General António Guterres has been critical in bringing together our policy and operational assets in ways we had not witnessed before.

    It gives me great hope that we can build on this strong foundation to step up our support to each country in Asia and the Pacific, as you strive to accelerate action and protect our ambition for people and planet. 

    And I urge all of you to make the most of the opportunities this year to accelerate action. From Beijing+30 to the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the World Social Summit, the Fourth Food System Summit Stocktake, and COP30 (Thirtieth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).  Use your voice to ensure that the needs and priorities of this region shape action over the coming years.  So, together, we ensure sustainable development truly leaves on one behind.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Political courage’ needed to end war in the Middle East: Top UN envoy

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    A sustainable resolution to the war in Gaza and the broader Israel-Palestine conflict relies on political courage from all sides, the top UN official for the Middle East Peace Process said on Tuesday.

    Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag emphasised that peace in the Middle East is possible.

    “We can achieve a future where a safe and secure Israel exists alongside a viable and independent Palestinian State. This requires continued, concerted effort, dedication and political courage by all parties,” she said.

    She urged Council members to ensure Gaza remains an integral part of a future Palestinian State, and that the enclave and the West Bank including East Jerusalem are unified politically, economically and administratively.

    At the same time, she said there should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza – although Israel’s legitimate security concerns must be addressed.

    Four key asks

    “We need to commit to ending the occupation and a final resolution of the conflict based on UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements,” Ms. Kaag said, outlining four priorities.

    These include sustaining the ceasefire agreement while securing the release of all hostages and preventing escalation in the West Bank, where violence continues to rise.

    There must be reform of the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank and clarity on its role in post-war Gaza; and the mobilisation of financial and political backing to rebuild the shattered enclave.

    Both sides must ‘fully honour’ ceasefire deal

    Ms. Kaag welcomed the release of 30 Israeli and foreign nationals held in Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal – and a further four bodies of those deceased –  reiterating that all remaining hostages must be released unconditionally.

    She condemned Hamas’ treatment of hostages, including reports of ill-treatment and public displays under duress, demanding that access must be given immediately to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to those still captive.

    On the Palestinian side, she noted that 1,135 prisoners and detainees have been released, though reports of ill-treatment during detention remained concerning.

    She also updated the Council on humanitarian efforts, noting that aid deliveries had increased since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January and that medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt began on 1 February.

    “The resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all costs. I call on both sides to fully honour their commitments to the ceasefire deal and conclude negotiations for the second phase,” she said.

    UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

    Sigrid Kaag, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ad Interim, briefs the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

    Rebuilding Gaza

    Highlighting the scale of destruction, Ms. Kaag cited an assessment by the World Bank, EU, and UN, which estimated that $53 billion will be needed for recovery and reconstruction.

    Arab states are leading discussions on rebuilding, with Egypt set to host a reconstruction conference.

    “The UN is ready to support reconstruction efforts. Palestinian civilians must be able to resume their lives, to rebuild, and to construct their future in Gaza. There can be no question of forced displacement,” she said.

    Situation in the West Bank

    While international attention is focused on Gaza, Ms. Kaag warned that violence is escalating in the West Bank, amid Israeli military operations, settler violence and severe movement restrictions.

    “I am alarmed by the killing of a pregnant woman and young children during these operations. Such incidents must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable,” she said.

    She also reported Israel’s advancement of plans for 2,000 new housing units, the continued expansion of settlements and the accelerated eviction and demolition.

    “These developments along with continued calls for annexation, present an existential threat to the prospect of a viable and independent Palestinian State and thereby the two-State solution,” Ms. Kaag warned.

    Regional situation

    Beyond Gaza and the West Bank, Ms. Kaag also addressed both Lebanon and Syria, which have been drawn in and destabilised by the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah conflict.

    She welcomed the formation of a new Government in Lebanon, calling it an opportunity for stability and urging the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 to prevent further escalation.

    In southwest Syria, Ms. Kaag expressed concerns over violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, urging all parties to uphold their commitments.

    More to follow…

    MIL OSI United Nations News –