UN coordinator calls for urgent ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Sudan, as death toll mounts

UN coordinator calls for urgent ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Sudan, as death toll mounts

“I am horrified by the toll the clashes are having on civilians”, said Abdou Dieng. “At least 331 people have been killed nationwide, including five aid workers, and nearly 3,200 have been injured.” The fighting between troops from the national army and a powerful rival militia known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted six days ago, and…

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Current climate polices ‘a death sentence’ for the world, warns Guterres

Current climate polices ‘a death sentence’ for the world, warns Guterres

Antonio Guterres was addressing via videolink, the fourth meeting of the Major Economies Forum, convened by the United States President Joe Biden, which is designed to galvanize efforts to keep the global temperature rise of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, within reach – in line with the Paris Agreement. Biggest coffers, biggest emitters “You are the…

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Guterres calls for ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Sudan, as death toll mounts

Guterres calls for ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Sudan, as death toll mounts

“I strongly condemn the outbreak of fighting that is taking place in Sudan and appeal to the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RAF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm, and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday. Following the deaths of…

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WFP chief puts hold on Sudan aid operations, following death of 3 staff in unrest

WFP chief puts hold on Sudan aid operations, following death of 3 staff in unrest

According to a statement attributable to the Executive Director of the UN agency, Cindy McCain, the workers were carrying out life-saving duties in Kabkabiya, North Darfur. In a separate incident on Saturday, a WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) aircraft was significantly damaged at Khartoum International airport during an exchange of gunfire, seriously impacting WFP’s…

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Horn of Africa hunger emergency: ‘129,000 looking death in the eyes’

Horn of Africa hunger emergency: ‘129,000 looking death in the eyes’

In an appeal for $178 million to support humanitarian assistance across the seven affected countries in the Greater Horn region, veteran WHO worker Liesbeth Aelbrecht warned that the situation was worse than anything she’d seen in more than two decades in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. “These 48 million people do include as…

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Food rationing for Rohingya refugees a ‘matter of life and death’: rights expert

Food rationing for Rohingya refugees a ‘matter of life and death’: rights expert

The development follows the UN World Food Programme (WFP)’s announcement that it would be cutting back on assistance to those sheltering in the vast Cox’s Bazar camp complex from 1 March because of a lack of funding. “These rations cuts are a stain on the conscience of the international community,” said Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. “I have…

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Human Rights Council: Russia responsible for ‘widespread death and destruction’ in Ukraine

Human Rights Council: Russia responsible for ‘widespread death and destruction’ in Ukraine

Speaking only days since a large majority of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the UN chief stressed that Russia’s decision to go to war against its neighbour on 24 February 2022 had unleashed “widespread death, destruction and displacement”. Also present at the opening…

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