UN News

• Healthier world means ‘safer America’ Tedros stresses, as UN-led vaccine initiative announces deal for 40 million doses 
  The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday announced the signing of an advance purchase agreement securing up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine, under the UN-led COVAX equitable vaccine supply programme. 
• Mali in transition: UN peacekeeping chief takes stock of political and security developments
  Against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region, the UN peacekeeping chief concluded a visit to the restive northwest African nation on Thursday. 
• Pandemic will not end for anyone, ‘until it ends for everyone’ 
  The COVID-19 pandemic “will not end for anyone, until it ends for everyone”, an independent UN human rights expert said on Friday, advocating for an equitable and globally-coordinated vaccine distribution programme. 
• Sudan: 250 killed, over 100,000 displaced as violence surges in Darfur
  A sharp uptick in intercommunal violence in Sudan’s Darfur region has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety, including many into neighbouring Chad, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Friday.
• Guterres hails entry into force of treaty banning nuclear weapons
  The first multilateral nuclear disarmament treaty in more than two decades, came into force just after midnight on Friday, hailed by the UN Secretary-General as “an important step towards a world free of nuclear weapons”.
• Colombia: Criminal elements use violence and intimidation to ‘stamp out’ leaders’ voices
  Illegally-armed groups and criminal organizations in Colombia are determined to “drive out State institutions and stamp out the voice of social leaders” through violence and intimidation, the head of the UN mission in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.  
• Iraq: UN chief condemns ‘horrific’ double suicide bombing at Baghdad market
  Perpetrators behind twin deadly suicide bombings at a busy market in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday must be prosecuted, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement strongly condemning the attacks. 
• COVID ‘vaccine hoarding’ putting Africa at risk: WHO
  Africa is in danger of being left behind in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines as countries in other regions strike bilateral deals, thus driving up prices, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday. 
• Senior panel probing violations in Syria, examining new measures to safeguard humanitarians
  The UN chief announced on Thursday that he has set up an independent Senior Advisory Panel on strengthening the mechanism whereby humanitarian workers and sites are better protected from attack in Syria, according to a statement released by his spokesperson. 
• Central African Republic: UN mission chief appeals for more peacekeepers
  The top UN official in the Central African Republic (CAR) appealed to the Security Council on Thursday for more peacekeepers and equipment amid escalating violence surrounding elections last month.
• Fauci announces US intention to resume major role in global health
  The United States’ top medical official said on Thursday that the US will now join the World Health Organization’s global initiative to help poorer nations overcome COVID-19, in addition to a raft of new measures in support of access to universal healthcare, such as abortion services. 
• Guterres urges world to ‘work together in solidarity’ as US moves to rejoin WHO
  The United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday welcomed the announcement by President Joe Biden that the United States will re-engage with the World Health Organization (WHO) and play a full role in advancing global health and health security. 
• Secretary-General welcomes US return to Paris Agreement on Climate Change
  Following the inauguration of United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General said he looks forward to an era of new leadership towards accelerating climate action, with the US back inside the landmark Paris Agreement.  
• UN welcomes Biden administration commitment to refugee protection
  The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday welcomed the “positive steps” announced by the new US administration towards migrants and refugees, while the head of UN refugee agency (UNHCR) congratulated the new President and Vice President on taking office, pledging to work with them to strengthen global support for refugees. 
• Decade of conflict triggering ‘slow tsunami’ across Syria, Security Council hears 
  After a decade of conflict, economic collapse compounded by COVID-19, corruption and mismanagement, the UN Syrian envoy told the Security Council on Wednesday that “a slow tsunami” is now “crashing across Syria”. 
• UN calls for resumption of Mediterranean rescues, after 43 die in Libya shipwreck
  Following another deadly shipwreck off the coast of Libya that claimed 43 lives on Monday, the UN migration and refugee agencies have called for countries to re-activate search and rescue operations.
• ‘Complex’ emergency unfolding in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado, warn UN agencies
  UN agencies voiced deep concern on Wednesday over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, where attacks by armed groups have forced more than 565,000 to flee their homes. 
• Over 1.9 billion people in Asia-Pacific unable to afford a healthy diet: UN report
  The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and surging food prices are keeping almost two billion people in Asia and the Pacific from healthy diets, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday.
• East African countries better prepared, but desert locust threat ‘not over’
  Action to control unprecedented desert locust infestations in the Horn of Africa last year has protected crops and livelihoods, but funding is needed to sustain operations against new incursions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday.
• ‘Swift action’ needed in Tigray to save thousands at risk, UNHCR warns 
  Two months after conflict forced humanitarian workers to withdraw from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), on Tuesday, stressed the need for “swift action” to restore safe access to “save thousands of lives at risk”. 
• Independent panel finds critical early failings in COVID-19 response
  The global system for pandemic alert and response is “not fit for purpose”, highlighting the need for a new framework in the wake of COVID-19, experts appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an interim report presented on Tuesday. 
• Israel: ‘Halt and reverse’ new settlement construction – UN chief 
  Israel’s decision to advance plans for some 800 new settlement units, most of which are located deep inside the occupied West Bank, has sparked the concern of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 
• Spectre of unrest, violent repression looming over Haiti, warns UN rights office
  Increasing political tensions in Haiti coupled with insecurity and structural inequalities could result in protests followed by violent crackdowns by authorities, the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) warned on Tuesday.
• UN agencies supporting mammoth India COVID-19 vaccine rollout
  India has begun what is the world’s biggest COVID vaccination campaign so far, deploying hundreds of thousands of health workers, with the training and support of the UN World Health Organization (WHO). 
• Two UN peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic ambush, as 2021 death toll rises to nine worldwide
  Two United Nations peacekeepers were killed after their convoy was ambushed by members of the UPC and anti-Balaka armed groups in southern Central African Republic (CAR), the UN Mission in the country said on Monday, bringing the overall toll of 'blue helmet' deaths to nine so far this month.