Tag: Humanitarian aid

UN relief chief calls for continued support for Syria and other crisis regions — Global Issues

The “relief chief” was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York just as these two separate lifesaving initiatives are set to expire in the coming days.

He also voiced concern over gender-based violence in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and noted lack of hope over the crisis in Sudan.

Syria cross-border renewal

The northwest region is the last opposition stronghold in Syria, and aid has been delivered there from Türkiye through a cross-border mechanism first authorized by the UN Security Council in 2014. He said negotiations on its extension are at a critical juncture.

“We’re three days away, I think, from the decision point for renewal of that resolution, which we are all very clear about,” he said.

Mr. Griffiths also underscored the need to ensure increased humanitarian support for Syria, where a staggering 90 per cent of the population is living below the poverty line after more than a decade of war.

Severe funding shortfall

A $5.4 billion plan for aid operations this year is only 12 per cent funded, he added, and the fallout could include the World Food Programme (WFP) being forced to cut rations by 40 per cent.

“The big story for me on Syria, among many, many other aspects of the tragedy of that conflict, is this absence of sufficient aid,” he said.

Mr. Griffiths also touched on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, part of landmark UN-brokered accords signed last July with Russia, Ukraine, and Türkiye.

Grain deal running out

The deal has facilitated the export of millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs and aims to ensure the same for Russian food and fertilizer. It is due to expire mid-month and Moscow has repeatedly said it sees no reason to continue participating.

In a statement on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the importance of “full and continued implementation of the agreements”.

“The world has seen the value of the Black Sea initiative,” said Mr. Griffiths, responding to a journalist’s question. “So, this isn’t something you chuck away.”

‘No hope’ in Sudan

Mr. Griffiths will travel to Ethiopia this weekend to participate in a meeting on Sudan, where fighting between rival military forces has displaced nearly three million people since mid-April.

“Sudan is a story that has not got any better in the last weeks at all,” he said, noting that access to the Darfur region “remains virtually nil”.

Although authorities in neighbouring Chad have been helpful in getting humanitarians into West Darfur, the security situation there remains extraordinarily dangerous, he said. Moving aid from Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast has also been challenging.

“Sudan is, from my perspective, a place of no hope at the moment and a place where there is only everything to do,” he said, referring to the need to mobilize funding and to ensure cross-border access from Egypt, Chad, and Ethiopia, as well as within the country.

Mr. Griffiths highlighted the critical role of civil society partners in delivering aid in Sudan, who “risk life and limb daily to help their local communities and their neighbourhoods”.

Gender-based violence

The humanitarian chief also addressed gender-based violence in the DRC, describing it as among the “terrible, terrible tragedies” in the country. He warned that there could be “an extraordinary” 125,000 cases this year if the current rate of incidence continues.

“We need to shine a light on this issue because it’s not just the DRC,” he said. “The Secretary-General spoke about it in the context of Haiti. It’s also in Sudan. But, the DRC for me epitomizes the appalling nature of man’s inhumanity, mostly to women and girls.”

Climate change challenge

Turning to climate change, Mr. Griffiths pointed to the unprecedented drought in the Horn of Africa following six consecutive failed rainy seasons. Humanitarian response also continues in the wake of the earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye in February, and historic flooding in Pakistan last year.

He said humanitarians have stepped up their engagement in relation to UN climate change conferences, known as COPs, the latest of which will be held in the United Arab Emirates this November.

“Our emphasis…going into COP will be to try to maximize the use of climate funds for frontline communities around the world which are directly impacted by climate. So, it’s about adaptation and resilience,” he said.

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Guterres appeals for humanitarian, security and political action to end Haiti’s ‘living nightmare’ — Global Issues

He said citizens of the Caribbean nation are “trapped in a living nightmare” as armed gangs encircle the capital, Port-au-Prince, blocking roads, controlling access to food and healthcare, and undermining humanitarian support.

Mr. Guterres was speaking at UN Headquarters fresh from a visit to the country and a summit of regional leaders, held in Trinidad and Tobago, during which he participated in a special session on Haiti.

Terrorizing local communities

He told reporters that predatory gangs there are using kidnappings and sexual violence as weapons to terrorize entire communities.

“I have heard appalling accounts of women and girls being gang-raped and of people being burned alive,” he said.

During his one-day visit to Haiti on Saturday, Mr. Guterres met with Prime Minister Ariel Henry and representatives from many sectors of society, acknowledging signs of hope and possibility.

Fund humanitarian ‘lifeline’

“But, it requires action on several fronts and a recognition of a core truth,” he said.

“There can be no sustainable security without a political solution that allows for the restoration of democratic institutions. And there can be no lasting and inclusive political solutions without a drastic improvement in the security situation.”

Mr. Guterres urged the international community to take action in what he called three essential areas, starting with addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in the country. A $720 million plan to support more than three million people there is currently only 23 per cent funded.

“I appeal to the world to extend a lifeline of support and fill that financial gap without delay,” he said.

Deploy multinational force

The Secretary-General also appealed to the UN Security Council “and all relevant potential contributing countries” to create the conditions for allowing the deployment of a multinational force to assist the Haitian National Police, which the Government had requested back in October.

“I repeat: We are not calling for a military or political mission of the United Nations,” he said. “We are calling for a robust security force deployed by Member States to work hand-in-hand with the Haitian National Police to defeat and dismantle the gangs and restore security across the country.”

He added that the police force will also need financing, training, and equipment, which are all critical to restoring State authority and delivery of vital services.

Step up political efforts

Mr. Guterres also appealed for all social and political actors in Haiti to step up efforts toward a desperately needed political solution. He expressed full support for mediation efforts by the regional bloc, CARICOM.

“Taken together, these three vital and simultaneous steps are fundamental to breaking Haiti’s cycle of suffering by addressing dramatic humanitarian and security challenges and forging a political pathway out of the crisis,” he said.

Support for international force

Later in the day, the head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), urged the UN Security Council to continue to support its vital work amid the myriad challenges gripping the country.

Special Representative María Isabel Salvador updated ambassadors on progress in the implementation of an agreement on inclusive transition and transparent elections, signed in December by the Prime Minister, several political parties, civil society, and the private sector.

She noted that there is widespread backing for the deployment of an international force to assist the Haitian National Police.

Ms. Salvador said that while the political transition and the fight against gangs should remain on separate tracks, they are inextricably linked.

“Improved security and continuous political dialogue would bring about the possibility to hold elections, a critical step on the path to reestablishing democratic institutions and elected officials at all levels of government,” she said.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative María Isabel Salvador, who also heads the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, briefs the Security Council.

Vigilante groups, rising displacement

Addressing the dire security situation, she noted that the violence continues and has intensified, moving beyond the capital.

“The appearance of vigilante groups adds another layer of complexity,” she added. “Since April, BINUH has documented the killing of at least 264 alleged gang members by vigilante groups.”

Ms. Salvador said insecurity also has a detrimental impact on economic and social rights, as access to education, food, water, sanitation, and healthcare services has been severely limited.

The increase in violence in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area has also displaced nearly 128,000 people from their homes, sparking a rise in migration.

‘Grim’ humanitarian outlook

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Haiti is “increasingly grim and likely to deteriorate even further”, she said. Some 5.2 million people, including nearly three million children, require urgent support and protection.

Haiti has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world, with some 4.9 million people affected, and the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse.

The country also remains highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Deadly floods, followed by an earthquake, killed 58 people last month and impacted 45,000 households.

Solidarity and action

As BINUH’s mandate is set to expire mid-month, Ms. Salvador made the case for its renewal.

“I ask for your support in ensuring that BINUH is adequately resourced to effectively and efficiently deliver its mandate and help Haiti out of these crises while ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel,” she said.

“This is a critical moment, which we cannot afford to waste. This is a time for international solidarity and immediate action.”

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UN concerned over ongoing Israeli military operation — Global Issues

In a statement from his spokesperson on Monday, Mr. Guterres affirmed that all military operations must be conducted with full respect for international humanitarian law.

The incursion follows another operation in the camp on 19 June, which left four Palestinians killed and 91 others injured.

Rising death toll

The UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Tuesday that as a result of the air and ground operations taking place in the West Bank town, 10 Palestinians including three children were killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

At least 100 others have been injured, of whom 20 are reportedly in critical condition, OCHA said. Thousands of residents have reportedly left the camp since the operation began.

In an apparent retaliatory attack in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Tuesday, seven people were injured, three seriously, when a Palestinian man drove into pedestrians standing outside a shopping centre, according to news reports.

The attacker was shot and killed by an Israeli citizen at the scene. Palestinian militant group Hamas reportedly described the attack as a direct response to the military operation in Jenin.

Lack of basic essentials

Airstrikes in Jenin “significantly damaged” structures in which people were living in both the camp and surrounding neighbourhoods. The agency warned that due to damage to infrastructure, most of the Jenin camp has lost access to drinking water and electricity.

The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), which runs four schools, one health centre and other facilities in the Jenin camp, said that many residents were in urgent need of food, drinking water and milk powder for children.

As of Monday, all UNRWA installations in the camp, operated by 90 staff members, were out of service due to the heavy exchanges of fire, the agency reported.

Ambulances denied access

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the extent of people’s injuries was placing strain on the “fragile and underfunded” health system and that it was working with partners to deliver more life-saving medical supplies to Jenin Hospital.

UN humanitarians said that the destruction of roads in the refugee camp was restricting access for medical teams and ambulances, and Israeli forces were conducting checks on vehicles, including ambulances, at the entrance of the camp.

According to the UN health agency, ambulances with medical teams have been prevented from entering parts of the refugee camp and reaching persons who have been critically injured.

Attacks on healthcare

At least two hospitals have also been affected by attacks involving use of ammunition and gas canisters.

“Attacks against healthcare, including prevention of access to persons injured, are extremely concerning”, WHO said, calling for “respect and protection of healthcare”, including safe passage to health services in Jenin and across Palestine.

The agency recalled that there had been a “significant increase” in attacks on healthcare in the West Bank this year. The first five months of 2023 saw “at least” 124 WHO-documented attacks, resulting in 39 health worker injuries and affecting 117 ambulances.

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Finding a sanctuary for animals in Ukraine — Global Issues

UNICEF

Local young people in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, are teaming up with the UPSHIFT programme, run by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to care for animals evacuated from dangerous regions.

Over 300 young people have joined the initiative to house the abandoned pets, mainly cats and dogs, and which hopes to encourage people to care about animals.

Find out how youth are helping here.

UNICEF

Young people are working together, with UN support, to help animals in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine.

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‘Generations of Haitians’ at risk, warns Guterres, calling for international force to help quell gang violence — Global Issues

The UN chief expressed deep concern at the extreme vulnerability faced by the Haitian people – especially women and girls – because of brutally violent and “predatory” armed gangs, like those encircling the capital, blocking main roads and controlling access to water, food, health care.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the widespread sexual violence which the armed gangs have used as a weapon to instil fear,” he said, calling on the entire international community to urgently “put the victims and the civilian population at the centre of our concerns and priorities.”

Deployment of an international force

Speaking to reporters in the Haitian capital, Mr. Guterres said that lasting and fully representative political solutions in Haiti would be impossible without a drastic improvement in the security situation.

“Every day counts. If we do not act now, instability and violence will have a lasting impact on generations of Haitians,” warned the Secretary-General, calling on all partners to increase their support for the national police in the form of financing, training or equipment.

However, such assistance alone might not be enough to restore the authority of the State.

“I continue to urge the Security Council to authorize the immediate deployment of a robust international force to assist the Haitian National Police in its fight against the gangs,” emphasized the UN chief.

Political entente to end the crisis

During his one-day visit to the Haitian capital, the Secretary-General he met with Prime Minister Ariel Henry, the High Transitional Council, members of civil society and the political parties, speaking to all of them on the need for ‘a political entente to end the crisis’.

“I call on all actors to create the conditions necessary for the restoration of democratic institutions,” said Mr. Guterres, inviting all parties involved to “rise above personal interests and make concessions” enabling emergence of a common vision and setting a viable and credible electoral pathway.

He commended the recent inter-Haitian talks, facilitated by the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group, aimed at reaching agreement on the formation of a national unity government and the expansion of the High Transitional Council.

“Only an inclusive national dialogue – with the full participation of women and young people – will help end the insecurity and find lasting political solutions,” Mr. Guterres said, and added that the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the entire UN system would continue to back these efforts.

‘A matter of moral justice’

While in Port-au-Prince, the Secretary-General met local men and women.

“I felt all the exhaustion of a people who have long been grappling with a cascade of crises and unacceptable living conditions. I listened to their call for help,” said the UN chief, noting that currently, one in two Haitians lives in extreme poverty, suffers from hunger, and does not have regular access to drinking water.

With the Haitian people facing such grave challenges, the Secretary-General lamented that the UN humanitarian response plan, which requires $720 million to assist more than three million people, is only 23 per cent funded.

It is “a matter of solidarity and moral justice” that the international community step up, he stated.

He specially commended the courage and dedication of humanitarian workers who provide assistance despite many obstacles and asked all stakeholders to uphold human rights and international law and to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need in Haiti.

‘No solution without the Haitian people’

Only inclusive and sustainable development will help to break the historical cycle of crises, address the humanitarian and security challenges, and create a stable constitutional and political environment, stated the UN chief.

“No solution can be found without the Haitian people,” he continued, but acknowledged that the scale of the problems demands the full support of the international community.

To garner that and more, the Secretary-General said that he is heading on Sunday to Trinidad and Tobago, where will participate in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit, which brings together the region’s 20 countries, among others.

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Syrians facing ‘ever worsening’ conditions, top UN officials warn — Global Issues

“The violence and suffering of the Syrian people remind us of what is at stake as diplomatic efforts continue on Syria,” said Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for the country. “Ultimately, we need a nationwide ceasefire in line with Security Councilresolution 2254.”

Worsening crisis

Briefing on current conditions, she said recent reports have tracked deadly drone attacks, shelling, terrorist attacks, and a spate of pro-Government airstrikes.

“Syrians face an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis,” she said.

Against this backdrop, Syrians still face massive displacement, an acute economic crisis, and the tragedy of the detained, disappeared, and missing, she said.

“All of these factors show us why it is so important for renewed diplomacy to translate into real solutions to meet the immediate concerns of the Syrian people, build some trust and confidence among the parties, and move forward towards a political solution,” she stressed.

“Syrians’ needs must be at the centre of our approach, and humanitarian action must be depoliticized,” she added.

UN Photo/Manuel Elías

Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria.

Humanitarian update

Martin Griffiths, the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief and Emergency Relief Coordinator, echoed that call.

“Twelve years of conflict, economic collapse, and other factors have pushed 90 per cent of the population below the poverty line,” he said, adding that a recent visit to the Syrian capital of Damascus left him “with a greater sense of the profound humanitarian challenges but also the urgent opportunities facing Syria”.

Amid the ongoing violence, sharply rising food prices, recovery from the devastating earthquakes in February, and a spreading cholera outbreak, he said the humanitarian community’s “best chance” to improve the future of the Syrian people is further expanding early recovery activities.

Cross-border aid lifelines

Equally important is the Council’s 12-month renewal of its resolution on cross-border operations, which will improve humanitarian conditions, he said.

Calling for increased international support, he said the UN and its partners currently “have limited means to help the most vulnerable people in Syria”, with the $5.4 billion UN humanitarian response plan less than 12 per cent funded.

He said a $200 million deficit will force the World Food Programme (WFP) to slash by 40 per cent its emergency food aid to Syrians for next month.

“The humanitarian response in Syria is at a critical juncture, as is the future of Syria itself,” he said. “Considerable challenges are apparent, but so are important opportunities if we can leverage recovery funding, if we can continue to be present in northwest and northeast Syria, and if we can turn our attention to sectors which have such a central role in determining basic needs”, such as electricity and water.

“We can only address these issues if we can make our presence one of partnership and support to the people who suffered these many years,” he said.

Finding 100,000 missing Syrians

On Thursday afternoon, the UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution to establish a first-of-its-kind institution that will work to reveal the fate of an estimated 100,000 people missing or forcibly disappeared in Syria.

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 83 in favour to 11 against, with 62 abstentions.

Ahead of the vote, Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi had told the Security Council that many of the families of the missing were looking to the world body’s vote today “with hope that a new entity dedicated to the issue of missing persons in Syria could bring some measure of relief” to those in and outside the country “who have been demanding their right to know the truth”.

Security Council extends UNDOF mandate

In other business, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF), established in 1974 to, among other things, maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

For more details on this and other meetings occurring throughout the UN system, visit our dedicated UN Meetings Coverage page.

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malnourished children fighting for their lives — Global Issues

The UN’s top humanitarian official in the country Matthias Schmale informed that severe hunger is affecting 4.3 million people in Nigeria’s Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. The number of children under five at risk of life-threatening severe acute malnutrition has doubled in one year to reach 700,000.

Describing the situation in the region, Mr. Schmale said: “I have been to Borno and the other two states several times, I’ve seen mothers fighting for lives of their malnourished children in nutrition stabilization centres.” The children he spoke to complained about being hungry for days.

“Those of us who are parents must imagine what it’s like when you cannot ensure your children have enough to eat,” he emphasized.

Drivers of crisis

The “catastrophic” situation is primarily the result of more than a decade of insecurity linked to non-State armed groups, which prevents people from farming and earning income from the land, Mr. Schmale said.

Another harmful factor is climate change and extreme weather impacts. Last year saw the worst floods in ten years in Nigeria, which affected more than 4.4 million people across the country, not just the north-east.

Soaring prices of food, fuel and fertilizers have exacerbated the crisis, and the response remains severely underfunded. The UN official said that out of the $1.3 billion in humanitarian funding needed for the region, only 25 per cent has been secured so far.

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Displacement soars amid shrinking humanitarian access — Global Issues

“We’ve already seen over 560,000 people crossing into neighbouring countries…[and] nearly two million people displaced internally,” said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, following a visit to Sudan.

Since conflict erupted there on 15 April when rival militaries clashed, more than half a million people have reached neighbouring countries in a bid to escape the fighting, with Egypt receiving the most refugees followed by Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic.

Reaching one million marker

Based on the continuing violence, the UN agency now expects that its previous estimate of one million refugees will be surpassed.

In response to the crisis, UNHCR and other UN agencies, humanitarian partners, and host communities have increased efforts to provide emergency shelter, clean water, health care services, psychosocial support, and other vital assistance to help displaced populations inside and outside Sudan.

Host communities unaffected by the conflict until now are also “seeing the consequences”, Mr. Mazou said.

“All are in need of protection and assistance,” he added. “What is also quite striking, and which needs to be underlined, is how welcoming the host populations are.”

West Darfur horror

Although violence has erupted across multiple fronts, UNHCR raised particular concerns about West Darfur. Aid access is “limited” amid reports of “wanton killings” by militia that the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has condemned.

Bordering West Darfur, Chad has seen 170,000 people crossing its borders to flee the conflict, according to the UN refugee agency. Many, including women and children, have arrived needing treatment for their injuries, the agency said.

At the same time, the rainy season has thwarted aid workers from reaching those crossing the border and transporting them to refugee camps, the agency said.

© UNHCR/Charlotte Hallqvist

Tents have been set up at the Gorom refugee camp in South Sudan to host new arrivals from Sudan.

South Sudan returnees

More than 120,000 people crossed the border into South Sudan, where sparse infrastructure and security concerns represent significant challenges that are preventing new arrivals from moving on, the agency warned. Much of the assistance they need will have to be airlifted, which is both costly and complex.

Meanwhile, UNHCR teams are registering new arrivals, providing them with emergency relief, and helping them to reach different locations as quickly as possible.

Most of the arrivals are South Sudanese, returning to their country, Mr. Mazou said.

“They are part of the 800,000 South Sudanese refugees who were in Sudan, but they are now going back,” he said.

Strained resources

Capacity at border reception and transit facilities in neighbouring countries have been strained by the sheer numbers of people arriving, leading to overcrowding and further stretching of already limited resources, the UN refugee agency said.

Those fleeing Sudan arrive exhausted after days or sometimes weeks on the road, shocked by the violence they have witnessed and in need of food, medical care, and relief items, UNCHR reported.

During a donor conference for Sudan in Geneva on 19 June, $1.52 billion in pledges were received against an appeal for $3 billion to address the current situation.

Learn more about how UNHCR is helping the people of Sudan and those fleeing the violence here.

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Around 60 million in urgent humanitarian need — Global Issues

“About five million children under the age of five are estimated to be facing acute malnutrition in 2023 in the Horn region, in the Greater Horn. That is about 10.4 million, that is just a staggering figure,” said Liesbeth Aelbrecht, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) incident manager for the greater Horn of Africa emergency.

Three year high

“What our colleagues are seeing in clinics and in hospitals, since the beginning of this year, are the highest level of severely malnourished children who are now coming to these facilities with medical complications since the crisis began three years ago.”

Echoing that alert, World Food Programme (WFP) Senior Emergency Officer Dominique Ferretti said that almost three years of drought had given way to rains and devastating flash floods: “While we just concluded a rainy season which performed better than predicted, one rainy season is not enough to bring an end to the crisis.”

© WFP/Alessandro Abbonizio

Women collect water in drought-stricken Marsabit in northern Kenya.

Although long-awaited rains arrived in March across the eight-member Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region – encompassing Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda – and with it the hope of relief, flash-flooding inundated homes and farmland, washed away livestock and closed schools and health facilities.

The result was the highest number of reported disease outbreaks in the greater Horn of Africa so far this century. Their frequency can be linked directly to extreme climate events, according to the UN health agency.

Ms. Aelbrecht noted ongoing outbreaks of cholera and measles, together with “very high numbers” last year and this year, including malaria cases.

“So, with the impact of flooding, we see these diseases worsening. Malaria, I would like to remind you, is one of the biggest killers in the region.”

Climate complications

Climate concerns are key to food security in the coming months, the UN Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) noted at a press conference in Geneva.

Global forecasts indicate that El Niño weather pattern conditions are already present and will strengthen through the rest of the year, which could bring above-average rains during the October to December rainy season across eastern parts of the region, including much of Kenya, the Somali region of Ethiopia and Somalia.

“El Niño may somewhat reduce the risk of flooding in flood-prone areas such as South Sudan,” said Brenda Lazarus, Food Security and Early Warning Economist at FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa.

Nevertheless, she indicated that “on the risk’ side, below-average rains and dry spells, along with other drivers of food insecurity would likely negatively impact agricultural production and increase already alarming levels.

Investing is key

FAO emphasized the need to shift from a system focused mainly on emergency response, to anticipating and mitigating crises through investments such as in rainwater harvesting, soil and water conservation, or the use of more drought tolerant crops – and ensuring seeds are locally available.

Involving young people in building silos could also boost community resilience, the UN agency noted.

The 60 million severely food insecure include more than 15 million women of reproductive age, 5.6 million adolescent girls and close to 1.1 million pregnant women.

Close to 360,000 of them are expected to give birth in the next three months, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Women who are forced to look for food just to survive “do so on the expense of their own health,” said Michael Ebele, UNFPA Regional Humanitarian Adviser for East and Southern Africa.

Increased risk of deaths

“So, we are seeing pregnant women not being able to go for antenatal care, not attending to other illnesses they may be having. And then, that comes with risks of complications…then the risks of maternal deaths increase.”

Malnutrition among pregnant and lactating mothers puts their unborn and breast-feeding children at risk of malnutrition and propagates malnutrition through entire life cycles in communities.

Malnourished mothers are also less able to withstand complications in pregnancy which put them at greater risk of losing their child.

“Because of the limited amount of resources, we have seen an increase in the risks of survival sex”, said Ms. Ebele, “increasing the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly of women and girls”.

Grain initiative threat

Asked by journalists how badly the Horn of Africa would be affected if the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative to facilitate Ukrainian grain exports to the world’s markets is not renewed next month, WFP’s Mr. Ferretti replied that “the reality is that Ukraine is the breadbasket, it is a major supplier and it would hit us hard if this Black Sea initiative was not renewed”.

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With needs at a record high, underfunding is chronic Guterres tells humanitarians — Global Issues

With 360 million people worldwide in need of humanitarian assistance, up 30 percent since early 2022, global humanitarian needs have yet again reached record levels.

In a video message to the Humanitarian Affairs Segment, a platform created by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to find solutions to pressing humanitarian aid issues, Antonio Guterres cited some shocking figures: more than 110 million people have been forced from their homes, while more than 260 million face daily difficulties getting food.

Famine is a growing risk for many.

While the figures change, the reasons driving them up do not. The Secretary-General referred to the devastating impact of unresolved conflicts, that “grind on while new wars are launched” and the global economic turmoil triggered by COVID and aggravated by the worldwide impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Another hostile factor driving up fatalities and displacing millions is climate change, he said.

And as the most vulnerable are hit hardest, “sustainable development – the ultimate prevention tool – has stagnated or gone into reverse,” warned Mr. Guterres.

Crisis of funding

Many responsible for rising conflict are violating international law, attacking hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure. Rampant human rights violations are being committed, including against women and girls.

In response, humanitarian aid agencies and UN partners on the ground are finding new ways to provide emergency aid around the world, said the UN chief.

In Ukraine last year aid workers ramped up deliveries to support some 15.4 million people. Another 17 million people in Afghanistan, 2.8 million in Nigeria and 2.5 million in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have received humanitarian aid since the beginning of this year.

The Secretary-General assessed those operations as “huge” and regretted that financing for them cannot keep up with rising demand.

Halfway through 2023, the Global Humanitarian Appeal is only 20 per cent funded.

“This is causing a crisis within a crisis,” Mr. Guterres believes. Shortages of funds are causing rollbacks of food aid in Syria, Bangladesh, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Without a solution to the funding crisis, further cuts are inevitable, warned the UN chief.

Solutions focus

Antonio Guterres encouraged meeting participants to consider ways to increase humanitarian resources, to deliver aid more efficiently and effectively, to better protect individuals in crises, to reduce food insecurity and to increase resilience by investing in climate adaptation.

ECOSOC’s Humanitarian Affairs Segment brings together UN Member States, UN organizations, humanitarian and development partners, the private sector and affected communities.

They meet each June to discuss how to best tackle the most recent humanitarian concerns and crises.

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