"OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA"

The Al Hol camp, Syria’s largest site for refugees and displaced persons, has been the site of 12 killings since the beginning of the year, the United Nations humanitarian office reported today. UNTV CH

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen today said, “the political process is not as yet delivering real changes in Syrian’s lives nor a real vision for the future. Steps that could build confidence are not really being taken.” UNIFEED

The island nation of Madagascar, one of the most impoverished countries in the world, has seen its agricultural season ruined by the worst drought in the decade, the UN humanitarian office said today and appealed for 76 million USD to provide urgent assistance. UNTV CH

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has wreaked havoc in the west of the Indonesia’s island of Sulawesi, killing at least 34 people and injuring more than 630. At least 15,000 people have been displaced by the quake, which struck 6 kilometres north-east of the city of Majene, at a depth of 10 kilometres, toppling buildings in the area. UNTV CH

A delegation of United Nations officials visited Somalia’s South West State on Thursday to discuss ways in which the world body can assist the Federal Member State in a range of areas in 2021. UNSOM

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said he is “extremely concerned about the impact of the decision from the United States to designate Ansar Allah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.” UNIFEED

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The United Nations and partners today launched an appeal for USD 254 million to provide urgently needed assistance and protection to more than 1.1 million people affected by violence, conflict and insecurity in the Cabo Delgado area and neighbouring provinces of Mozambique. UNTV CH

UN humanitarian affairs chief Mark Lowcock told the Security Council that even as active conflict in some areas has subsided in Syria, “economic decay and the compounding impact of COVID-19 are driving deterioration in people’s life experiences. Food insecurity and malnutrition are expected to rise significantly, as is the overall number of people in need.” UNIFEED

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan David Shearer told the Security Council that despite political gains in the past few months, “implementation of the peace agreement continues to stagnate, and many benchmarks are behind schedule.” UNIFEED