"ASIA"

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

The United Nations and non-governmental organizations launched joint response plans aiming to deliver vital humanitarian relief to 22 million people in Afghanistan and support 5.7 million displaced Afghans and local communities in five neighbouring countries. UNHCR

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ghada Fathi Waly said, “maritime insecurity, illicit flows, and linkages between transnational organized crime and terrorism all represent major obstacles to achieving peace, security and development in West Africa and the Sahel." She reiterated, "we must encourage political will and increased international support to strengthen comprehensive and cooperative crime responses.” UNIFEED

Organized crime perpetuating instability, violence, poverty across West Africa, Sahel, executive director tells Security Council.

The UN continues to follow the situation in Kazakhstan closely, and “there have been several contacts between the UN and the authorities in Kazakhstan, including a call this morning between the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Natalia Gherman, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Akan Rakhmetullin,” said a UN Spokesperson. UNIFEED

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that this year has brought a spate of grave violations against children in both protracted and new conflicts. UNICEF

A flare-up in intercommunal fighting in northern Cameroon has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes and brought a halt to aid operations there, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. UNTV CH

Environmental activist Maria Kolesnikova received the United Nations Environment Programme’s Champion of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category. UNEP

Adopting 55 First Committee texts, General Assembly addresses myriad security threats, urging joint action to advance stalled denuclearization, disarmament efforts.