"SAHEL"

As Mali faces major security, human rights obstacles, stronger response needed to end terrorism, violent extremism in Sahel, peacekeeping chief tells Security Council.

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

With a deteriorating security situation in central and northern Mali, the UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on Tuesday that Blue Helmets, the Malian Defence and Security Forces, continue to suffer “repeated attacks and significant losses, while several regions and large towns live under constant threat from armed groups.” UNIFEED

Last year, deadly attacks and threats left Malian refugees no choice but to flee both of Burkina Faso’s camps, Goudoubo near Dori and Mentao near Djibo. After having organized the return of over 5,200 to Goudoubo camp, a place some call home, UNHCR and its partners recently organised the relocation of 1,211 from Djibo to that camp. UNHCR

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

Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria are on top of the list facing catastrophic levels of acute hunger, with families in pockets of South Sudan and Yemen already in the grip of, or at risk of, starvation and death according to a new report. UNTV CH

New and unprecedented forms of natural disasters are most heavily felt in the agricultural industry, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today. UNIFEED

The head of the World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley said it is time to end the war in Yemen and allow the Yemeni people to “move on with their lives” adding that the country is facing “the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, period.” UNIFEED

Already up 20 per cent, acute hunger driven by conflict, instability risks increasing further due to climate change, COVID-19, Secretary-General warns Security Council.

Conflict drives hunger, and when that turns to famine, then hunger and famine drive conflict, the UN chief told the Security Council on Thursday, adding that “if you don’t feed people, you feed conflict”. UNIFEED