"CHILDREN"

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution and human rights violations in 2020 rose to nearly 82.4 million people, according to UNHCR’s latest annual Global Trends report released on Friday.. This is a further four per cent increase on top of the already record-high 79.5 million at the end of 2019. UNHCR

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba said the COVID-19 pandemic and related response “has had startling consequences on children, including a spike in conflict-related sexual violence incidents, and yet survivors have been left out of response efforts.” UNIFEED

Colombia is offering a temporary protection status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, paving the way for them to access support services, health care, education, and work. For Sikíu, it means her son Lucas can finally get the help he needs. UNHCR

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

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths today (15 Jun) told the Security Council that Yemeni men, women and children “are suffering every day because people with power have missed the opportunities presented to them, to make the necessary concessions to end the war.” UNIFEED

The outflow of refugees and migrants from Venezuela is one of the largest external displacement crises in the world. To date, over 5.6 million people have left their country. On June 17th, Canada will host an international donor conference bringing together governments and key actors involved in the response to the Venezuela situation, including the private sector, development banks and civil society. UNHCR

Effective and binding action is urgently required to protect the millions of children, adolescents and expectant mothers worldwide whose health is jeopardized by the informal processing of discarded electrical or electronic devices according to a new report from the World Health Organization named "Children and Digital Dumpsites." UNIFEED

Targeted sanctions, Darfur arms embargo continue to thwart spoilers of peace in Sudan, chair of 1591 Committee tells Security Council. Updated sanctions list can help Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab, chair of Committee pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) tells Security Council.

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

The United Nations top official in Mali told the Security Council that “the time has come for Malian leaders to rise above partisan politics and personal interests and work together in earnest to address the crisis in the interest of their country and its future.” UNIFEED