"CITIES"

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Waly said, “as the Security Council has recognized, linkages between terrorism and organized crime are complex and multifaceted, posing a serious threat to international peace and security.” UNIFEED

As a result of a huge explosion that rocked Beirut Port Tuesday evening, one of the UNIFIL ships of the Maritime Task Force docked in the port was damaged, leaving some UNIFIL naval peacekeepers injured – some of them seriously. UNIFIL

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Lebanon, following the horrific explosions in Beirut.” UNIFEED

Seventy-five years ago this week, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated by atomic blasts. Both cities were levelled, causing untold death and destruction. Yet, long-standing international norms to stop a nuclear disaster are under threat. CTBTO

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption to education in history and prolonged school closures could further entrench inequalities in access to learning, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on a video message released today. UNIFEED

Yazidi genocide survivor and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking Nadia Murad, said, “ignoring the suffering of the Yazidis is unacceptable. The international community must not defer meaningful actions any longer.” UNIFEED

“The UN remains concerned about a possible humanitarian disaster in Libya should the current escalation and mobilization around Sirte lead to military operations,” a UN spokesperson said on Monday. UNIFEED

German Ambasador Christoph Heusgen expressed support for Security Council reform that would allow Germany to have a permanent seat, but said, “those countries who are very happy with the status quo are blocking the process.” UNIFEED

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said evidence suggests that spikes of cases in some countries are being driven “in part by younger people letting down their guard during the northern hemisphere summer” and reminded that “young people are not invincible.” WHO

With COVID-19 aggravating an already severe hunger crisis in Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday appealed for an additional (USD) 250 million to support a rapidly expanding emergency operation for millions at-risk. UNIFEED