"HUMANITARIAN CRISIS"

The UN humanitarian office (OCHA) said it released ten million USD from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to scale up its response to the devastating desert locust outbreak in East Africa. OCHA said the Horn of Africa has been hit by the worst invasion of desert locusts in 25 years, posing a threat to food security to the population in East Africa that is already experiencing a high degree of food insecurity. UNTV CH

Somalia’s federal authorities and international partners launched a plan requiring more than a $1 billion to provide much-needed humanitarian aid to some three million Somalis this year. UNSOM

Despite ‘quietest week’ since start of Yemen conflict, access constraints hinder humanitarian aid for 6.7 million people, top officials warn Security Council.

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

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

At least 300,000 civilians have fled their homes in northwest Syria amid intense air and ground bombardment, with winter conditions worsening an escalating humanitarian crisis, the United Nations said today. UNTV CH

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

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

Security Council rejects 2 draft resolutions authorizing cross-border and cross-line humanitarian access in Syria at 8697th meeting.

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told the Security Council that in light of developments over the past year, “the need for a comprehensive political process as mandated by this Council in resolution 2254, is more pressing than ever.” UNIFEED