"HUMANITARIAN CRISIS"

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said, humanitarian agencies will continue to work in Afghanistan, “unless and until there is a blanket opposition to the role of women.” UNIFEED

Commenting on guidelines expected to be issued by Taliban authorities to allow women to work in humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, the United Nations top humanitarian official said “Let’s see if these guidelines do come through. Let's see if they are beneficial. Let's see what space there is for the essential and central role of women in our humanitarian operations.” UNIFEED

Briefing reporters in Juba on Friday, the head of the UN in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom said, “It will be crucial that South Sudan meets all its critical benchmarks, particularly those that are time bound, and this would require a sense of urgency in the coming year.” UNMISS

Daily Press Briefing by the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General.

Representatives of Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland took part of an installation ceremony of their national flags, as newly elected non-permanent members of the Security Council. UNIFEED

Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, said that the needs of the Syrian people had reached the worst levels since the conflict began against a backdrop of further economic collapse and ongoing violence. UNIFEED

Ambassador Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland, and Ambassador Mona Juul, Permanent Representative of Norway briefed on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Amid rampant fuel, food shortages in Syria, Special Envoy calls for enhanced cross-border, cross-line access, early recovery projects.

Despite ‘glimmer of hope’ in Armenia, Azerbaijan conflict, escalating tensions threaten to derail fragile progress, senior official tells Security Council.

The UN Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said that there had been some noticeable progress in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. UNIFEED