"HUNGER"

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that “the continuing negotiations on the pandemic accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations are an unprecedented opportunity for us all to learn from the successes and failures of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” WHO

The United Nations is concerned about the continuous slowdown of the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, observed particularly in the months of April and May, a UN Spokesperson said. UNIFEED

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, today (30 May) said it was “vital” that recent diplomatic moves in Syria “are matched with real action,” as the Syrian people “continue to suffer on massive scale.” UNIFEED

For the first time since fighting broke out in Sudan on 15 April, humanitarians have been able to reach desperate families trapped in the conflict’s epicentre, Khartoum, with food assistance, the UN’s World Food Programme said today. UNTV CH

A new UN early warning report has found that acute food insecurity is set to potentially increase in magnitude and severity in 18 hunger “hotspots” comprising 22 countries. WFP

The food security situation in Yemen’s districts under the control of the Government of Yemen (GoY) slightly improved during the first five months of this year, while acute malnutrition increased, compared to the same period in 2022. However, the outlook for the period between now until the end of 2023 indicates the need for more programme investments, as the modest improvements may be eroded, UN agencies warned on Friday. UNICEF

Secretary-General António Guterres said, “crisis atop of crisis is threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions across the Horn of Africa,” and called on donors to “act now to prevent crisis from turning into catastrophe.” UNIFEED

The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

Addressing the Security Council annual debate on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “war is devastating lives around the world,” and stressed that “we must intensify our efforts to prevent conflict, protect civilians, preserve peace and find political solutions to war.” UNIFEED