"SHIPPING"

The number of children with severe wasting was rising even before war in Ukraine threatened to plunge the world deeper into a spiralling global food crisis - and it’s getting worse, UNICEF warned in a new Child Alert. UNICEF

The United Nations' Secretary-General warned on Wednesday that “there isn’t a moment to lose” to stop the SAFER oil tanker, a rusting ship near the Yemeni coast, from spilling more than 1 million barrels of oil into the Red Sea. UNIFEED

Russia and Ukraine combined account for 30 percent of the global wheat exports and 20 percent of global maize exports. Any disruption in production or supply could drive prices up, affecting millions of vulnerable families, especially in hunger hotspots. WFP

The UN Refugee Agency said that more than 3,000 people died or went missing while attempting to cross the Central and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic last year to Europe. UNIFEED / FILE

Desperately needed rains across the Horn of Africa have so far failed to materialise, almost a month into the current rainy season, and if these conditions continue, along with stagnant and even decreasing humanitarian aid, the number of hungry people due to drought could spiral from the currently estimated 14 million to 20 million through 2022, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned. WFP

Truce offers chance to steer Yemen in 'new direction', Special Representative tells Security Council, cautions parties against backslide into conflict.

Talking to reporters before leaving Sana’a after a three-day visit, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grundberg said, “despite reported violations that we are concerned about, we have seen a significant overall reduction in hostilities and no confirmed reports of airstrikes or cross-border attacks.” UNIFEED

The 100th ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) has been marked by a ceremony at the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) headquarters in Geneva. ILO

World food commodity prices made a significant leap in March to reach their highest levels ever, as war in the Black Sea region spread shocks through markets for staple grains and vegetable oils, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported. UNIFEED

Speaking to reporters on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended the Government of Yemen, the Saudi-led Coalition and the Houthis for agreeing on a two-month truce in Yemen, including cross-border attacks. UNIFEED