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Month: July 2019

DR Congo: efforts to control Ebola epidemic continue, UN food relief agency doubles assistance to affected people

One-year after the beginning of the complex outbreak in the volatile eastern part of the DRC – and ten days since the “alarming confirmation of a first case in Goma, the region’s biggest city, with some two million people” – WFP’s Spokesperson Herve Verhoosel said that the UN agency is “stepping up preparations for a potential further escalation of the epidemic”.

Over the next six months, WFP will nearly double its food assistance and nutritional support to 440,000 Ebola-affected people in DR Congo, Mr. Verhoosel announced, adding that this would include “primarily contacts of victims and their families, as well as confirmed and suspected cases”.

According to estimates, expected new contacts are at roughly 50 per case, which equals a total of 75,000 contacts in the next five months.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, he said that given the challenges of “tracing contacts in the conflict zone that is eastern DRC, food distributions are key to the containment effort, helping as they do to limit the movement of people who could spread the disease, and to the vital vaccination drive”.

Since WFP distributions are carried out at agreed sites for “contacts” of Ebola-affected people, families receive one-week rations, encouraging them to come back to the distribution site where they can also receive a medical check-up at least once per week, over the course of 28 days.

Ebola campaign in support of frontline responders

WFP’s regional response also includes efforts to expand the fleet of aircraft dedicated to the Ebola campaign, in support of frontline responders, including UN agencies and NGO personnel.

 Mr. Verhoosel said that “with popular mistrust of responders still widespread and hampering containment, WFP is intensifying efforts to encourage community cooperation”. In some cases, “beneficiaries are afraid to even be seen with WFP food because many have been threatened”, he added.

To respond to those challenges, WFP is planning to increase the number of primary schools in Ebola-affected areas of DRC to provide with nutritious hot lunches, which typically consists of rice, beans, fortified vegetable oil and salt.

“Provision of school meals encourages communities to cooperate with responders. For many pupils, this is the main – if not the only – meal of the day in a region of pronounced chronic malnutrition. The number of children slated to receive school meals to rise from 17,000 to 70,000”, WFP’s Spokesperson said.

Crucial funding needed to combat Ebola

UN agencies, including WFP and the World Health Organization (WHO), are hoping that the designation earlier this month of Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern will speed up the release of crucial funding to combat it.

WFP requires $50 million over the next six months to implement its response and preparedness actions in DRC and neighbouring countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

The agency has set up 69 screening and isolation units at the major border crossings between DRC and the priority countries, and in hospitals.

Earlier this week, the World Bank announced the mobilization of $300 million to scale up support for the global response to the Ebola epidemic in the DR Congo.

UN sees progress in fight against tobacco, warns more action needed to help people quit deadly product

With five billion people today – four times more people than a decade ago – living in countries that have introduced smoking bans, graphic warnings on packaging and other effective tobacco control measures, many governments are making progress in the fight against tobacco.  

But a new WHO report out on Friday shows many countries are still not adequately implementing policies, including helping people quit tobacco, that can save lives. It urges governments to implement cessation services as part of efforts to ensure universal health coverage for their citizens.     

The seventh WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic analyses national efforts to implement the most effective measures from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) that are proven to reduce demand for tobacco.  

 These measures, like the so-named ‘MPOWER’ interventions, have been shown to save lives and reduce costs from averted healthcare expenditure. The MPOWER report was launched in 2007 to promote government action on six tobacco control strategies in-line with the WHO FCTC to: 

  • Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies. 
  • Protect people from tobacco smoke. 
  • Offer help to quit tobacco use. 
  • Warn people about the dangers of tobacco. 
  • Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. 
  • Raise taxes on tobacco. 

The focus of the latest report is on the progress countries have made to help tobacco users quit. It is being launched today in Brazil, a country that has become the second, after Turkey, to fully implement all the MPOWER measures at the highest level of achievement. 

Tobacco cessation services must be stepped up 

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said governments should implement cessation services as part of efforts to ensure universal health coverage for their citizens. 

“Quitting tobacco is one of the best things any person can do for their own health,” said Dr Tedros. “The MPOWER package gives governments the practical tools to help people kick the habit, adding years to their life and life to their years.” 

 Progress is being made, with 2.4 billion people living in countries now providing comprehensive cessation services (2 billion more than in 2007). But only 23 countries are providing cessation services at the best-practice level, making it the most under-implemented MPOWER measure in terms of number of countries offering full coverage.  

Tobacco cessation services include national toll-free quit lines, “mCessation” services to reach larger populations via mobile phones, counselling by primary health care providers and cost-covered nicotine replacement therapy.   

Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the report shows government-led efforts to help people quit tobacco work when properly implemented.  

“More countries are making tobacco control a priority and saving lives, but there’s still much more work to be done,” said Mr Bloomberg. “The WHO’s new report shines a spotlight on global efforts to help people quit using tobacco and it details some of our most important gains.”   

The report, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, showed that while only 23 countries have implemented cessation support policies at the highest level, 116 more provide fully or partially cost-covered services in some or most health facilities, and another 32 offer services but do not cost-cover them, demonstrating a high level of public demand for support to quit.  

Eliminating hepatitis calls for ‘bold political leadership, with investments to match,’ UN health chief says

A new study by WHO, published on Friday in Lancet Global Health, found that investing $6 billion per year in eliminating hepatitis in 67 low- and middle-income countries would avert 4.5 million premature deaths by 2030, and more than 26 million deaths beyond that target date. 
  
A total of $58.7 billion is needed to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in these 67 countries by 2030. This means reducing new hepatitis infections by 90 per cent and deaths by 65 per cent. 
  
“Today 80 per cent of people living with hepatitis can’t get the services they need to prevent, test for and treat the disease,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.  

“On World Hepatitis Day, we’re calling for bold political leadership, with investments to match. We call on all countries to integrate services for hepatitis into benefit packages as part of their journey towards universal health coverage,” said the top UN health official.   

By investing in diagnostic tests and medicines for treating hepatitis B and C now, countries can save lives and reduce costs related to long-term care of cirrhosis and liver cancer that result from untreated hepatitis. 
  
According to WHO, some countries are already taking action. The Government of India, for example, has announced that it will offer free testing and treatment for both hepatitis B and C, as part of its universal health coverage plan. This has been facilitated through the reduction in prices of medicines. In India, a hepatitis C cure costs less than $40 and a year of hepatitis B treatment costs less than $30. At these prices, hepatitis C cure will result in healthcare cost savings within three years. 
  
The Government of Pakistan has also been able to procure hepatitis C curative treatment at similarly low prices. Providing curative treatment to all those currently diagnosed with hepatitis C could also reduce healthcare costs in Pakistan within three years. Meanwhile, Pakistan is faced with one of the highest new annual infection rates of hepatitis C virus and is launching a new infection control and injection safety plan on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day to stop transmission. 

World Hepatitis Day 

WHO’s global hepatitis strategy, endorsed by all WHO Member States, aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90 per cent and deaths by 65 per cent between 2016 and 2030. 

On the 2019 edition of World Hepatitis Day – the Day is marked on 29 July – WHO ins calling on all countries to “invest in eliminating hepatitis” through costing, budgeting and financing of elimination services within their universal health coverage plans.  

While there has been broad support among WHO Member States in adopting the WHO hepatitis elimination strategy, with 124 out of 194 countries developing hepatitis plans, over 40 per cent of country plans lack dedicated budget lines to support elimination efforts. 

There are five types of viral hepatitis infections – A, B, C, D and E. Over 95 per cent of deaths are caused by chronic hepatitis B and C infections, while hepatitis A and E rarely cause life-threatening illnesses. Hepatitis D is an additional infection occurring in people living with hepatitis B. 

Listen to or download our interview with WHO’s hepatitis team leader, Dr. Marc Bulterys, on SoundCloud: 

Senior UN officials call for return to sea rescues, after ‘the worst Mediterranean tragedy of this year’

 

Several of the senior officials have called for a return to sea rescues in the Mediterranean.

The Libya office of the International Organization for Migrants (IOM), published social media reports on Thursday that some 145 survivors of the shipwreck, mainly Eritreans and Sudanese, were returned to the Libyan shore. The survivors reported that some 250 were on the boat before it capsized, after engine failure.

 In a Tweet, Mr. Guterres wrote that he was “horrified” by the news, and called for “safe, legal routes for migrants and refugees”. His comments were echoed by the head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, and the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) chief, Henrietta Fore, both of whom also called for end to the arbitrary detention of refugees and migrants in Libya.

Without urgent action we will continue to see children lose their lives making these journeys Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF

 

A spokesperson for UNHCR, said in a press briefing on Friday that the large loss of life underscores the “terrible urgency” of the agency’s repeated pleas to States to restore sea rescues and “help with alleviating the suffering of the thousands of refugees and migrants caught in the conflict in Libya.

The UNHCR spokesperson reiterated the agency’s request for additional help, such as further resettlement places, and other safe pathways out of Libya for vulnerable people; as well as increased measures to arrest and prosecute people traffickers.

The wreck occurred three days after a conference in Paris on the situation in Libya and the Mediterranean, attended by the heads of the UN’s refugee and migration agencies, during which they called for sea rescues not to be criminalized, and for those rescued not to be sent back to Libya.

Thursday’s Daily Brief: Somalia bombing condemned, as UN expert calls for more international help; Africa faces locust swarms; new leaders for UN atomic watchdog and top economic body

UN Chief condemns deadly Somalia attacks on offices visited earlier by UN envoy…

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Wednesday’s “deadly terror attacks” in Somalia, that targeted the offices of the mayor of Mogadishu, reportedly killing six government officials and injured several others, including the mayor.

According to media reports, the attack was carried out by a female suicide bomber, and was claimed by terror group al-Shabab.

The new UN special envoy to Somalia, James Swan, described the bombing as a “heinous attack”, that “demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life”, in a statement released by the Mission on Wednesday.

Read the full story here.

…As independent expert calls for international community to continue supporting the country

The following day, UN independent expert Bahame Tom Nyanduga, commended Somalians for their resilience in the face of extreme challenges such as conflict, terrorist bomb attacks, and grave violations of human rights, whilst dealing with poverty and a lack of basic necessities.

Mr. Nyanduga’s comments came in a statement released following a visit to Somalia, in which he called on the international community to continue help Somalia to strengthen its institution, and the justice and security sector, ahead of the next elections.

Earlier this month, al-Shabab reportedly claimed responsibility for an attack on the southern city of Kismayo, during which a car containing explosives was driven into a hotel, which was then stormed by gunmen. At least 26 people were killed.

More on Mr. Nyanduga’s comments here.

New leader of top UN economic and social body to push for fundamental freedoms for all

In her inaugural speech as President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Mona Juul, of Norway, declared that the body’s mandate today remains “as relevant and compelling” as it did back in 1945, when it was tasked with “fostering international cooperation on economic, social, and cultural issues”.

Having served as one of the four ECOSOC Vice-Presidents, Ms. Juul was elected by acclamation on Thursday morning.

The Council should promote “universal respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. For all”, continued the newly elected president. “Without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”.

The new ECOSOC chief also advocated that the UN body align the “whole UN family” for improved results and under Government leadership, strive to make a difference in countries.

Full story here.

UN nuclear watchdog agency appoints interim chief, following death of Director General

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appointed an interim chief, following the death of Director General Yukiya Amano, which was announced on Monday.

Mr Amano, who died at the age of 72, had been due to step down next March amid reports of an unspecified illness.

In a statement published on Thursday, the IAEA stated that, “to ensure the orderly and smooth functioning of the Agency”, Cornel Feruta will serve as acting Director General, until a new chief assumes office.

Mr. Feruta currently heads the IAEA’s Office of Coordination, responsible for supporting the Director General in areas such as policy, external relations with Member States, and strategy.

Growing risk of locust swarms in Yemen and Horn of Africa

Yemen and several countries in the Horn of Africa region, are facing an increased risk of desert locust swarms,  threatening agricultural production during the next three months, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, warned on Thursday.

The risk is being blamed on summer breeding, amplified by heavy rains, and the FAO says that it could affect food security and livelihoods in the countries concerned, which include Sudan, Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia and northern Somalia.

Intensive ground and aerial operations to control the locust population, mounted in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan this year, have had some success, but were not able to entirely prevent swarms from forming, and moving to traditional summer breeding areas in Yemen, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and along both sides of the border between India and Pakistan. 

Listen to or download our audio News in Brief for 25 July on SoundCloud: 

 

UN chief condemns deadly Somalia attacks on offices visited earlier by UN envoy

Mr. Guterres extended his “deep condolences” to the victims’ families and loved ones, and reiterated the full support and solidarity of the UN with the people and Government of Somalia.

According to media reports, the attack was carried out by a female suicide bomber, and was claimed by terror group al-Shabab.

The mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman, was one of those injured in Wednesday’s attack. He is reported to be unconscious, and is due to be flown to Turkey for treatment.

The new UN special envoy to Somalia, James Swan, had met the mayor at the offices earlier in the day, to discuss progress and challenges in the capital and surrounding areas.

Mr. Swan, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, UNSOM, described the bombing as a “heinous attack”, that “demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life”, in a statement released by the Mission on Wednesday.

The following day, UN independent expert Bahame Tom Nyanduga, commended Somalians for their resilience in the face of extreme challenges such as conflict, terrorist bomb attacks, and grave violations of human rights, whilst dealing with poverty and a lack of basic necessities.

Mr. Nyanduga’s comments came in a statement released following a visit to Somalia, in which he called on the international community to continue help Somalia to strengthen its institution, and the justice and security sector, ahead of the next elections.

Earlier this month, al-Shabab reportedly claimed responsibility for an attack on the southern city of Kismayo, during which a car containing explosives was driven into a hotel, which was then stormed by gunmen. At least 26 people were killed.

Despite ‘considerable progress,’ Somalia needs help tackling political, economic and rights challenges, says UN expert

“I urge the international community and Federal Government of Somalia to address the negative effects of climate change on the population and ensure access to basic human rights such as water supply, health services, and education for all children, in particular girls”, said Independent Expert Bahame Tom Nyanduga at the end of a 12-day visit to the country.

According to Mr. Nyanduga, Somalia also faces “many other challenges”, including continuing conflict, discrimination and youth unemployment, as well as “delivering economic, social and cultural rights”.

The Independent Expert commended the Somali people for their resilience in the face of terrorist attacks, natural disasters, grave human rights violations and other challenges, such as poverty and lack of basic necessities for their livelihoods.

He also expressed concern over the delay in establishing the National Human Rights Commission and in progress on a Sexual Offences Bill.

“I urge the Federal Government and Federal Parliament to address these challenges as a matter of priority to enhance protection of human rights in the country,” he said.

Turning to progress, he cited territory recovered by Somalia’s security institutions, African Union mission (ANISOM) troops and bilateral forces; praised the increased number of women in Parliament and cabinet; and welcomed Somalia’s accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Rights at the fore

Mr. Nyanduga urged Parliament to include specific mechanism within the proposed electoral law to ensure that women, minority clans and other vulnerable groups were represented in Parliament – or risks losing its 2016 gains. 

Against the backdrop of reports of continuing intimidation, arbitrary arrests and harassment, he stressed the importance of respecting the right to freedom of expression and opinion of journalists.

The expert also called for action to end the endemic problem of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly allegations of gang rapes across the country.

A strong judiciary and police force will greatly contribute to the elimination of conflict-related sexual violence – UN expert

“A strong judiciary and police force will greatly contribute to the elimination of conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence,” he underscored.

Mr. Nyanduga also urged the international community to pay special attention to the country’s water crisis, which has been the source of regular lethal conflict between clans, and to help the Government to find long term, durable solutions.

“Access to water is a basic necessity of life and a fundamental human right, and will contribute significantly to peace and reconciliation among clans,” maintained Mr. Nyanduga.

The Independent Expert’s findings from his visit to Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Nairobi, as well as his talks with the Federal Government and Somaliland officials, and UN, AMISOM, donors and civil society representatives will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in September.

Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

New President of top UN economic and social body to push for development financing, fundamental freedoms ‘for all’

Having served as one of the four ECOSOC Vice-Presidents, Ms. Juul was elected by acclamation on Thursday morning.

The Council should promote “universal respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. For all”, continued the newly elected president. “Without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”.

“Today, we also have the overarching 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, she stated, which “guides our efforts to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all”.

ECOSOC offers “a multitude of opportunities” to assist the global community in reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ms. Juul said, noting that “ECOSOC and its intergovernmental structures make up a whole ecosystem”, with each component providing a specific function.

She thanked her predecessor, Rhonda King, for “her great work and dedication”.

“It is my ambition as President, to make ECOSOC work better – as an ecosystem” Ms. Juul declared, saying that she would work “to ensure that we collectively deliver on our goals”.

She encouraged the Council to use the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to follow-up and review the Agenda 2030, saying that she would hold “an inclusive, fact-based and action-oriented” HLPF in 2020.

The new chief also advocated that ECOSOC align “the whole UN family” for improved results and under Government leadership, strive to make a difference in countries.

‘Value to people’

“The UN must be of value to people”, she stressed, forecasting that UN reform would yield “better, more coherent and more effective” results.

Citing the Secretary-General’s call for bold changes in UN funding, she asserted that “the UN development system needs more flexible and predictable funding”.

And at the same time, the UN development system “must deliver on their commitments”, she stated. “We expect better results, greater transparency and accountability, and a more efficiency”.

“Unless we see a reformed UN, our credibility is at stake”, she upheld. “The true test of our success will be whether persons, communities and countries actually experience improvement in their lives and societies”.

Issues on the table:

  • Women’s participation as a prerequisite and key factor for economic growth.
  • Increased domestic resource mobilization is crucial to achieve the SDGs.
  • Stopping illicit financial flows.
  • A broad and forceful international coalition to fight corruption.
  • Hard talk on responsible borrowing and lending to stem growing debt distress.
  • Fair and predictable taxation regimes.
  • Transformative solutions on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Ms. Juul said that women’s rights and gender equality “must remain a reform priority and a cross-cutting issue”, and that “ECOSOC must place gender equality at the heart of our work”.

“Next year, we celebrate 25 years of championing women’s rights since we adopted the Beijing Platform for Action”, she flagged, calling it “a vision of a more prosperous, peaceful and fair world, that is better for women and men, girls and boys”.

Turning to the 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, she pointed out that collective action is “truly” needed to address today’s global challenges.

“Rather than retreating from multilateralism, the international community should acknowledge what is at stake”, she pinpointed. “We must accelerate the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the global partnership for sustainable development that it sets out”.

Ms. Juul vowed to “make financing for development a priority of my presidency” as transparent and well-functioning institutions, good governance and anti-corruption measures are “key policy areas”.

She promised that Norway will “work hard to enable ECOSOC to do its very best for our common future”.

“I will rely on all of you so we together can live up to the expectations of the people we serve”, concluded the new ECOSOC president.

ECOSOC remains ‘formidable tool’ for development cooperation – outgoing Council President

For her part, outgoing ECOSOC President Rhonda King, of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, spotlighted strides made during the Council’s 2019 session, and also voiced her conviction that much more can – and will – be done in 2020. 

Describing the recently-concluded HLPF and its Voluntary National Review (VNR) process as the “jewels” of the Council’s agenda, she said discussions at the 2019 Forum revealed that countries are not yet on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

However, she said, that meeting also demonstrated that there is still time to change course.  “It is our mandate to use [the Economic and Social Council] to guide the work of the United Nations system,” she said. 

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (second from left) addressing the opening of the 2020 session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). During the meeting, Mona Juul (second from right), Permanent Representative of Norway to the UN, was elected

While it may not be the Organization’s most glamorous organ, the Council remains a formidable tool and should seek to deepen its collaboration with other agencies and Charter bodies, stated Ms. King.  

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, thanking Ms. King for her work, highlighted her many achievements, including efforts to make the Council deliver on its mandate, from addressing climate action to widening participation of young people.

Confident that the newly-elected members will continue this legacy, she commended ECOSOC for electing a woman President for the third consecutive year.

Nevertheless, Ms. Mohammed stressed that great challenges remain, and more action is needed to realize the SDGs. In 2019, the Council’s segments and forums paved the way for a valuable High-Level Political Forum, and steps must be taken ahead of time to plan well for the next one.

The Council must continue to discharge its important work as the world transitions into a new phase to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, she stressed.

‘Deadly environment’ plus ‘political and social’ obstacles hinder Ebola fight in DR Congo, Security Council hears

“Along with continuing high levels of community distrust around the response to the epidemic”, Leila Zerrougui – UN Special Representative and head of the UN’s Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) – said that militants, including the ADF and Mai-Mai groups, have caused “a deadly environment” for the people working to counter the virus, “to the point of being specifically threatened and killed by armed groups”.  

She stated that the Ebola epidemic has now “claimed the lives of more than 1,700 people” and recent isolated cases in Goma and across the border in Uganda “have heightened concerns about its spread outside of the Beni and Butembo areas”. 

This led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the epidemic an official  Public Health Emergency of International Concern last week. Ms. Zerrougui also underlined the “serious need” to finance the response to other epidemiological and humanitarian crises in the DRC.

“The measles outbreak, for example, has already claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people since the beginning of this year, even more than Ebola”, she said.

‘Displacement and protection threats’ 

She informed the council that MONUSCO has closed several field offices in areas where there is no longer armed conflict, which “will permit us to concentrate our resources on…strengthening of State institutions” and protect civilians “in areas where conflict and activities of armed groups continue to have a devastating impact”. 

Leila Zerrougui (on screen), Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, briefs the Security Council., by UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

On the security situation, the Special Representative pointed out that over the past weeks, violence has risen in several areas in the eastern part of the country.

“I am concerned with the current situation in Ituri province, where spoilers are seeking to play on ethnic tensions to instigate inter-community violence”, she said, adding that attacks by the ADF “continue to exact an intolerable toll on civilians”. 

In Masisi, she said armed groups had been responsible for other atrocities, notably conflict-related sexual violence. 

Violence continues to be the main driver of humanitarian need in the DRC, spelled out Ms. Zerrougui. “As a result, the country is currently facing simultaneous emergency situations, including mass displacement and protection threats”. 

Following renewed violence, more than 350,000 people have been displaced in Ituri and 733,000 people need assistance. In South Kivu, the flareup in intercommunity violence and armed group activity has displaced up to 180,000 people.

‘One UN’ approach  

The MONUSCO chief told the Chamber that the mission was adopting a “One UN approach” that combines different tools at both national and provincial levels, to defuse social and political tensions.  

MONUSCO supports both Congolese security forces and is responding itself to armed groups, she said, as well as helping strengthen the Congolese justice system to fight impunity. 

On the humanitarian front, she said MONUSCO is also providing support to the newly appointed UN Ebola Emergency Response Coordinator.  

She drew the Council’s attention to the increasing number of armed combatants who have expressed a willingness to lay down their weapons since President Tshisekedi took office, asserting: “The broad integration of ex-combatants into the army and police forces in previous years only led to the degradation of their capacities, the hijacking of security policy by parallel networks, and incentivizing the creation of illegal armed groups”.  

There is still a great deal of work that lies before us as we continue the process of charting MONUSCO’s future drawdown and exit — MONUSCO chief

“There is still a great deal of work that lies before us as we continue the process of charting MONUSCO’s future drawdown and exit”, she said, noting that MONUSCO’s budgetary challenges “are stretching our resources to the limit”.  
In conclusion, Ms. Zerrougui pressed for the Council’s support, saying it is “critical to the ultimate success of the Mission, and its ability to exit the DRC under the appropriate conditions”.  

Spoilers in play

In his capacity as chair of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee, Mansour Al-Otaibi of Kuwait briefed the Council on his recent visit to the DRC, where several interlocutors called for the sanctions list to be updated and reorganized to identify those who are threatening the political transition and those currently committing grave human rights violations. 

During the visit, some Committee members noted “a clear difference” between “the rhetoric” of the delegation during a meeting with the outgoing Congolese Government and the incoming President’s “positive public statements on the work of MONUSCO”.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi said that on 9 August, the Committee would hold a briefing for all Member States on a Group of Experts report and on his recent visit.

Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Switzerland leads on innovation, UNICEF ‘lifelines’ for Yemen, Ebola latest, Liberia peacekeepers

Switzerland ranked as most innovative country

The World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO, named Switzerland as the world’s most innovative country on Wednesday, during the launch of its latest Global Innovation Index, (GII) in the Indian capital New Delhi.

Following Switzerland in the rankings are Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. India has risen most in the rankings since 2018, jumping five places to fifty-second most innovative country.

The annual Index, which has been published for the last 12 years by WIPO, and a number of partners, is designed to help policy makers better understand innovation activity, which WIPO describes as a “main driver of economic and social development”.

Read the full story here.

UNICEF delivers cash ‘lifelines’ to millions of desperate Yemeni families

The UN children’s Fund, UNICEF, has made unconditional cash payments to nearly nine million Yemenis to meet their urgent needs, as the conflict in the country enters its fifth year.

Vulnerable families reached by the Emergency Cash Transfer Project, receive the equivalent of around $30, helping them to cover basics such as food, health supplies, and education costs.

UNICEF has run the cash program since 2017, to support the poorest Yemeni families, whose situation has been made worse by the ongoing conflict.

In a statement released on Wednesday, UNICEF warned that the needs of Yemenis are “enormous”, and that much more needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of children, starting with an end to the war.

Ebola health workers in DRC face ‘deadly environment’

The problems of eradicating Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not only medical, but also linked “to a variety of political and social factors”, the head of the UN mission in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.

“Along with continuing high levels of community distrust around the response to the epidemic”, Leila Zerrougui – UN Special Representative and head of the UN’s Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) – said that militants, including the ADF and Mai-Mai groups, have caused “a deadly environment” for the people working to counter the virus, “to the point of being specifically threatened and killed by armed groups”. 

The briefing comes a week after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak an international Public Health Emergency of International Concern, following a reported outbreak in the city of Goma, near the border with Rwanda.

No new Ebola cases have been reported outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the last week, but within the country, there have been 91 new cases of the disease, of whom some 75 have died. Since then, no new cases have been reported in Goma, or any country other than DRC.

Read more on Ms. Zerrougui’s Security Council briefing here.

Fight against AIDS is ‘far from over’

The battle against HIV/AIDS is being hampered by a false sense that it has already been won. In reality, says the head of the UN agency dedicating to tackling the virus, it is “far from over”

Gunilla Carlsson, the acting Executive Director of UNAIDS, says that if we forget about people at risk, such as intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men, and sex workers, “we will not solve the problem with the rise of new HIV infections”.

Speaking to UN News, Ms. Carlsson said that, although world leaders had signed up for “an AIDS-free generation by 2030” if we don’t walk the talk, “we might not get there”.

Liberia provides troops to UN Mali Mission

Liberia has formally agreed to send peacekeeping troops to the UN’s Mission in war-torn Mali.

The move is being seen as a significant transition for Liberia, which, for decades, was a host nation for ‘blue helmet’ peacekeepers, with a UN mission that was fully drawn down in March of last year.

The Liberian soldiers will join the 105-strong contingent of troops serving in the key Malian base of Timbuktu

The UN’s head of Operational Support, Atul Khare, said during the signing ceremony on Tuesday that “Liberia’s path to peace demonstrates the clear positive impact of UN peacekeeping as a country that moved from conflict to stability and today is a key partner in assisting other countries in need”. 

Read the full story here.

UN agency maps out route towards zero hunger

What are the challenges ahead in the fight against hunger?

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, will be focusing on that question during a high-profile review of the agency’s work, due to begin in Rome on Friday.

The event will explore the best ways to end hunger and malnutrition, as well as looking at the growing issue of obesity.

Food security for all, is one of the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN’s blueprint for a world that leaves no one behind, whilst preserving the planet.

The Goal includes ending all forms of under-nutrition, which currently affect more than two billion people worldwide.

Listen to or download our audio News in Brief for 24 July on SoundCloud: 

 

 

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