In Cyrus, the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhürman, met for the first time as leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The meeting took place in the UN protected area and was facilitated by the Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the overnight missile and drone attacks by the Russian Federation on several Ukrainian regions, which reportedly killed at least 25 people, including children, in two residential areas in Ternopil in western Ukraine. Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urges the swift release of 25 girls abducted following a reported attack on a girls’ school in northern Nigeria. This tragic incident is another stark reminder of the urgent need to protect children, schools and the personnel they rely upon to learn safely. It calls for those responsible to be held to account.
The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) reports it has completed repairs and maintenance on the Banton Bridge over the River Kiir, a vital link between Abyei’s central and southern areas and an important trade route with South Sudan. The bridge had been unsafe for months, restricting civilian movement and aid access.
In southern Syria, despite the 3ドル.2 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan being only one-quarter funded, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support response efforts. Aid is reaching over 350,000 people every month.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners launched an initiative to halve food waste by 2030 and cut up to seven per cent of methane emissions, as part of efforts to slow climate change. The world wastes more than 1 billion tons of food every year, contributing up to 10 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme warns that acute food insecurity is deepening in 16 hunger hotspots, which threatens to drive millions more into famine or risk of famine. Of highest concern are Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are deeply saddened over the tragic capsizing of a boat off the coast of Malaysia and Thailand carrying up to 70 people from Myanmar, including Rohingya. Some 13 people were brought ashore by Malaysian authorities; at least 21 people died.
In the Philippines, super typhoon Fung-Wong, or Uwan, made landfall Sunday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. UN agencies and its partners have provided cash assistance and reinforced shelters and are working closely with authorities and aid agencies to assess damage and plan the response.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that this year, more than 42,000 refugees have returned home voluntarily in the West and Central Africa region, bringing the total to more than 272,000 since 2021. The majority have returned to Nigeria and the Central African Republic.