United Nations published this video item, entitled “Ethiopia, Mali, Myanmar & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (4 October 2021)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Barbados
– Ethiopia
– Haiti
– Mali
– South Sudan
– High-Level Event on Preventing Famine
– Myanmar
– Covax
– World Space Week
– World Habitat Day
ETHIOPIA
On Ethiopia, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the humanitarian crisis in Tigray remains dire, with 5.2 million people needing food aid, including 400,000 people living in famine-like conditions.
The spread of conflict into the Amhara and Afar regions is pushing more people into desperate conditions.
As we have been telling you, the delivery of aid has been difficult. Since July 12th, the UN has brought in 606 trucks of humanitarian supplies – but we need 100 trucks to carry aid into Tigray every day.
The UN has not been allowed to bring in fuel since the end of July, leading to some of our partners having had to severely reduce or suspend their activities.
Cash to run operations is also running out. Medical supplies are depleted, with nearly 200,000 children having missed critical vaccinations.
The UN is engaging with the Government of Ethiopia for sustained and regular access for aid convoys.
Meanwhile, in Amhara, fighting along the Tigray regional boundary has led to hundreds of thousands of people being displaced. People in some areas reportedly do not have access to aid or basic services including electricity, water and telecommunications.
In Afar, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people are directly affected by the conflict, including several tens of thousands of people who have been displaced and are in need of urgent assistance.
Our humanitarian partners continue to scale up their response in both Amhara and Afar.
The UN urges all parties to the conflict to ensure that aid can reach all civilians in need. Our colleagues say that, without a ceasefire, humanitarian needs will continue to grow and there will be no way to sustainably address the suffering in Tigray, Amhara and Afar.
MALI
In a statement we issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the improvised explosive device attacks against a convoy of the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The attack took place near Tessalit in the Kidal region. A peacekeeper from Egypt was killed and four others were seriously injured.
The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the family of the victim, as well as to the Government and people of Egypt. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
This morning, the Mission is telling us that one peacekeeper was evacuated to Bamako, while the three others are receiving treatment at a MINUSMA facility in Kidal.
The Secretary-General calls on the Malian authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of these attacks so that they can be brought to justice swiftly.
MYANMAR
On Myanmar, our colleagues there continue to be alarmed by the dire humanitarian situation due to the intense clashes and volatile security situation in many parts of the country. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 240,000 people have been newly displaced and need humanitarian aid and protection services.
The UN, together with our partners, is responding to the growing displacement, food insecurity and overall increased vulnerability.
For example, WFP and its partners reached some 360,000 vulnerable and displaced people in Kachin, northern Shan, Rakhine and Chin in September with food and cash assistance.
We continue to deliver water, sanitation, health, protection and shelter support, among other services.
The UN team calls on all parties to facilitate safe and unhindered access for humanitarian responders to reach people in need.
It also appeals to donors for strengthened commitment to the humanitarian cause.
Just one-third of the $385 million for the Humanitarian Response Plan and Interim Emergency Response Plan have been funded, and our colleagues appeal to donors for a strengthened commitment.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=04%20October%202021
United Nations YouTube Channel
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