United Nations published this video item, entitled “Guatemala, Pakistan, Indonesia/Covid-19 & other topics (27 July 2021)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Korean Peninsula
– Guatemala
– Deputy Secretary-General/Pre-Summit for the Food Systems Summit
– Food Systems
– Security Council
– Pakistan
– Ethiopia
– Indonesia/Covid-19
– Africa/Covid-19
Guatemala
Also, the Secretary-General has learned of the sudden dismissal by the Guatemala’s Attorney General of Juan Francisco Sandoval, the lead prosecutor of the anti-impunity unit that worked closely with the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, known as CICIG.
It is of great concern that, since the CICIG was closed, a growing number of former prominent prosecutors have needed to leave the country – to all appearances, because of their work on accountability and justice.
The ability of prosecutors to perform their functions without intimidation and improper interference is an essential prerequisite for addressing and preventing corruption and impunity.
The Secretary-General calls on the Guatemalan authorities to enhance their efforts in strengthening the rule of law, and to respect and ensure the safety and security of justice operators, in accordance with international standards.
Pakistan
Turning to Pakistan, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report that about half a million people in parts of Balochistan Province are facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Another 100,000 people need immediate life-saving assistance due to severe drought-like conditions.
The dry spell and reduced water availability have destroyed crops and threaten livestock survival.
Balochistan is also still reeling from the effects of multiple recent disasters, including a harsh winter, a locust infestation and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together with provincial disaster management authorities, the UN and food security sector partners are supporting livelihood projects in some of the affected districts. Assessments are ongoing.
Pakistan’s Humanitarian Response Plan, which is targeting 4.3 million people out of 11 million people in need, requires $332 million but is just 18 per cent funded.
Indonesia/COVID-19
From Indonesia, the UN team there, led by Resident Coordinator Valerie Julliand, has accelerated its COVID-19 response amid a surge in new infections and deaths in the country.
WHO has recently helped to strengthen the monitoring of movement restrictions. WHO has also trained 31,000 frontline responders.
The UN Children’s Fund continues to help the Government address the immediate and longer-term effects of the pandemic on children through ensuring that education continues and that children are protected.
More than 16.2 million vaccine doses have arrived in Indonesia through COVAX. Our team is helping to distribute these vaccines and has trained health workers on monitoring the vaccine supply chain.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=27%20July%202021
United Nations YouTube Channel
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