DR Congo: ‘No time to lose’ says newly appointed UN Ebola response coordinator 

23 May 2019
Health
World Bank /Vincent Tremeau

With the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s worst ever Ebola outbreak now in its tenth month, the United Nations on Thursday announced measures to strengthen its response, with the Organization’s newly appointed Emergency Coordinator (EERC) declaring there is “no time to lose”.

Thursday’s Daily Brief: Safeguarding civilians, strengthening Ebola response in DR Congo, marking Fistula Day, updates on CAR and Syria 

‘Great cause of concern’ UN chief tells Security Council, surveying 'bleak' state of civilian protection

End ‘shame, isolation and segregation’ of fistula sufferers, urges UN reproductive health chief

Somalia’s population, international partners must be energized to sustain country’s ‘upward trajectory,’ says senior UN official

Wednesday's Daily Brief: Women boost work profits, saving biodiversity, UK loses Chagos Islands vote, Gaza funding, malaria-free in Argentina, Algeria

ILO/Crozet M.

With potential to boost profits by up to 20 per cent, a woman’s place is at work, says UN labour agency

Economic Development

Businesses perform better – sometimes by as much as 20 per cent – when they employ more women in top positions, UN labour experts said on Wednesday, warning nonetheless that most still pay lip-service to the idea of gender equality in the boardroom. 

UNRWA/Tamer Hamam

Palestine refugees’ relief chief warns Security Council money to fund Gaza operations will run out in mid-June

Peace and Security

The head of the UN relief and works agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) warned on Wednesday that despite weathering a “truly existential crisis” over funding last year, money to continue operations this year in the Gaza Strip will only last until mid-June. 

Bioversity International/B. Sthapit

Preserving biodiversity vital to reverse tide of climate change, UN stresses on International Day 

SDGs

The food people eat around the world is becoming “alarmingly homogenous” according to UN data, even though access to a wide variety of nutritious food has never been greater. That warning comes as the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity on Wednesday, which this year highlights the impact of environmental neglect on food security and public health. 

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN highlights need to solve growing burden of forcibly displaced Africans

Migrants and Refugees

With 24.2 million Africans forced from their homes in 2017  ̶  4.6 million more than the previous year  ̶  the UN is hosting a three-day event at UN headquarters, focusing on finding durable solutions to the problem, which is a growing burden on the continent’s economy, environment and communities which host those displaced. 

OCHA/Themba Linden

Iraq needs support to ‘leave violent past behind’, says UN envoy as Security Council extends UN mission for one year

Peace and Security

Iraq’s democratic transition – weighed down by political infighting, weak institutions, corruption, and the constant threat of ISIL – needs more international support, “lots of time and lots of hard work,” the top United Nations official in the country said on Tuesday.  

Headlines at a glance

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Libya civil war, African displacement, global trade tensions, terrorists’ children ‘secretly detained’, and more

Libya on verge of civil war, threatening ‘permanent division’, top UN official warns Security Council

Amidst high trade tensions and policy uncertainty, UN cuts economic growth forecast

Children of ISIL terrorists likely held in ‘secret detention facilities’, UN human rights office warns

Children in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine ‘too terrified to learn’ amid spike in attacks on schools

Hunger in Yemen: WFP considers aid suspension in face of repeated interference by some Houthi leaders

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