This is the News in Brief from the United Nations
Security Council condemns ‘heinous and cowardly’ Afghanistan killings
A deadly attack on a bus full of civilians in Western Afghanistan has been condemned as “heinous and cowardly” by the members of the UN Security Council, in a statement released on Thursday.
The attack, which took place on July 31, killed at least 34 people, and injured more than a dozen.
The Council members also condemned “in the strongest terms” several other terrorist attacks that took place in the past week, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.
Perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice, the statement continued, and all States must cooperate actively with the Afghan Government in this regard.
Acting head of Palestine refugee agency, amid misconduct allegations
As a UN investigation into alleged misconduct at the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) continues, the UN has appointed an acting Deputy Commissioner-General to “support UNRWA and ensure operational continuity”, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday.
Christian Saunders, a Briton, is currently Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, and will replace Sandra Mitchell, who resigned in July, on an ad interim basis.
The spokesperson said that the UN Secretary-General is “committed to acting, as appropriate, once he receives the findings and recommendations” of the misconduct investigation, and called on Member States and other partners to continue supporting the “crucial work” of the agency.
Most infants missing out on breastfeeding: UNICEF
World Breastfeeding Week began today, and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is warning that nearly 60 per cent of the world’s infants are missing out on the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
The benefits of breastfeeding include healthy brain development, protection from infection, and lowering the risk of obesity and disease in babies and young children, as well as reduced healthcare costs.
During this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, which takes place between the first and seventh of August every year, UNICEF is highlighting the importance of supportive work environments to enable working mothers to take breaks to express milk, and facilities to allow them to continue breastfeeding.
