This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.
World health needs ‘solidarity, fit for the future’
Advocating for bold decisions to defeat the spread of COVID-19 and build safe, healthy communities for the future, Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message to the World Health Assembly on Monday, that the pandemic must be a “turning point”.
For COVID recovery and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he highlighted the need for “coordinated global action” in three areas.
First, he told the World Health Organization (WHO) forum that to stop the virus, humanity must respond “resolutely and in solidarity”.
Secondly, primary health care systems and universal health coverage need to be bolstered, and finally, he said it was critical for the world to prepare for the next global health emergency.
The UN chief said: “We need a framework for international cooperation and solidarity fit for the future”.
Hunger engulfing Yemen says WFP
Turning to Yemen, to prevent a devastating famine in the country, the UN World Food Programme, WFP, is increasing its food assistance to the worst hunger hotspots.
But the agency’s ability to sustain its response to the end of the year remains uncertain.
Nearly 50,000 Yemenis are already living in famine-like conditions and five million people are in immediate danger.
According to WFP, every 10 minutes a child dies of preventable diseases, such as diarrhoea and malnutrition.
And as the conflict escalates, hunger increases, with food prices rising up to 200 per cent above pre-war levels.
The WFP Country Director for Yemen, Laurent Bukera, said that over the last year, escalating conflict, economic decline, rising global commodity prices and COVID-19, have all contributed to “an alarming increase in acute hunger”.
Women and girls, central to protecting civilians
And finally, a Kenyan peacekeeper, who recently completed her assignment in Sudan has been selected to receive the 2020 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Having recently served in the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur, UNAMID, 32-year-oled Military Gender Advisor Steplyne Nyabogawill receive the accolade during an online ceremony on Thursday, the International Day for UN Peacekeepers.
Throughout her two-year deployment with UNAMID, she worked diligently to mainstream gender in military components by bringing awareness to gender considerations in the field.
Major Nyaboga called peacekeeping “a human enterprise” and that placing women and girls at the centre of our efforts will help us “better protect civilians and build a more sustainable peace.”
Liz Scaffidi, UN News.
