This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Famine alert still looms over Horn of Africa, warn UN agencies

Drought in the Horn of Africa is extreme, widespread and persistent and the threat of starvation is ever-present.

That’s the assessment on Monday from humanitarians including several UN agencies – all warning about the “unprecedented” dry conditions in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

According to the latest long-term forecasts, the UN agencies said that there is now “a concrete risk” that the October-December rainy season could fail.

The development comes as data indicates that the 2022 March-May rainy season has likely been the driest on record, devastating livelihoods and driving sharp increases in food, water and nutrition insecurity. 

An estimated 3.6 million livestock have died in Kenya and Ethiopia. 

In the worst-affected areas of Somalia, one in three livestock are estimated to have perished since mid-2021. 

Over a million people have also been displaced in Somalia and southern Ethiopia.

Do more for environment or risk planet becoming ‘human sacrifice zone’: UN experts

It’s been five decades since Sweden hosted the world’s first conference to make the environment a major issue, in recognition of the “human sacrifice zone” it could become, if we fail to look after it, according to rights experts. 

Today, ahead of fresh discussions in Stockholm this week to discuss further action, top rights experts have warned that much greater efforts are needed which could save millions of lives every year.

Leading the call for countries to implement constitutional change and strong environmental laws to bring about positive change, UN-appointed independent rights expert David Boyd said that all such discussions should stem from the recognition of everyone’s right to a healthy environment.  

The experts insisted that “putting human rights at the centre of environmental action will have positive implications for air quality, clean water, healthy soil and sustainably produced food”.

A rights-based approach would also help “green energy, climate change, biodiversity and the elimination of toxic substances and (the) protection of indigenous people’s rights”, they added.

Top rights expert embarks on new visit to Sudan to follow up on reforms

The UN-appointed independent expert on human rights in Sudan, Adama Dieng, is to make a new official visit to the country later this week to follow up on suggested reforms, after last October’s military coup.

Mr Dieng’s four-day visit to Khartoum follows widespread protests at the military takeover, which prompted State-led violence against demonstrators.

In 2019, a popular uprising forced former President Omar al-Bashir from power, after three decades as head of State.

This March, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet highlighted the “total impunity” with which had enabled security forces to use machine guns and shotguns against peaceful protesters.

Mr. Dieng’s visit is his second to the country by since he was appointed as the UN’s leading independent voice on human rights in Sudan in November last year.

He is expected continue his engagement with the Sudanese authorities and follow up on actions taken to address the institutional and legal reforms that he made after his first to the country, in February. 

The results of this visit will contribute to a debate on Sudan at the upcoming Human Rights Council session beginning 13 June. 

Daniel Johnson, UN News.