This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

New WFP chief Cindy McCain warns of funding crunch

Cindy McCain of the United States takes the helm of the UN emergency food relief agency amid “unprecedented” global hunger fuelled by conflict, climate change and soaring fertilizer prices, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday.

WFP estimates that more than 345 million people worldwide face crisis levels of food insecurity in 2023, an increase of almost 200 million since early 2020. Of these, 43 million are just one step away from famine.

“Ration cuts are coming if we don’t have the money to get food to those who need it most,” warned Ms. McCain.

The new WFP chief’s priorities include scaling up partnerships and innovation – particularly with the private sector - “to bring modern solutions to those most in need,” she said.

Ms. McCain has served since 2021 as US Ambassador to the three UN food and agriculture agencies in Rome. She takes over from former South Carolina governor David Beasley.

$6.9 billion needed to rebuild cultural sector in Ukraine: UNESCO

Over the next 10 years, almost $7 billion dollars will be needed to restore cultural treasures in Ukraine, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Wednesday.

UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay wrapped up a two-day visit to the country, during which she reiterated the organization’s support and the importance of investing in culture and education for the country’s future.

 She said that culture, heritage, education and the safety of journalists, were “the pillars of our humanity” and “the pillars of the country’s recovery” on the road to restoring peace.

The impact of the war on all areas of culture in Ukraine has been estimated by UNESCO at $2.6 billion in physical damage alone.

As part of an emergency plan for the country, UNESCO supports distance learning and the psychosocial well-being of students, the safety of journalists working in combat zones and the protection of monuments and works of art.

Climate change accelerates rise in mosquito-bourne diseases: WHO

Climate change, deforestation and urbanization are causing an uptick in outbreaks of diseases spread by mosquitoes like dengue, zika and chikungunya, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday.

Viruses causing these diseases, known as “arboviruses”, have long been public health threats in tropical and sub-tropical areas, but now, global warming is driving the spread of mosquitoes into new regions, further south in the Americas, and with the potential to threaten Europe.

About half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year. The disease is known for causing very severe illness upon reinfection, while only one vaccine is one the market and antivirals are still being developed.

Dr Raman Velayudhan, who heads WHO’s tropical disease control programme, insisted on the need to detect dengue early “for less suffering and less secondary infections”, adding that “all countries need to be on alert”.

Last year, WHO launched a global initiative to tackle arboviruses with better prevention, early detection and rapid response.

Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer, UN News.