This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

UN chief lends support on efforts to tackle global hunger

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on governments to do more to fight hunger – by finding ways to ensure that people can eat affordable, nutritious food wherever they live. 

Here he is on Monday speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit in Rome:
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“Broken food systems are not inevitable. They are the result of choices we have made. There is more than enough food in the world to go around.” 

According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 780 million people go hungry today while nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. 

This week’s food summit in Rome comes as latest UN projections suggest that eight per cent of the world’s population will still go hungry by 2030.

The UN chief said that without access to financial relief, developing countries still struggle to get food to those who need it most. 

Following the termination of the Black Sea Initiative last week, he re-emphasised his commitment to leaving nobody behind.

Sudan: at least 435 children killed and 2,025 injured says UNICEF

After 100 days of fighting in Sudan, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that at least 435 children have been killed and over 2,000 injured.

The UN agency added that there have been more than 2,500 severe violations of children’s rights - an average of more than one an hour - in a country where 14 million youngsters need aid relief.

Here’s Joe English from UNICEF speaking to UN News: 

“As we reach more than 100 days since the conflict in Sudan escalated, we know that it is taking an absolutely horrific toll on children and on families. But for every child killed and injured we know that many more have been displaced from their homes, their lacking access to essential services and UNICEF is there, we’re on the ground, but we need unimpeded access to children and families if we’re going to be able to provide them with the support they so desperately need.” 

Echoing those concerns, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported that nearly 300 displaced children have died from measles and malnutrition in White Nile State.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi called for an end to the fighting, citing concern for the more than 740,000 refugees who have now fled Sudan to neighbouring countries. He urged the warring parties to engage in “peaceful dialogue” and allow civilians to leave conflict areas to find safety.

WHO: 20,000 deaths a year from drowning, ‘entirely preventable’ in Europe

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the alarming rate of preventable drowning deaths in the European Region, estimating that at least 20,000 lives are lost each year.

Ahead of Tuesday’s international day to prevent drowning, Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge, highlighted the recent shipwreck tragedy off the coast of Greece and Italy that claimed the lives of more than 600 mainly migrants. 

In Europe, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children aged five to 14, although the UN health agency warned that survivors face a wide spectrum of non-fatal injuries, such as brain damage and chronic breathing problems.

Globally, the UN health agency said that more than a quarter of a million people die from accidental drowning every year.

Caitlin Kelly, UN News.