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UN OCHA Yemen

Giving voice to Yemen’s voiceless: Jamie McGoldrick reflects on two years in charge of the UN’s humanitarian effort

This year’s UN Response Plan for Yemen, describes the war-torn country as “the worst man-made humanitarian crisis” in the world, with more than 22 million people – around three-quarters of the total population – in need of help.

Over the past few years, it’s the voice of Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick, that has been drawing the world’s attention the most loudly, and the most often, to Yemen’s plight.

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26'57"
WHO

Lives at risk “every minute that passes” in besieged Eastern Ghouta

Close to 400,000 civilians continue to be in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Syria’s besieged Eastern Ghouta, said the UN on Monday.

Fighting has intensified and humanitarian agencies have not been able to provide lifesaving food or medical supplies, since 28th of November.

The UN continues to call for a ceasefire to allow aid to flow in, as well as access to evacuate the critically-ill.

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6'13"

More than 20 countries still discriminate against leprosy

More than 20 countries still have laws in place which discriminate against persons affected by the disease Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease.

That’s according to Alice Cruz, the UN independent expert against discrimination for those affected, and their family members.

Leprosy is caused by a bacterial infection which multiplies slowly, affecting nerve endings and destroying the body’s ability to feel pain.

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11'26"
United Nations

Stand together against the “normalization of hate”: UN chief

Remembering the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, the UN chief has called on everyone around the world to “stand together against the normalization of hate”.

In his message marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, on 27 January, Secretary-General António Guterres said that everyone has a responsibility to “decisively resist” racism and violence.

Matt Wells reports.

© WHO

Largest Nigeria yellow fever vaccination campaign ever

The Nigerian government launched a mass vaccination campaign in alliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, to immunize more than 25 million people before the end of this year.

This drive is part of a global effort to eliminate the risk of yellow fever epidemics by 2026, which should be possible if 90 per cent of the population can be reached.

The Yellow fever virus is mosquito-borne, and the disease can cause jaundice due to liver damage.

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6'42"
UN News

Cross-cutting efforts to build up security across Somalia

Al Shabbab terrorists continue to undermine security across Somalia as the government tries to build up its institutions and make the country more economically self-sufficient.

That’s according to the head of the UN Assistance Mission there (UNSOM), Michael Keating, who spelled out that “a multi-dimensional effort to build an accountable, affordable State” is well underway.

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ONU info/Pascal Sim

Inauguration of new Liberian president welcomed by UN

George Weah was inaugurated on Monday as the new President of Liberia, where the United Nations is set to close its peacekeeping mission (UNMIL) in a few weeks after a successful 15-year presence in the West African country.

The new Liberian President took office at a ceremony in the capital, Monrovia, and it marks the first peaceful, democratic transfer of power, since the 1940s.

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OCHA/Yaye Nabo Sène

UN issues 48-hour ultimatum to Central African armed groups

Armed groups fighting in the north of the Central African Republic (CAR) have been given 48 hours to withdraw in order to allow villagers displaced by violence to return home.

The UN wants to clear a 50-kilometer perimeter around the town of Paoua, where thousands are currently seeking shelter.

Some 60,000 people — mostly women — left everything behind in nearby villages, to escape fighting between three armed groups last month, and around 40,000 residents of Paoua, took them in.

Now the food and water is running out.

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5'48"

120 children need urgent medical evacuation from East Ghouta

Around 120 critically-ill children trapped in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta, in Syria, are in urgent need of evacuation, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

UNICEF Representative in the country, Fran Equiza, said in an interview with UN News on Wednesday, that humanitarian access continues to be limited, with at least 12 per cent of children under-5 acutely malnourished.

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