This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Disaster risk: Half the world lacks effective early warning systems

A new report from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the UN weather agency, WMO, published on Thursday, warns that half of the world’s countries are not protected by multi-hazard early warning systems.

Coinciding with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the numbers are worst of all for developing countries on the front lines of climate change.

Less than half of the Least Developed Countries and only a third of Small Island Developing States, have adequate early warning systems in place.

The report is based on new data that shows countries with limited coverage have mortality rates during disasters that are eight times higher than those with substantial to comprehensive coverage.

“The world is failing to invest in protecting the lives and livelihoods of those on the front line”, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Call for urgent action to reduce hunger: WFP

The world is at risk of yet another year of record hunger as the global food crisis continues to drive more people into worsening levels of acute food insecurity, The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday.

In a call for urgent action to address the root causes of rising hunger, ahead of World Food Day, the agency said the current crisis was down to a “confluence of competing crises”, caused by climate shocks, conflict and economic instability.

The number of hungry people around the world has shot up from 282 million to around 345 million since the beginning of 2022, and by mid-year, WFP had reached just over 111 million in need, aiming to reach a record 153 million by year’s end.

WFP chief David Beasley said things “can and will get worse, unless there is a large scale and coordinated effort to address the root causes of this crisis.”

Southeast Asia workers join forces for fairer, more sustainable economy

More than 30 trade unions and other worker representatives from ten countries across Southeast Asia, have pledged to push for a more sustainable and fairer economy across the vast region, that enables decent work for all.

Meeting in the Philippines earlier this week, the conference marked the first face-to-face meeting of the group since the COVID-19 pandemic began, focused on strategies for resilience and recovery, moving forward.

The countries represented were Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.

In a joint conclusion declaration, representatives charted and identified ways in which they could all collaborate to tackle growing inequalities and violations of workers’ rights.

Matt Wells, UN News.