Afghanistan, Sahel, DRC & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (13 August 2021)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Afghanistan, Sahel, DRC & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (13 August 2021)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Afghanistan - Sahel - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Fiji/Covid-19 - Financial Contribution AFGHANISTAN As an example of what is being done to civilians on the ground, I just want to share some humanitarian numbers with you. Due to the conflict that we’re seeing across the country, many people are arriving in Kabul and other large cities trying to seek safety for themselves and for their families. The humanitarian community has verified 10,350 internally displaced people who have arrived in Kabul between 1 July and 12 August, that is yesterday. Most of the displaced people are either renting accommodations or being hosted by friends or family, but unfortunately a growing number are staying in the open. Twenty inter-agency assessment teams have now been deployed in Kabul. As of yesterday, we, along with our partners, have provided food, health, household items, and water and sanitation assistance to some 6,900 men, women and children who have been displaced in Kabul. SAHEL Heavy rains and floods in parts of the region in recent weeks have claimed dozens of lives in Chad and Niger, impacting more than 100,000 people. We, along with our humanitarian partners, are working with the Governments of Chad and Niger to help provide health services, food, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation assistance. In Chad, for example, the World Food Programme has distributed food to 2,600 households. Our colleagues tell us that the rain has destroyed homes in the two countries, which are already dealing with previous flooding, as well as conflict, food insecurity, malnutrition, and health challenges, and of course including the pandemic. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO The UN Refugee Agency today said it is gravely concerned about incidents of widespread and systematic sexual violence against Congolese women and girls, perpetrated by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Tanganyika Province. Just in the past two weeks, humanitarian partners in the Kongolo and Mbulula health zones, have recorded 243 incidents of rape, 48 of which involved minors, in 12 villages. This is an average of 17 reported attacks each day. The actual figures are thought to be even higher as reporting of gender-based violence remains taboo in many communities. UNHCR notes that of the $205 million required for its operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it has received just 36 per cent to date. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=13+August+2021


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