Syria, Yemen, Sudan/Ethiopia & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (28 July 2022)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Secretary-General - Deputy Secretary-General  - Nuclear Weapons  - Libya  - Security Council  - Syria  - Yemen - Myanmar  - Food Security   - Agricultural Commodity Markets  - Sudan\ Ethiopia SYRIA The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, said today that humanitarian needs are unprecedented. Today, 14.6 million men, women and children require aid, which is an increase of 1.2 million people from 2021 and the highest level since the crisis began. The rapid rise is driven by a deepening economic crisis, ongoing displacement, continued fighting in some parts of the country and climate shocks. More than 90 per cent of Syrians are currently estimated to live in poverty and food insecurity has reached historic levels. The UN is responding to meet needs. In 2021, over seven million people were reached with life-saving aid each month. This includes an average of 4.5 million people in need reached in Government-controlled areas. We and our partners have reached another 2.4 million people in north-west Syria through a massive cross-border operation, which we very much hope will continue. Meanwhile, we have received just under one quarter of the $4.4 billion that are needed for humanitarian operations to continue. YEMEN In Yemen, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that hunger is now at the highest level in the country since 2015. More than 19 million people are going hungry, including more than 160,000 on the verge of famine. Funding cuts are hampering our ability to help people in need. Last December, the World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to reduce food rations for eight million people due to funding gaps and had to introduce another round of cuts last month. Five million people will now receive less than half of their daily requirement, and eight million people will receive less than one-third of their daily requirement. More than eight million women and children in Yemen need nutrition help, including more than 500,000 severely malnourished children. By July, UNICEF may have to stop treatment for more than 50,000 severely malnourished children. Also, by next month, UNICEF will suspend its work on safe water and sanitation for up to 3.6 million people. And by July, the agency will have to cut in half its mine risk education activities, putting two million children and their families at greater risk of mine-related injuries and deaths. On health care, the agency will suspend maternal and child health support, which help up to 2.5 million children and 100,000 women, by July. SUDAN\ ETHIOPIA In response to a question on Ethiopia and Sudan the Spokesman said the Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the renewed clashes between Sudan and Ethiopia along their disputed border that took place on 22 June, and reportedly resulted in the death of seven Sudanese soldiers and one civilian. He urges the two countries to take concrete steps to defuse tensions and to peacefully resolve their differences over the Al-Fashaga border area. The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to the families of the victims. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=28%20June%202022


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