May 29, 2023 No comments
UN agencies warn of rising hunger risk in 18 'hotspots'
INTERNATIONAL, 29 May 2023, Humanitarian Aid - Hunger is set to worsen in 18 “hotspots” worldwide including Sudan, where fighting is putting people at risk of starvation, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned in a report published on Monday. Sudan, Burkina Faso, Haiti and Mali have been elevated to the highest alert level, joining Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. Additionally, a likely El Niño – a naturally occurring climatic phenomenon that has a warming effect on ocean surface temperatures in the central and east Pacific - is also raising fears of climate extremes in vulnerable nations. Against ‘business-as-usual’ The report calls for urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods, and to prevent starvation and death. “Business-as-usual pathways are no longer an option in today’s risk landscape if we want to achieve global food...
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May 29, 2023 No comments
International Day of UN Peacekeepers honours 75 years of service and sacrifice
INTERNATIONAL, 29 May 2023, Peace and Security - Since 1948, more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have served at UN field missions across the world. Their contributions are being highlighted on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, observed on Monday. “United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world,” Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the Day. He called for continued support for these men and women, who help countries to transition from war to peace. Hope and help “They are also critical to the protection of civilians caught up in the chaos of these deadly conflicts, providing a lifeline of hope and help in some of the most dangerous contexts imaginable," he added. Mr. Guterres noted that many have paid the ultimate price as more than...
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May 28, 2023 No comments
Menstrual Hygiene Day: Putting an end to period poverty
INTERNATIONAL, 28 May 2023, Women - Fatoumatta Fatty’s commute on an old, malfunctioning wheelchair takes up to two hours during rainy season in The Gambia, but she is happy joining her co-workers at a sanitary pad production centre, where she takes pride in making products that help women overcome “period poverty” across the country. Period poverty, or the inability to afford menstrual products, is a serious issue especially in developing countries, an issue menstruating girls and women grapple with monthly and a spotlight topic on Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed annually on 28 May. “I’m happy to come work here because I meet and work with other people,” said Ms. Fatty, who operates a special machine to install snaps on each pad. “This place gives me joy...
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May 28, 2023 No comments
Malaysia: ‘Everyone has a migration story’, now let’s eat
INTERNATIONAL, 28 May 2023, Migrants and Refugees - Every recipe has a story, from Pakistan’s signature chicken korma to kaldu kokot cooked on Indonesia’s Madura Island. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has set the table for an innovative campaign that brings seven recipes to life, tackling a wave of hate speech against migrants and refugees by serving up the rich diversity of food and culture they bring with them to Malaysia. “I can’t think of a better way than using food to bring everyone to the table,” said Elroi Yee, an investigative reporter and producer of the Dari Dapur campaign. “We need shared stories that show migrants and refugees have a place in the Malaysian narratives.” Tales and tastes of Tamil puttu, Cambodia’s nom...
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May 27, 2023 No comments
Trafficking in the Sahel: Killer cough syrup and fake medicine
INTERNATIONAL, 27 May 2023, Peace and Security - In the summer of 2022, 70 Gambian babies and young children died from kidney failure after ingesting cough syrup spooned out by their caregivers. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert that four tainted paediatric products had originated in India, as local health authorities continue to investigate how this tragedy unfolded. This feature, which focuses on the illegal trade in substandard and fake medicines, is part of a UN News series exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel. From ineffective hand sanitizer to fake antimalarial pills, an illicit trade that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is being meticulously dismantled by the UN and partner countries in Africa’s Sahel region. Substandard or fake medicines, like contraband baby cough syrup, are...
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