The Caribbean region is bracing for the impact of powerful Hurricane Melissa. Top news of the day | Monday: Ukraine, Hurricane Melissa, ASEAN, women UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: shelling of Ukraine, the Caribbean on the eve of the hurricane, the Secretary General’s keynote speech at the ASEAN-UN summit in Kuala Lumpur, the lack of funding for organizations to combat violence against women.
Shelling of Ukraine
Dozens of Ukrainian civilians were injured in attacks over the weekend and this morning. There are children among the victims. Residential buildings were destroyed and energy infrastructure was damaged. UN humanitarian agencies report that the evacuation of civilians from front-line settlements in the Donetsk region continues. From October 24 to October 26, more than 900 people were evacuated there. Humanitarian agencies continue to support local and national NGOs to ensure safe evacuations and rebuild shelters ahead of the coming winter. Since May, they have allocated $13 million to the Kharkov region to help people living near the front lines and suffering from airstrikes.
Hurricane Melissa
The Caribbean region is bracing for the impact of powerful Hurricane Melissa, which has already reached category four and is forecast to strengthen to category five. The disaster brings with it torrential rains, hurricane winds and the threat of large-scale destruction. Children are especially vulnerable: UNICEF estimates that at least 1.6 million minors are at risk. The hurricane is moving slowly across the Caribbean Sea, with impacts likely to affect Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Floods, landslides and critical infrastructure disruptions are expected.
ASEAN-UN Summit
Secretary-General delivers keynote speech at 15th ASEAN-UN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership between the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. António Guterres called ASEAN a “beacon of cooperation” and noted that with Timor-Leste joining the organization, the spirit of regional unity has become even stronger. The UN chief identified four key areas of interaction: peace and conflict prevention, sustainable development and financial justice, climate action, and digital transformation and cybersecurity.
Financing organizations to combat violence against women
Declines in foreign aid undermine the work of organizations on the front lines of the fight against violence against women and girls. UN Women warns about this. The agency’s new report, based on a global survey of 428 women’s rights and civil society organizations, shows that a third have been forced to suspend or close programs aimed at ending gender-based violence. More than 40 percent reported deciding to cut or stop providing vital services, including legal, psychosocial and medical services, due to lack of funds.