Flood in Sri Lanka. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Yemen, Sudan, flu, Sri Lanka UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: the Secretary General warned about the risks of escalating the conflict in Yemen, fighting in Sudan, a new strain of the influenza virus, the consequences of the Ditwa cyclone in Sri Lanka.
The situation in Yemen
Tensions continue to escalate in Yemen, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters in New York after briefing the Security Council on the situation in the country. He said unilateral actions, such as the recent advance of forces linked to the Southern Transitional Council into the eastern provinces, “raise the risk of wider escalation and further fragmentation.” The UN chief recalled that the parties to the conflict were already approaching peace in 2022 and 2023, but subsequent events “seriously complicated the situation.” Nevertheless, he stressed, “peace is possible.”
Crisis in Sudan
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns of growing humanitarian needs in Sudan as civilians continue to flee fighting in the Kordofan region. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 9.3 million people remain in the status of internally displaced persons in 18 states of the country. Many of them are at risk of starvation. In addition, the World Health Organization expressed concern that more than 70 health workers and approximately 5,000 civilians were reportedly forcibly detained in the South Darfur state capital of Nyala. strain of the virus. A number of countries are under severe strain on their health systems. Vaccination remains the most important measure to prevent severe influenza, especially for high-risk groups—the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, children and pregnant women, and health care workers. WHO recommends staying home if you feel unwell, wearing a mask in public if you have respiratory symptoms, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, as well as washing your hands regularly and ventilating rooms frequently. $7.3 million to support more than 100,000 people affected by Cyclone Ditwa in Sri Lanka. The storm forced more than 280 thousand people to flee their homes. More than 81,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed. The UN agency is calling for urgent support for families facing ongoing forced displacement and disrupted access to key services.