Indigenous peoples play an important role in preserving the planet’s biodiversity. Top news of the day | Monday: Ukraine, Gaza, DPRK, biodiversity UN
Top news of the day in the UN and around the world: Dozens of civilians were injured as a result of multiple shellings in the Kharkiv region, the polio vaccination campaign ended in northern Gaza, the Security Council discussed the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by the DPRK, and the biodiversity summit ended in Colombia.
Shellings in the Kharkiv region
Since early November, dozens of civilians and first responders have been injured in multiple attacks and shelling in the Kharkiv region. According to local authorities and UN humanitarian partners, numerous residential buildings and businesses have been damaged. In addition to the efforts of rescuers, humanitarian workers are providing first aid and psychological support to the victims, as well as hot meals. Materials for home repairs, warm blankets and solar lamps have been delivered to the affected areas.
Vaccinations in Gaza
Despite ongoing fighting in northern Gaza, the polio vaccination campaign has ended. A total of 94,000 children were vaccinated with the second dose of the vaccine in the final round, meaning that nearly 80 percent of children in northern Gaza are now fully vaccinated. Prior to this, the immunization campaign was successfully completed in central and southern Gaza. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the goal was to vaccinate all children living in northern Gaza, but this was not possible due to evacuation orders and ongoing shelling.
DPRK missile launch
The UN is concerned about the growing tension on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions undermines the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Asia and the Middle East Khaled Khiari said at a Security Council meeting on Monday. The Council met in connection with North Korea’s latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19.
Biodiversity Summit
The world’s largest biodiversity summit, COP-16, concluded this weekend in Colombia. It adopted the first-ever agreement on collecting genetic data from nature, as well as recognizing people of African descent and indigenous peoples as key players in biodiversity conservation efforts. Indigenous representatives called it an unprecedented development, which took them decades to get a seat at the negotiating table.