Forests cover a third of the land. Top news of the day | Tuesday: Ukraine, Gaza, Kyrgyzstan, forests UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: attacks on energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, the need to open border crossings to deliver aid to Gaza, the problem of air pollution in Kyrgyzstan, slowdown deforestation.
Shelling throughout Ukraine
UN humanitarian agencies say incessant shelling across Ukraine has resulted in numerous civilian casualties over the past five days. Numerous attacks on energy infrastructure facilities in the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions last night led to interruptions in water supply and large-scale power outages that affected more than 150 thousand people. At the same time, a sharp cold snap occurred throughout Ukraine, and many residents of the country will find themselves in a difficult situation, unable to heat their premises.
Help for residents of Gaza
The truce in Gaza has allowed UN humanitarian missions to reach most of the people on the brink of famine. However, according to representatives of the UN World Food Program (WFP), all border crossings must be opened to deliver aid in full. To date, only the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim checkpoints in the south of the sector are open, but the crossings in the north are not yet in use. Gaza receives approximately 750 tons of food per day, but about 2,000 tons need to be delivered daily.
Air Pollution in Kyrgyzstan
Air pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental problems and healthcare for Kyrgyzstan. In the capital, Bishkek, levels of fine particulate matter in the air regularly exceed standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this regard, the Second National Multilateral Dialogue on Air Quality was held in Bishkek with the support of UN agencies. More than 100 participants from across the country, including experts and government officials, focused on the issue of traffic emissions as a major source of pollution. however, forest ecosystems continue to be threatened by fires, extreme weather events, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases. This is stated in a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to the report, forests cover about a third of the land. Moreover, more than half of all the world’s forests are concentrated in five countries – Russia, Brazil, Canada, the USA and China. Russia accounts for the largest share – 20 percent – of the planet’s forests.