Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Top news of the day | Thursday: Sudan, Arab countries, sanctions, malaria UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: escalating violence in Sudan, extreme weather events in Arab countries, International Day against Unilateral Coercive Measures, WHO report on progress in the fight against malaria.
Violence in Darfur and Kordofan
Extrajudicial killings, rape and ethnically motivated attacks have been reported in Sudan’s El Fasher, North Darfur state. Those who manage to escape the city also become victims of crime: the roads leading out of El Fasher have become “scenes of unimaginable cruelty.” This was stated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. He also warned of events unfolding in the neighboring region of Kordofan. There is an escalation of violence, several cities are under siege, and the number of civilian casualties is growing.
Extreme weather in Arab countries
Air temperatures in Arab countries are rising almost twice as fast as the global average. In 2024, the region experienced unprecedented heat, droughts and severe water shortages. This is stated in the first report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the state of climate in the Arab world. A number of countries reported temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius last year, while the regional average was 1.08 degrees Celsius higher than between 1991 and 2020. The WMO also notes that only 60 percent of Arab countries have early warning systems for extreme weather events.
Unilateral Coercive Measures
Today marks the first International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures. An informal meeting was held in the General Assembly on this occasion. The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Bärbock, pointed out the difference between unilateral coercive measures and measures provided for in the UN Charter. She called for dialogue and a multilateral approach.
Progress in the fight against malaria
The World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual report on malaria on Thursday, highlighting significant progress in combating the disease thanks to the introduction of new tools, from vaccines to innovative mosquito repellents grids Experts estimate that in 2024, the world will have prevented about 170 million cases of malaria and at least one million deaths. WHO has certified nearly 50 countries, including Georgia, as malaria-free.