© V. E. Salazar Rescuers work at the site of a building collapse in Columbia. Top news of the day | Monday: Ukraine, Colombia, Yemen, Ebola UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: humanitarian facilities were damaged as a result of strikes in Ukraine, damage is being assessed after an earthquake in Colombia, the UN warns of risks of escalation in Yemen, DR Congo lacks on-site Ebola treatment centers.
Casualties among the population of Ukraine
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing Ukrainian authorities, said attacks across Ukraine over the past three days have killed and injured civilians, including children. The UN notes that humanitarian operations have also suffered. In Dnieper, a warehouse of the World Health Organization was destroyed as a result of attacks. On the same day, a car used to evacuate the population was damaged. In the Kherson region, a truck from a local World Food Program partner organization was hit. Humanitarian agencies continue to provide assistance to those affected.
Earthquake in Colombia
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the Organization is closely monitoring the situation in Colombia following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred this morning. According to available data, the epicenter of the earthquake was in the central part of the country. At the same time, tremors were felt throughout the region. Communication disruptions have occurred in rural areas, so there is no exact information about casualties and the full extent of the consequences yet. According to media reports, dozens of people died. The Colombian government has begun evacuating the population and is coordinating damage assessments. The UN is ready to provide the necessary assistance to the country.
The situation in Yemen
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warned that the country now faces the highest risk of renewed large-scale conflict since April 2022, when a UN-brokered truce was concluded. In recent weeks, Grundberg has been actively engaged with Yemeni parties, regional players and international partners, discussing specific de-escalation options. He called on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and participate in good faith in the negotiations under the auspices of the UN.
Ebola Outbreak
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed more than 1,900 people, most of them never reaching treatment centers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60 to 70 percent of patients die at home. Due to the lack of suitable health facilities close to where they live, patients often have to travel long distances to receive care. Solving this problem has become one of the key areas of WHO’s work, the organization emphasized.