© J. Selemin Consequences of an earthquake in the city of Cali, Colombia. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Colombia, Middle East, Ebola, youth UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: The UN and its partners continue to support the Colombian authorities after the devastating earthquake, the UN head called for a settlement in the Middle East, UN agencies are increasing efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, on International Youth Day the UN head called for ensuring all young people have access to the knowledge necessary for the future.
Aftermath of the earthquake in Colombia
The UN and its partners continue to support the efforts of the Colombian authorities. The World Food Program is sending food to earthquake-affected areas, and the World Health Organization is organizing supplies of medicine. According to the latest data, more than 200 people were killed and at least 2,500 were injured. Large-scale destruction of infrastructure has also been reported. Disruptions in communications, transportation and life support services continue to hamper rescue and recovery efforts.
UN Chief on the situation in the Middle East
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is closely monitoring developments related to the conflict in the Middle East, including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. This was stated today by Deputy Press Secretary of the UN Head Farhan Haq. Guterres is convinced that a settlement can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiations. The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East conflict, Jean Arnault, stands ready to assist the parties and mediators in finding a lasting solution. Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He stressed the need to act more decisively and quickly as the number of cases is now doubling every 20 days. According to the latest data, 4,449 cases of the disease and 2,061 deaths from it have been confirmed. Thus, almost every second person who gets sick dies.
International Youth Day
Today, half of the world’s population is people aged 30 years or younger, and by the end of 2030 this figure is expected to reach 57 percent. On International Youth Day, which is celebrated on 12 August, the UN Secretary-General said that youth are already at the forefront and showing leadership qualities. But young people across the planet need to learn the skills that will shape the future, including digital literacy.