The UN is calling on countries to mobilize $1 billion for the Central Emergency Response Fund. Top news of the day | Tuesday: Ukraine, Yemen, finance, Middle East UN
Top news of the day at the UN and in the world: UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine, detained UN staff in Yemen, contributions to the Central Emergency Response Fund, the Secretary-General will visit Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman.
Security Council meeting on Ukraine
Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya, speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council, said that civilians across Ukraine continue to be killed and injured as a result of missile attacks and the use of drones. The attacks also disrupt vital services. Elderly people, people with disabilities and families with young children are increasingly deciding to evacuate after days without heating, clean water or reliable electricity, Msui said. However, donors have provided only 65 percent of the $278 million needed to implement the Winter Response Plan.
Detentions in Yemen
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed extreme concern about the ongoing arbitrary detention of 59 UN staff members in Yemen, as well as dozens of NGOs, civil society and diplomatic representatives. He condemns the de facto authorities’ transfer of UN personnel cases to a special criminal court. UN staff are being held in isolation, some for years, without due process, in violation of international law. The Organization calls on the de facto authorities to withdraw the referral to court and work towards the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained.
Humanitarian Fund
A high-level event for contributions to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was held at UN headquarters on Tuesday. The Organization calls on member states to replenish the fund in the amount of $1 billion. Since 2006, CERF has committed nearly $10 billion to rapidly implement life-saving measures in more than 110 countries. Contributions have fallen sharply this year and are expected to be at their lowest level in a decade, warned UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.
Middle East
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman in the coming days. On Wednesday he will arrive in Riyadh, where he will hold a series of meetings with the Saudi leadership. The Secretary General will travel to Iraq on December 13 to mark the completion of the UN Assistance Mission in that country. The UN chief is expected to express his gratitude to the Mission’s staff, as well as the government and people of Iraq. António Guterres will then return to Riyadh to attend the 11th UN Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations on 14 and 15 December. The Secretary General also plans to visit Muscat, the capital of Oman.