Harsh winter conditions in northwest Syria increase vulnerability of internally displaced people. Top stories of the day | Thursday: Lebanon, Syria, US, Venezuela UN
Top stories of the day in the UN and around the world: Lebanese president elected, $73.2 million for IOM humanitarian aid in Syria, California wildfires, arrests ahead of Venezuelan presidential inauguration.
Lebanese president
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, congratulates Joseph Aoun on his election as President of the Republic of Lebanon, her press office said in a statement released today. The Special Coordinator welcomes the election of the President as a long-awaited first step towards overcoming the political and institutional crisis in the country, as well as providing the Lebanese people with functioning state institutions. Hennis-Plasschaert called for the prompt appointment of a Prime Minister and the formation of a government.
Humanitarian Aid to Syria
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has increased its appeal for funding for its humanitarian operations in Syria to $73.2 million to help more than 1.1 million people across the country over the next six months. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 500,000 internally displaced people will have returned to their communities in northwest Syria by the end of 2024. Years of conflict have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.
Wildfires in the Los Angeles area
The UN Secretary-General is deeply shocked by the widespread devastation caused by wildfires in the Los Angeles area, California, USA. In a statement, he expressed condolences to the families of the victims and conveyed words of support to the tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes and those who lost their homes in the fires. The UN expressed solidarity with the victims and rescuers, stressing its readiness to provide assistance if needed.
Arrests in Venezuela
Recent arrests, including of prominent human rights defenders, political leaders and their relatives, represent yet another attack on the rights and freedoms of the Venezuelan people, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela said. According to the statement, the arrests come ahead of opposition-led demonstrations and the presidential inauguration scheduled for 10 January. The mission urges immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of those arrested. In addition, all those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally.