Around the world: Daily updates from UN country teams - May 2023
Our UN teams are on the ground in 162 countries and territories, coordinating joint programmes and tackling a range of multi-faceted priorities and key initiatives on a daily basis — from climate action and food security to gender equality and safety of civilians. UN Resident Coordinators and their teams utilize innovative approaches to problem-solving to better serve communities. Below are some highlights of their work this month.
Wednesday, 31 May
Cameroon: Number of IDPs exceeds 2 million, mostly due to climate impacts & non-state armed group attacks
In Cameroon, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has exceeded 2 million, mostly due to climate-related impacts and attacks by non-state armed groups. Under Resident Coordinator Matthias Z. Naab's leadership, our team supports the Government in providing emergency assistance and durable solutions for communities hosting vulnerable populations affected by displacement. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have supported over 2,000 people this year, 75 per cent of them women, offering training for eco-friendly enterprises and improved access to social protection and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services. In the western region, 18 initiatives led by young IDPs received grants of at least US$5,000 each, promoting economic resilience and youth entrepreneurship. For their part, UN-Habitat and UN Women are bolstering land access for agriculture, also focusing on women, and improving housing conditions for 360 IDPs. Also the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) are responding to forced displacement resulting from intercommunal clashes in the northern region, supporting 300 households to diversify economic activities in agricultural and fishing value chains, backed by the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund.
Friday, 26 May
South Africa: Containing and preventing the spread of the deadly cholera outbreak
Under the leadership of Resident Coordinator Nelson Muffuh, the UN Country team in South Africa is supporting the Government to contain and prevent the spread of the deadly cholera outbreak. Through the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Country Team has deployed seven technical officers to the affected provinces, providing crucial support in coordination, case management, data management, and infection prevention and control, and has launched a campaign along with national authorities to raise awareness amongst local communities on preventive measures against cholera. Moreover, UNICEF activated a digital platform reaching 230,000 registered users with cholera warning and prevention tips, and WHO will assist in identifying transmission sources and supporting surveillance efforts, including case-based surveillance, in close coordination with health authorities.
Monday, 22 May
Guyana: 20 children dead, several others injured in devastating fire at a secondary school
In Guyana, 20 children have died and several others have been injured as a result of an early morning fire today at the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory in Region 8. Our UN Country Team in Guyana said in a statement they are devastated to hear of the loss of life, sent deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured speedy recoveries. The United Nations is fully committed to supporting the national response. The team is in close contact with the Office of the Prime Minister; Hon. Brigadier Mark Phillips is leading the response. The UN stands ready to provide assistance.
Tuesday, 16 May
Chad: 80,000 people, including refugees and returnees, have arrived in-country since outbreak of violence in Sudan
Our team in Chad tells us that since the outbreak of violence in Sudan a month ago, approximately 80,000 people have arrived in the country, including about 60,000 refugees and 20,000 Chadian returnees. So far, nearly 3,000 refugee families have received nonfood items from our UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), including tarps, soap, and jerry cans. UNICEF has also installed water points and distributed water treatment materials, ready-to-use therapeutic food, as well as essential medicines to health centers to ensure the treatment of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed food and nutrition supplies to more than 20,000 new refugees in eight different locations along the eastern border, while the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is boosting reproductive health support, with dignity kits with soap, sanitary napkins, and toothpaste among others. Our team led by Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Violet Kakyomya is concerned about the imminent arrival of the rainy season, with thousands of people needing transportation from the border areas to other locations before roads become obstructed in a matter of weeks. The Government of Chad and Ms. Kakyomya are urging international partners to provide more financial and material assistance to the refugees and returnees.
Thursday, 11 May
Somalia: Multi-donor trust fund for development unveiled, with dedicated window for climate & resilience
In Somalia, the Government and the UN have just unveiled a revamped multi-donor trust fund in support of the Somalia’s development priorities and in line with national priorities. The Somalia Joint Fund, a joint venture between Somalia, the United Nations, and international partners will provide flexible funding, and maximize synergies across the UN system through joint action to address key challenges facing Somalia and its people. The fund seeks to mobilize 60 million USD annually in the next seven years. A dedicated funding window for Climate and Resilience has been opened to prioritize investment in recovery, resilience, and climate adaptation in effort to move the country away from the cycle of humanitarian need.
Wednesday, 10 May
Comoros: Remarkable progress on the prevention of infant and maternal mortality
In Comoros, our country team has achieved remarkable progress on the prevention of infant and maternal mortality, with 97% of the country's preterm babies receiving neonatal care and increased pregnant women’s access to healthcare in remote areas of Ngazidja Island since the beginning of the year. This has been possible thanks to joint efforts by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Fund for Population (UNFPA) under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator François Batalingaya, that also provided a mobile clinic to reach vulnerable populations. The UN has also provided medical equipment for 10 maternity and neonatal wards and plans to offer technical assistance in 2023 to more than 220 health workers to implement a special method which helps save the lives of preterm and underweight newborns.
Tuesday, 9 May
Syria: Earthquake recovery needs assessment report estimates $15 billion needed for recovery
Three months after the damaging earthquake striking Syria, a new UN report has estimated $15 billion will be needed for the country to recover. The Syria Earthquake Recovery Needs Assessment (SERNA), stemming from a collaborative effort among 11 UN agencies, funds and programmes, also puts the total damages and losses at almost $9 billion. The acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria El-Mostafa Benlamlih, who led the effort alongside the UN Country Team, called on partners to “let the earthquakes strengthen our collective resolve to scale up strategic and meaningful early recovery interventions across the country, and not just in earthquake affected areas.”
Monday, 1 May
Peru: UN emergency fund approves disbursement of $6.9 million for people affected by the rains and floods
The UN's emergency fund CERF has just approved the disbursement of US$6.9 million for humanitarian action that will benefit about 245,000 people affected by the rains and floods in the north of Peru. Over the next six months, the CERF allocation, will provide support to the response by the national authorities, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, Igor Garafulic and the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This contribution will finance initiatives from UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the International Organisation on Migration (IOM), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) providing shelter, health, food security, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and protection to people in need.
Interested in more? Check out previous daily updates from UN teams 'around the world':
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