August 12, 2020 No comments
UN praises resilience and vision of younger generation, marking International Youth Day
INTERNATIONAL, 12 August 2020, SDGs - Commemorating International Youth Day, top UN officials have called on leaders around the world to “do everything possible” to enable young people to reach their fullest potential. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended young peoples’ lives and aspirations and heightened their vulnerabilities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the younger generation’s resilience, resourcefulness and engagement. “They are the young people who have risen up to demand climate action. They are mobilizing for racial justice and gender equality and are the champions of a more sustainable world”, he said in a message marking International Youth Day. “Many are young women who have been on the frontlines in mobilizing for justice and climate action — while also serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.” The Secretary-General also underscored that...
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August 12, 2020 No comments
Amid COVID-19, UN commitment to peace ‘more urgent than ever’
INTERNATIONAL, 12 August 2020, Peace and Security - COVID-19 threatens not only hard-won development and peacebuilding gains, but also “risks exacerbating conflicts or fomenting new ones”, the UN chief reminded the Security Council on Wednesday, during a briefing on the challenges to achieving sustainable peace, while pandemics ravage communities worldwide. “The concept of sustaining peace is essentially about positive peace as opposed to simply ending wars. In other words, it is the idea that the international community accompanies a country well beyond the point of simply putting down guns, to the point where people feel protected and represented”, Secretary-General António Guterres told the meeting. Against the backdrop of growing questions over the effectiveness of health systems and trust in institutions and governance across the globe, he said:...
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August 12, 2020 No comments
Lebanon: WFP racing to help vulnerable, prevent food shortages
INTERNATIONAL, 12 August 2020, Humanitarian Aid - The World Food Programme (WFP) is racing to prevent food shortages in Lebanon as the country continues to reel from the triple shock of the devastating blast in Beirut, economic meltdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking in the capital on Wednesday, agency chief David Beasley announced that WFP will deliver 17,500 metric tons of wheat flour and a three-month supply of wheat to help replenish food reserves. The first wheat flour shipment is expected to arrive within the next 10 days. Thousands homeless and hungry “It is hard to comprehend the sheer scale of the destruction caused by the explosion until you have seen it for yourself. I am heartbroken”, Mr. Beasley said after spending three days in Lebanon. “Today, because of the port...
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August 12, 2020 No comments
Real Life Heroes: heading into disaster, in the service of others
INTERNATIONAL - 12 August 2020, Humanitarian Aid - Growing up in Indonesia in the shadow of an active volcano, Agus Haryono has witnessed the deadly risks of living in a disaster-prone region. This prompted him to join the country’s Search and Rescue Agency, in the hope of saving lives, when disaster strikes. Mr. Haryono was born in Klaten, a small town in Central Java, near Mount Merapi. Many people live on the flanks of the mountain, even though it is the most active volcano in the country, and has claimed many lives during its frequent eruptions. INSARAG Agus Haryono, International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) member from Basarnas, Indonesia. Mr. Haryono shares his story as part of the #RealLifeHeroes campaign, organised by the UN Office for...
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August 11, 2020 No comments
Refugees also affected by Beirut blast as UN relief efforts continue
INTERNATIONAL, 11 August 2020, Humanitarian Aid - Dozens of refugees were among the victims of the deadly explosions at Beirut’s port a week ago that destroyed large areas of the Lebanese capital, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Tuesday. So far, at least 34 refugees were among the more than 200 people reportedly killed in the blast, though the fear is that the number could rise further. Another 124 refugees were injured, 20 of them seriously, while seven are still missing. Explosion affected everyone “We continue to work with the rescue teams and other humanitarian partners to identify the victims and are extending support to the families who have lost their loved ones. This includes counseling, emergency cash and help with burial arrangements”, said Babar Baloch, UNHCR Spokesperson in...
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