U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Monday that the funds will be used to build shelters, provide cash assistance, water and sanitation facilities, and help new arrivals staying in overcrowded transit areas. It will be used for subsequent transportation support.
“We anticipate that thousands more people could cross the border from Sudan into South Sudan over the next six months, underscoring a system already under stress,” he said.
the exodus continues
More than 60,000 people have arrived in South Sudan in the past month following clashes between government forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia fighters in and around Wad Medani, Sudan's second largest city.
A total of approximately 500,000 people have crossed into South Sudan since mid-April 2023. It comes as rival forces begin fighting following the breakdown of long-standing alliances that date back to the brutal conflict in Darfur in the early 2000s.
The United Nations last week warned that around 25 million Sudanese people will need humanitarian assistance throughout this year amid “horrific abuses” against civilians, but escalating fighting has made it nearly impossible to provide aid. .
“The war has caused the world's biggest displacement crisis and uprooted seven million lives,” Mr Griffiths warned.
Guatemala: Guterres congratulates new president, says 'democratic will' has instilled in him
Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday congratulated the newly sworn-in Guatemalan president following months of legal maneuvering aimed at preventing him from taking office.
President Bernardo Arevalo won the August election by a wide margin, but the country's attorney general sought to nullify his victory through a months-long legal process.
Sunday's swearing-in was reportedly delayed by 10 hours, and when President Arevalo finally took office, he acknowledged the country's large indigenous population, which is about 40% of Guatemalans.
Indigenous groups strongly supported the president in the turbulent months after the election, and he reportedly said in his inaugural address that there can be no democracy without social justice, and that social justice will not prevail without democracy. There is.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at a regular briefing in New York:
“The President welcomes respect for the democratic will of voters and notes his declared commitment to promoting peace, social justice, human development, transparency, and democratic reform.”
Guterres “reaffirms the United Nations' readiness to cooperate with Guatemala and the Guatemalan people in these efforts,” Dujarric added.
WFP signs agreement to support climate adaptation in Iraq's Basra region
A new climate change adaptation initiative was launched in southern Iraq after Basra Gas Company (BGC) and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) signed an agreement on Monday to support local farmers in the region's al-Zubair district. That is scheduled. capital.
The initiative aims to increase incomes and boost agricultural production.
The project will introduce tested solutions to combat desertification and support water conservation in the agricultural sector. The UN agency said in a press release that during the implementation phase, WFP and BGC will work closely with the Directorate General of Agriculture, farmers' associations and local farmers.
The initiative will train farmers in the application of smart farming techniques, modern farming methods such as so-called “soilless agriculture” and water-saving irrigation systems.
Empowering women in the field
The project will also focus on empowerment of women farmers through capacity building and self-employment in collaboration with designated local governments in the district.
The cooperation was finalized during the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai last month and comes at a critical time for transformative global climate action.
“Our strategic approach in Al-Zubair is consistent with the urgent need to combat the effects of climate change in southern Iraq. Al-Zubair is one of the areas most affected by climate change in Basra. “It is one of the areas where sandstorms, heat waves, water shortages, pollution and salinity are common,” said Raza Qureshi, WFP Country Director and Iraq Alliance Representative.
“This project highlights our collective commitment to promoting sustainable livelihoods, community cohesion and effective adaptation strategies to Basra’s evolving agricultural landscape.”