Violence over the past week has forced thousands to flee, and fighting broke out on Tuesday on the outskirts of Sake, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of the regional capital, Goma.
“Our peacekeeping mission continues to support the Congolese army and is committed to protecting civilians, including maintaining a presence along the Goma-Sake axis,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York.
Peacekeepers have also deployed an additional battalion to support the Congolese army and strengthened their presence in Sake.
They are also protecting a humanitarian corridor in the Mweso area to allow civilians to move to safer areas.
Polio investments in Eastern Mediterranean pay off nearly 39 times: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that every dollar invested in eradicating polio in the Eastern Mediterranean region would return a return of about $39.
WHO commissioned a study in eight priority countries – Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – that found that sustaining polio-related measures and integrating them into expanded immunization, surveillance and response programs could generate economic and social benefits of approximately $290 billion.
Currently, these activities cost about $7.5 billion, which means that for every dollar spent, the return on investment is about $39.
“WHO stresses the importance of strengthening essential programmes such as national routine immunization programmes, mobilizing all polio response assets to strengthen emergency responses, and building health systems,” said Dr Rana Haje, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
Many countries in the region face multiple challenges, ranging from weak health systems and political instability to low coverage of routine immunization.
WHO and UNICEF are stakeholders in the global polio eradication effort and have provided essential technical and financial support for many years.
Let's say #IDONT against child marriage on Valentine's Day
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is once again taking steps to raise awareness about child marriage, marking Valentine's Day on February 14th.
While this annual day celebrates love, romance and commitment, and is a time for engagements and weddings, UNFPA recalled that each year, 12 million girls become brides before they turn 18.
Since 2015, the agency has run a Valentine's Day campaign, calling on the international community to “Say #IDONT to show your support for girls around the world who say 'yes' against their will.”
Child marriage – defined as a marriage or relationship in which one or both partners are under the age of 18 – is most common in low- and middle-income countries but occurs around the world.
Many child brides are pulled out of school, exposed to violence and forced to become mothers before they are physically or mentally ready.
Ending child marriage is also part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have a target date of 2030.
UNFPA warned that unless efforts to eradicate this harmful practice are accelerated, more than 150 million girls will be married too young.