December 26, 2024
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J. Tuyet Nguyen, a journalist with years of experience, has covered major stories in New York City and the United Nations for United Press International, the German Press Agency dpa and various newspapers. His reports focused mostly on topics with international interests for readers worldwide. He was president of the United Nations Correspondents Association (2007 and 2008), which is composed of more than 250 journalists representing world media with influence over policy decision makers. He has chaired the organization of the annual UNCA Awards, which seeks to reward journalists around the world who have done the best broadcasts and written reports on the UN and its specialized agencies. He has traveled the world to cover events and write stories, from politics to the environment as well cultures of different regions. But his most important reporting work has been with the United Nations since the early 1980s. He was bureau chief of United Press International office at the UN headquarters before joining dpa in 1997. Prior to working at the UN, he was an editor on the International Desk of UPI World Headquarters in New York. He worked in Los Angeles and covered the final months of war in Vietnam for UPI.

UPDATE: UN condemns attacks against civilians in Ukraine conflict; UN chief to hold talks in Moscow, Kiyv

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Geneva/New York, April 22 – The United Nations condemned the indiscriminate uses of military forces by Russia and “horrors” committed against civilians in Ukraine while the organization’s leader, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is preparing to meet separately with leaders of Russia and Ukraine in their capitals, UN spokespersons said.

Guterres will be in Moscow on April 26th and will have a working meeting and lunch with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before meeting with President Vladimir Putin, said Eri Kaneko, an associate spokesperson in New York. Guterres will visit Kiyv on April 28 where he will have a working meeting with Foreign Minister Minister Dmytro Kuleba and will be received by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The requests were made in letters sent separately to the Russian and Ukrainian UN missions in New York on April 19 following unsuccessful calls by UN officials for a humanitarian cease-fire to bring aid to the millions of people caught in the war started by the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

“The Secretary-General said, at this time of great peril and consequence, he would like to discuss urgent steps to bring about peace in Ukraine and the future of multilateralism based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law,” said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric when the requests were made. “He noted that both Ukraine and the Russian Federation are founding members of the United Nations and have always been strong supporters of this Organization.”

In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet provided details of what she called a “horror story” of possible war crimes and abuses committed in Ukraine, citing indiscriminate shelling and bombardment of civilian residential areas, widespread destruction of properties and hundreds of summary executions.

“International humanitarian law has not merely been ignored but seemingly tossed aside,” Bachelet said in a statement in which she condemned the “horrors” committed against civilians, including a missile strike on the train station in Kramatorsk that killed more than 50 civilians and injured scores. She said the attacks are “emblematic of Russian forces’ indiscriminate bombardment of civilian targets” which amount to war crimes. “Our work to date has detailed a horror story of violations perpetrated against civilians.”

OHCHR said 5,381 civilian casualties but actual figures are “considerable higher”

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 5,381 civilian casualties in the country: 2,435 killed and 2,946 injured from February 24, 2022 when Russian forces launched attacks against Ukraine to April 21, 2022. This included: a total of 2,435 killed (746 men, 469 women, 48 girls, and 66 boys, as well as 70 children and 1,036 adults whose sex is yet unknown)

a total of 2,946 injured (345 men, 274 women, 62 girls, and 67 boys, as well as 157 children and 2,041 adults whose sex is yet unknown)

OHCHR said it “believes the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration.”

In Lviv, West Ukraine, the UN Crisis Coordinator, Assistant Secretary-General Amin Awad told a news conference on April 21 that Ukraine has seen “suffering, devastation, and destruction on a massive scale” in the last two months, UN News reported.

“At least 15.7 million people in Ukraine are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection, over 5 million people fled Ukraine to seek safety in other countries and another 7.1 million have been internally displaced across the country,” Awad said. “This represents more than 25 per cent of the entire population of Ukraine.”

“The world is shocked by what is happening in Ukraine,” said Awad, calling “deeply disturbing” the treatment of war prisoners and that the fate of civilians in Mariupol remains unknown. He said people living in occupied Kherson are short on food and medicines; Mykolaiv has been without water for seven days; and the devastation of urban centres and civilian infrastructure across the oblasts – especially in Donetska, Luhanska, Khakvska, Kyivska and Chernivska – have disrupted critical services for millions, including water and health care.

The Norwegian Refugee Council: Ukraine Fears of besiegement, bloodshed and displacement in eastern regions

In Oslo, the Norwegian Refugee Council said in a press release that it is deeply worried that intensified fighting in eastern Ukraine till lead to besiegement of entire cities and towns. The immense suffering and bloodshed that engulfed Mariupol may be senselessly repeated elsewhere, as the country marks two months of war.

“The escalation of war in east Ukraine will result in horrific bloodshed and mass displacement from the eastern regions, including Luhansk and Donetsk, re-traumatising communities who have already suffered eight years of hostilities. In some places the escalation may also lead to entire cities being besieged,” warned Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on a five-day visit to Ukraine.

“It’s heart-breaking to think about the horrors these people are forced to relive, and to know that we are unable to get lifesaving assistance into many affected areas. We call for an immediate ceasefire to stop this tidal wave of human suffering.”

Facts and figures:

NRC has ongoing operations in Lviv, Ternopil, Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova. We plan to assist 800,00 displaced people over the coming months.

NRC has been working in Ukraine since 2014 assisting over 700,000 people through its legal aid, food security and livelihoods, WASH and shelter programmes.  

12 million people have been displaced since the war began on 24 February – over 7 million inside Ukraine and over 5 million to neighbouring countries.

12 million people inside Ukraine are estimated to need humanitarian aid.

At least 199 health facilities suffering attacks, while hundreds of thousands are now without water or electricity. 

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UPDATE: UN condemns attacks against civilians in Ukraine conflict; UN chief to hold talks in Moscow, Kiyv Read More »

Russian war causes global food, energy and finance crises; affects 1.7 billion people in poor countries: UN

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New York, April 13 – The Russian war in Ukraine not only has caused “terrifying levels” of death, destruction and suffering in Ukraine, it has also triggered food, energy and finance crises that particularly are impacting on scores of poor countries with a total of 1.7 billion people, the United Nations said in a first report on the Global Impact of War in Ukraine on Food, Energy and Finance Systems.

The 22-page report said preliminary assessments showed that the 1.7 billion people exposed to the war’s repercussions live in 107 poor economies in Africa, Asia and the Pacific and in the Caribbean and Latin America regions.

“These are countries where people struggle to afford healthy diets, where imports are essential to satisfy the food and energy needs of their populations, where debt burdens and tightening resources limit government’s ability to cope with the vagaries of global financial conditions,” the report said. It said either of the Covid-19 pandemic, debt payments, climate change or food shortages and blackouts can collapse the economy. Of the 1.7 billion people, 553 million people are already poor and 215 million are already malnourished.

“Since the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, the world’s attention has been focused on the war’s terrifying levels of death, destruction and suffering” while less attention has been paid to impacts of poverty, hunger and social unrest, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in presenting the report.

Guterres said 36 countries, including some of the poorest countries, rely on Russia and Ukraine for more than half of their wheat imports and the war has made a bad situation worse. He said Russia is a top supplier of oil and gasoline but oil prices are up more than 60 per cent in the past year while gas prices have risen by 50 per cent while fertilizers have double in price.

“But now is also the time to turn this crisis into an opportunity,” Guterres said. “We must work towards progressively phasing-out coal and other fossil fuels, and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and a just transition. “

“We need to pull developing countries back from the financial brink. The international financial system has deep pockets. I have been strongly advocating for its reform. But developing countries need help now, and the funds are there.”

Developing countries under the Sword of Damocles, the report said (excerpts):

Food

The report said the war has impacted on food production and caused rising food prices worldwide which will be felt through 2023. Russia and Ukraine are major wheat and maize producers as well as fertilizers.

“Food and energy import bills are already at record levels, and it seems inevitable that these will continue to rise. This will have widespread impacts that could be far-reaching, but the consequences for poorer and vulnerable people, will be particularly severe. Many food producers are not able to access the agricultural inputs they need.”

Energy

“Energy markets were already tight before the start of the crisis, following strong consumer demand and high GDP growth in 2021. Though crude oil and natural gas are still around 50 per cent above their level at the start of the year, they have witnessed volatile trading sessions following key announcements since the start of the war and, in particular, the commitment by the United States to release 180 million barrels of oil over the next six months.

“The significant increase in oil and gas prices may lead to counteracting effects in the longer term. On the one hand, it may shift investments back into extractive industries and fossil fuel-based energy generation, running the risk of reversing the trend towards decarbonization documented over the past 5-10 years. On the other hand, it can also accelerate the transition towards alternative sources of energy, especially in countries that wish to strengthen their energy resilience by sourcing from more local sources. The jury is still out on which trend will prevail. Much depends on political leadership and maintaining the momentum towards meeting the commitments of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.”

Finance

“We are on the brink of a global debt crisis. Even before the start of this crisis developing countries spent on average 16 per cent of their export earnings in servicing their debt obligations, with Small Island Developing States spending more than twice this figure. By comparison, after the Allied Powers restructured Germany’s debt in 1953, debt servicing payments never exceeded 3.4 per cent of export revenues in any year. On top of that, bond yields of developing countries have been on the rise since September 2021, given expectations of monetary tightening in developed countries. Rate hikes alongside financial disorder would be a double blow for developing economies, of “taper-tantrum-like” effects through interest rate rises and greater volatility in commodity futures and bond markets, leading to increased risk premiums on top of exchange rate pressures.”

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UN: “Great finance divide” amid COVID-19 poses major setback for sustainable development (Press Release)

Leave a Comment / Development /

 
With spiking global food and fuel prices, UN fears conflict in Ukraine dramatically worsens the economic outlook and the risk of widespread debt crises    
New York, 12 April 2022 –The crippling cost of debt financing for many developing countries has hamstrung their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, forced cutbacks in development spending, and constrained their ability to respond to further shocks, according to a new report launched by the United Nations today.  
 
The 2022 Financing for Sustainable Development Report: Bridging the Finance Divide finds that while rich countries were able to support their pandemic recovery with record sums borrowed at ultra-low interest rates, the poorest countries spent billions servicing debt, preventing them from investing in sustainable development. 
 
The pandemic shock plunged 77 million more people into extreme poverty in 2021, and by the end of the year many economies remained below pre-2019 levels. The report estimates that in 1 in 5 developing countries’ GDP per capita would not return to 2019 levels by the end of 2023, even before absorbing the impacts of the Ukraine war.
 
“As we are coming up to the halfway point of financing the world’s Sustainable Development Goals, the findings are alarming,” UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said. “There is no excuse for inaction at this defining moment of collective responsibility, to ensure hundreds of millions of people are lifted out of hunger and poverty. We must invest in access for decent and green jobs, social protection, healthcare and education leaving no one behind.“ 
 
Bridging the Finance Divide says on average, the poorest developing countries pay 14 per cent of revenue for interest on their debt, almost 4 times higher than developed countries, at 3.5 per cent. Globally, many developing countries were forced to cut budgets for education, infrastructure and other capital spending as a result of the pandemic. The war in Ukraine will exacerbate these challenges and create new ones, with higher energy and commodity prices, renewed supply chain disruptions, higher inflation coupled with lower growth, and increased volatility in financial markets.
 
For many developing countries, the war will likely lead to further increases in debt distress and increased hunger. Before the war, the pandemic recovery gaps had already widened, with developing countries on average having only enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for 24 per 100 people, versus almost 150 per 100 people for developed countries. Shockingly, in 2021, 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in developing countries were unable to read a basic text, a 17 per cent increase from 2019. With food prices in 2021 already at their highest level in a decade, the UN fears the conflict in Ukraine risks dramatically worsening the economic outlook for many countries.  

The rate of post-pandemic economic recovery in developed countries, however, points to a way forward for greater investment. 
 
“The developed world proved in the last two years that millions can be lifted out of poverty by the right kind of investment – in resilient and clean infrastructure, social protection or public services,” said UN Under Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin, head of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which produced the report. “The international community must build on that progress, and ensure developing countries can invest at similar levels, while reducing inequality and securing a sustainable energy transition.” 
 
The report notes that there was some progress on poverty reduction, social protection, and investment in sustainable development in 2021, driven by actions in developed and some large developing countries, including $17 trillion in COVID-19 emergency spending. Positive performance includes: Increased funding of research and development, green energy and digital technologies, for example from the European Union’s Next Generation EU recovery plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the USA. Rebounding of private investment in 2021 — with China and USA accounting for more than 50 per cent of the improvement.Doubling of sustainable investment to over $1 trillion, while sustainability-themed funds grew 62 per cent from 2020.Private equity and venture capital investment in developing countries reached a record $230 billion (from $150 billion in 2020).  
The report also notes record growth of Official Development Assistance (ODA), which increased to its highest level ever in 2020 rising to $161.2 billion. Yet, 13 countries cut ODA, and the sum remains insufficient for the vast needs of developing countries. The UN fears the fallout from the crisis in Ukraine, with increased spending on refugees in Europe, may mean cuts to the aid provided to the poorest countries. In the face of a global crisis, near-time actions and additional international support are needed to prevent debt crises and address the high cost of borrowing. 
However, the vast majority of developing countries will need active and urgent support to get back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The report estimates that in the poorest countries a 20 per cent increase in spending will be required for key sectors.
 
Bridging the Finance Divide recommends actions in three areas: Financing gaps and rising debt risks must be urgently addressed. For example, speeding up debt relief and expanding eligibility to highly indebted middle-income countries, agreeing to debt swaps, and rechanneling of $100 billion of unused special drawing rights to countries in need. Countries can boost long-term, affordable, stable financing by strengthening the system of public development banks with higher capacity and financial support to national institutions. All financing flows must be aligned with sustainable development. For example, the international tax system should reflect the changing global economy and allow fair tax governance, trade and investment policy actions that can address vaccine inequality and improve access to medical products, while globally-consistent corporate sustainability reporting standards are needed for both privately-owned and listed companies. Current high fossil fuel prices provide a renewed opportunity for countries to accelerate investments in a sustainable energy transition.Enhanced transparency and a more complete information ecosystem will strengthen the ability of countries to manage risks and use resources well. For example, tackling illicit financial flows with improved sharing and use of tax information, enhancing transparency of debt data and developing long-term credit ratings for sovereigns. – ENDS –  
Notes to Editors:  The report is a joint product of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development, which is comprised of more than 60 United Nations Agencies and international organizations. The Financing for Sustainable Development Office of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs serves as the substantive editor and coordinator of the Task Force, in close cooperation the World Bank Group, the IMF, World Trade Organization, UNCTAD and UNDP. The Task Force was mandated by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and is chaired by Mr. Liu Zhenmin, United Natoins Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs. The full copy of the report will be uploaded to: https://developmentfinance.un.org/fsdr2022The report forms the basis for discussions at the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow up, where Member States discuss measures necessary to mobilize sustainable financing. Negotiations based on the report are ongoing. The report also informs the SDG Investment Fair, which brings together government officials and investors. The report covers, among others, areas of the global economic context; trade; debt, private business and finance; technology; and international development cooperation. ***
For more information, or to request interviews with our experts, please contact:
Rita Ann Wallace, UN DESA | Mob: +1 516 707 5570 | rita.wallace@un.org
Sarah DeCuir, UN DESA | Tel: +1 917 367 9272 | sarah.decuir@un.org
Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications | birchs@un.org
 
 

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UPDATE: UN suspends Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council

Leave a Comment / Conflict, Human Rights /

New York, April 7 – The United Nations General Assembly voted 93 against 24 to suspend Russia’s membership in the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council, a decision prompted by the discovery of hundreds of corpses in Bucha, a city on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital of Kiyv. The US, Ukraine and other countries assigned the gruesome deaths to Russia. A total of 58 countries abstained.

The US and more than 30 countries submitted a resolution entitled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council” from the Geneva-based council. The 193-nation assembly’s decision to approve the resolution was the first concrete action against Russia since its February 24 military invasion of Ukraine.

The countries voting against the resolution are: Algeria, Belarus, Burundi, Central Africa Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Previous attempts by the US and allies to stop the war by a decision in the UN Security Council failed because Russia, one of the five permanent veto-wielding countries, blocked a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine. The other members are the US, France, the United Kingdom and China.

The permanent members have veto power in the 15-nation council, which has authority over issues of peace and security around the world. But they cannot use the veto in the assembly.

The request to hold the assembly session was signed by representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Japan, Liberia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, United States and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, on behalf of 27 members of the European Union, said General Assembly’s spokesperson Paulina Kubiak.

She said the draft resolution is co-sponsored by Ukraine, Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Republic of Moldova, the United Kingdom and United States.

The assembly is responsible for electing members of the UN Human Rights Council and the only time it suspended a member was Libya in 2011. Russia is serving a 3-year term ending in December 2023.

The UN has been strongly criticized for failing to stop the war, particularly by the Ukrainian government.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who addressed the council for the first time on April 5 via video, challenged the body to take action against Russia or dissolve itself.
“Either remove Russia as an aggressor and a source of war so it cannot block decisions about its own aggression, its own war, and then do everything that we can do to establish peace,” he said. “Or the other option is, please show how we can reform or change, dissolve yourself and work for peace.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that “Ukraine needs peace, Europe needs peace, and the world needs peace”

The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the same council meeting on the war in Ukraine on April 5 that her government with the backing from some other countries were seeking to expel Russia from the Human Rights Council because Russia has been using the platform to counter criticisms against the war. At the meeting, council members were shown videos and photos of corpses in the streets of Bucha, the city near Kyiv.

“Russia’s participation on the Human Rights Council hurts the council’s credibility,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “It undermines the entire UN and it is just plain wrong.”

“Given the growing mountain of evidence, Russia should not have a position of authority in a body whose purpose, whose very purpose, is to promote respect for human rights. Not only is it the height of hypocrisy — it is dangerous,” she said. “Russia is using its membership on the Human Rights Council as a platform for propaganda to suggest Russia has a legitimate concern for human rights.”

Current members of the UN Human Rights Council:

(2022-2024 term) Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Gambia, Somalia, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Lithuania, Montenegro, Argentina, Honduras, Paraguay, Finland, Luxembourg, the United States,

(2021–2023 term) Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Malawi, Senegal, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico, France, United Kingdom

(2020–2022 term)  Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, Namibia, Indonesia, Japan, Marshall Islands, South Korea, Armenia, Poland, Brazil, Venezuela, Germany, Netherlands

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UN supports calls for independent probe of war crimes in Ukraine

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New York, April 5 – The United Nations joined government leaders in calling for an independent investigation of massacre of civilians by Russian troops in Ukraine as the UN Security Council held a fresh meeting at which Ukrainian President Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a brief virtual appearance for the first time.

Zelenskyy told the 15-nation council through a video program that Russian military troops have committed the worst atrocities since World War II and that they should be charged with war crimes. He referred to civilians killed in Bucha, a city on the outskirts of Kyiv and other cities. Images of corpses and destructions at Bucha were shown on a big screen in the council chamber.

“The Russian military searched for and purposefully killed anyone who served our country,”  Zelenskyy said. “They shot and killed women outside their houses when they just tried to call someone who is alive. They killed entire families, adults and children, and they tried to escape.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who attended the council meeting, called for an independent investigation to guarantee effective accountability.

He said Russia’s “fully-fledged invasion” of Ukraine that started on February 24 is “one of the greatest challenges ever to the international order and the global peace architecture, founded on the United Nations Charter.”

“We are not saying that this specific incident is a war crime, we can’t establish that yet, that is why there needs to be detailed forensic examination. Justice and accountability take time; what is important is that this work is undertaken and continues to ensure accountability going forward.”

Martin Griffith, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator addressed the council via a video from Geneva and shared the statements made by other UN officials that Ukrainian civilians are the main victims of the war

“In the last six weeks, as we have heard, at least 1,430 people have been killed, among them over 121 children,” he said.  “We know this is very likely a serious underestimate. Homes and civilian infrastructure – bridges, hospitals and schools – have been damaged and destroyed.”

He said more than 11.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including more than 4.2 million refugees in neighboring countries.

Griffith said the World Food Program has reached more than 1.3 million people with cash and food assistance and plans to reach around 2.5 million people in April while health organizations report that more than 180 tons of medical supplies were delivered in Ukraine, with another 470 tons on the way. This will address the health needs of around six million people in the months ahead.  He reported that a convoy was dispatched from our humanitarian coordination hub in Dnipro to Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Griffith, who has been discussing a humanitarian cease-fire with both Russia and Ukraine, said, “For the sake of the people of Ukraine, and the sake of those around the world who cannot afford to bear the additional burden this war imposes on them. And all of us we must as the UN Secretary-General says, silence the guns.”

The United Kingdom supports investigation of war crimes

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward, who presides the UN Security Council in April, said in concluding the council meeting: “We have heard today, again, the devastating impact of Russia’s unilateral and illegal military action in Ukraine. Its impact on surrounding countries and the region, and on the security and prosperity of the wider world, as it seeks to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“And now, as Russia is forced into retreat from areas around Kyiv, the brutality of the invasion is laid bare. We have all seen the horrific images from the towns of Bucha and Irpin of civilians deliberately killed in areas from which Russian forces have recently withdrawn — and the video we saw earlier underlined that horror.”

“These acts, and other credible incidents, must be investigated as war crimes, and the UK fully supports the work of the International Criminal Court and the work of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and other national prosecutors.” 

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WHO establishes the Global Center for Traditional Medicine in India

Leave a Comment / Health /

Geneva/New York, March 25 – Traditional medicine, used by about 80 per cent of the world’s population, is recognized by the World Health Organization which has decided to establish a global center in India. Following is a news release from WHO.

Maximizing potential of traditional medicines through modern science and technology

Geneva–25 March 2022–The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India today signed an agreement to establish the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. This global knowledge center for traditional medicine, supported by an investment of $250 million from the Government of India, aims to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology to improve the health of people and the planet.

For more information, see: who.int/initiatives/who-global-centre-for-traditional-medicine/

Around 80 per cent of the world’s population is estimated to use traditional medicine. To date, 170 of the 194 WHO Member States have reported the use of traditional medicine, and their governments have asked for WHO’s support in creating a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products.

“For many millions of people around the world, traditional medicine is the first port of call to treat many diseases,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Ensuring all people have access to safe and effective treatment is an essential part of WHO’s mission, and this new center will help to harness the power of science to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine. I’m grateful to the Government of India for its support, and we look forward to making it a success.”

The term traditional medicine describes the total sum of the knowledge, skills and practices indigenous and different cultures have used over time to maintain health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness. Its reach encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures as well as modern medicines.

But today, national health systems and strategies do not yet fully integrate the millions of traditional medicine workers, accredited courses, health facilities, and health expenditures.

“It is heartening to learn about the signing of the Host Country Agreement for the establishment of Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM). The agreement between Ministry of Ayush and World Health Organization (WHO) to establish the WHO-GCTM at Jamnagar, Gujarat, is a commendable initiative,” said HE (Mr) Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

“Through various initiatives, our government has been tireless in its endeavour to make preventive and curative healthcare, affordable and accessible to all. May the global center at Jamnagar help in providing the best healthcare solutions to the world.”

Traditional medicine is also increasingly prominent in the world of modern science.

Some 40% of approved pharmaceutical products in use today derive from natural substances, highlighting the vital importance of conserving biodiversity and sustainability. For example, the discovery of aspirin drew on traditional medicine formulations using the bark of the willow tree, the contraceptive pill was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments have been based on the rosy periwinkle. Nobel-prize winning research on artemisinin for malaria control started with a review of ancient Chinese medicine texts.

There has been a rapid modernization of the ways traditional medicine is being studied. Artificial intelligence is now used to map evidence and trends in traditional medicine and to screen natural products for pharmacokinetic properties. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to study brain activity and the relaxation response that is part of some traditional medicine therapies such as meditation and yoga, which are increasingly drawn on for mental health and wellbeing in stressful times.

In addition, traditional medicine use has also been updated by mobile phone apps, online classes, and other technologies.

The new WHO center will be established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. While Jamnagar will serve as the hub, the new center is being designed to engage and benefit all regions of the world.

It will concentrate on building a solid evidence base for policies and standards on traditional medicine practices and products and help countries integrate it as appropriate into their health systems and regulate its quality and safety for optimal and sustainable impact.

The new center focuses on four main strategic areas: evidence and learning; data and analytics; sustainability and equity; and innovation and technology to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to global health and sustainable development.

The onsite launch of the new WHO global center for traditional medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India will take place on April 21, 2022.

For more information, see: who.int/initiatives/who-global-centre-for-traditional-medicine/

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UPDATE: UN calls on Russia to end war in Ukraine; for protection of civilians, health workers and humanitarian aid

Leave a Comment / Conflict /

By J. Tuyet Nguyen

New York, March 24 – The United Nations General Assembly voted 140 against five to demand an immediate end of hostilities by Russian military forces in Ukraine, in particular against civilians and call for full protection of humanitarian and health personnel, journalists and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children.

The five countries voting against are: Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea. A total of 38 countries abstained

The resolution adopted by the assembly demanded that “all parties” protect civilians fleeing the war and allow them unhindered access to humanitarian aid and personnel. It condemned all violations against international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights and called on “all parties to the armed conflict to strictly respect international humanitarian law.”

The resolution called upon member states to fully fund the UN flash appeal for humanitarian response in Ukraine and the regional response to refugees.

The Russian military invasion of Ukraine, which started on February 24, has forced millions of people out of their homes including more than 3.5 million have taken refuge in neighboring countries, hundreds of deaths and vast destructions of properties.

The vote took place during a resumed special emergency session of the 193-nation assembly at the request of 22 countries to discuss the resolution entitled “Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine.” The document called for an immediate cease-fire and urgent humanitarian aid to help desperate civilians caught under heavy bombardments and dire conditions that UN Secretary-General Antonio described as “appalling human suffering and destruction in cities, towns and villages. “

The UN chief said in an address to the UN Security Council on Ukraine March 22: “The terrorizing of civilians through systematic bombardments, the shelling of hospitals, schools, apartment buildings and shelters… all of it is intensifying — getting more destructive and more unpredictable by the hour.  Ten million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes and are on the move. “

“But the war is going nowhere, fast,” he said. “The only outcome to all this is more suffering, more destruction, and more horror as far as the eye can see.  The Ukrainian people are enduring a living hell – and the reverberations are being felt worldwide with skyrocketing food, energy and fertilizer prices threatening to spiral into a global hunger crisis.”

Guterres called for a cease-fire: “There is enough on the table to cease hostilities – now … and seriously negotiate — now.  This war is unwinnable.  Sooner or later, it will have to move from the battlefield to the peace table. This is inevitable.”

The UN General Assembly condemned Russian invasion in previous emergency session

The assembly held the first emergency session on February 28-March 2 and adopted a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A total of 145 countries voted in favor of the condemnation resolution, five countries voted against (Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea) while 35 countries abstained.

The resolution adopted by the assembly condemned Russia’s “special military operation” against Ukraine and “deplored in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine” in violation of the UN Charter. The resolution called for an immediate and complete cease-fire and for the immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine.

The resolution also condemned all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, and it called on all parties to strictly respect relevant provisions of international humanitarian law.

More than 3.5 million refugees

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said more than 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine to take refuge in neighboring and other countries, including about 2 million in Poland, since the Russian invasion started on February 24. It said the high number of refugees demanded massive needs in order to survive.

“This is really another tragic milestone for the people of Ukraine and it’s been achieved in just under one month,” said Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for UNHCR.

The International Office for Migration said an estimated 6.5 million men, women and children are forced out of their homes inside Ukraine because of the war in addition to those who became refugees.  The office said many of those internally displaced people are particularly vulnerable, pregnant and breastfeeding women, elderly persons, those with disabilities, chronic illnesses and people directly affected by violence.

“The scale of human suffering and forced displacement due to the war far exceeds any worst-case scenario planning,” IOM Director General António Vitorinosaid.

The World Health Organization said the refugees need urgent assistance for chronic health and mental trauma.

“As you can imagine access to health care in Ukraine is very restricted,” Dr Paloma Cuchi said. “And on top of that, refugees are coming from a long, difficult and dangerous journey, you know, until they arrive at the border of Poland. Children are travelling for days without proper food, without the proper water. They are tired, they are worried.”

“There is a tremendous number of senior refugees…that have been without their medications for days, they come with decompensated diabetes, with blood pressure with other health problems, and of course, we have pregnant women, who are without prenatal care.”

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Russia’s resolution supporting humanitarian aid in Ukraine rejected by UN Security Council

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By J. Tuyet Nguyen

New York, March 23 – The UN Security Council turned down a Russian-backed resolution calling for humanitarian aid and protection of health workers in Ukraine after 13 council members abstained and only Russia and China voted in favor.  The resolution called for respect of international humanitarian and human rights law and for an end of hostilities without mentioning Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.

It was the first time that China voted in favor of a UN resolution on the war in Ukraine.

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the Russian resolution was “a cynical effort by Russia to exploit the crisis which they have caused. Their resolution called for respect for international humanitarian law, but overlooked the fact that they are committing war crimes. Their resolution called for the protection of women and children, but overlooked the fact that they had bombed the hospital in Mariupol and the theatre in Mariupol. Their resolution called for a ceasefire – although we know that the last time they called for a ceasefire, Russia breached it within hours. Their resolution did not call for the one thing that would work, which is that Russia needs to stop its invasion of Ukraine. Thank you.”

Council members who abstained are: the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway and United Arab Emirates.

It takes nine votes to pass a resolution in the 15-nation UN Security Council but the vote is blocked if one of the five permanent members vote against, which constitutes a veto. The five members are the US, the UK, Russia, France and China.

The failed Russian resolution included the following demands: It “stressed the need to ensure humane treatment of detainees in accordance with international humanitarian law;” “demanded that civilians, including humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children are fully protected.”

It demanded “from all parties concerned full respect for provisions of international humanitarian law in connection with objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure that is critical to enable the delivery of essential services in armed conflict, and to refrain from deliberately placing military objects and equipment in the vicinity of such objects or in the midst of densely populated areas, as well as not to use civilian objects for military purposes;”

It called “upon all parties concerned to allow safe and unhindered passage to destinations outside of Ukraine, including to foreign nationals without discrimination, and facilitate safe and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to those in need in and around Ukraine, taking into account the particular needs of women, girls, men and boys, older persons and persons with disabilities;”

It “condemned all violations of international humanitarian law and violations of human rights, and calls upon all parties to respect strictly the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocol I thereto, of 1977 and to respect international human rights law, as applicable;”and “called upon Member States to fund the flash appeal launched by the United Nations for the humanitarian response in Ukraine, as well as the regional refugee response plan for Ukraine.”

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UN creates global emergency group on food, energy and finance to meet demands in Ukraine war

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New York, March 14 – The United Nations has established a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance to assist the Ukrainian people living under terrifying conditions created by the Russian war, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

“The country is being decimated before the eyes of the world,” Guterres told journalists at UN headquarters. “The impact on civilians is reaching terrifying proportions. Countless innocent people – including women and children – have been killed. After being hit by Russian forces, roads, airports and schools lie in ruins.”

He said in coming days the crisis group will consult member states “willing to champion the actions needed to carry forward the global emergency response that will be required for these looming crises. Make no mistake, everyday people, especially women and children, will bear the brunt of this unfolding tragedy.”

The war is getting worse and “whatever the outcome, this war will have no winners, only losers,” Guterres said.

He reiterated that the war brings back “the prospect of nuclear conflict, “once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility,” calling for preserving the security and safety of nuclear facilities.

UN agencies working in Ukraine said 1.9 million people have become internally displaced inside the country and more than 2.8 million others have become refugees as people continued to escape across borders under harsh conditions, including women and children who are vulnerable to human traffickers.

Three UN agencies – UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO – issued an urgent appeal on March 13 for an immediate cessation of all attacks so the UN can provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population.

“Today, we call for an immediate cessation of all attacks on health care in Ukraine. These horrific attacks are killing and causing serious injuries to patients and health workers, destroying vital health infrastructure and forcing thousands to forgo accessing health services despite catastrophic needs.

“To attack the most vulnerable – babies, children, pregnant women, and those already suffering from illness and disease, and health workers risking their own lives to save lives – is an act of unconscionable cruelty.

“In Ukraine, since the start of the war, 31 attacks on health care have been documented via the WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA). According to these reports, in 24 incidents health care facilities were damaged or destroyed, while in five cases ambulances were damaged or destroyed. These attacks have led to at least 12 deaths and 34 injuries, and affected access to and availability of essential health services. WHO is verifying further reports, as attacks continue to be reported despite the calls for protection of health care.

“Attacks on health care and health workers directly impact people’s ability to access essential health services – especially women, children and other vulnerable groups. We have already seen that the health care needs of pregnant women, new mothers, younger children and older people inside Ukraine are rising, while access to services is being severely limited by the violence.

“For example, more than 4,300 births have occurred in Ukraine since the start of war and 80,000 Ukrainian women are expected to give birth in next three months. Oxygen and medical supplies, including for the management of pregnancy complications, are running dangerously low.

“The health care system in Ukraine is clearly under significant strain, and its collapse would be a catastrophe. Every effort must be made to prevent this from happening.

“International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld, and the protection of civilians must be our top priority.

“Humanitarian partners and health care workers must be able to safely maintain and strengthen essential health service delivery, including immunization against COVID-19 and polio, and the supply of life-saving medicines for civilians across Ukraine as well as to refugees crossing into neighbouring countries. Health services should be systematically available at border crossings, including rapid care and referral processes for children and pregnant women.

“It is critical that humanitarian actors have safe and unimpeded access to reach ALL civilians in need wherever they may be. UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO are working with partners to scale up life-saving services and support to meet urgent health needs. We must be able to safely deliver emergency medical supplies – including those required for obstetric and neonatal care – to health centers, temporary facilities and underground shelters.

“Health care and services should be protected from all acts of violence and obstruction. Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has already put health systems and health care workers under enormous strain, such attacks have the potential to be even more devastating for the civilian population. For the sake of health workers, and for all people in Ukraine who need access to the lifesaving services they provide, attacks on all health care and other civilian infrastructure must stop.

“Finally, we call for an immediate ceasefire, which includes unhindered access so that people in need can access humanitarian assistance. A peaceful resolution to end the war in Ukraine is possible.”

Signatures: UNICEF Catherine Russell, Executive Director; UNFPA Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director;

WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General

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UN chief says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brings back specter of nuclear destruction; urges world to unite against “this violation of international law”

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New York, March 10 – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law and the war will deplete humanitarian funds needed in vulnerable countries, increase global hunger and contribute to the climate crisis.

“We have been brought back to the foundational promise of the United Nations Charter, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Many people around the world are asking how this could happen in the 21st century,” Guterres said in an address to the UN General Assembly which convened to discuss implementation of Our Common Agenda, a blueprint for multilateralism and collective action on development.

He said, “How are we still staring into the nuclear abyss, as millions of people flee across borders and the most fundamental tenets of international law are trampled?”

The war will “stretch humanitarian funding even thinner, increasing the suffering of many of the most vulnerable,” and “could indirectly increase global hunger. Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest sources of grain, the Russian Federation is second, and the conflict could cause prices to spike,” he said.

 “This conflict is deeply linked with the climate crisis, demonstrating how our continued reliance on fossil fuels puts the global economy and energy security at the mercy of geopolitical shocks.”

Reminding the 193-nation assembly that it was meeting amid the war in Ukraine, he said, “Peace is the most important global public good and the United Nations was created to deliver it. War brings death, human suffering and unimaginable destruction, at a time when we cannot afford to add to the major global challenges we face.”

“This conflict also calls on us to come together in cooperation and solidarity to support everyone affected, and to overcome this violation of international law,” he said, adding that if the international organization wants to bequeath “a world free from want and fear, and full of opportunities to fulfil their potential, we must urgently focus on building and strengthening the foundations of the multilateral system.”

Active UN humanitarian work underway in Ukraine

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said as of March 10 there were an estimated 1.9 million internally displaced Ukrainians and the UN refugee agency reported that more than 2.3 million others have now crossed the country’s western border in search of safety in neighboring countries, UN News reported.

“Three things are critical in the short term, as Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has stressed: civilians, whether they stay or leave, must be respected and protected; safe passage is needed for humanitarian supplies; and we need a system of constant communications with parties to the conflict”, Dujarric said.

“In terms of response, humanitarian organizations are deploying additional staff across the country and are working to move supplies to warehouses in different hubs within Ukraine and outside.

Other humanitarian activities underway or under planning include those of the World Food Program which was planning to assist up to 3.1 million people inside Ukraine with bulk food, bread and food rations, the spokesman said.

“With consignments of food assistance arriving every day, WFP is in a race against time to pre-position food in areas where fighting is expected to flare”, he said.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said more than one million children have now fled Ukraine and it has sent close to 70 tons of supplies that include food, personal protection equipment and medical gears.

“Working with its partners, UNICEF teams in Ukraine will be delivering medical supplies to 22 hospitals in five different conflict-affected areas in the country, to benefit 20,000 children and mothers,” Dujarric said.

“Across the border, three trucks were sent from Copenhagen – which is UNICEF’s warehouse in Europe and the largest humanitarian hub in the world – and those trucks were carrying essential supplies, such as early childhood development, recreational and hygiene kits. These supplies have now arrived in Poland.”

Dujarric said the World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered 81 metric tons of supplies and is establishing a pipeline of supplies for health facilities across Ukraine. WHO has also released $10.2 million from its Contingency Fund and deployed staff to provide more essential care to exhausted and devastated refugees fleeing their homeland.

UN News also reported that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that the coming weeks will be critical, as farmers will need to prepare land for sowing vegetables in the middle of March. Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of grain for export.

Between February and May, Ukrainian farmers would normally be preparing land for planting wheat, barley, maize, and sunflowers. FAO is stressing that all efforts should be made to protect harvests and livestock, during the intense and growing conflict.

The Ukraine Flash Appeal 2022 has received $109 million so far, which represents 9.6 per cent of what is needed. The appeal which was launched by the Secretary-General on 1 March, requires $1.1 billion for a three-month period for humanitarian response inside Ukraine.

“As we have said we encourage the donors who made generous pledges to release the money quickly and report their contribution to OCHA’s Financial Tracking Service,” Dujarric said.

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