February 23, 2025
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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 blasts Russia as Ukraine war enters third year, calling it “an open wound at the heart of Europe”

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New York, February 23, 2024 – United Nations leaders delivered strong criticisms of Russia at meetings of both the UN General Assembly and Security Council convened to discuss the war in Ukraine as it enters a third year.

“The United Nations Charter and international law are our guide to creating a world free from the scourge of war,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the 15-nation Security Council. “Yet Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine directly violated both. Two years on – and a decade since Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol – the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe.”

“It is high time for peace – a just peace, based on the United Nations Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” he said.

Guterres said the world is currently “at a chaotic moment” in the wake of the Cold War and a period of unipolarity. “We are now making a turbulent transition to an as-yet uncertain multipolar world. Power relations are unclear, creating a sense of instability and impunity.”

He said the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has set a “dangerous precedent” because it violated international law and principles set out in the UN Charter.

“In any war, everyone suffers. But the people of Ukraine are suffering appallingly from the war inflicted on them by Russia.”

“The war is also hurting the people of Russia,” Guterres said. “Thousands of young Russians are dying on the frontlines. Civilians hit by strikes on Russian cities are also suffering. The danger of the conflict escalating and expanding is very real.

And around the world, the war is deepening geopolitical divides.”

At the meeting of the UN General Assembly, which comprises 193 nations, Dennis Francis, its president, said member states cannot remain blind to the ongoing war or ignore the plight of the Ukrainian people.

The war “is actively undermining the very foundations of our UN Charter – threatening the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity we all committed to hold dear and to defend,” Francis said.

“While the Security Council may be paralyzed by division, let us draw strength from the collective voice of the General Assembly – which has pronounced itself twice condemning the aggression and demanding the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian military forces from the territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders,” he said.

“Beyond condemnations, we, the United Nations, must actively work towards a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in line with the Charter of this organization.” (By J. Tuyet Nguyen)

Ukraine war two years on: destruction and displacement – 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance this year

Oslo/New York, February 21, 2024 – The Russian military invaded Ukraine two years ago on February 24 and the escalating war has inflicted a devastating impact on the country and the population. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said new data from a survey it conducted with over 1,000 participants across Ukraine has revealed that 64 per cent of respondents in areas under Russian occupation reported that they are unable to meet their basic needs like food, water and shelter. Almost half (47 per cent) of people surveyed in the east and south of Ukraine report their houses have been damaged or destroyed and 83 per cent of respondents across the country report that they fear for their lives and others around them, or do not feel safe. The following is a press release from the NRC.

Read New data from a survey conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with over 1,000 participants across Ukraine. The survey revealed the devastating impacts of the escalation of the war, two years on. The survey which covered topics related to displacement, access to services and the ability of Ukrainians to meet their basic needs, paints a complex picture of a population, particularly those in the east and south, who have been pushed to the limit to survive.

Anjela, 44, from Mykolaiv, and her family have been displaced for almost two years after their house was destroyed.

“We decided to be the first ones to flee the village. We simply took a blanket and tore it into pieces to make white flags. We walked 15 kilometres under the shelling, one after another. We were afraid of being shot so we needed to run fast,” she said. On top of having to flee, in April 2022, Anjela was dealt the devastating blow when her father, who had stayed behind in their home village to look after his parents was killed by a missile.

“People who were still in the village at that time pulled him out from under the rubble, it was all under fire…he did not have half his head. My father was buried, covered in a blanket. He was 65 years old. It’s good that people buried him and put the cross, so at least we knew where his body was. Others did not have this chance.”

Anjela told NRC that it wasn’t until one year later that they were able to have her father’s body exhumed and give him a proper burial in a village near where she and her family are now displaced. She told NRC that he could not be buried in their home village as the local cemetery was now contaminated with mines.

Anjela’s story highlights that in addition to prolonged displacement and the destruction of their homes, many families are also dealing with tragic loss and trauma as the war rages on.

A sobering 37 per cent of respondents to the survey reported that they had lost an immediate or extended family member in the last 24 months.

Data from the report also points to the potential conditions for Ukrainians living in areas of Ukraine currently under Russian occupation. 64 per cent of respondents believed to be in areas under Russian occupation reported that they are unable to meet their basic needs at all, meaning they are struggling to find food, water and shelter. 

The level of humanitarian needs in Ukraine remains high. Last year just over two-thirds of the funding needed was covered. This year it is expected that 14.6 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance.

Two years on, the suffering in Ukraine is becoming a protracted crisis, as people exhaust their resources and struggle to cope. “The daily reality for millions of Ukrainians is living under the constant threat of shelling and death,” said Jan Egeland, secretary general of NRC “It is essential that civilians caught up in conflict are protected, and are able to access lifesaving aid. We have a right – and a duty – to ensure the provision of assistance to civilians, no matter where they are.”  

“Humanitarian organisations must be given immediate access to those civilians living in Russian occupied areas,” said Egeland. “Member states must do everything in their power to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in Ukraine, while donor nations must revamp their efforts to ensure continued humanitarian assistance for millions of Ukrainians still desperately in need of aid. The world must not forget Ukraine.” 

Notes: Between January and February 2024, NRC and research company Upinion conducted an online survey with conflict affected persons in Ukraine, with a special focus on frontline areas in the east (Dnipro, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia) and south (Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Kherson, Crimea), and with a focus on elderly people.  

A total of 1,090 respondents engaged with the online survey, 80 per cent of whom were women. 

The majority of respondents in Ukraine fell within the age range of 46 to 69 (54 per cent), while smaller proportions belonged to younger age categories (31 per cent) or were older than 70 (15 per cent). 

In addition to the online outreach, Upinion and NRC undertook active efforts to reach elderly respondents. 

Last year just over two-thirds of the funding needed to cover the UN and partners Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine was covered, according to Financial Tracking Service. This year it is expected that 14.6 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance, according to UNOCHA.

NRC has been active in Ukraine since 2014, expanding its efforts after the conflict intensified in February 2022. NRC provided life-saving assistance to just under 500,000 people in Ukraine in 2023 through offices in Lviv, Dnipro, Kyiv, and Odesa, and field offices in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Chernihiv.

Read the full report here. Media contact: Becky Bakr Vindheim, Head of Nordic Advocacy & Media. Advocacy and Media Section, Head Office – Phone: +47 41613766 | Twitter: @BeckyBakr – Norwegian Refugee Council

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UPDATE: UN blasts Russia as Ukraine war enters third year, calling it “an open wound at the heart of Europe” Read More »

Humanitarian agencies urge immediate ceasefire in Gaza to avoid catastrophe as civilians are in extreme peril

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Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee

New York/Geneva/Rome, 21 February 2024 – In the less than five months that followed the brutal 7 October attacks and the ensuing escalation, tens of thousands of Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been killed and injured in the Gaza Strip. More than three quarters of the population have been forced from their homes, many multiple times, and face severe shortages of food, water, sanitation and healthcare – the basic necessities to survive.

The health system continues to be systematically degraded, with catastrophic consequences. As of 19 February, only 12 out of 36 hospitals with inpatient capacity are still functioning, and only partially. There have been more than 370 attacks on health care in Gaza since 7 October.

Diseases are rampant. Famine is looming. Water is at a trickle. Basic infrastructure has been decimated. Food production has come to a halt. Hospitals have turned into battlefields. One million children face daily traumas.

Rafah, the latest destination for well over 1 million displaced, hungry and traumatized people crammed into a small sliver of land, has become another battleground in this brutal conflict. Further escalation of violence in this densely populated area would cause mass casualties. It could also deal a death blow to a humanitarian response that is already on its knees.

There is no safe place in Gaza – Humanitarian workers, themselves displaced and facing shelling, death, movement restrictions and a breakdown of civil order, continue efforts to deliver to those in need. But faced with so many obstacles – including safety and movement restrictions – they can only do so much.

No amount of humanitarian response will make up for the months of deprivation that families in Gaza have endured. This is our effort to salvage the humanitarian operation so that we can provide, at the very least, the bare essentials: medicine, drinking water, food, and shelter as temperatures plummet.

For this, we need: (1) An immediate ceasefire; (2) Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on to be protected, (3) The hostages to be released immediately; (4) Reliable entry points that would allow us to bring aid in from all possible crossings, including to northern Gaza, (5) Security assurances and unimpeded passage to distribute aid, at scale, across Gaza, with no denials, delays and access impediments, (6)  A functioning humanitarian notification system that allows all humanitarian staff and supplies to move within Gaza and deliver aid safely, (7) Roads to be passable and neighborhoods to be cleared of explosive ordnance and (8) A stable communication network that allows humanitarians to move safely and securely; (9) UNRWA, the backbone of the humanitarian operations in Gaza, to receive the resources it needs to provide life-saving assistance; (10) A halt to campaigns that seek to discredit the United Nations and non-governmental organizations doing their best to save lives. 

Humanitarian agencies remain committed, despite the risks. But they cannot be left to pick up the pieces. We are calling on Israel to fulfil its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world’s leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening.

Signatories:

Mr. Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Ms. Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro, Secretary General, CARE International

Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Ms. Jane Backhurst, Chair, ICVA (Christian Aid)

Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

Mr. Tom Hart, Chief Executive Officer and President, InterAction

Ms. Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Ms. Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps

Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Ms. Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children

Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs)

Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Mr. Michal Mlynár, Executive Director a.i., United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)

Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

US vetoes resolution that called for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war – The UN Security Council met on February 20 and voted on a draft resolution proposed by Algeria on behalf of the 22-nation Arab Group. The draft called for a humanitarian ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Gaza. It also condemned “all acts of terrorism” and called on the council to demand that Israel and Hamas “scrupulously comply” with international law, especially the protection of civilians.

Thirteen of the 15-nation council voted in favor of the draft resolution, but the United States cast a veto which effectively canceled the positive votes. The United Kingdom abstained. It was the third time that the U.S. vetoed a resolution that demanded a ceasefire in the war that broke out between Israel and militants Hamas last October 7. Under council voting rules, a draft resolution can be adopted with nine votes provided there is no veto from any of the five permanent council members – the US, Russia, UK, France and China.

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Ukraine war two years on: destruction and displacement – 14.6 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year

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Oslo/New York, February 21, 2024 – The Russian military invaded Ukraine two years ago on February 24 and the escalating war has inflicted a devastating impact on the country and the population. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said new data from a survey it conducted with over 1,000 participants across Ukraine has revealed that 64 per cent of respondents in areas under Russian occupation reported that they are unable to meet their basic needs like food, water and shelter. Almost half (47 per cent) of people surveyed in the east and south of Ukraine report their houses have been damaged or destroyed and 83 per cent of respondents across the country report that they fear for their lives and others around them, or do not feel safe. The following is a press release from the NRC.

Read New data from a survey conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with over 1,000 participants across Ukraine. The survey revealed the devastating impacts of the escalation of the war, two years on. The survey which covered topics related to displacement, access to services and the ability of Ukrainians to meet their basic needs, paints a complex picture of a population, particularly those in the east and south, who have been pushed to the limit to survive.

Anjela, 44, from Mykolaiv, and her family have been displaced for almost two years after their house was destroyed.

“We decided to be the first ones to flee the village. We simply took a blanket and tore it into pieces to make white flags. We walked 15 kilometres under the shelling, one after another. We were afraid of being shot so we needed to run fast,” she said. On top of having to flee, in April 2022, Anjela was dealt the devastating blow when her father, who had stayed behind in their home village to look after his parents was killed by a missile.

“People who were still in the village at that time pulled him out from under the rubble, it was all under fire…he did not have half his head. My father was buried, covered in a blanket. He was 65 years old. It’s good that people buried him and put the cross, so at least we knew where his body was. Others did not have this chance.”

Anjela told NRC that it wasn’t until one year later that they were able to have her father’s body exhumed and give him a proper burial in a village near where she and her family are now displaced. She told NRC that he could not be buried in their home village as the local cemetery was now contaminated with mines.

Anjela’s story highlights that in addition to prolonged displacement and the destruction of their homes, many families are also dealing with tragic loss and trauma as the war rages on.

A sobering 37 per cent of respondents to the survey reported that they had lost an immediate or extended family member in the last 24 months.

Data from the report also points to the potential conditions for Ukrainians living in areas of Ukraine currently under Russian occupation. 64 per cent of respondents believed to be in areas under Russian occupation reported that they are unable to meet their basic needs at all, meaning they are struggling to find food, water and shelter. 

The level of humanitarian needs in Ukraine remains high. Last year just over two-thirds of the funding needed was covered. This year it is expected that 14.6 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance.

Two years on, the suffering in Ukraine is becoming a protracted crisis, as people exhaust their resources and struggle to cope. “The daily reality for millions of Ukrainians is living under the constant threat of shelling and death,” said Jan Egeland, secretary general of NRC “It is essential that civilians caught up in conflict are protected, and are able to access lifesaving aid. We have a right – and a duty – to ensure the provision of assistance to civilians, no matter where they are.”  

“Humanitarian organisations must be given immediate access to those civilians living in Russian occupied areas,” said Egeland. “Member states must do everything in their power to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in Ukraine, while donor nations must revamp their efforts to ensure continued humanitarian assistance for millions of Ukrainians still desperately in need of aid. The world must not forget Ukraine.” 

Notes: Between January and February 2024, NRC and research company Upinion conducted an online survey with conflict affected persons in Ukraine, with a special focus on frontline areas in the east (Dnipro, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia) and south (Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Kherson, Crimea), and with a focus on elderly people.  

A total of 1,090 respondents engaged with the online survey, 80 per cent of whom were women. 

The majority of respondents in Ukraine fell within the age range of 46 to 69 (54 per cent), while smaller proportions belonged to younger age categories (31 per cent) or were older than 70 (15 per cent). 

In addition to the online outreach, Upinion and NRC undertook active efforts to reach elderly respondents. 

Last year just over two-thirds of the funding needed to cover the UN and partners Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine was covered, according to Financial Tracking Service. This year it is expected that 14.6 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance, according to UNOCHA.

NRC has been active in Ukraine since 2014, expanding its efforts after the conflict intensified in February 2022. NRC provided life-saving assistance to just under 500,000 people in Ukraine in 2023 through offices in Lviv, Dnipro, Kyiv, and Odesa, and field offices in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Chernihiv.

Read the full report here. Media contact: Becky Bakr Vindheim, Head of Nordic Advocacy & Media. Advocacy and Media Section, Head Office – Phone: +47 41613766 | Twitter: @BeckyBakr – Norwegian Refugee Council

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Rising hunger in many countries is propelled by climate, wars and food insecurity, UN says

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New York, February 13, 2024 – The ongoing climate crisis and conflict have reversed progress aimed at ending hunger worldwide as more people go to bed hungry while food prices remain high, UN officials told a Security Council meeting on global peace and security.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said climate and conflict have become “leading drivers” of the global food crisis, displacement of people, destruction of agriculture and damage to infrastructure. Climate chaos alone has imperiled global food production and was the main causes of acute food insecurity for almost 174 million people in 2022.

The World Food Program estimated that over 330 million people were affected in 2023 and warned of an acute deterioration in 18 “hunger hotspots” early in 2024.

“I am dismayed to say that our world today is teeming with examples of the devastating relationship between hunger and conflict,” Guterres said.

The UN chief and heads of UN agencies said 13 million people in Syria go to bed hungry after the country suffered 10 years of war and deadly earthquakes while in Myanmar conflict and political instability have reversed progress on ending hunger.

“In Gaza, no one has enough to eat,” Guterres said. “Of the 700,000 hungriest people in the world, four in five inhabit that tiny strip of land,” he said. “In many places, climate disasters add another dimension. Every one of the 14 countries most at risk from climate change are suffering conflict. Thirteen of them face humanitarian crisis this year.”

The UN said about 16 million people in Ethiopia required food assistance in the wake of a war followed by drought and the situation worsened by the influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan. In Haiti, millions of people need assistance as the country is battered by hurricanes, violence and lawlessness.

“To avoid mounting threats to international peace and security, we must step in and act now to break the deadly links between conflict, climate and food insecurity,” Guterres told the 15-nation Security Council under the presidency of Guyana. He called on “all parties” in a conflict to abide by international humanitarian law.

“Starvation of civilians may constitute a war crime, and humanitarians must have unimpeded access to civilians in need,” he said, adding that the UN council has a critical role in demanding compliance and holding those who breach its resolutions to account.

He called on countries to fund humanitarian operations in full “to prevent disaster and conflict from feeding hunger” and “create the conditions to resolve conflict and preserve peace – within countries and between countries.” This is in reference to countries that have suspended funding of the UN relief organization for Palestinians in Gaza.

He called on the council to “get a grip on the climate crisis to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Because climate action is action for food security and action for peace. G20 nations must lead a just global phase out of fossil fuels, in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. And all countries must create ambitious new national climate action plans – or nationally determined contributions – by 2025, that align with the 1.5-degree limit.”

Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said climate and conflict are the most important issues requiring urgent action to address global food insecurity.

“The scientific evidence and the policy direction are clear – climate change is compromising food security, and its impacts are a growing threat to international peace and security. It is having alarming effect on people, the planet and …what I would like to address… agrifood systems – meaning how and when we produce, harvest, process and store our food.”

Bechdol said, according to the 2023 Global Report on Food Crises, the main drivers of food insecurity and hunger around the world are conflict and climate change, which affected 258 million people in 58 countries.

“As much as 70 percent of the most climate-vulnerable countries are also among the most politically and economically fragile,” Bechdol said. “Climate change will undo progress made in alleviating hunger, but as it intensifies it will create further disruptions and continue to be a driver of conflict.“

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

“The combination of climate change, hunger, and war is a devastating one. There is no national security without food security. And there will be no food security without enhanced action to stop climate change,” Stiell told the council meeting, pointing out that there are solutions and ways forward.

“This Council should be requesting a regular stream of information on climate security risks. The UNFCCC can help in the development of these updates,” Stiell said, adding that countries that attended the climate summit in Dubai in December 2023 had agreed to begin investing in “designing, piloting, and delivering, climate adaptation plans for food systems from planting new crops to better meteorological information and communication.” He said countries need money for climate adaptation, particularly developing countries that are vulnerable to climate shocks but many of them are already facing scarcity, fragility and conflict.

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UN warns of “catastrophic consequences” if donors defund relief agency in Gaza

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Geneva/New York, January 31, 2024 – Decisions by key donors to suspend funding for the main UN relief agency in Gaza will collapse the massive humanitarian operations that have been assisting millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) said as the Israel-Hamas war continues to impact on the displaced population.

UN Secretary-General Antonio said the humanitarian system in Gaza is “collapsing” and he called on UN member states to guarantee the continuity of the saving-life work of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). He said the agency is the “backbone” of all humanitarian assistance in Gaza as well as Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

“I am extremely concerned by the inhumane conditions faced by Gaza’s 2.2 million people, as they struggle to survive without any of the basics,” Guterres told the 2024 Session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at UN Headquarters in New York.

 “Everyone in Gaza is hungry, while half a million grapple with catastrophic levels of food insecurity,” he said. “I call for rapid, safe, unhindered, expanded and sustained humanitarian access throughout Gaza.”

The Geneva-based IASC said in a statement signed by leaders of 14 relief agencies that allegations of involvement, while “horrifying,” by several staff members of the UNRWA in the October 7 attacks on Israel should not stop the relief work of the agencies.

“However, we must not prevent an entire organization from delivering on its mandate to serve people in desperate need,” the statement said. “The harrowing events that have been snowballing in Gaza since 7 October have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and on the brink of famine. UNRWA, as the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza, has been providing food, shelter and protection, even as its own staff members were being displaced and killed. “

“Decisions by various Member States to pause funds from UNRWA will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza. No other entity has the capacity to deliver the scale and breadth of assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need. We appeal for these decisions to be reconsidered.

“UNRWA has announced a full, independent review of the organization, and the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services has been activated.

“Withdrawing funds from UNRWA is perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, with far-reaching humanitarian and human rights consequences in the occupied Palestinian territory and across the region. The world cannot abandon the people of Gaza.”

Governments last year pledged $1.17 billion to UNRWA, but recently the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland have decided to suspend their contributions after Israel charged 12 UNWRA staff members with taking part in the Hamas-led attacks on the country last October 7, which killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages. Gaza authorities reported that over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed.

The 14 IASC signatories to the appeal are: Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Jane Backhurst, Chair, ICVA (Christian Aid); Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA); Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM); Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs); Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA);  Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Michal Mlynár, Executive Director a.i., United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat); Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF);  Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women; Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

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Funding cuts threaten Palestinian lives in Gaza and Middle East region, say aid groups

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Oslo/New York, January 29, 2024 – The decisions by major donors to suspend financial aid to the UN relief agency in the Middle East will cut off life-saving assistance to over 2 million Palestinians who are already living under worsening conditions caused by the war, a group of 20 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said.

Many countries last year pledged $1.17 billion to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), the main humanitarian organization in Gaza. But the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland have decided to suspend their contributions after Israel charged 12 UNWRA staff members with taking part in the Hamas-led attacks on the country last October 7, which killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said 20 NGOs signed a joint statement to express “deep concern and outrage” that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for UNRWA amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Following is the statement:

“As aid organizations, we are deeply concerned and outraged that some of the largest donors have united to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main aid provider for millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the region. This comes amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza. The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel’s continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza.

We welcome UNRWA’s swift investigation into the alleged involvement of a small number of UN staff members in the October 7th attacks. We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population by some of the very countries that had called for aid in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected while doing their job. This decision comes as the International Court of Justice ordered immediate and effective action to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

152 UNRWA staff have already been killed and 145 UNRWA facilities damaged by bombardment. UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and their delivery of humanitarian assistance cannot be replaced by other agencies working in Gaza. If the funding suspensions are not reversed we may see a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response in Gaza.

With approximately over one million displaced Palestinians taking shelter in or around 154 UNRWA shelters, the agency and aid organisations have continued to work in near impossible circumstances to provide food, vaccinations, and freshwater. The countries suspending funds risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection.

We urge donor states to reaffirm support for the vital work that UNRWA and its partners do to help Palestinians survive one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of our times. Countries must reverse these funding suspensions, uphold their duties towards the Palestinian people and scale up humanitarian assistance for civilians in dire need in Gaza and the region.”

Signed: War Child Alliance, ActionAid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Diakonia, Oxfam, Première Urgence Internationale, Médecins du Monde France, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Danish Refugee Council, Johanniter International Assistance, The Association of International Development Agencies – Aida, Humanity & Inclusion/ Handicap International (HI), INTERSOS, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, International Council for Voluntary Agencies, Norwegian People’s Aid, Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine, Norwegian Church Aid, DanChurchAid, American Friends Service Committee, Caritas Internationalis and Save the Children.

UN chief appeals to donors to maintain their pledges

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres promptly responded to Israel’s charges against the UNRWA staff members, saying had immediately taken action against several of those members.

“Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation.

UNRWA had also previously announced a full, independent review of the organization on 17 January,” Guterres said in a statement issued January 28.

“Meanwhile, 2 million civilians in Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA for daily survival but UNRWA’s current funding will not allow it to meet all requirements to support them in February. While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations – I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations.

“The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences. But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met.”

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UN warns of global trade disruptions caused by Houthi-led attacks in Red Sea

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New York, January 25, 2024 – The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels in Yemen has caused significant disruptions in shipments of grains and other key commodities from Europe, Russia and Ukraine.

The UN agency said the escalating crisis is leading to increased costs for consumers and posing serious risks to global food security, especially in regions like East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, which heavily rely on wheat imports from Europe and the Black Sea area.

“We are concerned that the attacks on Red Sea shipping are adding tensions to a context of global trade disruptions due to geopolitics and climate change,” said Jan Hoffmann, head of UNCTAD’s trade facilitation section.

He said maritime trade carries around 80 % of the goods the world trade, and the percentage is even higher for developing countries.

“These disruptions underline global trade’s vulnerability to geopolitical tensions and climate challenges,” Hoffmann said, adding that the situation will have a dramatic impact on shipping costs and rates and the container shipping sector is facing a significant challenge.

The agency said early data from 2024 showed that over 300 container vessels, over 20 % of global container capacity, were diverting from or planning alternatives to the Suez Canal. The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and handles about 12 % to 15 % of global trade in 2023.

The Houthi-led attacks in the Red Sea beginning of November 2023 have decreased trade volume through the Suez Canal by 42 % in the last two months and compelled some shipping industries to temporarily halt Suez transits and search for other routes.

“But other major routes are already under strain,” Hoffmann said, pointing that the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions have reshaped oil and grain trade routes.

Compounding the shipping crisis, UNCTAD said the Panama Canal, a key route for global trade, has been hit by a severe drought which lowered its water levels to the lowest in decades and has severely reduced traffic through the canal. It said total transits through the canal were 36 % lower than one year ago and 62 % lower than two years ago.

UN says Houthi’s request to withdraw UN staff has no legal basis

The UN confirmed that Houthi rebels have demanded in a letter that UN staff in Sana’a be withdrawn.

Confirming the order from the de facto authorities, who control the capital Sana’a along with many other areas of the war-torn country, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that the demand ran counter to the legal conditions under which the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operate.

Dujarric stressed that “any request or requirement for UN staff to leave based solely on the nationality of that staff is inconsistent with the legal framework applicable to the UN.”

Dujarric noted that it also “impedes our ability to deliver on the mandate to support all of the people in Yemen, and we call on all the authorities in Yemen, to ensure that our staff can continue to perform their functions on behalf of the UN”.

The letter from the Houthi’s de facto foreign ministry in the capital was reportedly sent to the UN’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator, Peter Hawkins, himself a British national. It reportedly also ordered foreign organizations not to hire US and British personnel going forward.

Dujarric emphasized that UN staff “serve impartially and serve the flag of the UN – and none other”.

Houthi authorities in Yemen on Wednesday have ordered UN and other humanitarian staff holding US and UK passports to leave the country within a month.

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World Economic Forum calls for global efforts to create equitable access to AI

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Artificial Intelligence is a central issue at the World Economic Forum annual meeting attended by government, business and civil society leaders from over 120 countries. WEF’s AI Governance Alliance has issued new studies on AI’s potential global benefits as well as challenges and recommended creation of safe systems and technologies, ensuring responsible applications and transformation, and advancing resilient governance and regulation. Following is a press release.

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 18 January 2024 – The AI Governance Alliance (AIGA) released today a series of three new reports on advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The papers focus on generative AI governance, unlocking its value and a framework for responsible AI development and deployment.

Read the papers here. For more information on the Annual Meeting 2024, visit www.weforum.org

The alliance brings together governments, businesses and experts to shape responsible AI development applications and governance, and to ensure equitable distribution and enhanced access to this path-departing technology worldwide.

“The AI Governance Alliance is uniquely positioned to play a crucial role in furthering greater access to AI-related resources, thereby contributing to a more equitable and responsible AI ecosystem globally,” says Cathy Li, Head, AI, Data and Metaverse, World Economic Forum. “We must collaborate among governments, the private sector and local communities to ensure the future of AI benefits all.”

AIGA is calling upon experts from various sectors to address several key areas. This includes improving data quality and availability across nations, boosting access to computational resources, and adapting foundation models to suit local needs and challenges. There is also a strong emphasis on education and the development of local expertise to create and navigate local AI ecosystems effectively. In line with these goals, there is a need to establish new institutional frameworks and public-private partnerships along with implementing multilateral controls to aid and enhance these efforts.

While AI holds the potential to address global challenges, it also poses risks of widening existing digital divides or creating new ones. These and other topics are explored in a new briefing paper series, released today and crafted by AIGA’s three core workstreams, in collaboration with IBM Consulting and Accenture. As AI technology evolves at a rapid pace and developed nations race to capitalize on AI innovation, the urgency to address the digital divide is critical to ensure that billions of people in developing countries are not left behind.

On international cooperation and inclusive access in AI development and deployment, Generative AI Governance: Shaping Our Collective Global Future – from the Resilient Governance and Regulation track – evaluates national approaches, addresses key debates on generative AI, and advocates for international coordination and standards to prevent fragmentation.

Unlocking Value from Generative AI: Guidance for Responsible Transformation – from the Responsible Applications and Transformation track – provides guidance on the responsible adoption of generative AI, emphasizing use case-based evaluation, multistakeholder governance, transparent communication, operational structures, and value-based change management for scalable and responsible integration into organizations.

In addition, for optimized AI development and deployment, a new Presidio AI Framework: Towards Safe Generative AI Models – from the Safe Systems and Technologies track – addresses the need for standardized perspectives on the model lifecycle by creating a framework for shared responsibility and proactive risk management.

AIGA also seeks to mobilize resources for exploring AI benefits in key sectors, including healthcare and education.

Quotes from the initiative: H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the United Arab Emirates: “As we witness the rapid evolution of artificial Intelligence globally, the UAE stands committed to fostering an inclusive AI environment, both within our nation and throughout the world. Our collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance is instrumental in making AI benefits universally accessible, ensuring no community is left behind. We are dedicated to developing a comprehensive and forward-thinking AI and digital economy roadmap, not just for the UAE but for the global good. This roadmap is a testament to our belief in AI as a tool for universal progress and equality, and it embodies our commitment to a future where technology serves humanity in its entirety.”

Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation of Rwanda:

“Rwanda’s participation in the AI Governance Alliance aims to ensure Rwanda and the region do not play catch up in shaping the future of AI governance and accessibility. In line with these efforts, Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, will host a high-level summit on AI in Africa towards the end of 2024, creating a platform to engage in focused and collaborative dialogue on the role of AI shaping Africa’s future. The event’s primary goal will be to align African countries on common risks, barriers, and opportunities and, ultimately, devise a unified strategy for AI in Africa.”

Gary Cohn, IBM Vice-Chairman: “IBM continues to drive responsible AI and governance. We all have an obligation to collaborate globally across corporations, governments and civil society to create ethical guardrails and policy frameworks that will inform how generative AI is designed and deployed. IBM is proud to work with the Forum’s AI Governance Alliance as the knowledge partner for this paper series.”

Paul Daugherty, Chief Technology Innovation Officer, Accenture: “The evolution of AI is unique in that the technology, regulation and business adoption are all accelerating exponentially at the same time. It’s critical that the public and private sector come together to share insights, resources and best practices for building and scaling AI responsibly. Leaders in this space must prioritize inclusive AI so that the benefits of this technology are shared in all parts of the world, including emerging markets. The Forum’s three-part briefing paper series offers insightful considerations across responsible applications, governance and safety to empower businesses, respect people and benefit society.”

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World faces more economic uncertainty, fragmentation in 2024: new report

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A majority of chief economists at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting (January 15-19) in Switzerland warned the world should expect more economic uncertainty in 2024, with seven in 10 saying that geo-economic fragmentation will accelerate. The meeting under the theme “Rebuilding Trust” brings together more than 2,800 government, business and civil society leaders from 120 countries. Following is a press release.

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 15 January 2024 – Global economic prospects remain subdued and fraught with uncertainty, according to the latest Chief Economists Outlook  released today, as the global economy continues to grapple with headwinds from tight financial conditions, geopolitical rifts and rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Read the paper here. For more information on the Annual Meeting 2024, visit www.weforum.org.

More than half of chief economists (56%) expect the global economy to weaken this year, while 43% foresee unchanged or stronger conditions. A strong majority also believe labour markets (77%) and financial conditions (70%) will loosen over the coming year. Although the expectations for high inflation have been pared back in all regions, regional growth outlooks vary widely and no region is slated for very strong growth in 2024.

“The latest Chief Economists Outlook highlights the precarious nature of the current economic environment,” said Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “Amid accelerating divergence, the resilience of the global economy will continue to be tested in the year ahead. Though global inflation is easing, growth is stalling, financial conditions remain tight, global tensions are deepening and inequalities are rising – highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation to build momentum for sustainable, inclusive economic growth.”

Regional variations – The outlook for South Asia and East Asia and Pacific remains positive and broadly unchanged compared to the last survey, with a strong majority (93% and 86% respectively) expecting at least moderate growth in 2024. China is an exception, with a smaller majority (69%) expecting moderate growth as weak consumption, lower industrial production and property market concerns weigh on the prospects of a stronger rebound.

In Europe, the outlook has weakened significantly since the September 2023 survey, with the share of respondents expecting weak or very weak growth almost doubling to 77%. In the United States and the Middle East and North Africa, the outlook is weaker too, with about six in 10 respondents foreseeing moderate or stronger growth this year (down from 78% and 79% respectively). There is a notable uptick in growth expectations for Latin America and the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, although the views remain for broadly moderate growth.

Geopolitical rifts compound uncertainty – About seven in 10 chief economists expect the pace of geoeconomic fragmentation to accelerate this year, with a majority saying geopolitics will stoke volatility in the global economy (87%) and stock markets (80%), increase localization (86%), strengthen geoeconomic blocs (80%) and widen the North-South divide (57%) in the next three years.

As governments increasingly experiment with industrial policy tools, experts are nearly unanimous in expecting these policies to remain largely uncoordinated between countries. While two-thirds of chief economists expect industrial policies to enable the emergence of new economic growth hotspots and vital new industries, a majority also warn of rising fiscal strains (79%) and divergence between higher- and lower-income economies (66%).

AI takes the spotlight – Chief economists expect AI-enabled benefits to vary widely across income groups, with notably more optimistic views about the effects in high-income economies. A strong majority said generative AI will increase efficiency of output production (79%) and innovation (74%) in high-income economies this year. Looking at the next five years, 94% expect these productivity benefits to become economically significant in high-income economies, compared to only 53% for low-income economies.

Almost three-quarters (73%) do not foresee net-positive impact on employment in low-income economies and 47% said the same for high-income economies. The views are somewhat more divided on the likelihood of generative AI to increase standards of living and to lead to a decline in trust, with both being slightly more likely in high-income markets.

About the Chief Economists Outlook report – The Chief Economist Outlook builds on the latest policy development research as well as consultations and surveys with leading chief economists from both the public and private sectors, organized by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society. It aims to summarize the emerging contours of the current economic environment and identify priorities for further action by policy makers and business leaders in response to the compounding shocks to the global economy. The survey featured in this briefing was conducted in November-December 2023.

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World Economic Forum: Disinformation tops global risks while climate extremes threaten earth

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The World Economic Forum, which will hold its annual meeting in Switzerland this month, says in the Global Risks Report 2024 that misinformation and disinformation are the biggest short-term risks while extreme weather is pummeling the earth systems. It says two-thirds of global experts anticipate a multipolar or fragmented order to take shape over the next decade. The report warns that cooperation on urgent global issues could be in short supply, requiring new approaches and solutions. Following is a press release from WEF.

Geneva, Switzerland, 10 January 2024 – Drawing on nearly two decades of original risks perception data, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 warns of a global risks landscape in which progress in human development is being chipped away slowly, leaving states and individuals vulnerable to new and resurgent risks. Against a backdrop of systemic shifts in global power dynamics, climate, technology and demographics, global risks are stretching the world’s adaptative capacity to its limit.

Read the Global Risks Report 2024 here, discover the Global Risks Initiative,

These are the findings of the Global Risks Report 2024, released today, which argues that cooperation on urgent global issues could be in increasingly short supply, requiring new approaches to addressing risks. Two-thirds of global experts anticipate a multipolar or fragmented order to take shape over the next decade, in which middle and great powers contest and set – but also enforce – new rules and norms.

The report, produced in partnership with Zurich Insurance Group and Marsh McLennan, draws on the views of over 1,400 global risks experts, policy-makers and industry leaders surveyed in September 2023. Results highlight a predominantly negative outlook for the world in the short term that is expected to worsen over the long term. While 30% of global experts expect an elevated chance of global catastrophes in the next two years, nearly two thirds expect this in the next 10 years.

“An unstable global order characterized by polarizing narratives and insecurity, the worsening impacts of extreme weather and economic uncertainty are causing accelerating risks – including misinformation and disinformation – to propagate,” said Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “World leaders must come together to address short-term crises as well as lay the groundwork for a more resilient, sustainable, inclusive future.”

Rise of disinformation and conflict. Concerns over a persistent cost-of-living crisis and the intertwined risks of AI-driven misinformation and disinformation, and societal polarization dominated the risks outlook for 2024. The nexus between falsified information and societal unrest will take centre stage amid elections in several major economies that are set to take place in the next two years. Interstate armed conflict is a top five concern over the next two years. With several live conflicts under way, underlying geopolitical tensions and corroding societal resilience risk are creating conflict contagion.

Economic uncertainty and development in decline. The coming years will be marked by persistent economic uncertainty and growing economic and technological divides. Lack of economic opportunity is ranked sixth in the next two years. Over the longer term, barriers to economic mobility could build, locking out large segments of the population from economic opportunities. Conflict-prone or climate-vulnerable countries may increasingly be isolated from investment, technologies and related job creation. In the absence of pathways to safe and secure livelihoods, individuals may be more prone to crime, militarization or radicalization.

Planet in peril. Environmental risks continue to dominate the risks landscape over all timeframes. Two-thirds of global experts are worried about extreme weather events in 2024. Extreme weather, critical change to Earth systems, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, natural resource shortages and pollution represent five of the top 10 most severe risks perceived to be faced over the next decade. However, expert respondents disagreed on the urgency of risks posed – private sector respondents believe that most environmental risks will materialize over a longer timeframe than civil society or government, pointing to the growing risk of getting past a point of no return.

Responding to risks.  The report calls on leaders to rethink action to address global risks. The report recommends focusing global cooperation on rapidly building guardrails for the most disruptive emerging risks, such as agreements addressing the integration of AI in conflict decision-making. However, the report also explores other types of action that need not be exclusively dependent on cross-border cooperation, such as shoring up individual and state resilience through digital literacy campaigns on misinformation and disinformation, or fostering greater research and development on climate modelling and technologies with the potential to speed up the energy transition, with both public and private sectors playing a role.

Carolina Klint, Chief Commercial Officer, Europe, Marsh McLennan, said: “Artificial intelligence breakthroughs will radically disrupt the risk outlook for organizations with many struggling to react to threats arising from misinformation, disintermediation and strategic miscalculation. At the same time, companies are having to negotiate supply chains made more complex by geopolitics and climate change and cyber threats from a growing number of malicious actors. It will take a relentless focus to build resilience at organizational, country and international levels – and greater cooperation between the public and private sectors – to navigate this rapidly evolving risk landscape.”

John Scott, Head of Sustainability Risk, Zurich Insurance Group, said: “The world is undergoing significant structural transformations with AI, climate change, geopolitical shifts and demographic transitions. Ninety-one per cent of risk experts surveyed express pessimism over the 10-year horizon. Known risks are intensifying and new risks are emerging – but they also provide opportunities. Collective and coordinated cross-border actions play their part, but localized strategies are critical for reducing the impact of global risks. The individual actions of citizens, countries and companies can move the needle on global risk reduction, contributing to a brighter, safer world.”

About the Global Risks Initiative. The Global Risks Report is a key pillar of the Forum’s Global Risks Initiative, which works to raise awareness and build consensus on the risks the world faces, to enable learning on risk preparedness and resilience. The Global Risks Consortium, a group of business, government and academic leaders, plays a critical role in translating risk foresight into ideas for proactive action and supporting leaders with the knowledge and tools to navigate emerging crises and shape a more stable, resilient world.

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting January 15-19 under the theme “Rebuilding Trust”

WEF says the meeting will bring together more than 2,800 leaders from 120 countries and will be accessible to the wider public with over 200 sessions to be livestreamed.

“We face a fractured world and growing societal divides, leading to pervasive uncertainty and pessimism. We have to rebuild trust in our future by moving beyond crisis management, looking at the root causes of the present problems, and building together a more promising future,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.

The meeting’s programme will address the latest global developments and will draw on the forward-thinking work of the Forum and its stakeholders to deliver innovative, practical solutions. The meeting aims to revitalize and reimagine the cooperation necessary for advancing resilience and security; reviving economic growth that improves living standards; pursuing rapid action that protects the climate and nature while securing energy; ensuring technological developments are inclusive; and investing in people and equitable opportunities.

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The San Francisco Conference in the spring of 1945, taking place while World War II was ending, resulted in the creation of the United Nations. The journalists excelled in their coverage of the historic event. They were the first United Nations correspondents. They continue today the task of reporting on UN activities around the world.

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