World news summary: Food aid reaches the people of Haiti, UN Secretary General condemns attack on Slovakian leader, Russian strikes cause displaced people in Ukraine
Providing an update on the situation, he said the World Food Program (WFP) distributed nearly 10,000 hot meals on Monday and Tuesday to approximately 5,000 displaced people in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.
The UN agency began switching from distributing hot meals to transferring cash to displaced people.
“To date, more than 37,000 people have received cash. In the coming weeks, WFP is planning to provide cash assistance to more than 95,000 displaced people,” the deputy spokesperson said.
Expansion efforts in Port-au-Prince
WFP continues to distribute food at Cité Soleil and more than 65,000 people have received food since last Friday, he said, adding that the agency’s goal is to reach 95,000 people this weekend .
As part of its school meals program, WFP reached 195,000 students across Haiti.
After assessing needs in Gressier, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, following violent incidents there, WFP is planning to begin distributing hot meals to the community on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) distributed water to two sites hosting displaced people and provided medical services through a mobile clinic at a location in Port-au-Prince, according to the agency.
Guterres condemned the attack on the Prime Minister of Slovakia
His deputy spokesman, Mr. Haq, said the UN Secretary-General “strongly condemns the shocking attack carried out today against the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico”.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Rico was shot multiple times in Banikov Handlova Square, Slovakia, after a government meeting and was still undergoing surgery as of late Wednesday, according to media reports.
A suspect has been arrested, according to news agencies.
“The thoughts of the Secretary-General are with the Prime Minister and his loved ones during these difficult times,” he said.
UNICEF is ensuring that children can continue to learn even as conflict rages in Kharkiv.
Ukraine: Aid teams help people fleeing Russian strike
United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told journalists that as the war with Russia escalated, humanitarian organizations continued to support people who fled to the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv to seek safety during the protests. Evacuations are taking place from border and frontline communities in the region following multiple attacks in recent days. on Wednesday.
On Tuesday alone, repeated attacks in the city of Kharkiv and across the region injured civilians, including children, according to authorities and UN humanitarian partners. as well as damaging a school and several homes.
“We, along with our partners, have supported hundreds of people with transportation, accommodation, distribution of hot meals and ready-to-eat food packs,” Mr. Haq said.
“We have also pre-registered people for cash assistance and provided mental health and psychological counseling.”
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partner agencies also address the needs of young people to ensure that they could continue their studies despite the ongoing war.
‘Relentless attacks’ on the city and region
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, visited Kharkiv on Tuesday, condemning the relentless attacks on the city and region.
“In the 21st century, people have to flee for their lives, leaving their homes behind, leaving their jobs behind in the face of relentless attacks by the Russian Armed Forces,” she said. Humanitarian law.
“People are coming here for support,” she said in a video on social networks. “The response is being driven by local actors with support from international communities and authorities.”
Ms. Brown approved the disbursement of $3.75 million from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund to enhance ongoing response activities.
