World news in brief: Migration day, famine in the Arab world, arbitrary arrests in South Sudan

Sadly, that year also saw the highest number of migrant deaths in transit.

“These challenges are made worse by the rising tide of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, which divides and distorts the valuable contributions migrants make. shows up every day,” he said. Secretary General António Guterres.

The potential for safe and well-managed migration remains clear as migrants boost economies, address labor shortages in aging societies and drive innovation globally.

the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration The third report emphasized the urgency of addressing the safety of migrants. Since 2014, nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing; the actual number is likely to be higher.

The report calls for stronger international cooperation to prevent migrant deaths, and increased efforts to identify and support affected families.

Meanwhile, the issue of illegal migration continues to pose many serious risks. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), smugglers exploit barriers to legal migration, profiting from the desperation of people fleeing conflict or poverty.

Stop ‘smuggling’ of migrants

the United Nations Protocol to Combat Migrant Smuggling is the basic legal framework to fight this type of crime. efforts of UNODC including supporting countries to implement the protocol, prosecuting smugglers and protecting the rights of migrants.

This year, two United Nations Committees highlighted the urgent need to address the complex challenges faced by migrants with disabilities, which are often overlooked by existing policies and services.

As migration remains a global reality, these initiatives highlight the need for collective action to create pathways that prioritize safety and opportunity, the UN said.

Famine deepens in the Arab region amid conflict and economic struggles

According to the report, hunger in the Arab region increased amid the escalating crisis in 2023. a new report announced by the United Nations on Wednesday.

The report is titled 2024 Overview of food security and nutrition in the Near East and North Africa, introduced by several United Nations agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP).

It revealed that 66.1 million people, or about 14% of the Arab region’s population, face famine by 2023.

Accessing enough food remains a major challenge, with 186.5 million people facing moderate or severe food insecurity, an increase from the previous year. What is alarming is that 72.7 million people face severe food insecurity.

The report said conflict was identified as the main cause of food insecurity and malnutrition in the region.

Price increases

Economic challenges, high income inequality and climate extremes further exacerbate the situation. Rising food prices are also making the crisis worse, with malnutrition rates in conflict-affected countries soaring to 26.4%, compared with 6.6% in non-conflict areas. conflict.

The report warns that food security and nutrition indicators are likely to deteriorate further due to ongoing conflict and persistent drought.

Economic access to a healthy diet remains a significant issue, affecting more than one-third of the population. In 2022, 151.3 million people will not be able to afford a healthy diet, with the highest proportion in conflict-affected countries.

The Arab region continues to suffer from the triple burden of malnutrition, including rising trends in obesity, wasting and nutrient deficiencies. Although there has been some progress in reducing stunting rates, achieving nutrition goals remains a challenge.

Obesity rates among adults in Arab countries are also alarmingly high, with a prevalence rate of 32.1% in 2022, more than double the global rate, the report warns. Upper middle-income countries, especially Egypt, Qatar and Kuwait, have the highest obesity rates.

The report highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address food insecurity and malnutrition across the region.

South Sudan: arbitrarily detained 87 children

United Nations human rights investigators said Wednesday that South Sudanese women and girls who refused to accept an arranged marriage were among those illegally arrested and detained.

A new report from the United Nations human rights office, OHCHRand the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNSMISS) found a total of 1,140 civilians were arbitrarily detained between January 2023 and May this year; most were men, but that number also included at least 162 women and 87 children.

In many cases, their detention was ordered by an ordinary court presided over by a traditional chief for refusing an arranged marriage, demanding a divorce, or for alleged adultery, the authors of the report said.

Cash incentives

Women and girls are often arrested to force the bride’s family to return the dowry to her future husband.

Other detainees include people with disabilities – people “often detained without committing a crime – and members of the political opposition.”(?) Missing the last quote, so I assume it’s here.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on South Sudan authorities to release all those arbitrarily detained and to continue efforts to reform the country’s justice system.

Cause for concern

“It is worrying that individuals have been arrested and detained – in many cases for alleged conduct that does not constitute a criminal offence,” the UN human rights chief said.

The report’s authors emphasize that the rule of law remains “weak” in South Sudan, where State institutions “have been weakened” amid ongoing targeted killings, Conflict-related education disproportionately affects women and girls, along with looting and restrictions on movement.

Most arrests were made by Government security agencies – the National Security Agency, the National Prison Service and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.

Other arrests were made by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – Opposition and National Salvation Front armed groups, as well as on orders from state and district officials.