Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at United Nations Headquarters in New York that according to the United Nations migration agency, IOMMore than 4,300 people have fled their homes in Port-au-Prince and neighboring towns.
“Despite security and access limitations, we, along with our partners, are meeting the growing need resulting from continued and increasing violence,” Mr. Dujarric continued.
Cash injection
In the past two days, children’s agency UNICEF has provided cash to nearly 1,500 people sheltering at displacement sites in the gang-ravaged capital. United Nations reproductive health agency, UNFPAand IOM has deployed mobile medical clinics and is also providing clean water to those in need.
Starting Thursday, the World Food Program (WFP) is providing assistance to more than 50,000 internally displaced men, women and children in the capital, aiming to provide hot meals to more than 135,000 displaced people by the end of November.
Across Haiti, WFP has also provided cash to nearly 100,000 people and provided daily meals to 430,000 children in 2,000 schools across the country.
The United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti calls for $674 million and is 45% funded with $289 million in cash received.
Global measles crisis: Measles cases to increase 20% by 2023
A surge in measles cases has reached 10.3 million worldwide by 2023, marking a 20% increase from the previous year, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization.WHO) and the U.S. Government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The spike in cases has caused epidemics in 57 countries, with nearly half in Africa. Although preventable through vaccination, more than 22 million children missed their first measles shot last year, leading to 107,500 deaths, mainly in children under 5 years old.
“The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years,” he said. WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “To save more lives, we must invest in vaccinating everyone, no matter where they live.”
Worrying about vaccination rates
Global vaccination rates remain below the critical 95% threshold needed to contain the outbreak, with only 83% of children receiving the first dose and 74% of children receiving the crucial second dose.
CDC Director Mandy Cohen emphasized that “measles is increasing globally, endangering life and health.”
While the Americas region remains measles-free – with Brazil considered to have eliminated the disease – other regions including Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean have seen rising numbers of cases. increased significantly.
WHO notes that survivors often face serious complications including blindness, pneumonia and potential brain damage.
UN human rights chief affirms torture is never justified as important agreement turns 40
It is 40 years since states adopted the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, but the basic principle is that nothing justifies torture. tons are under threat.
That is the message of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who expressed alarm on Thursday that the world has become “more violent and more polarized.”
The ‘Chaos Machine’ clashes
“More than 120 conflicts are taking place globally and each of them is a machine of chaos,” Mr. Türk told the Committee gathered in Geneva.
“Hate speech and discrimination are increasingly common and entire communities are condemned and scapegoated,” he said, before emphasizing the “resistance” to long-standing values and the protection of human rights.
“Torture, the intentional infliction of physical pain, terror and psychological trauma on defenseless adults and children, is a vile, utterly cruel act,” he said. has no place in our world.”
“It is never justified; it is always repugnant; and we have a clear legal and moral obligation to prevent it.”
Four decades since the adoption of the Convention against Torture, it has been ratified by 174 of the 193 member states of the United Nations.
Despite the high level of support for the international treaty, Mr. Türk called on all countries to “recommit to their obligations” to prevent torture.
