united nations —
Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch.
On Thursday, FBI agents arrested a 21-year-old U.S. Air National Guards member accused of leaking classified military intelligence documents online. Among the trove, the BBC reported that the U.S. may have spied on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, including monitoring his private communications, including with Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. Asked about it Thursday, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres “has been at his job for quite some time. He's been in politics and a public figure for quite some time. So, he's not surprised, I think, by the fact that people are spying on him and listening on his private conversations.” He said it was unfortunate that private conversations were “distorted and made public.”
The United Nations warned Tuesday that the Taliban's "unlawful" ban on Afghan women working for the organization could push it to cease operations in the country.
The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has told all Afghan staff — female and male — to stay home while it undertakes a review of its operations that could take until May 5. During the review period, UNAMA says, it will conduct necessary consultations, make required operational adjustments and accelerate contingency planning for all possible outcomes.
The Myanmar opposition's envoy to the United Nations appealed Thursday for strong international action to protect civilians in his country after the military junta carried out deadly airstrikes this week on villagers in northwest Myanmar. Kyaw Moe Tun told reporters the death toll has climbed to at least 168, with many victims burned beyond recognition. The Security Council met behind closed doors Thursday to discuss the situation after Russia and China blocked a draft presidential statement on Wednesday condemning the strike.
U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews spoke with VOA Burmese about the situation:
The U.N. refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration said Thursday that more than 100,000 migrants have made the treacherous journey through the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia this year trying to reach the United States — six times more than last year.
The World Health Organization warned in a study this week that climate change, deforestation and urbanization are some of the major risk factors behind the increasing number of outbreaks of viruses such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya around the world.
— Guterres visited Somalia earlier this week to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and discussed efforts to tackle terrorism and advance peace and security. The secretary-general highlighted the country’s humanitarian crisis. Somalia is in the grips of unprecedented drought and rising food prices. Guterres said between now and June, 6.5 million Somalis are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, and the risk of famine is looming. Overall, 8.3 million Somalis need humanitarian assistance, but this year’s response plan, which calls for $2.6 billion, is only 15% funded.
— The International Organization for Migration said that during the first three months of 2023, 441 migrants drowned crossing the Mediterranean, making it the deadliest first quarter in six years. Since 2014, more than 20,000 deaths have been recorded on this route. The organization called for more dedicated and predictable state-led search-and-rescue efforts, as well as action to dismantle and prosecute criminal smuggling networks that exploit desperate migrants and refugees.
— The U.N. launched a humanitarian response plan for Haiti this week, seeking $720 million to assist 3.2 million of the most vulnerable people with humanitarian and protection assistance. Overall, nearly half of the population — 5.2 million people — need aid. Haiti is in the midst of a security crisis with gang violence taking over key areas of the Caribbean Island nation, including much of the capital, Port-au-Prince.