United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the authorities of Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso to return to “constitutional order” as soon as possible.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the authorities of Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso to return to “constitutional order” as soon as possible.
During a press conference with Senegalese President Macky Sall, the UN chief said it is important to continue the dialogue with the three countries’ authorities to facilitate a swift return to “constitutional order.”
He also expressed his worry about the security situation in the Sahel region, and pledged to continue “robust African peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations, implemented by the African Union and supported by the United Nations.”
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He called on the entire international community to lend support to West African countries so that they can tackle the security challenges from the root.
Guterres arrived in Dakar Saturday evening. He also will visit Niger and Nigeria.
Tunisian Crisis
Tunisian President Kais Saied announced Sunday that a high committee will be formed to prepare for the establishment of a new constitution.
Saied addressed broadcast on state television Wataniya1 that “the committee will be made up of two bodies, one will be in charge of national dialogue convening political and socio-economic actors, while another will complete the process with all legal, logistical and institutional organizational aspects.”
“Our historical responsibility prompted us to confront multiple challenges and to find solutions, especially in the face of some parties continuing to exacerbate the situation in the country,” Saied said.
UNICEF Funds
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday disclosed it has only received 22 percent of the 351 million U.S. dollars it requires to meet the needs of 9.9 million people in Ethiopia.
In a Humanitarian Situation report it published, UNICEF stated it needs the funds to meet the needs of 9.9 million people impacted by drought conditions in four regions of Ethiopia.
The UNICEF funding appeal to Ethiopia also includes funds needed to help 4.45 million children in Ethiopia.
UNICEF aims to provide life-saving supplies as well as standard health, nutrition, educational and sanitary services assistance to the needy.
The UNICEF statement also said nearly 650,000 children are out of school in Ethiopia’s Oromia, Southern and Somali regions due to drought conditions.
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The UNICEF statement further disclosed the drought condition has forced the closure of 2,000 schools across Ethiopia.
“Over four million people in 214 hotspot locations in the drought affected regions are in urgent need of water,” the UNICEF statement disclosed.
The Horn of Africa region including Ethiopia is facing the worst climate-induced drought condition in 40 years.