World News in Brief: Ebola prevention, Yemen child deaths, Colombia elections, Japan climate campaign
An outbreak declared in May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has infected more than 1,000 and killed nearly 300.
Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher announced the funding, provided through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), on Thursday.
It will support strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management, and infection prevention and control in Burundi and South Sudan, both of which are at risk of cross-border transmission.
Step up funding
UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to respond to the outbreak inside the DRC, where more than 51,000 people have received food assistance since the outbreak was declared and containment measures have disrupted trade, reduced food availability and driven up prices in affected areas.
Even as support from the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has increased laboratory capacity, the UN reiterated its call on Thursday for donors to increase support so that humanitarians can continue to provide life-saving assistance.
UNICEF mourns five children killed in Yemen
The UN child rights agency UNICEF expressed condolences on Thursday after five children were killed and seven others injured by an explosive ordnance in the village of Raybi in Yemen.
“No child should ever lose their life, suffer injury, or live in fear because of the deadly remnants of conflict,” the agency wrote in a statement.
The incident serves as a reminder that children displaced by conflicts face increased risk from landmines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive remnants of war, according to UNICEF.
In response, the agency is calling for stronger efforts to protect children from explosives, faster removal of explosive remnants of war, expanded mine-risk education and sustained support for survivors and their families.
“Every child deserves to grow up safe from harm,” the statement said.
Secretary-General applauds Colombia for elections
UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended the people of Colombia on Thursday for the peaceful conduct of the country’s presidential elections.
Presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda conceded to Abelardo de la Espriella on Wednesday, following a contentious election whose results were initially disputed by incumbent President Gustavo Petro.
UN ready to work with incoming administration
In his statement, the Secretary-General welcomed the strong voter participation in the second round of the elections and acknowledged authorities’ efforts to ensure a secure and orderly process.
He added that the UN is ready to work with the incoming president to continue supporting nationally led efforts to support peace, security, sustainable development and prosperity for the Colombian people.
“The Secretary-General hopes that all political actors will work together to further build trust across the country,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Thursday in New York.
Japan campaign seeks to turn climate ‘silent majority’ into a collective voice
A new campaign in Japan launched by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Tokyo and 136 local media partners aims to transform widespread public support for stronger climate action into a more visible and influential movement.
The initiative builds on global survey findings showing that nearly 89 per cent of people want their governments to take more ambitious climate measures, but many mistakenly believe they are in the minority.
Running from 25 June through the end of 2026, the project – I am one of the 89% who want to stop global warming – will amplify messages from public figures and people across Japanese society through social media, websites and events.
More than 30 contributors have already joined the campaign, including the classical violinist and UN Messenger of Peace MIDORI, World Food Programme (WFP) Goodwill Ambassador Anne Watanabe – a leading fashion model, actress and singer, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Naomi Kawase, a film director.
The campaign comes as Japan faces another exceptionally hot summer, with temperatures already exceeding 35°C in some regions and forecasts predicting above-average heat nationwide.
Citing Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent warning that the climate and energy crises share a common origin in fossil fuels, the initiative calls on people to speak out together for stronger climate action and help turn the concerns of the global majority into a powerful collective voice.
Read the full article on UN Climate Action.
