In Nairobi, where the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is based, Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasized the city’s exclusive position as the sole UN headquarters in the Global South and highlighted UNEP’s enduring efforts on climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Youth involvement was acknowledged as essential for driving environmental initiatives and shaping future leadership.
In Naqoura, Lebanon, the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) commemorated a milestone alongside the 25th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara remarked that peace is “built by everyone,” emphasizing inclusion as central to peacebuilding.
In Afghanistan, the UN Assistance Mission (UNAMA) looked back on its decades-long commitment to supporting peace, human rights, and development. Deputy Special Representative Georgette Gagnon reiterated the UN’s solidarity with Afghans, especially women and girls, amidst ongoing humanitarian issues.
Across the Americas, UN offices spotlighted advancements on the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action, and youth engagement, reinforcing the UN’s role in fostering equality, resilience, and cooperation in the region. Eighty years on, the UN remains a unifying force to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and aims for a fairer, more sustainable future for all.
Nearly one million people have been affected by severe flooding in South Sudan, warned the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since last month, over 140 health facilities have been impacted, hampering essential services access amid disease outbreaks like cholera and malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported over 104,000 malaria cases and 16 deaths in the past week, a 15% increase largely due to the flooding.
Despite significant access challenges, the UN and its partners are delivering vital aid to flood-affected regions in South Sudan. The World Food Programme (WFP) provides food and nutrition assistance, and WHO has delivered over 50 metric tonnes of medical supplies to support response efforts, with more aid underway.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to find unauthorized weapons in the south, according to UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. On Wednesday, peacekeepers discovered mortar shells, fuses, and a cannon, with small explosive devices found on Thursday. Since 15 October, UNIFIL has coordinated with the Lebanese Armed Forces and Israeli Defense Forces to refurbish damaged ‘Blue Line’ markers after a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces last November.
Following a request from the Lebanese Armed Forces, UNIFIL facilitated olive harvests near the Blue Line over 40 times this month, ensuring farmer safety amid ceasefire breaches with joint patrols. Earlier, a public school reopened in Naqoura, where UNIFIL’s headquarters are located, symbolizing recovery and hope.
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