Category: The Civic Circle

Wosornu described visiting OCHA’s offices in Khartoum and noted the team was not able to enter the premises “because of unexploded ordnance, explosive remnants of war not cleared by, of course, the United Nations by an action service who’ve been clearing different offices across the city.”

She said, “I have never seen anything like this before in my almost quarter of a century service to the United Nations and to humanitarian action, in several difficult, war-torn contexts. This is the worst I’ve seen it.”

On funding, the humanitarian official said, “what we’re asking for is basically 55 cents per day per person in Sudan. And that’s it. Right. So, where we have access, we are able to assist. Where we have safety and security assurances, we’re able to assist. Where we have enough supplies and funding, we’re able to assist.”

She said Sudan’s is “the largest displaced crisis, the largest health crisis, the largest number of people in need.”

Wosornu said, “wwe’ve received 23 percent of what we’re asking for. We’ve received almost a billion and we’ve been able to assist some 13 million people. So, you see, when we get the assistance in, when we get the flexible funding, we are able to mobilize. Certainly, the World Food Program, UNICEF, World Health Organization, UNFPA, IOM, all our UN agencies, funds and programs, as well as, of course, our international and national NGOs able to mobilize.”

Since April 2023, Sudan has faced an unprecedented humanitarian crisis driven by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of violence, with nearly 9 million people displaced internally, making Sudan the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. An additional over 3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries.

Nearly two thirds of Sudan’s population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children. Acute food insecurity has reached historic levels, with famine conditions confirmed in various parts of the country and millions at risk of starvation. Meanwhile, disease outbreaks are compounding the crisis, alongside worsening climate shocks.

She also called on Members “to urge governments and regional bodies to ensure women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in transitional governments and peace and security efforts; implement affirmative action laws, and ensure a safe, open space for civil society; invest at least 15 percent of violent extremism prevention funding in gender equality, and ask for engendered updates from sanctions and counterterrorism bodies; support the rapid deployment of Women Protection Advisors to UNOWAS to monitor sexual violence trends, engage with parties to conflict, and secure time-bound commitments; and, even in a challenging financial landscape, I urge international partners to provide direct, flexible, long-term funding to women-led and women’s rights organizations through mechanisms such as the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund and the Peacebuilding Fund.”

Before the meeting, Panama’s Ambassador Eloy Alfaro, who is presiding the Council during the month of August, read a statement on behalf of the signatories of Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

He said, “this region is facing multiple interest acting challenges, the erosion of democratic governance and of the institutional regional architecture. Limited economic opportunity and water and food insecurity have led to persisting transnational crime and forced displacement. These issues, exacerbated by the growing threats of terrorism and the effects of climate change, pose urgent and significant threats to international peace and security, and disproportionately impact women and girls.”

“Indigenous Peoples are guardians of ancient knowledge, defenders of cultural heritage, stewards of biodiversity, and essential to our shared future.
This year’s theme focuses on the risks and rewards of Artificial Intelligence for Indigenous Peoples.

AI can help preserve endangered languages and oral histories, map ancestral lands, and amplify Indigenous wisdom to fight climate change.

But without the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, these same technologies risk perpetuating old patterns of exclusion, misrepresenting cultures, and violating fundamental rights.

We must ensure AI is developed and governed in ways that are inclusive, ethical, and just.

That means removing barriers to new technologies for Indigenous Peoples, protecting their data sovereignty and intellectual property rights, and supporting their meaningful inclusion in the application of AI.

On this important day, let’s build a future where technology supports cultural preservation and Indigenous knowledge, protects rights and advances dignity – for today and generations to come”.

Highlights:
Secretary-General/Gaza
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ukraine
Mozambique
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Third United nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries
Senior Personnel Appointment
Nagasaki Peace Memorial
Indigenous Peoples
Financial Contribution

SECRETARY-GENERAL/GAZA
The Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli Government to ”take control of Gaza City”. This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, and could further endanger more lives, including the lives of the remaining hostages.
Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions. The Secretary-General warns that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
The Secretary-General once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. He recalls that the International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, declared that the State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory - which encompasses Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – as rapidly as possible.
There will be no sustainable solution to this conflict without an end to this unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-State solution. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that civilians are facing mounting challenges amid ongoing hostilities, displacement and further destruction. As strikes continue across Gaza, people report that even the most basic daily tasks – such as finding water or food – have become extremely difficult.
The devastating convergence of a hunger crisis, a collapsing healthcare system, widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and nearly two years of war is having a catastrophic toll on people, particularly on the most vulnerable.
Aid entering into Gaza remains far below the minimum required to meet people’s immense needs, as we have been saying here almost in a daily basis now. The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance inside Gaza.
However, missions continue to face significant delays and other impediments that prevent us from delivering aid at scale. Yesterday, another mission to pick up supplies took 18 hours to complete.
Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza in the past few days, our partners reported a minor reduction in commodities prices as of yesterday. Most food items remain scarce in the market and sold at exorbitant prices.
Airdrops landing in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, including at least one child that was reportedly killed yesterday in Khan Younis.
As we have said before, the UN welcomes all efforts to provide aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, but we reiterate that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road.
It is imperative that aid is allowed to enter through all crossings and through all available corridors so that we can deliver it at scale in a safe and dignified manner through our community-based mechanisms, reaching the most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, a severe heatwave is sweeping the region as people continue to struggle with access to water. In the southern part of the Gaza Strip, our partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene reported that yesterday, the South Gaza Desalination Plant’s electricity line was damaged for the third time in the past seven days. As a result, the plant is currently operating at less than 14 per cent of its capacity.
OCHA continues to stress the urgency of a permanent ceasefire, to provide adequate assistance and aid to the desperate population in Gaza and to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.

The head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, today (7 Aug) told the Security Council that terrorist activity in the region “has surged in scale, complexity and sophistication, including through the use of drones, alternative internet communication, and increasing collusion with transnational organized crime,” and said this “growing insecurity compounds an already dire humanitarian situation.”

Simão said maritime security “remains a concern and requires a coordinated response,” and stressed that “young people are increasingly prime targets for recruitment by terrorist and violent extremist groups.”

At that ceremony, Chief Oren Lyons of the Onondaga Nation, along with Melissa Fawcett of the Mohegan Tribe, delivered powerful messages calling for unity, recognition and Indigenous rights.

Highlights:

Humanitarian Funding
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Lebanon
Security Council
Sudan
Ghana
Afghanistan

HUMANITARIAN FUNDING
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today warned that more than halfway through the year, the humanitarian funding landscape remains dire. As of now, less than 17 per cent of the $46 billion required to meet global humanitarian needs in 2025 has been received. This marks an alarming 40 percent drop compared to the same time last year.
This funding shortfall is a stark reminder that millions of vulnerable people will go without the aid they desperately need. As we have repeatedly warned, the UN and its partners are being forced to do more with less – at tremendous cost to people.
In June, facing the deepest funding cuts ever to hit the international humanitarian system, OCHA launched a hyper-prioritized global appeal to help 114 million people by targeting the most urgent needs within the broader 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview.

LEBANON
In southern Lebanon, the peacekeepers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continue to observe Israel Defense Forces ground and air military activities, including airstrikes by fighter jets yesterday in Sector East. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, Israeli air strikes yesterday led to fatalities, including one child. The UN once more urges the parties to refrain from any activities that may endanger civilians.
In a major operation to find unauthorized weapon caches and infrastructure, UNIFIL peacekeepers – working in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces – were deployed over a 320 square kilometer area in Sector West this week. The discoveries included networks of seven fortified tunnels, three bunkers, artillery, rocket launchers, hundreds of explosive shells and rockets, anti-tank mines, and about 250 ready-to-use improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Mortar shells and rockets were also found in Sector East. In addition, unexploded ordnance was discovered in different areas, including an anti-tank mine and rockets in Sector West and mortar rounds in Sector East. They were all referred to the Lebanese Army.
UNIFIL demining teams recently completed the clearance of mines and vegetation around five Blue Line markers ahead of the markers’ refurbishment. These are among about 10 markers damaged or destroyed during recent hostilities. Clearance operations around the remaining markers will begin next week.

This year’s observance, organized in collaboration with UNITAR and AFS Intercultural Programs, provides a dynamic platform for young leaders, policymakers, diplomats, innovators, and civil society actors to engage in meaningful conversations on how technology and partnerships can strengthen global cooperation. Open to all through public registration, the event will encourage diverse participation, ensuring that voices from various backgrounds contribute to shaping a more connected and collaborative world.