The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has held a briefing on some of the current global challenges. The OCHA discussed Ethiopia, South Sudan and Yemen.
Regarding Ethiopia, the OCHA has reported the rising of hunger and malnutrition in the Tigray region. Meanwhile, internal clashes add up to an already fragile situation. In the markets, food is “extremely scarce”, say the United Nations, while hospitals and other health centers are non functional due to internal battles. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS), says that parts of central and eastern Tigray are likely to be in the so-called “Emergency Phase 4”, a step below famine; unless humanitarian workers will have safe access to the region, Tigray is condemned to facing the worst side effect of hunger, mass death.
Most struggling Ethiopians flee to South Sudan, although South Sudan is already in distress itself. The situation has worsened in the last months due to the political system being totally unstable and attacks by various groups causing the displacement of the population. At the same time, floods have caused the destruction of crops, to which followed an increased risk of famine.
Finally, the OCHA discussed Yemen. The United Nations state to be fully aware of the new licence issued by the US, which exempts all transactions with the Houthis from sanctions-related enforcement by US authorities until 26 February.
To know more, please read:
https://www.unocha.org/story/daily-noon-briefing-highlights-ethiopia-south-sudan-yemen
https://www.orderofmalta.int/2021/01/27/hunger-crisis-south-sudan-more-half-population-threatened/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/15/calls-grow-for-biden-to-reject-houthi-terrorist-designation
Author: Benedetta Spizzichino; Editor: Eleonora Gonnelli
