Today's top news: Libya, Sudan

Cardboard boxes bearing UNICEF, WFP and other UN agency logos are stacked up with mattresses and blankets in rows of lots on the ground

UN agencies UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA and IOM distributed critical assistance to affected families in Tolmetha, Benghazi, Libya this week. UN

Libya

UN teams on the ground in Libya continue to deliver life-saving assistance in the most affected areas, despite access challenges.

Search-and-rescue operations are continuing, along with the recovery of dead bodies.

Concerns about the spread of waterborne diseases are mounting, particularly water sources and sewer networks having been severely damaged.

The World Food Programme is ramping up its emergency response, with local partners, reaching more than 9,000 affected people with food assistance.

Sudan

The deadly conflict in Sudan took centre stage today at a high-level event on the sidelines of the General Assembly in New York.

The meeting – convened by the UN with the Government of Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the European Union and African Union – highlighted the human cost of inaction and call for conflict resolution and more support to the humanitarian and refugee response.

Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths warned that if urgent international action is not taken, the crisis threatens to deteriorate into a catastrophe that could engulf, will engulf, the entire country and then the region.

With the conflict entering its six months, hostilities and ethnic violence are spreading. Millions of people – especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan – lack access to food, water, shelter, electricity, education and health care. Children need urgent assistance. Without increased support, 1.7 million babies risk missing out on life-saving vaccinations and nearly 700,000 children with severe acute malnutrition are at high risk of not surviving.

Mr. Griffiths said that the humanitarian community is doing everything it can to re-establish and bring the response up to scale and speed, but its ability is hampered by a dangerous and complex operating environment, as well as access restrictions and bureaucratic impediments.

“Today is a reminder to act and to let the people there know that we have not forgotten them, they have not been forgotten,” he stressed.

Since the conflict began, the UN and our partners have reached 3.5 million people, but this represents only 19 per cent of the 18 million people we are targeting for humanitarian assistance and protection. The $2.6 billion Sudan Appeal is currently 31 per cent funded.