Latest news with #StephanieTremblay
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
World News In Brief: Russia-Ukraine Talks, Sudan Exodus Worsens, Colombia Displacement Rises
16 May 2025 Delegations met in Istanbul for the first direct negotiations in three years, including on a potential ceasefire and large-scale prisoner exchange. The UN acknowledged the important role of Türkiye and the United States in facilitating the talks, said Stephanie Tremblay, a spokesperson for the global body in New York. 'We hope this process will lead to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, which would serve as a critical step towards creating the conditions for a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions,' she said. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the talks marked the first time the parties have met since the early months of the war. Sudan exodus: Worst situation in decades, UN refugee agency warns Tens of thousands of refugees fleeing escalating violence in Sudan continue to escape to Chad at speeds not seen since the start of the conflict two years ago, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. Many others remain trapped by heavy fighting between government and paramilitary forces. UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun told UN News that 20,000 Sudanese refugees are arriving each week in eastern Chad and more than 70 per cent are victims of serious human rights violations during their journey, including assault, extortion and sexual violence. She said the head of UNHCR's office there had characterized this as 'the worst situation he has encountered in his entire decades of career as humanitarian.' One in two refugees who spoke to the UN agency said that they had relatives 'trapped in Sudan' because they have no transport and were afraid of arbitrary arrest or forced recruitment. Over 66,000 Colombians displaced since January More than 66,000 people in Colombia have been newly displaced since mid-January due to fighting between two non-State armed groups, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday. This represents a 28 per cent increase compared to the number of Colombians displaced in the entirety of last year. Moreover, at the end of 2024, 7.3 million people remained displaced within the country due to violence or conflict - the third largest number outside of Sudan and Syria. In February, the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $3.8 million to support new displacements in Colombia. UN aid agencies have been working to distribute this aid, especially in Catatumbo which has been hardest hit by the violence. However, the UN estimates that humanitarians will need $342 million to fully meet the growing needs. So far, they have received only 14 per cent of this money. The recent deadly violence in Colombia's Catatumbo region has highlighted the ongoing challenges in consolidating peace, eight years after the signing of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement.
Arab News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UN scales back aid goals in Yemen and Somalia
UNITED NATIONS, United States: The United Nations announced Friday it is scaling back its humanitarian aid goals in Yemen and Somalia in the latest fallout from a drastic drop in funding from member states. It said the cuts are putting millions of lives at risk around the world. In January the UN launched an appeal for $2.4 billion to help 10.5 million people in war-torn Yemen this year, far below the 19.5 million people it deems as being in need of assistance. But with funding down, the global body and its humanitarian aid partners established new priorities so as to be able to help at least the neediest people there. The UN announced similar changes in strategy in Ukraine and Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks. Now the focus in Yemen will be on 8.8 million people with a forecast budget of $1.4 billion, said Stephanie Tremblay, a spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In violent and unstable Somalia, an initial $1.4 billion plan to help 4.6 million people has also been trimmed back to $367 million for 1.3 million people, she said. 'This does not mean that there's been a reduction in overall humanitarian needs and requirements,' Tremblay said. She said huge funding cuts are forcing humanitarian aid programs to scale back, 'putting millions of lives at risk across the world.' 'As in other crises, the consequence will be dire. If we fail to deliver, millions more people will be acutely hungry and lack access to clean water, education, protection and other essential services,' she added. UN agencies are scaling back operations and staffing around the world as they grapple with big cuts in contributions from member states, in particular the United States under President Donald Trump.
Jordan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
UN scales back aid goals in Yemen and Somalia
UNITED NATIONS, UNITES STATES — The United Nations announced Friday it is scaling back its humanitarian aid goals in Yemen and Somalia in the latest fallout from a drastic drop in funding from member states. It said the cuts are putting millions of lives at risk around the world. In January the UN launched an appeal for $2.4 billion to help 10.5 million people in war-torn Yemen this year, far below the 19.5 million people it deems as being in need of assistance. But with funding down, the global body and its humanitarian aid partners established new priorities so as to be able to help at least the neediest people there. The UN announced similar changes in strategy in Ukraine and Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks. Now the focus in Yemen will be on 8.8 million people with a forecast budget of $1.4 billion, said Stephanie Tremblay, a spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In violent and unstable Somalia, an initial $1.4 billion plan to help 4.6 million people has also been trimmed back to $367 million for 1.3 million people, she said. "This does not mean that there's been a reduction in overall humanitarian needs and requirements," Tremblay said. She said huge funding cuts are forcing humanitarian aid programs to scale back, "putting millions of lives at risk across the world." "As in other crises, the consequence will be dire. If we fail to deliver, millions more people will be acutely hungry and lack access to clean water, education, protection and other essential services," she added. UN agencies are scaling back operations and staffing around the world as they grapple with big cuts in contributions from member states, in particular the United States under President Donald Trump.
Times of Oman
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
UN Welcomes Oman's Efforts in Yemen Ceasefire Agreement
Muscat: The United Nations has welcomed Oman's diplomatic efforts in brokering a ceasefire agreement between the United States and authorities in Sana'a, Yemen. The agreement aims to reduce military escalation, ensure maritime security, and prevent attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. Stephanie Tremblay, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN, expressed hope that the agreement would positively impact maritime navigation and facilitate smooth international trade in accordance with international law. The UN reaffirmed its support for Yemeni parties in reaching a negotiated political settlement to end the conflict, urging all sides to exercise restraint and engage constructively with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg.
Ammon
17-04-2025
- Health
- Ammon
UN: Israel continues to obstruct distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza
Ammon News - The United Nations said that the Israeli occupation authorities continue to obstruct the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, noting that aid has not entered the Strip for nearly two months. Stephanie Tremblay, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, explained in a press conference that humanitarian aid has not entered Gaza for nearly two months, stressing the need to continue providing aid without interruption. She noted that humanitarian workers continue to face difficulties in carrying out their duties, and that the occupation authorities only allowed the passage of two of the six humanitarian aid operations planned for yesterday. The restrictions imposed by the occupation on humanitarian access hinder the ability to supply hospitals with medical supplies, endangering the health of more patients, according to the United Nations. Since March 2, the occupation has prevented the entry of essential supplies, including food and water, into the Gaza Strip after closing the crossings, causing a humanitarian disaster and exacerbating famine. WAFA
