News of The Inter-Agency Standing Committee

Image
Smoke billows from the scene of an air strike, in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia October 20, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Mr. Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator, Statement on Ethiopia

Published Date
As delivered: Today, a UN humanitarian flight in Ethiopia destined for Mekelle in Tigray was forced to return to Addis Ababa due to air strikes in Mekelle – an incident that raises serious concerns for the safety of humanitarian staff who are working to help civilians in humanitarian need.  UN and non-governmental organizations are making every effort to continue delivering assistance to millions of people in desperate need in Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Conflict dynamics make this increasingly difficult. 
Image
a group photo featuring a number of IASC Principals hosted by UNHCR

IASC Principals Convene to Address Urgent Humanitarian Issues

Published Date
IASC Principals met for their second bi-annual meeting of 2021, hosted by UNHCR in Geneva, to discuss country contexts covering Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, the Sahel Region, and Syria, with a focus on, among others, advocacy on protection, humanitarian access and resource mobilization.
Image
a woman carrying a child on her back and the background features bags of food aid

Secretary-General's latest statement on Ethiopia- UN officials declared persona non grata

Published Date
As delivered:   I was shocked by the information that the Government of Ethiopia has declared seven UN officials, including senior UN humanitarian officials, as persona non grata. All UN humanitarian operations are guided by the core principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.  In Ethiopia, the UN is delivering lifesaving aid - including food, medicine, water, and sanitation supplies – to people in desperate need. I have full confidence in the UN staff who are in Ethiopia doing this work.
Image
a small afghan kid standing in the middle of nowhere

Mr. Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator, visits Afghanistan

Published Date
At the request of the Secretary-General, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator for the United Nations, is currently in Kabul.   During his visit today Mr. Griffiths met with Mullah Baradar and the leadership of the Taliban in Kabul to engage with the authorities on humanitarian issues.   
Image
Photograph by Giles Clarke/Getty Images Reportage

IASC Members Ring the Warning Bells: Famine Risk in 2021

Published Date
  Photograph by Giles Clarke/Getty Images Reportage In response to the threat of famine due to the alarming acute hunger projections in 2021, the United Nations Secretary-General convened a High-Level Task Force to Prevent Famine