World News in Brief: WFP ‘pauses’ north Yemen food aid, human rights and sport, Myanmar latest
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday that it was compelled to pause the distribution of food aid to needy families in northern areas of Yemen under the control of authorities in and around the capital, Sana’a.
The region has been under the control of opposition Houthi forces since the internationally recognized Government were driven out of the city in 2015.
WFP said that despite negotiating with the authorities for nearly a year to provide a more limited aid programme that would reach around 6.5 million in need, versus the current 9.5 million, no agreement has been reached.
The scaled down programme would match available resources to the neediest families, said WFP, adding that ending distribution for now, was a “difficult decision” that had been reached in consultation with donors.
Food stocks in areas under the Sana’a Based Authorities’ control “are now almost completely depleted and resuming food assistance, even with an immediate agreement”, could take up to four months due to supply chain disruptions, the agency added.
Continuing while stocks last
WFP said it would continue its programmes to limit the impact of the pause, “for as long as the agency has sufficient funding” and cooperation from the Houthi authorities.
In areas of Yemen under Government control, food distribution will continue with a heightened focus on the most vulnerable, the agency added, aligning with adjustments to aid amidst the budget crunch announced last August.
Similar prioritization is taking place in nearly half of WFP’s operations around the world as the agency navigates the challenging landscape that the entire humanitarian sector is facing.
WFP said its top priority is the well-being of those affected, and the agency will continue to work towards a breakthrough in talks with the authorities.
Giving human rights a sporting chance
The Sporting Chance Forum got underway in Geneva on Tuesday bringing together key players on and off the pitch from across the sporting world to discuss the future of sport and human rights, and make pledges that will help shape the coming decades in this important field.
SCF23 is officially part of the UN’s Human Rights 75 initiative, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The two-day event is being hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and human rights office OHCHR.
UN rights chief Volker Türk, said improving equality on the sports field would help catalyze social transformation overall.
