World Malaria Report: The WHO released its World Malaria Report 2012 this morning, noting a significant slowdown in global funding of anti-malaria campaigns that threatens to roll back gains made against the disease in the last decade. The rapid expansion in global funding for malaria prevention between 2004 and 2009 leveled off between 2010 and 2012. The number of long-lasting insecticidal nets delivered to countries in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, dropped from 145 million in 2010 to an estimated 66 million in 2012. “If we fail to come together and urgently resolve the shortfall, there will be no averting a humanitarian crisis,” said Ray Chambers, the Special Envoy for Malaria.
Syria: The SG is “alarmed” by the continued escalation of violence in Syria over the past several days. There have been “extremely worrisome” reports earlier this week of a mass killing of civilians in the village of Aqrab near Hama, as well as alleged firing of long-range missiles in some areas of the country, said a statement issued on Sunday night by the SG’s Spokesperson. The SC also held consultations on the UN Disengagement Observer Force in Golan this morning, as well as heard a briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria from OCHA Chief Valerie Amos.
Humanitarian Appeal: The UN and its partners asked for $8.5 billion to fund emergency response programs for the year as part of the annual Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP). This year’s total will fund emergency relief in 12 African countries, and another three in Asia, as well as the occupied Palestinian territory, where both OCHA and WFP will work jointly. Last year’s CAP appeal for $7.7 billion to help 51 million people in distress remained 40 per cent underfunded.
Sahel: Romano Prodi, the SG’s Special Envoy for the Sahel, and Said Djinnit, the SG’s Special Representative for West Africa, will hold consultations in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Niger, from Monday until Wednesday of this week. Part of a broader effort to develop an integrated UN regional strategy for the Sahel region, this trip is specifically to discuss challenges affecting the region and ways to address them. This is Prodi’s third trip to the Sahel since his appointment as Special Envoy.
SG’s Office: The SG returned to his newly renovated office today for the first time in five years, due to the major UN restoration project currently under way. The UN chief had been working out of a temporary office space located elsewhere at the world body’s headquarters complex until today.