A rare joint press conference the Secretary General and heads of the UNDP, OCHA and WFP. “Sounding the alarm on behalf of more than 20 million people in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and north-east Nigeria facing devastating levels of food insecurity, Secretary-General António Guterres joined other top United Nations officials today calling for “strong and urgent” action from the international community to help the already-fragile countries avert catastrophe. “Famine is already a reality in parts of South Sudan. Unless we act now, it is only a matter of time until it affects other areas and other countries. We are already facing a tragedy; we must avoid it becoming a catastrophe,” said the Secretary-General, stressing: “This is preventable if the international community takes decisive action.” Briefing the press at UN Headquarters in New York alongside the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Helen Clark, and by video conference, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Ertharin Cousin, Mr. Guterres said the UN needs at least $4.4 billion by the end of March to avert a catastrophe.” (UN News Center http://bit.ly/2lGTFMk)
A Mexican Standoff…”Mexico’s lead negotiator with the Trump administration is slamming new rules that call for deporting people living illegally in the U.S. to Mexico, regardless of whether they are citizens of that country. “I want to say clearly and emphatically that the government of Mexico and the Mexican people do not have to accept provisions that one government unilaterally wants to impose on the other,” Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said Wednesday, according to Reuters. “We will not accept it, because there’s no reason why we should, and because it is not in the interests of Mexico,” he told reporters at Mexico’s foreign ministry in Mexico City…Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are due to arrive in Mexico Wednesday afternoon for talks between both nations on immigration and security.” (The Hill http://bit.ly/2lGRCbf)
France is killing all its ducks. Here’s why. (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2lGTH75)
Here’s How US Allies Are Trying to Convince Trump To Take Climate Change Seriously (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2lGUiFG)