Less than half of the world’s citizens live near parks, boardwalks and playgrounds. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Davos, Ukraine, Gaza, urban planning UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: The President of the UN General Assembly in Davos called for the protection of the rules-based international order, FAO will help restore agriculture in the Dnipropetrovsk region, reports have been received from Gaza of the death of another child from hypothermia, the UN calls for taking into account the interests of children in urban planning.
Chairman of the General Assembly in Davos
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock called on representatives of states, businesses and international institutions to create an interregional alliance in defense of a rules-based international order. According to her, trust in the world is impossible without adherence to common principles. She recalled that the UN has always acted as a “mediator” that helped countries trust each other. Commenting on the situation around Greenland, Bärbock emphasized that no geopolitical interests override the sovereign rights of its residents as citizens of Denmark and the EU.
Support for agriculture in the Dnepropetrovsk region
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support from Germany, is launching a new €1 million project to help restore agricultural production in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine. The project is aimed at supporting families in villages where, due to fighting, there is neither work nor the necessary resources for the development of household plots and small farming. Approximately 1,170 families will receive assistance in the form of vouchers and cash, which will allow them, in particular, to restore housing for livestock, pay for feed and veterinary services.
Death of a child from hypothermia in Gaza
From Gaza there were reports of the death of another child from hypothermia. This brings the total number of cold weather-related deaths this season to nine. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is calling for solutions to be found as quickly as possible, including by approving the import of batteries, solar panels and other heating devices into the sector. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) facilitated the evacuation of 21 patients to Jordan. However, more than 18 thousand people, including 4 thousand children, remain on the list of people subject to evacuation. WHO has called on countries to accept these patients.
Urban planning and children’s interests
Several UN agencies, including WHO and UNICEF, have issued new recommendations calling on governments and local authorities to take children’s needs into account in urban planning. In particular, they advise creating more playgrounds and parks. According to the UN, today only 44 percent of the world’s city dwellers live near parks, playgrounds, boardwalks and other undeveloped spaces, and only about 30 percent in low- and middle-income countries. Because of this, many children are unable to play outdoors and develop fully.