Participating by teleconference, Mr. Grundberg briefed the Council Members about his  to Taiz governorate, where he held meetings in Taiz city, Turbah and Mokha, and discussed the urgent necessity for an end to the violence.  “These visits have given me a first-hand experience of the impact of the conflict on civilians in Taiz, including the difficulties they face moving through their daily lives”, Mr. Grundberg said in a statement.   The visits also gave him “the opportunity to hear directly from Yemeni men, women and young people, on how a UN-led political process can help to address the situation in Taiz as part of a sustainable solution to the conflict.”  

Dialogue 

In Taiz city and Turbah, the Special Envoy met the local Governor, Nabil Shamsan, political party representatives, civil society, Members of Parliament, business leaders and journalists.  The representatives raised concerns about the targeting of civilians in residential neighborhoods and severe restrictions on the safe and free movement of people and goods due to the continued road closures. They also discussed the sharp deterioration of the economy and basic services.  Mr. Grundberg stressed the need for comprehensive solutions and inclusive political dialogue. He called for all stakeholders to engage in discussions on political, military and economic issues that concern all Yemenis.  In Mokha, he met with the local authority, the Political Bureau of the National Resistance and the Al-Hirak Al-Tihami. 

Humanitarian situation 

The Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, , also briefed the .  According to him, fighting continues along nearly 50 front lines, including in Ma’rib, where at least 35,000 people have been forced to flee since September.  The humanitarian community is scaling up assistance, but it is quickly getting outpaced by the increasing scale of humanitarian needs.  The UN is deeply concerned that the conditions could quickly get much worse. If fighting reaches the city itself, agencies estimate it could displace another 450,000 people.  The UN continues to call for an immediate end to the Ma’rib offensive and a nationwide ceasefire.  So far, aid agencies have received about 55 per cent of the funding they require this year. This has helped to keep famine at bay and achieve other important results, but money is quickly running out.  

Murdered journalist 

In a separate statement, the Special Envoy also condemned the assassination of Yemeni journalist, Rasha Abdullah Al Harazi, in Aden, last Tuesday. She was pregnant and her husband was also seriously injured.   “I offer my condolences to the bereaved family and reiterate my calls for justice and accountability. Journalists everywhere must be able to work without fear of retaliation", Mr. Grundberg said.   Mrs. Harazi was killed when a device planted in the car she was travelling in with her husband, detonated. Both were employed by a Gulf-based television channel.  The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s () Director-General also condemned the “”, noting that Mrs. Harazi had been a trainee in 2019.  “Attacks on journalists undermine freedom of expression and the media’s capacity to keep the public informed, which can prove vital in times of conflict. Information is also essential to nourish public debate, counter hate and contribute to conflict resolution”, Audrey Azoulay said.

Participating by teleconference, Mr. Grundberg briefed the Council Members about his  to Taiz governorate, where he held meetings in Taiz city, Turbah and Mokha, and discussed the urgent necessity for an end to the violence.  “These visits have given me a first-hand experience of the impact of the conflict on civilians in Taiz, including the difficulties they face moving through their daily lives”, Mr. Grundberg said in a statement.   The visits also gave him “the opportunity to hear directly from Yemeni men, women and young people, on how a UN-led political process can help to address the situation in Taiz as part of a sustainable solution to the conflict.”  

Dialogue 

In Taiz city and Turbah, the Special Envoy met the local Governor, Nabil Shamsan, political party representatives, civil society, Members of Parliament, business leaders and journalists.  The representatives raised concerns about the targeting of civilians in residential neighborhoods and severe restrictions on the safe and free movement of people and goods due to the continued road closures. They also discussed the sharp deterioration of the economy and basic services.  Mr. Grundberg stressed the need for comprehensive solutions and inclusive political dialogue. He called for all stakeholders to engage in discussions on political, military and economic issues that concern all Yemenis.  In Mokha, he met with the local authority, the Political Bureau of the National Resistance and the Al-Hirak Al-Tihami. 

Humanitarian situation 

The Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, , also briefed the .  According to him, fighting continues along nearly 50 front lines, including in Ma’rib, where at least 35,000 people have been forced to flee since September.  The humanitarian community is scaling up assistance, but it is quickly getting outpaced by the increasing scale of humanitarian needs.  The UN is deeply concerned that the conditions could quickly get much worse. If fighting reaches the city itself, agencies estimate it could displace another 450,000 people.  The UN continues to call for an immediate end to the Ma’rib offensive and a nationwide ceasefire.  So far, aid agencies have received about 55 per cent of the funding they require this year. This has helped to keep famine at bay and achieve other important results, but money is quickly running out.  

Murdered journalist 

In a separate statement, the Special Envoy also condemned the assassination of Yemeni journalist, Rasha Abdullah Al Harazi, in Aden, last Tuesday. She was pregnant and her husband was also seriously injured.   “I offer my condolences to the bereaved family and reiterate my calls for justice and accountability. Journalists everywhere must be able to work without fear of retaliation", Mr. Grundberg said.   Mrs. Harazi was killed when a device planted in the car she was travelling in with her husband, detonated. Both were employed by a Gulf-based television channel.  The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s () Director-General also condemned the “”, noting that Mrs. Harazi had been a trainee in 2019.  “Attacks on journalists undermine freedom of expression and the media’s capacity to keep the public informed, which can prove vital in times of conflict. Information is also essential to nourish public debate, counter hate and contribute to conflict resolution”, Audrey Azoulay said.

Participating by teleconference, Mr. Grundberg briefed the Council Members about his  to Taiz governorate, where he held meetings in Taiz city, Turbah and Mokha, and discussed the urgent necessity for an end to the violence.  “These visits have given me a first-hand experience of the impact of the conflict on civilians in Taiz, including the difficulties they face moving through their daily lives”, Mr. Grundberg said in a statement.   The visits also gave him “the opportunity to hear directly from Yemeni men, women and young people, on how a UN-led political process can help to address the situation in Taiz as part of a sustainable solution to the conflict.”  

Dialogue 

In Taiz city and Turbah, the Special Envoy met the local Governor, Nabil Shamsan, political party representatives, civil society, Members of Parliament, business leaders and journalists.  The representatives raised concerns about the targeting of civilians in residential neighborhoods and severe restrictions on the safe and free movement of people and goods due to the continued road closures. They also discussed the sharp deterioration of the economy and basic services.  Mr. Grundberg stressed the need for comprehensive solutions and inclusive political dialogue. He called for all stakeholders to engage in discussions on political, military and economic issues that concern all Yemenis.  In Mokha, he met with the local authority, the Political Bureau of the National Resistance and the Al-Hirak Al-Tihami. 

Humanitarian situation 

The Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, , also briefed the .  According to him, fighting continues along nearly 50 front lines, including in Ma’rib, where at least 35,000 people have been forced to flee since September.  The humanitarian community is scaling up assistance, but it is quickly getting outpaced by the increasing scale of humanitarian needs.  The UN is deeply concerned that the conditions could quickly get much worse. If fighting reaches the city itself, agencies estimate it could displace another 450,000 people.  The UN continues to call for an immediate end to the Ma’rib offensive and a nationwide ceasefire.  So far, aid agencies have received about 55 per cent of the funding they require this year. This has helped to keep famine at bay and achieve other important results, but money is quickly running out.  

Murdered journalist 

In a separate statement, the Special Envoy also condemned the assassination of Yemeni journalist, Rasha Abdullah Al Harazi, in Aden, last Tuesday. She was pregnant and her husband was also seriously injured.   “I offer my condolences to the bereaved family and reiterate my calls for justice and accountability. Journalists everywhere must be able to work without fear of retaliation", Mr. Grundberg said.   Mrs. Harazi was killed when a device planted in the car she was travelling in with her husband, detonated. Both were employed by a Gulf-based television channel.  The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s () Director-General also condemned the “”, noting that Mrs. Harazi had been a trainee in 2019.  “Attacks on journalists undermine freedom of expression and the media’s capacity to keep the public informed, which can prove vital in times of conflict. Information is also essential to nourish public debate, counter hate and contribute to conflict resolution”, Audrey Azoulay said.

Participating by teleconference, Mr. Grundberg briefed the Council Members about his  to Taiz governorate, where he held meetings in Taiz city, Turbah and Mokha, and discussed the urgent necessity for an end to the violence.  “These visits have given me a first-hand experience of the impact of the conflict on civilians in Taiz, including the difficulties they face moving through their daily lives”, Mr. Grundberg said in a statement.   The visits also gave him “the opportunity to hear directly from Yemeni men, women and young people, on how a UN-led political process can help to address the situation in Taiz as part of a sustainable solution to the conflict.”  

Dialogue 

In Taiz city and Turbah, the Special Envoy met the local Governor, Nabil Shamsan, political party representatives, civil society, Members of Parliament, business leaders and journalists.  The representatives raised concerns about the targeting of civilians in residential neighborhoods and severe restrictions on the safe and free movement of people and goods due to the continued road closures. They also discussed the sharp deterioration of the economy and basic services.  Mr. Grundberg stressed the need for comprehensive solutions and inclusive political dialogue. He called for all stakeholders to engage in discussions on political, military and economic issues that concern all Yemenis.  In Mokha, he met with the local authority, the Political Bureau of the National Resistance and the Al-Hirak Al-Tihami. 

Humanitarian situation 

The Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, , also briefed the .  According to him, fighting continues along nearly 50 front lines, including in Ma’rib, where at least 35,000 people have been forced to flee since September.  The humanitarian community is scaling up assistance, but it is quickly getting outpaced by the increasing scale of humanitarian needs.  The UN is deeply concerned that the conditions could quickly get much worse. If fighting reaches the city itself, agencies estimate it could displace another 450,000 people.  The UN continues to call for an immediate end to the Ma’rib offensive and a nationwide ceasefire.  So far, aid agencies have received about 55 per cent of the funding they require this year. This has helped to keep famine at bay and achieve other important results, but money is quickly running out.  

Murdered journalist 

In a separate statement, the Special Envoy also condemned the assassination of Yemeni journalist, Rasha Abdullah Al Harazi, in Aden, last Tuesday. She was pregnant and her husband was also seriously injured.   “I offer my condolences to the bereaved family and reiterate my calls for justice and accountability. Journalists everywhere must be able to work without fear of retaliation", Mr. Grundberg said.   Mrs. Harazi was killed when a device planted in the car she was travelling in with her husband, detonated. Both were employed by a Gulf-based television channel.  The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s () Director-General also condemned the “”, noting that Mrs. Harazi had been a trainee in 2019.  “Attacks on journalists undermine freedom of expression and the media’s capacity to keep the public informed, which can prove vital in times of conflict. Information is also essential to nourish public debate, counter hate and contribute to conflict resolution”, Audrey Azoulay said.

Launching the new programme, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization () said that scientists and local residents would take samples of genetic material from fish waste, mucous membranes or cells, , to monitor species.  “Marine World Heritage sites play a critical role in protecting marine ecosystems of exceptional universal value and provide opportunities for the public to appreciate and preserve marine environments”,  UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone Ramírez. 

Species under threat 

UNESCO said that the two-year initiative would help measure the vulnerability of marine biodiversity to climate change and its impact on the distribution and migration patterns of marine life across  sites.  The , which involves collecting and analyzing samples from the environment – such as soil, water and air – rather than an individual organism, will also better monitor and protect endangered species included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.   “Climate change is affecting the behaviour and distribution of underwater life and we must understand what is happening so we can adapt our conservation efforts to evolving conditions”, explained the UNESCO official. 

Beneath the waves 

UNESCO’s marine World Heritage sites are recognized for their unique biodiversity, outstanding ecosystems, or for representing major stages in Earth’s history.   In the context of the  (2021-2030), the project was launched to contribute to the understanding of global trends and knowledge to preserve marine ecosystems.  Since 1981, when Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was inscribed at UNESCO's first marine site, a global network of 50 others are now included as “beacons of hope for healing the ocean”, according to the UN agency.  Guided by expert support, the eDNA project will engage local citizens to gather material, so samples such as particles gathered through water filtering, can be genetically sequenced in specialized laboratories, without having to disturb animals themselves.    Implemented by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and World Heritage Centre, IOC chief Vladimir Ryabinin described the project as “a step toward the Ocean Decade’s vision of unlocking the knowledge we need to create the ocean we want by 2030”. 

Breaking new ground 

The use of eDNA in ocean monitoring and data collection is still in its infancy and standard protocols for sampling and data management will be streamlined in UNESCO’s groundbreaking eDNA project.   For the first time, it will apply a consistent methodology across multiple marine protected areas simultaneously, helping establish global standards, data monitoring and management practices while making that information available to the public.  All data will be processed and published by the  (OBIS), the world’s largest open-access data system on the distribution and diversity of marine species, maintained and collectively supported by a worldwide network of scientists, data managers and users.  

Sustainability goal 

The project works to advance the world’s understanding of life in the ocean, and establish conservation and management policies indicators.    “eDNA sampling can provide an innovative, affordable, and long-awaited capacity to better understand the ocean ecosystems, their composition and behaviour, and to start managing ocean resources more sustainably”, said Mr. Ryabinin.