The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has appealed for restraint within the wake of protests and heightened tensions following Sunday’s presidential elections within the Comoros. Incumbent President of the island archipelago off the east African coast, Azali Assoumani, was re-elected for a fourth time period. However, the turnout was reportedly solely 16 per cent and opposition events denounced the elections as “fraudulent”, based on media stories. In a press release launched by his workplace (OHCHR) on Wednesday, Volker Türk known as on the authorities to make sure the rights to freedom of expression and peaceable meeting. Tweet URL > UNHumanRights He additionally urged demonstrators to not resort to violence, after stories of pillaging in capital Moroni on Tuesday and incidents of arson in opposition to a number of public buildings within the islands of Moheli and Anjouan on election day. “As post-electoral tensions mount, it is paramount that the authorities ensure a safe environment, where all Comorians, including members of the political opposition, can freely express their views and exercise their right to peaceful assembly,” he stated. According to OHCHR, Sunday’s polls passed off following weeks of curtailed civic and democratic area, with stories of arbitrary detention and allegations of enforced disappearance of detainees. A de facto ban on peaceable demonstrations and public political gatherings has been in place since 2019. The High Commissioner additionally urged the Government to steer the nation in direction of democracy. “A new chapter should begin for all the Comorians; one that is based on pluralism, freedom of expression, justice and accountability,” he stated. “Otherwise, democracy will never be fulfilled.” ## Inflation rises hit worldwide funding, warns UNCTAD Foreign direct funding, or FDI, is an important a part of the worldwide economic system – notably rising economies – and final 12 months they noticed overseas funding shrink by at least 9 per cent, to $841 billion, UN information launched on Wednesday confirmed. According to UN commerce and growth physique UNCTAD, creating Asian economies took a fair larger hit, their FDI falling 12 per cent. China additionally reported “a rare decline” of six per cent much less funding from abroad companions. African nations’ FDI fell one per cent in 2023 whereas Central America bucked the pattern by sustaining secure overseas direct funding, UNCTAD’s newest Global Investment Trends Monitor confirmed. Data additionally indicated a pointy upswing in overseas direct funding in Luxembourg and the Netherlands that contributed to a 3 per rise in world overseas direct funding final 12 months, to $1.37 trillion. But with out Luxembourg and the Netherlands, funding within the different European Union nations was down by 23 per cent. UNCTAD stated that different developed nations noticed overseas funding stagnate final 12 months with “zero growth” in North America.  UN News/Jing Zhang A ship passes via a bit of the Panama Canal, one of many busiest buying and selling routes on the planet. ## DR Congo: Peacekeepers deploy to guard civilians in Ituri Peacekeepers have been responding to renewed violence in opposition to civilians within the japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), deploying patrols and serving to native leaders free 5 folks kidnapped by militia in Ituri province. That is based on UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York on Wednesday. He stated ‘blue helmets’ serving with the UN mission MONUSCO had responded to “alerts and information received over the past few days” and deployed a patrol near Djugu territory to guard civilians. Peacekeepers additionally supported native leaders who negotiated the discharge of 5 folks kidnapped by CODECO militia, a free affiliation of political and spiritual insurgent teams. “The Mission has also intervened in response to an attack against a position for the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in Tcha”, Mr. Dujarric continued. “Peacekeepers are also continuing to protect civilians who sought refuge close to a MONUSCO temporary base in the Drodo area in Ituri.” He added that peacekeepers had been deployed final week in response to clashes between CODECO and Zaire militia however “the situation is now reported calm.” MONUSCO is because of withdraw utterly from DRC by the tip of 2024 however the UN is decided to remain and supply assist to Congolese in want within the long- time period, after the mission’s withdrawal. Tweet URL > UNOCHA_ROSEA ## ‘Overlapping crises’ see humanitarian circumstances worsen in northern Ethiopia The UN assist coordination workplace OCHA is anxious over the deteriorating humanitarian state of affairs in northern Ethiopia, Mr. Dujarric stated on Wednesday. In drought-affected areas together with Afar, Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia, “multiple and often overlapping crises have severely weakened people’s ability to cope with climate shocks such as drought – that leaves millions of people vulnerable to falling even further into severe need and destitution”, the UN Spokesperson added. He stated the UN and companions have been supporting Government efforts in “a very challenging operating environment”, with extraordinarily restricted funding, whereas there are “active hostilities” in Amhara and Oromia. “However, our humanitarian colleagues stress the need to scale up the response to support four million people in these regions with food aid, nutrition, water and sanitation as well as health services.” OCHA stories that the principle problem is lack of funding and insecurity. Last 12 months, between January and November, the UN and companions reached greater than 12 million folks with assist though the 2023 $4 billion Humanitarian Response Plan for Ethiopia was only one third funded, receiving $1.33 billion.

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