Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York
The UN Secretary General’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, has just been asked about Elise Stefanik.
Earlier, we learned that Donald Trump will be naming Stefanik as US ambassador to the UN.
Dujarric says they will work constructively with the next UN ambassador, just like they do with any other country.
One UN agency that is preparing for any contingency is UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. For the past 40 years, it had been denied funding by Republican administrations, including Trump’s first, over what the agency says is a factually incorrect “ongoing myth” that it is engaged in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation in China.
Based on past experience, it will almost certainly lose US financial support again. The agency says that would lead to women losing lifesaving services in some of the world’s most devastating crises. In Afghanistan, the agency says it would no longer be able to operate 13 mother and child health centres, reaching almost 80,000 women and girls in need.
And in Sudan, it says over half a million people will have their access to reproductive health services reduced.
Sarah Craven, chief of UNFPA’s Washington office, says it’s not just about the money, but also the loss of political support which worries her.
“I worry that it’s not just our sector, but overall, a real entrenchment is possible in funding for global health and overall engagement.”
Related News :