World News in Brief: UN staff detained in Yemen, cyclone threat for Haiti, rights chief Lao PDR, climate change

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World News in Brief: UN staff detained in Yemen, cyclone threat for Haiti, rights chief Lao PDR, climate change

“We are very concerned about these developments, and we are actively seeking clarification from the Houthi de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of these detentions and most importantly to ensure the immediate access to those UN personnel,” Mr. Dujarric said.  

© UNICEF/Fani Llaurado

Climate change is worsening the intensity and frequency of droughts.

Climate change impacts on health of pregnant women, children, older people: WHO

The climate crisis is a global health crisis, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, as it urged governments everywhere to consider how to protect people from the worst impacts of our warming planet.

To help convince health authorities that the climate emergency should not be ignored, WHO released new data on the impact of climate change at key life stages.

This included threats from air pollution, wildfires, flooding and extreme heat.

Taking extreme heat as one example, WHO said that preterm births increase during heatwaves, while older people are more likely to suffer heart attacks or respiratory distress.  

Indirect factors

Indirect impacts on human health from climate change include reduced crop outputs and food shortages, increased vector-borne disease and greater stress which impacts on mental health, the UN health agency also noted.

Among the solutions to help mitigate the threat posed by our warming world, the WHO suggested flexible work hours and modifying buildings for childcare, education and healthcare, with an emphasis on reducing emissions, too.  

Governments should also focus on collaborating with communities and sharing knowledge of what to do during heatwaves or other climate emergencies, the UN health agency added, including issuing public health messages during peaks in air pollution, so that people can protect themselves, or training health workers to recognize heat stress.

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