The agency said that countries including Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands had received up to two months’ rain in two days from 14 to 15 July, on ground that was “already near saturation”. "He extends his condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and to the Governments and people of the affected countries." The UN chief said the UN stood ready to contribute to ongoing rescue and assistance efforts, if necessary. “This is Finland, you know, it’s not Spain, it’s not north Africa,”, Ms. Nullis emphasised to journalists in Geneva. Echoing a call by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to all countries to do more to avoid a climate catastrophe linked to rising emissions and temperatures, Ms. Nullis urged action, ahead of this year’s UN climate conference, known as COP26, in Glasgow, in November.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 16, 2021 14:57 UTC