Up to two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the military’s 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government.
Up to two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the military’s 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government.
The 62nd round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place on 5-6 November 2024 in the Palais des Nations, in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and the implementing measures of 8 September 2008.
The participants welcomed Magdalena Grono, who officially assumed her duties as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. She co-chaired this round together with her UN and OSCE colleagues, UN Representative to the Geneva International Discussions Cihan Sultanoğlu and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Viorel Moşanu.
In Working Group I, the participants continued their discussion on the implementation of the 2008 six-point agreement, with renewed emphasis and focus on non-use of force and international security arrangements. Despite strongly diverging positions, the participants managed to have exchanges on key developments on the ground.
In Working Group II, discussions focused on several sets of humanitarian issues, including freedom of movement, documentation, livelihoods, education and missing persons. The co-moderators called on all participants to constructively and actively engage on all key agenda items, including internally displaced persons and refugees. However, once again this topic could not be fully addressed, notably due to a walkout by some participants.
All participants underlined the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to the platform. They agreed to hold the next round in March 2025.
The war in Lebanon has now killed more than 3,000 people in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah missile hits in Israel, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday commended voters across the United States for their “active participation in the democratic process”, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House when he takes the oath of office in January.
Amid new Israeli airstrikes reported in Gaza and Lebanon on Wednesday morning, UN humanitarians delivered vital trauma treatment supplies to Lebanon’s sole specialist burns hospital, where the caseload has spiked because of the massive escalation in violence.
As the crisis grinds on, we will be taking you into UN Geneva for the latest briefings from our colleagues in Gaza and Lebanon as well as UN Headquarters in New York and the field for updates on the developing situation in the Middle East throughout the day. UN News app users can follow here.
In addition to driving a regional refugee crisis, the brutal war in Sudan is exacerbating instability in the contested region of Abyei, a senior UN peacekeeping official said on Tuesday, highlighting escalating challenges.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
Madame President,
Excellencies,
On 31 October, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced through its official news agency that it had launched a Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at approximately 7:11 AM local time earlier that day. With a flight duration of one hour and 26 minutes, the missile flew a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometres, reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometres before falling into the sea. The DPRK described this latest launch as a “very crucial test” that “updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK”.
Regrettably, the DPRK did not issue any airspace or maritime safety notifications, posing a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, with the potential for unintended incidents.
Madame President,
Since the DPRK announced its five-year military development plan in January 2021, aimed at acquiring new military capabilities, it has launched at least 11 ICBMs. The Hwasong-19 sets new records in terms of flight duration and altitude, and is the second solid-fuel ICBM developed by the DPRK which does not need to undergo fueling prior to launch. It is reported to be larger than its predecessor, the Hwasong-18, and may be capable of carrying larger warheads or even multiple warheads.
Madame President,
The DPRK’s launch of yet another ICBM is of serious concern and represents a grave threat to regional stability. Despite numerous meetings of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024, the DPRK has not heeded calls to refrain from further launches.
The Secretary-General strongly condemned the Hwasong-19 launch by the DPRK as a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. He again called for de-escalation, the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, an environment that is conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of talks, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Madame President,
We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK’s persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that underpins it.
There is a crucial need for practical measures to reduce tensions and reverse this dangerous trajectory. We encourage all Member States to seek unity and to create an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation. At this challenging juncture for securing global peace and security, it is imperative to prioritize de-escalation and work toward a stable and secure Korean Peninsula.
Madame President,
The United Nations and its partners stand ready to assist the DPRK in addressing the basic needs of its populations. We call on the DPRK authorities to facilitate the full return of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team. A collective return of the international community would enhance international support for the people of the DPRK and facilitate progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Thank you, Madame President.
The UN-supported polio vaccine campaign concluded in besieged northern Gaza on Monday, with agencies inoculating 94,000 children, but thousands still remain out of reach.
The launch of “yet another” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses a “grave threat” to regional stability, a senior UN political affairs official warned on Monday, as the Security Council discussed the rising tensions in the region and beyond.
The increasing impact of fighting between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militants from Hezbollah on Lebanese civilians “is of grave concern”, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Monday, condemning the mounting loss of life.
War in Sudan has devastated towns and cities across the country and pushed the healthcare system to collapse, just as cases of cholera and dengue fever are surging and hunger levels remain “above the famine threshold”, humanitarians have warned.
Attacks on a clinic and UN staff member were reported during a resumed polio vaccine campaign in besieged northern Gaza, Israeli forces continued airstrikes on Lebanon on Sunday and in Yemen, a new water project launched a “lifeline” for populations fleeing conflict, with updates from Syria.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon has surpassed the devastation wrought by the war with Israel in 2006, UN agencies said on Saturday, publishing the latest updates from the ground amid calls for an immediate ceasefire.
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UN Secretary General António Guterres has strongly condemned escalating attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, as new reports reveal over 135,000 civilians were displaced in just 10 days.
We are following the news as it happens from UN offices in Geneva and New York and on the ground in Gaza and Lebanon, bringing you the latest updates throughout the day as conflict continues to roil the region. UN News app users can follow here.
Madam President,
Just last week, we briefed this Council on the continued large-scale suffering and destruction that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in violation of the UN Charter and international law, continues to inflict on the people of Ukraine.
Since then, relentless Russian attacks have continued to cause further civilian casualties and additional damage to critical infrastructure across Ukraine.
We once again reiterate that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law. They are unacceptable no matter where they occur and must cease immediately.
To date, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that nearly 12,000 civilians, including hundreds of children, have been killed since February 2024. Nearly 26,000 civilians have been injured.
Millions remain displaced, and in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance. Millions more in Ukraine remain under the threat of further displacement as a result of widespread Russian attacks, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The massive damage to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, in particular energy infrastructure, risks exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions and access to essential services as we are entering the cold winter season.
In addition to the devastating toll on civilians in Ukraine, this war continues to inflame regional and global tensions and divisions.
As the Secretary-General warned this Council on 24 September, “the longer this tragic war continues, the greater the risk of escalation and spillover.”
We have followed with serious concern the recent reports of military personnel of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) being deployed to the Russian Federation, including their possible deployment to the conflict zone.
The United Nations does not have any additional details on these developments and is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports made. Our knowledge on this topic is therefore based solely on information that is publicly available.
According to media reports and statements made by officials of Member States, troops from DPRK have reportedly arrived in the Russian Federation, with estimates of their size varying widely.
The reports regarding the presence of DPRK troops in Russia follow the signing, on 19 June 2024 in Pyongyang, of “the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea” that reportedly outlines cooperation on security and defense-related issues, among others.
This treaty was ratified by the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, on 24 October. The upper house is expected to follow suit.
The alleged troop deployments also follow earlier reports of the DPRK having allegedly transferred military supplies, including ballistic missiles and artillery shells, to the Russian Federation, for possible use in its military operations in Ukraine.
We urge all relevant actors to refrain from any steps that may lead to spillover and intensification of the war in Ukraine.
In this regard, we also recall the relevant Security Council Resolutions on DPRK. The question of whether the reported presence of North Korean troops in Russia might fall within the scope of these resolutions is a matter for the Security Council to determine.
We reiterate our call on all countries to abide by the resolutions of the Security Council, including those concerning the DPRK.
Madam President,
As we have repeatedly warned, the dangerous, escalatory trajectory of the war in Ukraine will only lead to further suffering, mounting destruction and deeper geopolitical divisions that we simply cannot afford.
It is therefore time for us all to redouble our efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine – in line with the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of the General Assembly.
The United Nations continues to support all meaningful efforts to that end.
Thank you.
On Monday, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, voted in favour of legislation targeting the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, which could effectively bring its operations in the occupied Palestinian territories to a halt. Here are five things to know about the bills and the potential consequences if they go into effect.
A senior UN disarmament official on Thursday called on all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate the war.
“Catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity” bordering on starvation are expected to impact hundreds of thousands of people in coming months, driven principally by violence and conflict. Five hunger hotspots are of particular concern: Haiti, Mali, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), South Sudan and Sudan, UN agencies said on Thursday.
People in Lebanon continue to be killed, injured and displaced by airstrikes, hostilities and displacement orders, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Thursday.
Excellency Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Gad, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the African Union (AU) and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) for October 2024;
Excellencies, Members of the AU PSC;
Excellency Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security;
Excellency Mme. Bineta Diop;...
Through funding from its Multi-Year Appeal, the Department organized a conference on women and conflict held in Chișinău, Moldova.
For the second year in a row, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), with funding from its Multi-Year Appeal, joined forces with UN Women and the Peace and Development Teams in Ukraine and Moldova to bring together women civil society representatives from across Eastern Europe and South Caucasus regions to share their experiences in the implementation of the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda.
The 2024 Open Day for Regional Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Dialogue gathered more than 60 participants from Ukraine, Moldova and the South Caucasus. Director for the Europe and Central Asia Division of the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace operations, Kayoko Gotoh, in her opening remarks, said it was vital that the voices of women and girls are not sidelined amid conflict and geopolitical tensions. She emphasized that equal and meaningful participation in decision-making processes is crucial for advancing peace and security in the region. “Abolishing structural gender inequalities is a matter of equity and right, but also a powerful means to improve the chances of success of peace and political processes,” she said.
The participants shared their stories of overcoming challenges in the implementation of the WPS agenda in their communities and countries; identified priorities and suggested solutions. They stressed the need to engage women, girls, and youth in peacebuilding and decision-making processes. Participants noted the need to ensure women’s rights are embedded into national policies and emphasized that inclusive leadership was vital to ensure sustainable peace. Discussions also focused on the current challenges and opportunities faced by countries in the region in promoting women’s participation in peace and security efforts.
Tetiana Ivanina, chairperson of the civil society organization Bureau of Gender Strategy and Budgeting (Gender Bureau), a Ukrainian non-governmental organization focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment, pointed out the paradox of women being heard in discussions, yet often excluded from decision-making spaces: “Women are not decoration. They should be involved at the decision-making processes at all levels,” she said. Ivanina also emphasized the need for balanced dialogue platforms where women can freely express their needs. “International support is crucial, so that Ukrainian women’s voices do not disappear inside Ukraine,” she said.
The participants also discussed the empowerment of young women and the need to encourage communication between older and younger generations. Anna Harus, CEO of Enlightening Initiative, highlighted the need to engage youth in the humanitarian and WPS agenda. “In order to engage youth in the humanitarian and WPS agenda, it is essential to translate the agenda’s language to the language that youth understand, including via social media,” she said.
The civil society representatives also stressed that long-term WPS projects were a way to build trust and confidence among communities, as well as to ensure the inclusion of diverse women’s voices. Olena Biletska, Head of the Ukrainian Women’s Guard, an organization that trains women to unite and survive during conflict, shared insights from her experience working with communities. She said that trust building was the first step toward cooperation and capacity-building processes. “Empowering women in decision-making areas is critical,” she stressed.
Liliya Kislitsyna, founder and president of SMARTA, a CSO that prepares Ukrainian women to be active in politics and reconstruction, urged the international community to support women activists, especially in the context of the prolonged war in Ukraine. “Organizing of more transnational women dialogues are crucial and urgent,” she said. “Experience sharing and solidarity are our power.”
The women also acknowledged the psychological toll on volunteers and civil society activists, making the provision of psychological and mental health support essential. Oleksandra Basarab, the communication manager at YMCA Lviv, stressed that it was “important to support those who support others,” and highlighted the importance of preventing burnout among young women and community volunteers.
Throughout the conference, participants from around the region reiterated the importance of networking among women peacebuilders across the region, as well as building sustainable partnerships to enhance the influence and resources of local women leaders in humanitarian and peacebuilding processes.
The UN Security Council is meeting in emergency session on Ukraine, amid unconfirmed reports that troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – more commonly known as North Korea – have been deployed to fight alongside Russian forces. We’ll have live coverage plus latest updates from the UN on the humanitarian and human rights crisis triggered by Russia’s ongoing invasion. UN News app users can follow here.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday once again urged the United States to end its economic, commercial, and financial embargo on Cuba, renewing a demand it has made annually since 1992.
Live updates through the day featured the latest breaking news from UN Headquarters and the field, with human rights experts and top UN officials addressing the crisis roiling across the Middle East as conflict continues to grip Gaza and Lebanon. UN News app users can follow our live coverage here.
As tensions mount between Pristina and Belgrade, the UN’s top official in Kosovo called for “responsible leadership” from all parties to protect human rights and foster constructive political dialogue.
Our live coverage ranged from the Security Council and UN Headquarters to dispatches from across the Middle East as tensions escalated and the war on Gaza and Lebanon continued in the shadows of a new Israeli ban on UNRWA, the agency serving nearly six million Palestine refugees in the region. UN News app users can follow here.
Escalating violence and new atrocities in Sudan have pushed the humanitarian crisis to unprecedented levels, with displacement now exceeding 11 million people amid reports of mass killings and systematic-sexual violence across multiple regions, UN officials said on Tuesday.
Top UN officials continued to line up on Tuesday to defend the irreplaceable role of the global body’s agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, insisting that if implemented, the Israeli parliament’s decision to ban it would only deepen suffering in Gaza.
Madam President,
Distinguished members of the Security Council,
The Middle East region witnessed yet another dangerous escalation over the weekend.
In the early hours of 26 October, the Israel Defense Forces announced that they conducted “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” – facilities that Israel said were missile manufacturing – which included Iran’s surface-to-air missile arrays and Iranian aerial capabilities. This is the first time Israel’s military has claimed responsibility for attacking sites in Iran. Israel said that the strikes were in response to Iran’s attack against Israel on 1 October.
The Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the Israeli military airstrikes targeted several sites in Khuzestan, Ilam and around Tehran provinces, with most of the missiles intercepted by its air defence system. Iran confirmed that four Iranian military officers and one civilian were killed. According to the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, the attacks caused “limited and minor damage” to several radar systems.
The latest exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran risks plunging the region into the unknown at a time when we urgently need de-escalation on all fronts.
I echo the Secretary-General’s condemnation of all acts of escalation. These acts must stop.
Belligerent and threatening rhetoric must cease.
Both sides must stop testing the limits of each other’s restraint and act in the interest of peace and stability for the region.
Madam President,
The past year has unleashed untold suffering for people across the Middle East.
Tomorrow, this Council will receive a detailed briefing from Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland on the latest developments in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed shock and despair regarding the unbearable conditions of Palestinian civilians trapped in North Gaza. The levels of death, injury, and destruction in the north are harrowing. Civilians are stuck under rubble. The sick and wounded are going without life-saving health care. Families lack food and shelter, amid reports of them being separated and many people detained. The postponement of the final phase of the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza is putting the lives of thousands of children at risk. Living conditions in North Gaza – especially in around Jabalya, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun – are becoming untenable.
In Lebanon, hostilities between Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces continued through the weekend, including clashes on the ground in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported 28 fatalities in southern Lebanon on 27 and 28 October, while five IDF reservists were reported killed on 26 October. Hizbullah issued a displacement notice to residents of northern Israel for the first time on 25 October, while Israel continued airstrikes across areas of Lebanon, including the South, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut in recent days.
I repeat the Secretary-General’s consistent calls for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon; for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and accountability for crimes under international law.
I urge all parties to cease all military actions to prevent an all-out regional war and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
Thank you, Madam President.
Monday’s vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) contradicts principles of the UN Charter, violates Israel’s obligations under international law, and sets a dangerous precedent, the head of the Agency, Philippe Lazzarini has warned. The UN chief pledged later he would take the issue to the General Assembly.
We will be following the latest breaking news over the day, including from UN staff on the ground, dispatches from Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region, and the Israeli Knesset's vote to outlaw the work of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA. We also recap the emergency Security Council meeting on escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. UN News app users can follow here.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday the people of Sudan are trapped in a “nightmare of violence, hunger, disease and displacement”, as the brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to rage.
