UN humanitarians warned on Thursday that one in four people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo suffers from “crisis or worse” levels of hunger that affects a staggering 25.6 million people.
UN humanitarians warned on Thursday that one in four people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo suffers from “crisis or worse” levels of hunger that affects a staggering 25.6 million people.
Children in Myanmar are increasingly caught in the crossfire of intensifying conflict, climate disasters and a collapsing humanitarian system, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported.
This year of conflict in Syria is “on track to be the most violent since 2020”, with the potential for even greater devastation looming on the horizon, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Thursday.
The delivery of life-saving aid across Gaza “is grinding to a halt” amid a surge in armed looting targeting humanitarian convoys, the senior aid official in the region said on Thursday.
Gang violence is escalating at alarming rates in Haiti: tens of thousands have been forced from their homes, and critical supply chains have collapsed. Despite the rising peril, the UN has committed to remain in the country, helping the most vulnerable to survive the current crisis.
Madam President, Excellencies,
Haiti is at dire crossroads.
Extreme levels of gang violence continue to erode state authority and pose an alarming threat to the people of Haiti and to international peace and security in the region, with no improvement in sight.
The country is now in its third year of political transition following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. On 11 November, the Transitional Presidential Council appointed a new Prime Minister, Mr. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, after weeks of intense standoff with the former Prime Minister Mr. Garry Conille. Mr. Fils-Aimé is the fourth Prime Minister to hold office during this political transition.
We are deeply concerned about the slow progress on Haiti’s roadmap for restoring democratic institutions. Time is of the essence and, to ensure that general elections can be held in 2025, it is crucial to complete the appointment of all nine members of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council. I want to reiterate the Secretary-General's call for all national stakeholders to set aside their differences and work constructively for the benefit of the people of Haiti and its institutions, who are faced with immense challenges.
BINUH continues to use its good offices to support the political process, including to boost civil society participation in the transition, with particular focus on youth.
Excellencies,
Haiti’s security crisis keeps intensifying.
On the very day of the new Prime Minister’s installation, a series of shocking incidents unfolded as four commercial aircraft were struck by gang-related gunfire, resulting in the reported injury of one crew member. As a result, Port-au-Prince’s International Airport remains closed, the US Federal Aviation Administration prohibited US commercial flights to and from Haiti until 12 December, and many international carriers have indicated even longer suspensions.
These measures suspended international access to the capital and severely restricted our ability to transport UN and other international personnel by air as needed. Regular movement in and out of the capital and rest of the country are also disrupted. Today, thanks to concerted UN efforts, the UNHAS helicopter was able to resume its operations in and out of Port-au-Prince.
This is the second time this year that armed gangs exploit moments of political instability to tighten their stranglehold on Port-au-Prince by targeting the airport. Unlike in March of this year, armed gangs directly targeted commercial aircraft with multiple passengers on-board, during their landing and takeoff. Following the resulting closure of the International Airport, armed gangs have further intensified their coordinated and well-orchestrated attacks.
Having encircled the capital and all access roads, armed gangs have made territorial advances in strategic areas and according to some estimates now control 85% of the capital. They are also attacking the remaining pockets of relative safety. increasingly including government buildings and infrastructure. In the night of 18 November, armed gang coalitions launched a coordinated attack to gain control of the Petion-Ville suburb, which is home to most international staff, UN offices and diplomatic missions. While the Haitian National Police tried to push gangs back, clashes in these areas have reportedly resulted in several dozen fatalities. Desperate Haitians are increasingly turning to vigilante groups, establishing roadblocks, taking justice into their own hands.
This is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating.
The humanitarian consequences are severe. We are deeply concerned about the safety, basic needs and human rights of people residing in gang-controlled areas, in particular those of women and children. Predatory armed gangs systematically attack communities, using extreme forms of violence, including sexual violence, as a weapon to subjugate them. We condemn in the strongest terms the widespread sexual violence used by armed gangs.
The International Organization for Migration reports a staggering rise in displacement, with 20,000 people fleeing gang violence in just four days in November. This adds to the approximately 700,000 internally displaced persons in Haiti as of September 2024. In addition, over 167,000 Haitians have been deported from several countries so far this year, including 35,000 since 1 October.
The United Nations’ remains fully committed to standing with Haiti through these challenging times, but more resources are needed to provide vital assistance and support. At present the $674 million Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is only 43 percent funded.
Madam President,
The start of deployment on 25 June of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission authorized by this Council marked an important milestone in the international response to Haiti’s request for assistance. The multinational effort was made possible by personnel contributions from Kenya, which is leading the mission, the Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica. Furthermore, voluntary financial contributions, equipment and logistical support from donor countries, including Canada, France, Germany and the United States, have been crucial. However, with just over 400 of the initially planned 2,500 personnel currently deployed, the MSS remains in its deployment phase and is unable to demonstrate its full potential. The UN Trust Fund for the MSS has a pledged amount of only $96.8 million. Much more is needed. And it is needed now.
To fully deliver on the MSS mandate and achieve its envisioned strength, international donors and personnel contributors must step up immediately. Without a substantial and sustained increase in voluntary contributions from Member States, there is a real risk that the MSS will never be fully equipped, fully deployed, or able to sustain its support for the Haitian National Police.
Despite the magnitude of the challenges, the Haitian National Police persist and continue to conduct anti-gang operations. However, they face significant shortages of human, material, and financial resources, making it difficult to sustain their operational successes. Any further delays or operational gaps in providing international security support to the Haitian National Police, whether through the MSS or bilateral assistance, present a catastrophic risk of collapse of national security institutions. This could lead to a complete breakdown of state authority, rendering international operations and the support to Haitians in need in the country untenable.
Such an outcome would be inexcusable for the people of Haiti, who have endured far too much already.
Excellencies,
In his address to the UN General Assembly on 26 September, the former President of the Transitional Presidential Council, Mr. Edgard Leblanc Fils, called for the start of a discussion on the transformation of the MSS Mission into a UN peacekeeping operation. His successor in the rotating presidency, Mr. Leslie Voltaire, reiterated this request in a letter to the Security Council on 21 October, seeking the MSS’ transformation as soon as possible. A resolution passed by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States on 13 November urged the Security Council to urgently support Haiti’s request to transition the MSS mission into a UN peacekeeping operation.
Ongoing Security Council discussions about international engagement in Haiti’s security and stability to succeed the MSS highlight the need for the Government of Haiti and the international community to have a long-term vision. The Secretary-General urges Council members to maintain the unified approach demonstrated in the adoption of the recent resolutions regarding Haiti.
What is required is a sizable increase in internationally provided enhanced security support that complements the Haitian National Police. This support must include adequate capabilities, weapons, equipment, and specialized expertise that the Haitian National Police needs in order to remain the primary actor in the response against armed gangs. A robust mandate, already authorized for the MSS, coupled with Rules of Engagement allowing proactive engagements against armed gangs, is essential. This must be accompanied by efforts to build up national police capabilities to support the Government in sustainably delivering security.
In the current climate of violence, Haitian stakeholders have also made calls for support to strengthen the Haitian Armed Forces, to which some Member States have already responded.
BINUH’s support to the Haitian National Police remains essential for the continued and long-term development of the institution, but the immediate, robust operational support needed now falls outside BINUH’s mandate.
To ensure that security gains are sustained, more must be done to counter the illicit flow of drugs, weapons and ammunition. Corruption that incubates the illicit economy, and the patronage of armed gangs by corrupt political and private sector elites must also be tackled. To this end, national anti-corruption and accountability mechanisms need to be strengthened. The UN sanctions regime concerning Haiti must be utilized to its full potential to address the root causes of gang violence, including the collusion between individuals in the political, economic and security sectors, which would lead to increased confidence in the political process.
Madam President,
Robust international security support is required now.
There are no ideal options for addressing the severe and multifaceted crisis in Haiti. But as time passes and the situation deteriorates, we are left with less options and the Haitian people are left with less hope. It is high time we turn commitments into action to prevent any further erosion of security and state authority in Haiti.
I thank you.
As the conflict continues in Gaza and Lebanon, the United States vetoed the latest resolution on Gaza in the UN Security Council in New York which demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire as well as the release of all hostages and full humanitarian access for civilians. UN News app users can follow here.
Gang violence in Haiti continues to escalate, displacing thousands from Port-au-Prince and straining already limited aid resources, according to the UN Resident Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson.
Haiti is at a dire crossroads, with extreme levels of gang violence continuing to degrade State authority with “no improvement in sight”, a senior UN political affairs official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), told reporters in Geneva that ground clashes inside Lebanon – some of them very close to UNIFIL positions – have become “more violent”.
Fighting is becoming more violent and destructive either side of the UN-patrolled Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel, UN peacekeepers said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, conditions continue to worsen in Gaza, particularly in the north at stricken Kamal Adwan Hospital. Stay tuned for live updates from UN headquarters and the field. UN News app users can follow here
Mr. President,
1,000 days have passed since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – in brazen violation of the UN Charter and international law.
1,000 days of widespread death, destruction and despair that continue unabated for millions of Ukrainians.
1,000 days in, this war rages on, undiminished.
Deadly battles engulf more and more of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Entire cities, villages and towns have been reduced to rubble. Bakhmut, Avdiivka,
Vovchansk and Vuhledar have been virtually wiped off the map.
Since February 2022, at least 12,164 civilians have been killed, including over 600 children. At least 26,871 others have been injured.
And these are just the confirmed numbers. The actual death toll is likely much higher.
The past several months have seen a significant increase in civilian casualties.
October and November saw some of the most intense and large-scale missile and drone attacks of the war.
Over the weekend, Russia launched one of its largest combined strikes, reportedly involving 120 missiles and 90 drones and targeting energy infrastructure in all Ukrainian
regions, resulting in severe damage and casualties.
Last night, there were also media reports that Ukrainian forces would be given authorization to use long-range weapons supplied by partners for strikes within Russia.
I want to be clear: all parties must ensure the safety and protection of civilians, regardless of their location.
Across Ukraine, residential areas have increasingly come under attack.
The people of Kyiv are again being forced to take shelter from nightly drone and missile barrages.
Critical civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine are systematically targeted and decimated, depriving many Ukrainians of access to basic needs.
At least 580 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed, with many first responders and medical personnel killed and injured.At least 1,358 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
Ukraine has now become one of the world’s most heavily mined places – with almost one quarter of its territory contaminated with mines – an area four times the size of
Switzerland.
The environmental degradation caused by the war -- including from the destruction of critical infrastructure -- such as the Kakhovka Dam, has resulted in long-term consequences
for local ecosystems, as well as Ukraine’s agriculture.
Millions of traumatized people are dependent on life-saving humanitarian aid.
Nearly four million remain internally displaced, and more than 6.8 million have fled the country.
As in every conflict, women are disproportionately impacted by the economic and social consequences of the war.
An entire generation of children is being deprived of proper education as attacks have driven schools online or underground in shelters.
Meanwhile, human rights continue to be systematically violated.
Mr. President,
The Black Sea remains a flashpoint. Renewed Russian attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure, particularly in Odesa, are once again exacerbating global food insecurity.
I am determined to continue my engagement with all concerned to support the freedom and safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
Mr. President,
The targeted devastation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure may make the coming winter the harshest since the start of the war.
It is not difficult to imagine how daily and prolonged power cuts aggravate living conditions, acutely affecting the more than two million people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed and those near the frontlines.
The United Nations remains fully mobilized to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts.
This includes critical support to enhance the resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure.
Our immediate focus is on the Winter Response Plan. But without required resources the most vulnerable will lack sufficient protection.
Unimpeded humanitarian access is essential to reach some 1.5 million people in regions of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation.
Those areas remain beyond our reach.
At the same time, the operating environment for humanitarian actors has become more dangerous. This year so far, at least nine humanitarian workers have been killed in the
line of duty and more than 35 injured. This is unacceptable.
Despite the international community’s grave concerns, the risk of nuclear incident remains all too real, as military activities continue to be reported near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia and other sensitive locations in the conflict zone.
The consequences of such an event would be catastrophic and should make us all shudder. It is imperative for all parties to act responsibly to ensure nuclear safety and
security.
Mr. President,
The recent reported deployment of thousands of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the conflict zone and involvement in the fighting is alarming.
This would add fuel to the fire, further escalating and internationalizing this explosive conflict.
There is little doubt that this war at the heart of Europe is a conflict with global implications. It undermines regional stability and deepens geopolitical divisions.
It must end.
Reversing the current dangerous path will require concerted diplomatic efforts and political will.
It is high time for a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.
We stand ready to use our good offices and to make available the tools and experience of the United Nations in support of all meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting and
comprehensive peace.
Thank you.
The Security Council held three high-stakes high-level meetings on Monday in New York, with the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary David Lammy presiding. Russia vetoed a draft resolution to protect civilians in Sudan, with ambassadors meeting next on Gaza and Lebanon, followed by another forthright debate on Ukraine. UN News app users can follow here.
Over 20,000 people have fled their homes across Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince in just four days amid escalating gang violence, with more than 17,000 seeking shelter in 15 displacement sites as critical supply chains collapse.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the latest Russian drone and missile attack against the power grid and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, his Spokesperson said on Sunday.
The G20 group of developed economies must be at the forefront of global efforts to bring about peace, climate action, fairer international financial institutions and equitable access to emerging technologies, the UN Secretary-General said on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.
PRESS RELEASE
Climate Security Mechanism at the United Nations and Group of Friends on Climate and Security Announce New Pledges and Partnerships at COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan – 15 November 2024 – Today, at COP29, the Climate Security Mechanism[i] (CSM) at the United Nations and the Group of Friends on Climate and Security[ii] convened an official UNFCCC COP29 side event titled “Peace and Security in a Changing Climate: From Analysis to Action”. Held on COP29 Peace, Relief and Recovery Day, the high-level panel highlighted the linkages between climate change, peace and security, and brought together key voices to explore practical solutions for advancing peace-positive climate action. The event culminated in a pledges and commitments session, where participants announced new pledges of support and partnerships. These included:
Norway said it would continue its multi-year financial support in 2025 with a commitment of NOK 6 million and encouraged other donors to also invest in multi-year commitments. Denmark and Germany committed to continuing their support of Junior Professional Officers. These vital contributions will enable the CSM to advance its work, including context-specific initiatives that address the linkages between climate change, peace and security and catalyze action, and the deployment and backstopping of Climate, Peace and Security Advisors to UN peace operations and regional organizations.
The event brought together distinguished panellists from government, the United Nations, and civil society. Discussions focused on how the climate emergency acts as a risk multiplier, with displacement and migration, food insecurity, water scarcity, and livelihood loss among the primary channels through which climate change undermines peace and stability. Those that have contributed the least to climate change face the greatest risk of being overwhelmed by its impacts. Where climate change intersects with fragility and conflict, its effects are especially severe. Many of the countries most vulnerable to climate risks host a United Nations peacekeeping or special political mission, underscoring the need for integrated approaches to climate resilience and peacebuilding.
Quotes from Speakers:
Ms. Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the United Arab Emirates’ strong support: “As the UAE, we are particularly pleased to be a donor partner to the Climate Security Mechanism. The CSM has been an effective bridge between last year’s landmark COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace and the sustained focus on communities facing fragility, conflict, and humanitarian situations at COP29. The CSM’s analysis and advisory services help to increase climate action and finance in these highly vulnerable settings – one of the best investments we can make for peace and development. This event has embodied the Declaration’s vision, demonstrating how global partnerships can drive resilience and peace through effective climate action”.
“A very important action implemented through CSM is the deployment of climate, peace, security (CPS) advisors. Switzerland supports a new CPS Advisor at the UN Office to the African Union”, said Ambassador of Switzerland to Azerbaijan, Thomas Stähli, in his welcoming remarks.
“Addressing climate and security necessitates collective action and the inclusive leadership of Pacific nations” said Mr. Reagan Moses, Secretary for the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience of Nauru. “Partnerships, such as those promoted by the Climate Security Mechanism, are essential for achieving our shared objectives”.
“We cherish that CSM provides its expertise and collaborates with many different stakeholders. Such as the Women Peace Humanitarian Fund that fosters grassroot women-led projects to build climate resilience and sustain peace”, said Mr. Oliver Rentschler, Director-General for Climate Diplomacy and Geoeconomics, German Federal Foreign Office.
In the Liptako Gourma region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the Climate, Peace and Security Advisor supports regional and national strategies and action plans. H.E. Ms. Hawa Aw, Executive Secretary of the Liptako Gourma Authority, highlighted: “In a historic move, the landmark Bamako Declaration emphasises the integration of climate policy and security, which should be catalysed into impactful actions for a more resilient Sahel. In countries within our region with challenges to institutional capacities, the threat of climate change is deeply felt. Climate, peace and security initiatives should integrate a socioeconomic dimension to bring appropriate response to the people. We cannot face this alone, and we welcome the support to regional entities and all partners through the CSM to strengthen ongoing national efforts”.
In regions like Afghanistan, the CSM has brought together local authorities, civil society, and vulnerable communities to discuss solutions for climate challenges. Ms. Marwa Alam Safa, Founder and CEO of the Climate and Environment Youth Initiative, praised these efforts, stating: “The CPS Advisor has given a platform to Afghan voices in peace and climate discussions. The advisor-supported dialogues on climate change brought together diverse actors, ensuring their unique perspectives and knowledge were heard. Such initiatives are essential for inclusive and effective peace-positive climate solutions”.
H.E. Mr. Bartel Africano, Undersecretary of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of South Sudan, stated: "The relentless impacts of climate change pose key obstacles to South Sudan’s efforts to build resilience, peace and development. The Climate, Peace and Security Advisor provides crucial support to the government of South Sudan in addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change on peace. There are early indications that the government’s flooding preparedness task force is reducing the number of people initially estimated to be impacted by the current flooding crisis”.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) highlighted its commitment to climate adaptation and resilience efforts in conflict-affected settings. Ms. Stephanie Speck, Head of Special Initiatives at the GCF’s Office of Strategy and Impact, remarked, “It is often said that investing in climate adaptation and resilience in conflict-affected settings is too risky. But I would argue that, given current climate projections, the far greater risk lies in not investing”.
For more information, visit: www.un.org/climatesecuritymechanism and watch the video on Climate, Peace and Security in South Sudan
Media contact: CSM-core@un.org
[i] The Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) is a joint initiative by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO). Responding to growing calls for action by affected communities, Member States, regional organizations, experts and policymakers around the world, the CSM seeks to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations and its partners to systematically analyze and address the linkages between climate change, peace and security. Established in late 2018, the CSM draws on the complementary resources of DPPA, UNDP, UNEP, and DPO. The CSM works with partners to advance peace-positive climate action, catalyze climate-informed approaches to peace and security, and forge partnerships at all levels to exchange information and build the evidence base. To that end, the CSM provides technical advice and tailored support to UN field missions, country teams, regional organizations and other partners to bolster the analysis, reduction and management of climate-related peace and security risks. Beyond its field work, the CSM seeks to build an enabling environment and catalyze action by partners at all levels by investing in knowledge management and capacity building and by leveraging the convening power of its member entities.
[ii] The Group of Friends on Climate and Security is a coalition of United Nations Member States concerned with the adverse effects of climate change on peace and security. In this regard, the group’s objectives are, inter alia, to raise public awareness, to inform policy, and to strengthen the UN system’s ability and efforts to respond to the security challenges posed by the effects of climate change. The Group of Friends regularly addresses the UN Security Council through joint statements. Where relevant, the group addresses other UN fora as well, such as the General Assembly or the Peacebuilding Commission, among others. The Group of Friends was established in 2018 by Nauru and Germany and has grown to over 70 Member States from all regions of the world. Membership is open to all UN delegations who share the group’s objectives. The group meets twice a year at Ambassadorial level. Working level meetings are called on an ad hoc basis, and typically feature internal or external briefings or discussions on specific thematic issues of relevance to the UN. In its observer status capacity, the Climate Security Mechanism regularly briefs the Group of Friends on the progress of its work.
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In the nearly 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of civilians have been killed, the country’s energy capacity is on the brink of collapse and drones terrify communities on the frontline, the UN’s top aid official in the country said on Friday
At least 100,000 people have been forced to leave northern Gaza in the last 24 hours, with UN colleagues on the ground reporting worsening conditions and Israel's continuous denial of aid delivery requests as displacement and the death toll rises there and in Lebanon amid constant airstrikes. App users can follow our live update through the day here.
Intense Israeli military operations have continued in Gaza as UN humanitarians reported that multiple attempts to deliver lifesaving aid to besieged areas in the north of the enclave had been either “denied or impeded”.
Israeli military operations are blocking, denying or impeding lifesaving aid requests in Gaza on Thursday as the war there and in Lebanon continues to kill, injure and displace civilians. In an interview at UN Headquarters, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said he would be reaching out to President-elect Trump, arguing the agency has a "positive and important role to play". App users can follow updates here.
The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, is living through the “darkest moment” of its 75 year history, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on Wednesday, pointing to a trifecta of legislative, operational and security challenges.
Reports of ongoing bombardments, likely starvation and despair continue to emerge from Gaza where many basic daily staples now “barely exist”, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday.
Madam Chair, [Ambassador Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes of Latvia]
Distinguished Delegates,
I have the honor of presenting the 2024 report of the Secretary-General on policy matters pertaining to special political missions.
I am grateful for the presence of my colleague, ASG Buttenheim, whose department provides vital operational support on which SPMs rely on.
Let me also express DPPA’s appreciation to the delegations of Finland and Mexico for their strong leadership on this agenda item and their close cooperation with the Secretariat.
Madam Chair,
During this reporting period, special political missions continued to work in some of the most complex operational environments in the world. They witnessed firsthand the effects of converging threats to international peace and security which impacted their ability to implement their mandates.
Geopolitical tensions, escalating armed conflicts, and fraying relations in some regions have created substantial obstacles to finding collective solutions, thus narrowing political space for peace agreements and complicating mandate implementation.
In the Middle East, the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon have not only caused immense human suffering and widespread destruction but are also dangerously heightening regional tensions.
The proliferation of non-state armed groups in many of our operational theaters, including some linked to terrorist and organized criminal interests, is particularly challenging.
In Haiti, for example, the security situation has deteriorated, with a staggering increase in gang violence throughout the country. Between July and September alone, over 1,200 people were killed and nearly 700,000 individuals were internally displaced. Criminal gangs are targeting state institutions—such as police stations, hospitals, and banks—paralyzing essential services and undermining the government's ability to maintain order.
In West Africa, despite national and international efforts, insecurity remains a significant challenge. Terrorist groups and transnational criminal networks are expanding their influence, spreading violence and intensifying humanitarian needs—with over 32 million people now urgently requiring assistance. Just when regional cooperation is most crucial, political fractures following unconstitutional changes in government in several countries have deepened regional tensions. This has significantly impacted the work of our regional office, UNOWAS.
Madam Chair,
Amidst these challenges, SPMs carried on their important work in support of Member State efforts to maintain international peace and security.
As the report of the Secretary-General shows, our missions worked with conflict parties as well as regional and international stakeholders, to promote dialogue, end violence, and reduce regional tensions.
In the Middle East, following the October 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and subsequent Israeli operations in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, UNSCO has worked with regional actors and international partners to support efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict, secure the release of hostages in Gaza, achieve a cessation of hostilities, increase humanitarian assistance, and prevent spillover into the occupied West Bank.
In Lebanon, the Special Coordinator is engaging intensively with Lebanese stakeholders and international partners to preserve the country’s stability. With the escalating conflict between Hizbullah and Israel, UNSCOL has worked closely with UNIFIL and international partners to urge all parties to recommit to the cessation of hostilities under resolution 1701, and to use diplomatic avenues to avoid further escalation.
In Libya, untiring UN efforts helped resolve a critical crisis over the leadership of the Central Bank. UNSMIL engaged with security actors and local mediators to defuse these tensions and facilitated talks between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, resulting in the 26 September agreement on new Central Bank leadership and improved governance practices.
Our missions also worked hand-in-hand with Member States and regional organizations to address transnational challenges.
In Central Asia, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy is facilitating dialogue and cooperation on issues such as water, energy, the environment, and climate change between the countries of the region.
In West Africa, UNOWAS is engaging with a wide range of regional and national actors, including civil society, to help develop effective solutions to pastoralism-related conflicts.
Madam Chair,
I would like to highlight four thematic issues addressed in this year’s report of the Secretary-General.
First, the work of SPMs in implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Last month, the Secretary-General launched the 'Common Pledge for Women’s Full, Equal, and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes,' which aims to bring together global mediators to take voluntary concrete steps towards full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all peace processes. This is an important initiative that will help reinforce the work of special political missions to promote the women, peace and security agenda.
In Afghanistan, UNAMA is advocating firmly and publicly with the de facto authorities for the rights of women and girls, emphasizing that their basic rights and roles in society must be fully respected.
In Yemen, the Office of the Special Envoy, in collaboration with UN Women, organized consultations in Aden, Amman, Cairo, and Madrid with over 400 Yemeni women and men from various communities to center women’s priorities and lay the groundwork for a more inclusive peace process.
Second, supporting the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda.
When young people are involved in peacebuilding efforts, peace processes tend to be more durable.
Earlier this year, DPPA launched its Youth, Peace, and Security Strategy for 2024-26, focusing on three key priorities for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2250: advocacy; enhancing staff capacities through targeted training; and launching the YPS Impact Pilot Initiative aimed at institutionalizing the YPS agenda.
Special political missions are a vital component in advancing the UN YPS agenda. As of this year, 13 of our missions have integrated youth, peace, and security, or youth engagement, into their strategic frameworks.
In Gabon, UNOCA supported women’s and youth organizations with technical and financial assistance to raise awareness of key recommendations from the National Inclusive Dialogue. These include ensuring at least 40 per cent representation of women in decision-making positions, creating a gender advisory council, and including 20 per cent youth and 10 per cent vulnerable groups in the drafting and adoption of the new Constitution.
Third, peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
Peacebuilding and sustaining peace and core aspects of the work of special political missions, which work closely with UN Country Teams and Resident Coordinators to advance nationally owned peacebuilding priorities and accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
In Somalia, UNSOM supported political reconciliation efforts at all levels, including through the National Consultative Council. This helped Somali actors advance key state building priorities, including on the constitutional review process and proposals for the electoral calendar at the national and subnational levels. Similar support was provided to the revision of the National Reconciliation Framework and the development of a strategic plan for its implementation.
In Colombia, the Verification Mission, in collaboration with the UN Country Team, is implementing Peacebuilding Fund projects aimed at supporting peace dialogues initiated by the government with armed groups and enhancing the capacity of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to investigate serious crimes.
Finally, helping address hate speech and disinformation.
Special political missions operate in challenging environments where hate speech, disinformation, and misinformation drive polarization, fuel prejudice, and ignite violence, worsening conflict dynamics and obstructing peace efforts. In response, these missions are actively collaborating with national and regional partners to counter the malicious use of digital platforms.
In the context of recent elections held in a number of countries in West Africa and Central Africa, our regional offices, UNOCA and UNOWAS, have engaged with governments and national stakeholders to mitigate the risks of disinformation and hate speech. This collaboration aimed to foster a peaceful electoral environment and uphold the integrity of democratic processes in the region.
One critical aspect of the digital dimension of conflicts is the impact of social media behavior by conflict parties on conflict dynamics and mediation efforts.
To help address this increasing challenge, DPPA has developed guidance for mediators and peace implementation bodies, providing them with strategies to effectively address social media behavior in the context of implementing and monitoring peace agreements.
Madam Chair,
Distinguished delegates,
We are grateful for the support that Member States continue to show for SPMs. They are critical instruments of international peace and security, as reiterated in the recently agreed Pact for the Future.
Since the first SPM was deployed in 1948, the United Nations has established more than 130 special political missions with diverse mandates, structures, and approaches to deescalate conflicts and assist host governments and regions in preventing conflicts, advancing political processes, and sustaining peace.
These missions have accompanied Member States through historic times of change, much like those we are navigating today. They have adapted to the evolving global peace and security landscape, responding to shifting conflict dynamics and the needs of host governments.
In this context, we welcome the request in the Pact for the Future for the Secretary-General to conduct a review of the future of all United Nations peace operations – which include all peacekeeping operations and all special political missions – in order to provide strategic, action-oriented recommendations in close consultation with Member States.
We have already begun the work to respond to this request, with a specific focus on ensuring that the specific challenges and unique features of special political missions as civilian missions are an integral part of the review. We are also working together with our colleagues in DPO to ensure that the common challenges faced by all missions – including in areas such as transitions across different types of missions – are fully tackled in the review.
In the coming months, DPPA will engage with all Member States, including through the Fourth Committee, to hear your perspectives and proposals on how special political missions can continue to adapt and rise to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Our goal is to make this an inclusive consultative process, so that we can be fully informed of the views of the Membership as a whole – ultimately, special political missions are your tools and need to respond to your priorities.
Before concluding, Madam Chair, I would like to pay a special tribute to the United Nations staff members serving in special political missions, who often work under the most difficult conditions to advance international peace and security.
Thank you and I look forward for a rich exchange.
Thank you, Mister President
The last time the Council discussed the situation in Sudan was only two weeks ago.
That is not a long time in absolute terms, but it is an eternity for the millions of Sudanese enduring unrelenting violence and suffering.
As the Secretary-General said in this chamber on 28 October, Sudan is trapped in a nightmare.
The latest wave of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in eastern Al-Gazira State has been marked by what non-governmental organizations have described as some of the worst, most extreme violence in the last 18 months.
Large numbers of civilians have been killed. Even more have lost their homes and been forced to flee.
We are receiving reports of horrific violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including sexual violence committed predominantly against women and girls.
Fighting also continues in El Fasher, Khartoum and other areas where civilians are subjected to appalling suffering.
We strongly condemn the Rapid Support Forces’ continued attacks against civilians. We also strongly condemn the Sudanese Armed Forces’ indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas.
We are appalled by the attacks against civilians perpetrated by forces affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces in the Khartoum area.
Let me stress that both warring parties bear responsibility for this violence.
The people of Sudan need an immediate ceasefire. An end to the fighting is the most effective way of protecting civilians.
It is long past time for the warring parties to come to the negotiating table. The only path out of this conflict is a negotiated political solution.
However, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces seem convinced they can prevail on the battlefield.
As the end of the rainy season approaches, the parties continue to escalate their military operations, recruit new fighters and intensify their attacks.
This is possible thanks to considerable external support, including a steady flow of weapons into the country.
To put it bluntly, certain purported allies of the parties are enabling the slaughter in Sudan. This is unconscionable, it is illegal, and it must end.
While the parties might not be ready for a negotiated settlement, Sudan’s partners have a responsibility to press them to work for one.
We welcome the efforts of the African Union and IGAD to restore an inclusive Sudanese political dialogue – an essential process to rebuild Sudan’s democratic transition with civilians at its heart.
We also commend the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group for promoting implementation of the Jeddah Declaration and other key issues.
Still, peacemaking efforts remain mostly fragmented. The warring parties profit from multilateral disunity and the lack of coordinated action.
The need for greater convergence is blindingly clear.
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, continues his efforts to close this loophole.
In this regard, the meetings of the Sudan Consultative Group, expected before the end of the year, will provide a crucial opportunity for enhanced coordination among multilateral organizations and key Member States.
Mister President,
The report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the protection of civilians in Sudan contains solid recommendations.
We have a collective responsibility to step up our efforts to operationalize them. To that end, I welcome the initiative to advance a new resolution on this matter.
We also need urgent progress on the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration. The parties must finally act on their commitments to protect civilians.
The establishment of a compliance mechanism agreed by the warring parties, with the support of key partners, would be a critical step to hold the parties accountable to their commitments.
At the same time, in the absence of a nationwide ceasefire, we urgently need progress on local ceasefires that could give civilians some respite, create avenues for dialogue and potentially lay the ground for a more comprehensive agreement.
Personal Envoy Lamamra is considering the next phase of his engagement with the warring parties, including another round of “proximity talks” focused on commitments related to the protection of civilians.
He will travel to Sudan and other locations in the region in the coming weeks to meet with key stakeholders. He will also closely engage with Sudanese civilian groups to ensure their perspectives are reflected in his endeavours.
Mister President, and the Members of the Council,
The continued support of the Security Council for Personal Envoy Lamamra is crucial. The immensity of this tragedy compels to do all that we can to bring it to an end.
Thank you.
We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field, as the Security Council prepares to hold an emergency session on the “imminent and substantial likelihood of famine” in Gaza. UN News app users can follow the live feed here.
The people of Sudan face an ever-deepening crisis as the relentless war between rival militaries pushes the country further into chaos, the UN’s top political affairs official told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that a ceasefire and a negotiated political solution remain the only viable path to peace.
The people of Sudan face an ever-deepening crisis as the relentless war between rival militaries pushes the country further into chaos, the UN’s top political affairs official told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that a ceasefire and a negotiated political solution remain the only viable path to peace.
With Ukraine approaching 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion, civilians are facing mounting challenges as intense attacks continue and winter tightens its grip, according to UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field including Gaza, Lebanon and more, as the Security Council holds an emergency session on Gaza. UN News app users can follow the live feed here.
Dead bodies are lying in the streets of besieged northern Gaza while hospitals run out of blood packs – a situation that’s “nothing short of catastrophic”, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Tuesday.
Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues efforts to keep hospitals up and running and to evacuate patients requiring specialized treatment, a senior official with the UN agency said in Cairo on Monday.
This year has seen a staggering 1,000 per cent or ten-fold surge in sexual violence against children in Haiti, during an unprecedented crisis which has seen armed gangs continue to terrorize communities amid a growing humanitarian disaster.
Amid intensifying military operations in Lebanon and deadly attacks on civilians, medical personnel and infrastructure, UN humanitarians warned on Monday that food insecurity in the war-wracked country is set to worsen.
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