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Reports and Policy Documents

2024

  • 15 Feb 2024

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

    On 15 February 2024, SRSG Kaha Imnadze took part in the first meeting of the...

  • 15 Feb 2024

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

    On 15 February, Kaha Imnadze, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia...

  • 15 Feb 2024

    Twenty-one years ago in February, US Secretary of State Colin Powell held up a tiny blue-capped vial in the UN Security Council, claiming Iraq and President Saddam Hussein were producing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

  • 15 Feb 2024

    International cooperation is vital to confront the multi-faceted challenges resulting from terrorism, the head of the UN Office dedicated to confronting the scourge worldwide said on Thursday, calling for decisive multilateral action.

  • 15 Feb 2024

    In the battle to slow global warming, January was the hottest month on record according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Thursday.

  • 15 Feb 2024

    An independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Thursday that Israel’s decision to ban her from entering the country is nothing new and must not distract from atrocities being committed in Gaza. 

  • 15 Feb 2024

    Progress towards credible elections in Libya is impossible without an agreement between the key political players, the UN’s top envoy to the north African country said on Thursday.

  • 15 Feb 2024

    Reconstruction and recovery in war-torn Ukraine is projected to cost $486 billion over the next decade, up from $411 billion estimated a year ago, a UN-backed study published on Thursday has revealed. 

  • 15 Feb 2024

    UPDATED: Amid ongoing airstrikes targeting Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah and reports that Israeli forces have conducted a military operation inside the Nasser Hospital Complex, concerns over a potential ground invasion of the densely populated border city are escalating. 

  • 14 Feb 2024

    Special Coordinator Wronecka meets caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail (12 02 24)

    The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka...

  • 14 Feb 2024

    UN Photo by Loey Felipe

    Thank you, Madame President.

    Madame President allow me to state the obvious: we meet at a...

  • 14 Feb 2024

    BRUSSELS – 14 February – Five young women from various Libyan regions travelled to Brussels as part of UNSMIL’s Ra’idat...

  • 14 Feb 2024

    Civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are once again bearing the brunt of localized violence, amid a sharp uptick in fighting between Government forces and the M23 armed group, the UN refugee agency reported on Wednesday.

  • 14 Feb 2024

    Tensions remain high in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the town of Sake, as clashes persist between M23 rebels and Government forces, the UN mission in the country, MONUSCO, reported on Wednesday. 

  • 14 Feb 2024

    The shockwaves from the war in Gaza continue to reverberate across the wider Middle East region, with the situation in Yemen much more complex than it was a few months ago, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Wednesday.

  • 14 Feb 2024

    UN medics said on Wednesday that they feared a humanitarian disaster “beyond imagination” if a full-scale incursion by the Israeli military happens in Rafah in southern Gaza.

  • 13 Feb 2024

    Countries must act now to break the deadly links between conflict, climate and food insecurity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, addressing a Security Council meeting focused on these challenges. 

  • 13 Feb 2024

    As international efforts continue to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, the head of UNRWA, the UN aid agency for Palestinians, warned on Tuesday that those in the enclave remain deeply traumatised by the war with Israel and afraid of a full-scale assault on Rafah in the south.

  • 13 Feb 2024

    UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Martin Griffith has reiterated his warning against a full-scale military assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population is now sheltered. 
     

  • 12 Feb 2024

    On 13 February 2024 the African Union (AU) organized an event on the margins of the 37th Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government. The event, which...

  • 12 Feb 2024

    Buenaventura, 10 February 2024. On the final day of their agenda in the visit to Colombia, the spotlight was on...

  • 12 Feb 2024

    9 February 2024. The United Nations Security Council continued its visit to Colombia today, stopping at the...

  • 12 Feb 2024

    Madam President,

    Later this month, we will mark two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law.

    As a result of the war that followed, thousands of civilians have been killed and injured. Millions have been displaced, and for those who have stayed, the damage and destruction of critical infrastructure and the continuous threat of attacks impact all aspects of their daily lives.

    The approaching anniversary of the invasion is not only an occasion to recount the horrors of the past two years, but also a reminder that the armed conflict in Ukraine did not begin on 24 February 2022, but has been ongoing in the country’s east since 2014.

    The United Nations has been, and will remain, fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

    Today’s meeting is also a reminder that, over the years, there were numerous efforts to settle the situation by diplomatic means. Unfortunately, these efforts did not result in a lasting solution, nor stop the Russian Federation from launching a full-scale armed attack on its neighbor.

    The United Nations was not formally part of any mechanism related to the peace process in Ukraine, such as the Normandy Format. The United Nations was not invited to be a participant in the various negotiations in Minsk, nor to the 2014 and 2015 agreements. Neither was the United Nations involved in the implementation efforts led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Trilateral Contact Group.

    We therefore refer to those directly involved to reflect on the details of these processes and the implementation of the related agreements.

    Over the years, the United Nations had expressed full support to all involved in their diplomatic efforts and to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and related measures, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2202 and the Presidential Statement of 6 June 2018.

    The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, despite the often-difficult conditions, played a crucial role in providing information about ceasefire violations to maintain dialogue, reduce tensions and prevent escalation, in line with its mandate. The hard work and dedication of the more than one thousand monitors and the Mission’s leadership deserve to be recognized and commended.

    We are grateful to the OSCE for the good and constructive cooperation over the years.

    In line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, the United Nations provided its expertise, when requested and as appropriate, to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission on specific matters, including women, peace and security, and ceasefire monitoring. When requested, we also supported some of the Working Groups under the OSCE-led Trilateral Contact Group.

    In order to provide assistance to those affected by the conflict, our colleagues on the ground consistently coordinated with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission on security, humanitarian and human rights access-related issues.  

    As the security challenges and tensions in the OSCE region persist, we express our commitment to continued partnership, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter.

    Madam President,

    Last week in this Council, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo once again raised alarm about the increasing civilian casualties and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine. She also regretted the lack of prospects for peace.

    Indeed, we remain concerned about the escalatory trajectory of this war with intensifying attacks on civilians, and acts that could further diminish the prospects for a just and lasting solution.

    Madam President,

    What we know is that peace agreements alone will not end violence.  Peace processes must address the root causes of the conflict, and come with full and equal participation of women and youth, and inclusion of civil society voices.

    What we need for Ukraine, for the region and the world, is a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law, and the resolutions of the General Assembly.

    In this regard, I would like to reiterate the calls by the UN General Assembly to support de-escalation and encourage diplomatic efforts to this end.

    The United Nations continues to stand ready to support.

    Thank you.

  • 12 Feb 2024

    UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday appealed for restraint in the face of an Israeli military incursion in Rafah, warning of the risk of further atrocity crimes in the Gaza war. 

  • 12 Feb 2024

    Amid reports on Monday that two hostages have been rescued during a raid by Israeli special forces in Rafah city, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that the spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza is still not being met with anywhere near sufficient aid relief. 

  • 12 Feb 2024

    As the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, a senior UN official on Monday voiced deep concern over the escalatory trajectory of the war with intensifying attacks on civilians.

  • 12 Feb 2024

    Two critical lifelines for millions of people in northwest Syria have been extended for an additional three months, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday. 
     

  • 10 Feb 2024

    The latest song by Spanish-Palestinian singer Marwán, one of Spain's most acclaimed songwriters, is a lullaby for the children living under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. He tells UN News about his enduring links to the Palestinian people.

  • 9 Feb 2024
    A brief roundup of United Nations-related political and peacebuilding events and developments around the world. 

    USG DiCarlo warns Council that tensions in the Middle East continue to rise

    On 5 February, USG DiCarlo briefed the Council on the situation in the Middle East. She said that “the tensions that have engulfed multiple countries in the Middle East continue to rise, with near daily incidents in the region since mid-October 2023.” She said those incidents included 165 attacks on United States facilities in Syria and Iraq, prompting retaliatory strikes in the two countries. She recalled that on 2 February, after a 28 January drone attack killed three American soldiers, the United States said it had carried out 85 air strikes in Iraq and Syria against reported Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Forces and affiliated groups. “I appeal to the Council to continue to actively engage all concerned parties to prevent further escalation and the worsening of tensions that undermine regional peace and security,” she said.

    Read more

    Nearly two years on, “we are no closer to the end” of the war in Ukraine, USG DiCarlo tells Council

    On 6 February, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine. She said that nearly two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, "we are no closer to the end of this illegal and unjustified war." She noted that on 3 February, 28 people were reportedly killed in the shelling of a building housing a bakery and a restaurant in the town of Lysychansk, in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, which is currently under the control of the Russian Federation. In regions under Ukrainian control, the last few weeks have seen a reported intensification of Russian strikes, she said, noting that, on 5 February, four civilians were reportedly killed in Kherson, and one more in the Sumy region. “The impact of these attacks is devastating, particularly for the communities near active conflict zones,” she said.

    Read more

    SRSG Hennis-Plasschaert tells Council that attacks threaten Iraq’s “hard-won stability” 

    On 6 February, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Jeanine Hennis-Pleasschaert told the Council that, if attacks originating from within and outside of Iraq’s borders continued, it would undo the country’s hard-won stability and other achievements made over the past 18 months. “Messaging by strikes only serves to heighten tensions, to kill or injure people and to destroy property,” she cautioned.

    Watch here

    Briefing press, Special Coordinator Wennesland underscores need for political solution to situation in Middle East

    Speaking to the press at UN Headquarters in New York on 7 February, Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process underscored that in the midst of a “humanitarian nightmare,” a political solution was needed in order to “set up a system on the ground that can allow for a governance structure in Palestine that is strong enough.” If that structure is not put in place in a credible way, Wennesland cautioned, it would be the first time since the Oslo agreement was signed that part of Palestine would not be ruled by the Palestinians, even under occupation. 

    Watch here

    Special Envoy Pedersen issues statement marking one year since deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria

    On 6 February, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Geir Pedersen issued a statement remembering the “thousands of Syrians in Syria and Türkiye” who perished after devastating earthquakes. The disaster came on top of more than a decade of conflict and suffering, compounding the tragedy of the Syrian people inside and outside and on both sides of conflict lines, he said. He also underlined that “ongoing and alarming spillover from regional developments remind us, just as the earthquakes did a year ago, that Syrians are acutely vulnerable” and urged all parties to take measures to lower tensions. 

    Read more

    Special Representative Imandze meets with senior officials in Washington D.C.

    On 1-2 February, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Kaha Imnadze, as part of his regular consultations with the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, visited Washington and held meetings with government officials, including the Department of State, the National Security Council, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as representatives of the IMF and the World Bank Group, the Institute of Peace and the United Nations Foundation. The SRSG exchanged views on the overall geopolitical situation as well as specific political, security and socio-economic developments in Central Asia. 

    Read more

    Deputy Special Representative Isaczai attends National Development Plan Consultation Workshop

    On 4 February, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq/Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Ghulam Isaczai, and the UN Country Team in Iraq attended National Development Plan Consultation Workshop at the Ministry of Planning and underscored the importance of enhancing UN engagement in the process towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) acceleration. Isaczai highlighted UNIraq’s commitment to align the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) strategic priorities with those of the Government of Iraq.

    Special Coordinator Wronecka meets with Lebanese and foreign stakeholders

    UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka held a round of meetings this week with Lebanese and foreign stakeholders on the importance of safeguarding Lebanon’s stability. The Special Coordinator discussed with caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib (pictured left) the ongoing de-escalation efforts along the Blue Line and advancing the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. In separate meetings with MPs Ashraf Rifi, Ghada Ayoub, Ibrahim Mneimneh and Faysal Karameh, the Special Coordinator underlined the importance of speeding up the election of a new President at to ensure the stability of Lebanon’s state institutions. The Special Coordinator also met the Ambassador of Egypt Alaa Moussa and of Norway Martin Yttervik to discuss the international efforts to help Lebanon preserve its security and stability. 

    Special Coordinator for Lebanon meets with Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee discuss Implementation of Resolution 1701

    This week, as part of a series of meetings with the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), Special Coordinator Wronecka explored with MPs viable solutions for a full implementation of the resolution and to unlock some of the obstacles hindering its advancement. This comes amidst a flurry of discussions among Lebanese stakeholders on the way forward to implement Resolution 1701 in a way to preserve Lebanon’s stability.

    Special Coordinator for Lebanon meets with women peacebuilders

    UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka met with a group of young women peacebuilders from Lebanon to discuss their work, as well as the challenges they faced in promoting a culture of peace in their communities. The discussions also covered the impact of the four-month skirmishes across the Blue Line on the communities of south Lebanon, including on women, and the emergency and mitigation measures taken there.    

    Next Week

    On 13 February, the Security Council will hold an open date on climate, food security and conflict. On 14 February, it will meet on Yemen. On 15 February, it will meet on United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). 

  • 9 Feb 2024

    The unprecedented population density in Rafah in southern Gaza makes it nearly impossible to protect civilians in the event of ground attacks, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, warned on Friday. 

  • 9 Feb 2024

    The already dire human rights situation in Haiti has deteriorated even further amid unrelenting and expanding gang violence, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Friday. 

  • 9 Feb 2024

    The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide on Friday expressed profound horror at the ongoing situation in the Middle East, reiterating the call for a humanitarian ceasefire and protection of civilians.

  • 9 Feb 2024

    The unrelenting war in Gaza hasn’t spared hospitals, their staff or the people sheltering there, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday as it unveiled data indicating more than 350 attacks on healthcare in the enclave since hostilities erupted.

  • 8 Feb 2024

    The special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West...

  • 8 Feb 2024

    Bogotá, 8 February 2024. “We are in Colombia to witness first-hand the progress achieved in these eight years of...

  • 8 Feb 2024

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed deep concerns over the situation in Gaza, reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.

  • 8 Feb 2024

    Israel’s reported attempt to create a “buffer zone” with Gaza could constitute a war crime, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Thursday. 

  • 8 Feb 2024

    Amid further fighting across Gaza on Thursday, including reports of deadly airstrikes in the Rafah governorate, the UN’s top aid official, Martin Griffiths, echoed widespread international fears about a further escalation of the conflict.

  • 8 Feb 2024

    Trust building, not unilateral actions, are the linchpin in forging a peaceful path forward for Belgrade and Pristina, the UN’s top official in Kosovo told the Security Council on Thursday, as the body called an urgent meeting at Serbia’s request to debate new banking regulations that have triggered fresh tensions.

  • 8 Feb 2024

    The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week undertook his fourth visit to the beleaguered Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine, his office said on Thursday. 

  • 7 Feb 2024

    Bogotá, 7 February 2024. The full United Nations Security Council arrived in the country today, as part of...

  • 7 Feb 2024

    As the devastating Gaza-Israel war entered its fifth month on Wednesday leaving a reported 27,585 Palestinians dead and nearly 70,000 injured, the UN’s top humanitarian official welcomed early indications of a “potential breakthrough” in negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages.

  • 7 Feb 2024

    The top UN official in the Middle East underscored the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza during a briefing to journalists at UN Headquarters on Wednesday. 

  • 7 Feb 2024

    The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine has condemned a new wave of attacks on cities and towns early on Wednesday.

  • 7 Feb 2024

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has strongly condemned Monday’s deadly airstrike on two schools in eastern Myanmar resulting in the deaths of at least four children and two teachers, with many more left injured.

  • 7 Feb 2024

    Around the globe, “peace is the missing piece” as conflicts rage, divisions grow and polarization deepens, the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday.

  • 6 Feb 2024

    Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

    Let me begin by extending my very best wishes for 2024.

    I wish health and...

  • 6 Feb 2024

    UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL ROSEMARY A. DICARLO’S

    REMARKS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON

    UKRAINE

    New York, 6 FEBRUARY 2024

    Madam President,

    On Saturday, 3 February, 28 people, including a child, were reportedly killed, and dozens more injured, in the shelling of a building housing a bakery and a restaurant in the town of Lysychansk, in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. Lysychansk is currently under the control of the Russian Federation.

    In regions under Ukrainian control, the last few weeks have seen a reported intensification of Russian strikes.

    Yesterday, four civilians were reportedly killed in the city of Kherson, and one more in the Sumy region. Attacks resulting in civilian casualties were also reported in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

    Last week there was a significant escalation in violence, with more than 570 settlements targeted, mainly in the Zaporizhzhia region. The attacks killed 12 civilians and left 60 others injured.

    Today, it was reported that a two-month-old infant was killed and his mother wounded, when a missile hit a hotel in the village of Zolochiv in Kharkiv region. Two other women were injured.

    The impact of these attacks is devastating, particularly for the communities near active conflict zones.

    Since February 2022, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recorded 30,041 civilian casualties, with 10,382 killed, including 579 children, and 19,659 people injured, including 1,285 children.

    The number of civilian casualties in Ukraine significantly increased in December and January compared with previous months, reversing a trend of decreasing civilian casualties throughout 2023. OHCHR has verified that 158 civilians were killed and 483 injured in January.

    I must underscore once again that attacks on civilians, and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur are prohibited under international law. They are unacceptable and must stop immediately.

    Madam President,

    We acknowledge the tireless efforts of humanitarian organizations, including many local and women-led initiatives, to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict. But the people of Ukraine need much more.

    On 15 January, the United Nations and partners asked donors for a combined $4.2 billion to support war-affected communities in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees and their host communities in the region throughout 2024.

    Nearly two years since the invasion, 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, a staggering 40 per cent of the population. Some 6.3 million people have fled the country and remain refugees, mostly across Europe. 

    After almost two years of no, or very restricted, access to civilians in the areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine under Russian control, some 1.5 million people there are estimated to be in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

    International humanitarian law requires the parties to allow access to all civilians in need, no matter where they live. Any obstructions that leave the civilian population without the essentials to survive run contrary to this obligation and must cease immediately.

    Moreover, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, we are increasingly concerned about the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers.

    The recent attack in Kherson region resulting in the loss of two French nationals, working for a Swiss NGO, highlights the dangers faced by those providing essential aid on the ground.

    Last year, eleven aid workers were killed in the line of duty in Ukraine. In January of this year alone, five aid workers were injured.

    Similar to attacks on other civilians, attacks on humanitarian aid workers are prohibited under international law. They too must be stopped.

    Madam President,

    In a positive development, last week saw a successful exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war (POWs), both Ukrainian and Russian service members.  

    We urge the parties to continue such exchanges.

              At the same time, I must reiterate our concern regarding the treatment of the remaining prisoners of war. As I stressed at my last briefing, the parties must fulfil their obligations under the Geneva Conventions. 

    We continue to urge the Russian Federation to provide independent international monitors unfettered access to POWs.

    Madam President,

    A year after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly adopted resolution (A/RES/ES-11/6), calling for increased support for diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, consistent with the Charter of the United Nations.

    Now, another year has passed, and we are no closer to the end of this illegal and unjustified war.

    Instead, Ukrainians are mourning thousands more of their loved ones, millions remain displaced and more of the country has been laid waste.

    In just over two weeks, we will enter the third year of the war. With each passing day, the damage the conflict has done - and is doing - to Ukraine but also to global peace and security as well as international law becomes increasingly clear.

    Only a solution in line with the UN Charter, international law and UN General Assembly resolutions will achieve a just and lasting peace.

    Thank you, Madam President.

  • 6 Feb 2024

    AL KHOMS – 6 February – A group of young women from across Libya joined Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Georgette...

  • 6 Feb 2024
    UN Security Council visits Colombia at a turning point for peace

    Bogotá, 6 February 2024. The United Nations Security Council will visit...