Secretary-General: Earthquake supercharges suffering in Myanmar

Speaking to the media on 3 April, the Secretary-General said Myanmar was a scene of utter devastation and desperation following the earthquake that hit the country on 28 March, also affecting much of the immediate region. The disaster, he added, had laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing people throughout the country. Even before the earthquake, nearly 20 million people — or one in every three in Myanmar — already required humanitarian aid. Millions had also already fled their homes from conflict and violence. "The earthquake has supercharged the suffering – with the monsoon season just around the corner," he said. The Secretary-General appealed for rapid, safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach those most in need across the country and welcomed the announcements of temporary ceasefires. The United Nations will keep pushing for peace and lifesaving support for the people of Myanmar in their hour of need, he concluded.

"Efforts to address root causes of conflict" in West Africa and the Sahel must be supported, SRSG Simão tells Security Council

On 3 April, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) Leonardo Santos Simão told the Security Council that “Eighty years after its creation, the United Nations remains more critical than ever," emphasizing "the need for collective efforts" to address the region's persistent challenges. Simão went on to describe the situation in the region following the withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the subsequent establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States. Noting the continued decline in resources for humanitarian assistance to the region, he said "[e]fforts to address the root causes of conflict and mitigate the impact of climate change should be supported."

Peacebuilding Fund's Group of Friends meets for first quarterly meeting of 2025

On 4 April, Sweden and the United Kingdom co-chaired the first quarterly meeting of 2025 of the Peacebuilding Fund's (PBF) Group of Friends. Brian Williams from the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) briefed partners on the Fund’s priorities for the year, including the planned use of assessed contributions, noting that lower levels of voluntary contributions are limiting the Fund’s support. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Central African Republic (CAR), joined virtually from Bangui. He briefed partners on the recent visit by Assistant-Secretary-General Elizabeth Spehar and the strategic support provided by the PBF to CAR and the country’s peacebuilding context and the contribution of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the UN system.

Office of Special Envoy for Great Lakes region convenes meeting on women’s participation in peace processes

On 2-3 April, the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, UN Women and other partners convened a hybrid technical working group session in Nairobi, Kenya, in support of ongoing regional and international peace efforts for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes. The group discussed gendered conflict analysis carried out by a national taskforce in the DRC with contributions from local and regional women networks. Building on the conclusions of the Bujumbura and Luanda women’s forums held in August and October 2024, the working group developed a draft roadmap and framework of engagement to serve as entry points for women’s future consultations in peace mediation processes.

Peace signatories graduate from citizen participation course

On 1 April, peace signatories from Santander de Quilichao in the north of the Cauca showed their commitment to social transformation, with the support of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. Participants in the reincorporation process (eight women and nine men) graduated from the "Citizen Participation, Advocacy and Control" diploma course. The training, promoted by the University of Antioquia through its Political and Social School, strengthens leadership and citizen participation to build a more just, equitable and democratic society.

Next Week

The Security Council will receive the latest report of the Secretary-General on the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on 11 April.