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The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday expressed grave concerns over escalating violence in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, condemning the use of “unlawful lethal force” by Israeli security forces.
The UN has suspended all official movements by its teams into and out of Houthi-held areas of Yemen, after more UN staffers were detained on Thursday.
Intensifying hostilities on the outskirts of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond involving the non-state armed group M23 have caused further mass displacement in the mineral-rich region, with fears that the regional capital Goma could come under attack, UN agencies warned on Friday.
Mister President,
Members of the Security Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to highlight our long and multifaceted cooperation with the League of Arab States, a key regional organization that will mark the 80th anniversary of its founding in March.
I take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency, Mr. Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League, ahead of this auspicious occasion.
We meet today in the early days of the ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. This critical and long-awaited agreement offers a ray of hope, a long-overdue moment that provides much-needed relief for Palestinians in Gaza and for the hostages reunited with their loved ones.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States of America have all made significant efforts to broker the agreement. The United Nations is now doing its part to ensure the rapid scaling up of the humanitarian relief. We must all work together to ensure its success.
In this regard, UNRWA must be enabled to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all its areas of operation. We again commend the League of Arab States for its vocal support of this vital UN agency.
The United Nations Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the continuing violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly the ongoing large-scale military operation in Jenin, which has reportedly resulted in Palestinian casualties.
The League has always supported the Palestinian people, including through its efforts to rally international support for a ceasefire.
The international community has a shared responsibility to support efforts toward a just and lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A negotiated two-state solution remains the only viable path to ensuring peace, security, and coexistence for both Israelis and Palestinians.
As Syria seeks to chart a new course following the fall of the Assad government, Special Envoy Pedersen continues his close engagement with the League and its Member States to coordinate support for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned inclusive political process, based on the key principles of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).
The UN stands ready to do everything it can to support the Syrian people to realize their legitimate aspirations.
In Lebanon, the election of a President after a vacuum of more than two years and the appointment of a Prime Minister can pave the way to ensuring the country’s security and stability. The United Nations stands ready to support the government of Lebanon, once formed, in its reform and reconstruction efforts.
We also commend the role played by the League of Arab States in contributing to the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel through tireless advocacy and engagement.
In Yemen, political progress has stalled amidst Houthi attacks on commercial and merchant vessels in the Red Sea and on Israel. We hope that the ceasefire and hostage deal will lead to de-escalation in the region.
Looking forward, the support of regional partners – including the League of Arab States – will be crucial to promote de-escalation, rebuild trust and move towards a UN roadmap for a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement of the conflict in Yemen.
The political deadlock persists in Libya and the fragile status quo risks being destabilized through unilateral actions.
To help break the status quo, UNSMIL recently launched an inclusive, intra-Libyan political initiative to take the country to elections.
In this regard, the League is an important partner for the United Nations and is well positioned to rally and demonstrate collective Arab support for Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solutions to the political deadlock through the UN-facilitated process.
Finally, we remain extremely concerned about the situation in Sudan, which continues to deteriorate. The fighting is devastating the lives of Sudanese civilians, threatening the future of the country and increasingly impacting a region already beset by deep fragility, conflicts and displacement.
Diplomatic efforts must be intensified to finally bring an end to the conflict.
Personal Envoy Lamamra is working tirelessly to support mediation efforts and promote dialogue to bring an end to the war.
We commend the efforts of the League, including in bolstering multilateral coordination by convening the first iteration of the Consultative Group on Sudan in June last year.
Mister President,
While the situation in the Middle East remains fragile and several key conflicts continue unabated, the ceasefire in Gaza, the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and developments in Syria together represent an opportunity for significant positive change in a region that has been in acute crisis for far too long.
The extreme challenges across the Middle East come at a time when the international system has been struggling.
Climate change, inequality and other global issues continue to grow increasingly intense, often exacerbating the conflicts themselves or risking others being drawn towards disaster.
In September last year, Member States came together to bolster our joint efforts to strengthen multilateralism and restore trust in our institutions. With the Pact for the Future, they reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations and called for a recommitment to international cooperation based on respect for international law.
Our cooperation with the League, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter, itself is an important aspect of implementing the Pact. As highlighted last July at our biennal United Nations – League of Arab States General Cooperation Meeting, our strengthened cooperation extends across all pillars.
In this context, we look forward to the League’s hosting of our sixteenth sectoral meeting, on the theme of “Cooperation in the field of women’s rights and child protection in armed conflict” later this year.
In recent years, the UN has supported the League on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, efforts that have culminated in the landmark Arab Regional Youth, Peace and Security Strategy and work towards a draft action plan for its implementation.
Implementing the strategy is an investment in the future of the entire region.
In a region where young women and men constitute as much as 60 per cent of the population, listening to their voices and offering them opportunities are vital steps that can help strengthen peace and stability.
Mister President,
The League of Arab States was founded in March 1945, several months before our own organization was established in October of that year. We have since enjoyed a strong partnership based on robust cooperation for decades, and we see this continuing far into the future.
We commit to continue our partnership with the League of Arab States to augment our joint efforts to improve the lives of people across the Arab region and beyond.
Thank you. Shukran
The Security Council met on Thursday afternoon in New York to discuss the life-threatening dangers faced by Palestinian children – thousands of whom have been killed during the war in Gaza. UN relief chief Tom Fletcher said a whole generation had been traumatised, but the ceasefire has "significantly improved" humanitarian aid operations. Join us for live coverage as well as updates from our colleagues on the ground throughout the region. App users can follow here.
The United Nations and the League of Arab States are deepening their collaboration to tackle critical peace and security challenges in the Middle East and beyond, a senior UN political affairs official told the Security Council on Thursday.
In a rare moment of cautious optimism, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher addressed the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza on Thursday, emphasizing the plight of children who have borne the brunt of the conflict.
The ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza is providing a critical window of relief for Palestinians in the war-torn enclave, as UN agencies ramp up the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
The UN chief on Thursday expressed alarm over a renewed offensive by M23 rebels in recent days in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which is taking a “devastating toll” on civilians.
Haiti is showing signs of progress on the political front despite serious setbacks in terms of security, the Special Representative and Head of the UN office in the country, BINUH, told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Nearly a third of Lebanon’s population is facing acute food insecurity following the escalation of hostilities in late 2024, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released on Wednesday.
The recent deadly violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region has highlighted the ongoing challenges in consolidating peace, eight years after the signing of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement, the UN Security Council heard on Wednesday.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen and the head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Wednesday welcomed the release of the crew of a commercial ship held by Houthi rebels for more than a year.
The UN Special Envoy for Syria on Wednesday emphasised the strong international consensus that is emerging in support of the country’s political transition since the fall of the Assad regime last month.
The UN and partners are “seizing every opportunity” provided by the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to support civilians, providing a surge in aid alongside storage capacity, repair work, lifesaving services and damage assessments.
The security situation in Myanmar continues to remain highly volatile, with intensified airstrikes across multiple regions leading to dozens of civilian casualties, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday.
The crisis in Gaza continues to remain acute, with UN humanitarians reporting critical shortages of water, food and efforts to deliver vital aid to the war-torn region. Meanwhile, escalating violence in the West Bank has further deepened concerns over civilian safety and access to assistance.
Aid is entering Gaza “at scale” in line with the ceasefire agreement that has seen Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners released and families reunited, but massive needs remain across the devastated enclave, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
Africa tragically remains the epicentre of global terrorism, and more action is required to implement international commitments to combat this scourge, the UN Deputy Secretary-General told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Following the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the UN Security Council is meeting in New York to hear from the Secretary-General and foreign ministers from the Middle East and beyond. UN chief António Guterres told the meeting there must be “irreversible action” to realise the two-State solution. Stay with us for latest live developments from the UN and our partners. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
A UN aid convoy is on its way in southern Sudan to the strategically important city of Wad Madani, carrying food and nutrition supplies for families at risk of famine.
Following the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the UN Security Council is meeting in New York to hear from the Secretary-General and foreign ministers from the Middle East and beyond. The UN Secretary-General told the meeting there must be “irreversible action” to realise the two-State solution. Stay with us for latest live developments from the UN and our partners. UN News app users can follow here.
With the Middle East undergoing “a period of profound transformation”, the international community must support efforts towards more justice, dignity, human rights and peace in the region, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Monday.
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert today began a visit to Israel, where she is set to meet with senior Israeli officials. Her discussions will focus on steps being taken towards the implementation of the cessation of hostilities understanding, which came into force on 27 November 2024, as well as on remaining challenges. The need to catalyse the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (...
Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the start on Sunday of the ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, as UN humanitarian convoys brought in urgently needed food aid to begin pulling the war-ravaged territory back from starvation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday expressed optimism for Lebanon's future as he wrapped up a two-day solidarity visit with a call on the new government, the Lebanese people, and international community to “make the most of this atmosphere of opportunity”.
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The UN launched a new Action Plan on Friday that will enhance monitoring and response to antisemitism.
Continuing his high profile visit to Lebanon, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday underscored the challenges faced by UN peacekeepers and reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Amid reports that Israel’s security cabinet has given the green light to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) expressed cautious optimism on Friday over the potentially major boost to aid relief in the devastated enclave.
Two senior UN peacekeeping officials briefed the Security Council on Friday on recent developments in Lebanon and the occupied Syrian Golan, and the challenges facing “blue helmets” serving there.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) on Friday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, pledging to scale up aid delivery across the stricken enclave once it comes into effect.
Mr. President,
The people of Ukraine have endured three years of devastation caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of their country in February 2022. This invasion was launched in brazen violation of the UN Charter and international law.
The holiday and New Year season, a time meant for peace and reflection, brought no respite, but rather an escalation and even expansion of the fighting, consistent with the dangerous pattern of the past year.
Most disturbingly, in 2024 we witnessed an alarming rise in the toll of civilian casualties.
Last year, the total number of civilians killed and injured was 30 per cent higher than the year before, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The increase in casualties among children is particularly distressing. More children were killed or injured in the first three quarters of 2024 than in all of 2023.
According to OHCHR, between February 2022 and 31 December 2024, at least 12,456 civilians, including 669 children, were killed. 28,382 civilians, including 1,833 children, have been injured. The actual figures are likely considerably higher.
Verified attacks on schools and hospitals also increased in 2024, with more than 580 educational and health facilities damaged or destroyed within nine months.
On 9 January of this year, at least 13 people were reportedly killed and more than 100 injured in Zaporizhzhia by a Russian attack.
Hostilities in the last two weeks have forced new displacements, with more than 1,600 people, including children, fleeing front-line areas, primarily in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, according to local authorities.
In the beginning of the new year, there were also civilian casualties in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
On 10 January, an alleged Ukrainian strike on Donetsk city reportedly resulted in the death of two civilians and the wounding of two others at a local supermarket.
I want to repeat that we unequivocally condemn all attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Such actions, no matter where they occur, are prohibited under international law and must cease immediately.
The daily attacks bring death and terror to the local population. But they have also made the situation increasingly dangerous for the diplomatic community and international organizations operating in Ukraine.
On 20 December, a strike on Kyiv damaged six foreign embassies.
On 10 December, a drone attack struck a vehicle of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Diplomatic and international personnel and assets must be protected at all times.
For humanitarian workers, too, this was another difficult year. Ten aid workers were killed and 41 injured in the line of duty.
Mr. President,
As fierce fighting continues in the east and south of Ukraine, deadly clashes also persist in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
We have heard unconfirmed reports of civilian casualties and remain concerned about the impact of the hostilities on the population on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian border.
Furthermore, there are reports that military personnel from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) were captured in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
The reported involvement of the DPRK troops in fighting alongside the Russian forces continues to raise serious concerns regarding further internationalization of this already dangerous conflict.
Mr. President,
The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine remains dire. The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Ukraine, launched today, estimates that 12.7 million people – roughly 36 per cent of the country’s population – will require assistance this year, with $2.6 billion needed to address their acute needs.
Despite the decrease in the number of people in need, from 14.6 million in 2024 to 12.7 million in 2025, thanks to improved access to services in the major urban centers of Kyiv and Lviv, humanitarian conditions near the front-line regions have deteriorated to catastrophic levels.
We must also not forget the plight of the many thousands of Ukrainian civilians living in territories of Ukraine currently occupied by the Russian Federation.
The needs in these areas are estimated to be severe and worsened by extremely limited humanitarian access. We renew our call for the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to all civilians in need.
We are grateful to the donors who provided over $2.2 billion in 2024, thus enabling the United Nations to reach some 8.5 million people, 60 per cent of them women and girls.
We urge the international community to fully support the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to sustain operations in an increasingly complex and dangerous environment.
It bears emphasizing that the humanitarian situation is compounded by the harsh winter and the widespread damage that Russia’s attacks have caused to Ukraine’s energy production.
Just yesterday, Ukraine suffered the latest wave of country-wide Russian attacks systematically targeting civilian energy infrastructure.
In the last months of 2024, Russia conducted at least four similar large-scale, coordinated attacks.
We condemn such reprehensible tactics, which terrorize the civilian population and deprive it of basic services. They must end.
The UN continues to work with the Government of Ukraine to restore energy generation capacity, while creating opportunities in the green energy sector.
Mr. President,
According to reports, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange yesterday that enabled fifty people to return to their homes.
We welcome this development as well as the reported exchange of more than 300 prisoners of war on 30 December. We commend the efforts of all involved and urge the sides to increase the scope and pace of these exchanges.
However, we remain alarmed by reports of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces.
In its December report, OHCHR assessed that allegations of 19 incidents since August, involving the killing of 62 individuals, were credible.
OHCHR also found that the Russian Federation has used widespread and systematic torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The use of torture against Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces has also been documented. We note that Ukrainian authorities have reported opening investigations into the accusations.
Mr. President,
As we approach the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, global calls for de-escalation and the beginning of a process to end the fighting are growing louder.
The Secretary-General’s good offices remain available to support all good faith efforts to find a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.
Thank you.
