As the war in Ukraine “continues to rage,” the UN political and peacebuilding chief updated the Security Council, saying on Wednesday that 5,718 people have been killed, including 372 children.
As the war in Ukraine “continues to rage,” the UN political and peacebuilding chief updated the Security Council, saying on Wednesday that 5,718 people have been killed, including 372 children.
Following the end of the “contentious” electoral process in May, the political climate in Somalia is now more conducive to addressing key national priorities, UN Special Representative James Swan told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Mr. President,
As we are painfully aware, the war in Ukraine continues to rage. Since I briefed this Council on 24 August, because of the fighting, at least 104 civilians, including 10 children have died and at least 253 civilians, including 25 children have been injured according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
This brings the total number to 13,917 civilian casualties: 5,718 killed, including 372 children, and 8,199 injured, including 635 children. These are only verified figures and the actual numbers are likely significantly higher.
The war also continued to drive large-scale displacement.
Over 6.9 million people are internally displaced, a jump of 330,000 since my last briefing. Most of the newly displaced are coming from eastern and southern Ukraine.
The current number of Ukrainian refugees recorded across Europe has surpassed 7 million, up from 6.7 million just two weeks ago.
Ukrainian women, who constitute half of these refugees, continue to face significantly increased security risks, including sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
Thousands of people in the conflict-affected areas of the Donetsk region, and most acutely in the city of Mariupol, lack access to reliable running water, increasing the risk of communicable disease.
All these numbers and facts, though shocking, cannot convey the full scale of the tragedy.
But in the face of the international community’s incapacity to stop this senseless war, we must continue to record its horrific consequences as faithfully and accurately as possible.
It is our responsibility, and indeed the very least we can do - to help prevent the war from escalating further and to deter other potential violent conflicts.
Mr. President,
The UN continues to mobilize to address the massive impact of the war on civilians.
UNDP has launched an assessment of the consequences of the war on living conditions, health, access to education, livelihoods, food security, social status, as well as on overall levels of poverty and human development. Results are expected to be available in December 2022.
As humanitarian needs rapidly rise, the UN’s response has scaled-up and now reaches 12.7 million people with various forms of assistance.
Over 560 humanitarian organizations – more than 60 percent of them national NGOs – are now operating countrywide. This fully complements the incredible work that thousands of Ukrainian volunteers are carrying out in their country.
The UN is actively seeking to ensure that protection and assistance are available in all areas of Ukraine. We remain extremely concerned about the lack of access to Ukrainians living in areas that are currently not under the control of the Government of Ukraine.
Our humanitarian response includes only one million people in these areas, despite the confirmed enormous humanitarian needs.
The Secretary-General has spoken at length about the impact of the war around the world, especially on shortages of food and fertilizer.
As we have stressed before, the effects on countries already severely hit by climate change, drought or instability have been extremely worrying.
Somalia, for example, a country that before February sourced at least 90 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine, is on the brink of famine.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that there are “concrete indications” that famine will occur later this year in the southern Bay region of the country.
Thousands are dying in a historic drought made worse by the effects of the war in Ukraine.
We are grateful that the Black Sea Initiative continues to enable food exports from Ukraine. Since 1 August, 100 ships have left Ukrainian ports carrying over 2,300,000 metric tons of grain across three continents, including 30 percent to low and lower-middle income countries.
The World Food Programme has thus far chartered three vessels to transport wheat from Ukraine in support of its humanitarian operations.
Thanks in part to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, world food commodity prices are coming down, the FAO reports, though they remain elevated.
But to ensure that food reaches all in need, Russian fertilizers and food products must reach foreign markets. The UN continues its efforts to facilitate access to these products, which are not under international sanctions, to world markets.
Mr. President,
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains a concern. The Council heard briefings yesterday from the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the dangers of continued military activity at the plant.
As the Secretary-General said yesterday, we welcome the IAEA mission as a first step to de-escalate the situation at Zaporizhzhia.
The IAEA mission report contains recommendations to further de-escalate the situation at the plant, including a proposal to create a Nuclear Safety and Security Protection Zone (NSSPZ) in Zaporizhzhia to ensure the safety of the operating staff and maintain the physical integrity of the plant.
As an immediate step, I reiterate the Secretary-General’s urgent call for a complete cessation of military activity in and around the plant. Demilitarization is the only answer to ensure the safety of this facility.
Mr. President,
The Fact-Finding mission to Olenivka is set to deploy in the coming days to look into the incident on 29 July that led to the death of 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Between 75 and 130 more were injured.
The head of the mission, Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, is accompanied by an experienced team of senior officials and experts.
The mission must be able to conduct its work without any interference and have safe, secure and unfettered access to people, places and evidence.
I want to thank Ukraine and Russia for their constructive approach in enabling preparations for the mission. We count on their continued support.
At my last briefing, I stressed that we were concerned by treatment of prisoners of war by both sides.
I want to reiterate that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine must have unimpeded access to all individuals detained in relation to the ongoing war.
This includes access to places of internment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees in the Russian Federation.
Both sides to the conflict must fully abide by their obligations under international law.
I welcome the parties’ continued engagement to agree on prisoner exchanges. Just last Friday, 14 prisoners were exchanged in the Donetsk region.
Mr. President,
The persistent allegations of forced displacement, deportation and so-called “filtration camps” run by the Russian Federation and affiliated local forces are extremely disturbing.
Such reports must be investigated with the cooperation of the competent authorities. Assistant Secretary-General Brands Kehris will provide more information on this issue.
Mr. President,
We have repeatedly discussed in this Chamber how the war in Ukraine is devastating that country but also endangering regional and global stability.
As you heard from the Secretary-General yesterday, just last week the 10th Review Conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons could not produce a substantive outcome after consensus was blocked because of issues related to the war.
The NPT failure is only the latest example of how the conflict has affected international relations and cooperation. The longer it continues, the greater the risks it poses to international peace and security.
We need peace in Ukraine, peace founded on respect for the UN Charter and international law.
All wars are tragic, but none more than wars of choice.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Briefing the Security Council on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres again underlined the need to de-escalate the situation around the embattled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
Briefing the Security Council on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres again underlined the need to de-escalate the situation around the embattled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
As fighting continues in South Sudan, a new UN report released on Tuesday documents 173 civilian deaths over a four-month period along with widespread human rights violations committed without repercussion.
New York, 7 September 2022
In July this year, nations recognized the universal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Clean air is now a human right.
A stable climate is a human right.
Healthy nature is a human right.
Today, air pollution is denying...
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported an increase in the levels of mental disorders amongst the population of the Gaza Strip, especially among children, many of whom were already in need of mental health services and psychosocial support.
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Further damage to the embattled Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine “cannot” be allowed to happen, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said.
She Stands For Peace | Season 3-Episode 3 | Out Now! Click here to listen: https://unoau.unmissions.org/podcast-series-she-stands-peace
Police officers from more than 90 countries who serve at UN operations around the world represent “multilateralism in action”, Secretary-General António Guterres said in New York on Thursday.
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very pleased to join you for the third United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit.
I would like to start by commending you and your colleagues for continued dedication to protecting the communities you serve, particularly in an environment as challenging as the one we currently face.
Policing has been an integral part of the United Nations peace and security work since the first UN Police was deployed, over six decades ago. Though the role of UN Police has evolved significantly in scope and scale, it remains as vital today as it was then, as a fundamental pillar of our efforts to maintain international peace and security.
An important aspect of this evolution is how UN policing supports the work of our special political missions. These missions are civilian in character but still requested to provide specialized support to national authorities in reforming national security institutions and law enforcement. To deliver on these mandates, we have greatly benefited from the expertise provided by UN Police and from the deployment of police advisers to our missions.
In environments as complex as Libya and Sudan, UN Police is supporting the work of our missions by advancing respect for human rights in national justice, police, and corrections systems. Advice on transitional justice and reconciliation issues is also essential for peace processes and transition roadmaps.
In Somalia, for example, UN police advisers are supporting the implementation of the New Policing Model. They have helped recruit and train hundreds of police officers in several federated states. This is a fundamental part of our mandate to help strengthen federal institutions in the country.
In Libya, UN Police works closely with the Ministry of Interior to develop a community-oriented policing concept, prison management policies and specialized training to police officers.
A crucial aspect of the work of UN Police is to help Member States put in place more gender sensitive law enforcement practices. This work starts with more diverse police forces, with a higher representation of women. We have achieved important progress in this area.
In Haiti, we stepped up efforts to promote women’s representation in the police, including by dedicated outreach to encourage women to apply for law enforcement jobs. As a result, women now account for 11 per cent of the workforce of the Haitian National Police.
In Sudan, our Police Advisors have helped the Police Force establish two gender desks in Central Darfur, an important step to respond to sexual and gender-based violence and promote gender-sensitive policing in the region.
Distinguished colleagues,
The deteriorating global peace and security environment we face today has affected all aspects of our work. Our operating environments are increasingly characterized by high levels of violence, widespread human rights violations, and humanitarian needs that outpace our ability to respond. Most regions of the world are still struggling under the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, while climate change is exacerbating existing fragilities and creating new ones.
This has significantly affected our peacemaking and peacebuilding mandates. It has also had a significant effect for the work of UN Police.
In response to the UN75 Declaration, the Secretary-General presented his report on “Our Common Agenda”. The report offers an ambitious vision for sustainable peace, development, and human rights: a renewed, more inclusive and networked multilateralism at the international level; addressing exclusion and inequalities at the domestic level; more solidarity towards current and future generations; and a United Nations that is fit for a new era.
The Secretary-General also committed to preparing a New Agenda for Peace that puts prevention and violence reduction at the centre of our work. It will offer a robust vision for strengthening the “diplomatic toolbox” contained in Chapter VI of the UN Charter. The aim is to renew the global consensus around cooperation for our collective security.
Delivering on these commitments will be a significant undertaking, particularly in the polarized global environment we face today. It will require all of us to work together, building on our respective strengths. I look forward to your support to this agenda, and to your continuing cooperation with the United Nations and with my Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
The bell is ringing for the start of a new school year in many countries, but inequalities in access to education are keeping some 244 million children out of the classroom, according to data published on Thursday by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, the latest stage in their efforts to inspect conditions at the embattled nuclear power plant there.
The Secretary-General has paid warm tribute to the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, whose death aged 91 was announced on Tuesday, describing him as the person who “more than any other” brought about the peaceful end of the Cold War, which had dominated international relations since the 1940s.
Leaders in Libya must take immediate steps to resolve their political impasse, which is spilling over into increasing violence, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Mr. President,
Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the main developments in Libya over the past month.
Since the last Security Council meeting on Libya on 25 July, the United Nations has continued to engage with Libyan actors – at all levels – to facilitate a resolution of the political impasse.
I am deeply concerned that the ongoing stalemate and continued delays in implementing the electoral process pose a growing threat to security in and around Tripoli, and potentially to all Libyans.
That threat materialized a few days ago, when Tripoli was again the theatre of violent clashes between armed groups supporting Mr. Dbeibah and Mr. Bashaga, respectively.
The fighting broke out in the early hours of 27 August and rapidly intensified and spread to civilian-populated areas of Tripoli. It involved the indiscriminate use of medium and heavy weapons, affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
According to the Libyan authorities, at least 42 people were killed, including four civilians, and 159 injured in the clashes. Fifty families were reportedly displaced, and five health facilities were significantly damaged. Two detention centers for migrants and refugees were affected, involving a total of 560 persons.
This appeared to be attempt of pro-Bashaga forces to enter the capital from the east. However, they were blocked by pro-Dbeibah forces at Zleiten – about 160 km east of Tripoli, and were forced to retreat, following clashes. Attempts by other pro-Bashagha armed groups to advance on the capital from the west and southwest were similarly repelled.
Fighting in Tripoli and its outskirts subsided on 28 August, although the situation remained tense and fluid.
A fragile calm has since prevailed in Tripoli; it is unclear how long it will last.
Retaliatory attacks by both sides and the announced intention by the Government of National Unity to arrest pro-Bashagha elements involved in the fighting may trigger armed clashes that could again affect the civilian population.
Mr. President,
I am very concerned at the limited political progress during the reporting period. The United Nations has consistently underscored that the conduct of elections remains the only way to break the current impasse. Despite our continued efforts, no progress has been made on forging a consensus on a constitutional framework for the elections.
Following their meeting in Geneva in June, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, and the President of the High State Council, Khaled Mishri, held further discussions in Türkiye on 1 August and in Egypt on 14 August. Regrettably, disagreements persisted, particularly on the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates.
I urge both leaders to complete the work accomplished by the Joint Constitutional Committee. It is critical that an agreement is reached on a constitutional framework and timeline for elections that will enable the Libyan people to choose their leaders.
Mr. President,
There were a few positive developments during the reporting period. I commend, notably, the ongoing efforts of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission to preserve and strengthen the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.
Of note, on 27 August the eastern delegation to the JMC called their counterparts in the west to reassure them that the Libyan National Army would not be involved in the fighting.
Earlier, on 9 August, the Joint Military Commission met with UNSMIL in Sirte to enhance the readiness of the Libyan Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism.
They made progress on the activation of a Joint Operations Room in Sirte. They also finalized the modalities for the withdrawal of foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya.
On another positive note, on 18 August the General Assembly of the Supreme Court of Libya voted to restore the Court’s Constitutional Chamber, which had been suspended since 2016.
The reactivation of the Chamber could contribute to the resolution of disputes over the legitimacy of decisions taken by Libyan institutions.
I am also encouraged by the progress on national reconciliation, including the efforts of the Presidency Council to implement its “Strategic Vision on National Reconciliation”.
I reiterate the United Nations’ readiness to support Libyan efforts at national reconciliation as well as the African Union’s planned conference on national reconciliation in Libya, to be held at the earliest possible opportunity.
Mr. President,
Turning to economic developments, oil production resumed on 17 July. By the end of July, production had reached pre-shutdown levels of 1.2 million barrels per day. Recently, the Libyan National Oil Corporation announced plans to further increase oil production capacity.
I am concerned, however, that growing public discontent in the southern region over lack of basic services and poor living conditions may lead to renewed closures of oil fields in the area.
The explosion of a fuel tank in the vicinity of Zwiyah on 1 August, which killed 25 people and injured dozens of others, sparked a wave of protests over the longstanding marginalization of communities in the south.
On 21 August, local dignitaries threatened to form a parallel government in the south if their demands for respect of their rights to basic services and stronger representation in State institutions were not met.
Libya’s natural resources belong to all Libyans, and revenues from oil exports should be distributed equitably and fairly.
Mr. President,
I regret to report that human rights violations in Libya continue to be a major concern. On 20 August, armed groups affiliated with the Libyan National Army encircled the town of Qasr Bouhadi, 25km south of Sirte.
Civilians were deprived of their freedom of movement and prevented from leaving their districts, with hospitals, shops, schools, petrol stations and other essential facilities forced to close. On 26 August, military actors withdrew from the town, but continued to control all movement in and out of the town.
I urge relevant actors to immediately lift the continuing restrictions imposed on the population of Qasr Bouhadi and warn that the situation could further escalate to an inter-community conflict.
Individuals peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression continued to be subjected to abduction, enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention.
Violence against women activists and their unlawful arrest and detention continue. Smear campaigns targeting civil society actors, particularly women, consisting of hate speech and incitements to violence, are deeply concerning and must cease.
Migrants and refugees also continued to suffer serious human rights violations. According to the latest figures, 2,661 migrants and refugees are arbitrarily detained in official detention centres with restricted humanitarian access.
The United Nations continues to call for the immediate release of all those who are arbitrarily detained and for due process for those charged with contravening Libyan laws.
Mr. President,
It is critical that all Libyan actors maintain calm on the ground, refrain from escalatory rhetoric and actions, and take immediate steps to reverse the political polarization that is spilling over into violence.
In light of the deterioration of the political and security climate in Tripoli, the United Nations must continue to provide and enhance good offices and mediation to help Libyan actors resolve the ongoing impasse and seek a consensual pathway to elections.
Libyans, themselves, are responsible for determining their own future. Any support that the parties receive from within or outside Libya should serve to unite them, not divide them.
The Secretary-General has put forward a number of proposals for the leadership of the mission and his good offices. I urge everyone to support the Secretary-General’s efforts to help Libyans forge a path to peace.
Thank you, Mr. President.
New York, 31 August 2022
Each year, the International Day for People of African Descent celebrates the diverse heritage and culture of people of African descent and their enormous contribution to our societies throughout history.
Yet, around the world, millions of people of African descent are still subject to racism and deeply entrenched and systemic racial discrimination. That is...
Humanitarians have stayed and delivered in Afghanistan in the year since the Taliban takeover, and it is imperative that the international community continues to do the same while the de facto authorities must also do their part, the Security Council heard on Monday.
The UN chief on Monday issued a call for “calm and restraint” in the Iraqi capital Baghdad following a day of reportedly violent protests in and around the national parliament building, in the wake of the announcement from political leader and cleric Muqtada al-Sadr that he was leaving politics.
The UN chief on Monday issued a call for “calm and restraint” in the Iraqi capital Baghdad following a day of reportedly violent protests in and around the national parliament building, in the wake of the announcement from political leader and cleric Muqtada al-Sadr that he was leaving politics.
“Irreversible damage” is being caused to the lives of Syrian civilians due to chronic under-funding of the international effort said the UN’s Assistant Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs on Monday, who told the Security Council the future of a whole generation was at stake.
A peacekeeper from Burkina Faso serving in Mali has been honoured for her work to boost trust between the authorities and local communities, including survivors of gender-based violence.
A team of UN atomic energy experts set out on Monday for Zaporizhzya nuclear power station in Ukraine, after months of rising tensions between Ukrainian and Russian forces, who have accused each other of shelling the plant.
Recent fighting near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine has again highlighted the potential risk of a disaster, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on Sunday.
Exports of Ukrainian grain and other foodstuffs under a landmark agreement amid the ongoing war, have surpassed one million metric tonnes, the UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Amir Abdulla, reported on Saturday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted the need for dialogue to reduce the nuclear threat after countries failed to reach consensus at a conference to review the landmark Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), his Spokesperson said on Saturday.
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Speaking from Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine, where shelling has intensified in the last week, the UN's top aid official in the country issued an urgent appeal on Friday for guarantees from Russia and affiliated forces, to allow humanitarians to deliver “absolutely necessary” relief items across the contact line.
Managing the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is no substitute for a real political process, a truth laid bare by recent events, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Thursday, as he urged delegates to turn their attention to the broader strategy of ending the occupation and realizing the long elusive two-State solution.
