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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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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The global Famine Review Committee issued an alert on Gaza and the UN human rights office released a scathing report on possible atrocities as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued its military operations there and in Lebanon, where the UN peacekeeping force said the IDF deliberately bulldozed part of UNIFIL's post in Naqoura. Coverage for UN News app users is available here.
Sudan’s displaced have endured “unimaginable suffering” in their search for shelter from the country’s ongoing war, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.
An alarming surge in ransomware attacks is putting the world’s healthcare infrastructure at critical risk, endangering patient safety and destabilising health systems, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, as the Security Council convened to discuss strategies to counter the growing threat.
There must be “due reckoning” for horrific violations and possible atrocity crimes in Gaza, the UN human rights chief said on Friday following the release of a new report outlining actions taken by Israeli forces during the ongoing war with Hamas.
The decision to extend the transition period in South Sudan once again and postpone long-awaited elections cannot be “business as usual”, the UN Special Representative for the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Up to two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the military’s 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government.
The month-long Israeli siege in northern Gaza has left civilians on the brink of disaster, preventing them from accessing the essentials for their survival, including water, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.
Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine caused by the ongoing Russian invasion, the head of the UN atomic energy agency (IAEA) said that safety at the country’s largest nuclear power plant “remains a deep source of concern”.
The 62nd round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place on 5-6 November 2024 in the Palais des Nations, in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and the implementing measures of 8 September 2008.
The participants welcomed Magdalena Grono, who officially assumed her duties as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. She co-chaired this round together with her UN and OSCE colleagues, UN Representative to the Geneva International Discussions Cihan Sultanoğlu and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Viorel Moşanu.
In Working Group I, the participants continued their discussion on the implementation of the 2008 six-point agreement, with renewed emphasis and focus on non-use of force and international security arrangements. Despite strongly diverging positions, the participants managed to have exchanges on key developments on the ground.
In Working Group II, discussions focused on several sets of humanitarian issues, including freedom of movement, documentation, livelihoods, education and missing persons. The co-moderators called on all participants to constructively and actively engage on all key agenda items, including internally displaced persons and refugees. However, once again this topic could not be fully addressed, notably due to a walkout by some participants.
All participants underlined the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to the platform. They agreed to hold the next round in March 2025.
The war in Lebanon has now killed more than 3,000 people in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah missile hits in Israel, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday commended voters across the United States for their “active participation in the democratic process”, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House when he takes the oath of office in January.
Amid new Israeli airstrikes reported in Gaza and Lebanon on Wednesday morning, UN humanitarians delivered vital trauma treatment supplies to Lebanon’s sole specialist burns hospital, where the caseload has spiked because of the massive escalation in violence.
As the crisis grinds on, we will be taking you into UN Geneva for the latest briefings from our colleagues in Gaza and Lebanon as well as UN Headquarters in New York and the field for updates on the developing situation in the Middle East throughout the day. UN News app users can follow here.
In addition to driving a regional refugee crisis, the brutal war in Sudan is exacerbating instability in the contested region of Abyei, a senior UN peacekeeping official said on Tuesday, highlighting escalating challenges.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
Madame President,
Excellencies,
On 31 October, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced through its official news agency that it had launched a Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at approximately 7:11 AM local time earlier that day. With a flight duration of one hour and 26 minutes, the missile flew a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometres, reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometres before falling into the sea. The DPRK described this latest launch as a “very crucial test” that “updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK”.
Regrettably, the DPRK did not issue any airspace or maritime safety notifications, posing a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, with the potential for unintended incidents.
Madame President,
Since the DPRK announced its five-year military development plan in January 2021, aimed at acquiring new military capabilities, it has launched at least 11 ICBMs. The Hwasong-19 sets new records in terms of flight duration and altitude, and is the second solid-fuel ICBM developed by the DPRK which does not need to undergo fueling prior to launch. It is reported to be larger than its predecessor, the Hwasong-18, and may be capable of carrying larger warheads or even multiple warheads.
Madame President,
The DPRK’s launch of yet another ICBM is of serious concern and represents a grave threat to regional stability. Despite numerous meetings of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024, the DPRK has not heeded calls to refrain from further launches.
The Secretary-General strongly condemned the Hwasong-19 launch by the DPRK as a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. He again called for de-escalation, the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, an environment that is conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of talks, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Madame President,
We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK’s persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that underpins it.
There is a crucial need for practical measures to reduce tensions and reverse this dangerous trajectory. We encourage all Member States to seek unity and to create an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation. At this challenging juncture for securing global peace and security, it is imperative to prioritize de-escalation and work toward a stable and secure Korean Peninsula.
Madame President,
The United Nations and its partners stand ready to assist the DPRK in addressing the basic needs of its populations. We call on the DPRK authorities to facilitate the full return of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team. A collective return of the international community would enhance international support for the people of the DPRK and facilitate progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Thank you, Madame President.
The launch of “yet another” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses a “grave threat” to regional stability, a senior UN political affairs official warned on Monday, as the Security Council discussed the rising tensions in the region and beyond.
War in Sudan has devastated towns and cities across the country and pushed the healthcare system to collapse, just as cases of cholera and dengue fever are surging and hunger levels remain “above the famine threshold”, humanitarians have warned.
The increasing impact of fighting between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militants from Hezbollah on Lebanese civilians “is of grave concern”, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Monday, condemning the mounting loss of life.
The UN-supported polio vaccine campaign concluded in besieged northern Gaza on Monday, with agencies inoculating 94,000 children, but thousands still remain out of reach.
