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Category: United Nations

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Briefing Security Council on Goma Attack, Senior UN Official in Democratic Republic of Congo Urges De-escalation to Avert ‘Third Congo War’

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Note: Complete coverage of this afternoon’s meeting of the Security Council will be available Wednesday, 29 January.

    As the Security Council convened an emergency meeting for the second time in three days to address the worsening situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a senior United Nations official warned that escalating attacks by the 23 March Movement, or M23, continue to kill civilians and peacekeeping personnel in and around the city of Goma.

    Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), voiced alarm that clashes in the eastern part of that country have resulted in massive displacement. Consequently, MONUSCO has received a large number of people seeking refuge, including officials and various elements who have surrendered their arms.  However, MONUSCO bases are not able to accommodate the large number of surrendering elements and civilians seeking refuge.  “Moreover, our bases are not safe themselves,” she stressed.

    The Mission is storing voluntarily relinquished or abandoned weapons in accordance with international standards, she reported, while casualty-evacuation efforts remain a significant challenge for seriously injured peacekeepers.  She warned that troops are now running out of critical equipment — especially water, food, medical supplies and blood — while the proliferation of weapons in Goma poses a significant risk as combatants blend into the civilian population and abandoned military depots are looted by civilians. 

    Urging all parties to guarantee the protection of life, ensure access to basic services and prevent sexual violence, she called for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians.  Moreover, ethnically motivated attacks in a region with a very sensitive history need to be taken seriously.  Appealing for high-level diplomatic channels to ensure that critical airports, border points and humanitarian access routes are reopened without delay, she urged:  “Resuming the Luanda Process is of utmost urgency to ensure a path towards de-escalation and to avert the looming threat of a third Congo war.”

    And, stressing that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, she called MONUSCO “a beacon for myriad vulnerable groups seeking protection”.  However, the Mission has been severely impacted by heavy direct and indirect fire over the last few days, and must address the logistical, human-rights and humanitarian challenges it is facing.  “Let us please draw on our humanity and do our utmost to bring an immediate end to such levels of violence and suffering,” she urged.

    In the ensuing debate, the representative of Sierra Leone — also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia — cited significant African diplomatic efforts since 26 January to support the Congolese people.  Nevertheless, he stressed:  “But what is needed now is the commitment of both Rwanda and the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] to engage in direct negotiations under the Luanda Process.”  Allowing Goma to remain under the control of a rebel group, he stated, “sends a disturbing message about the ability — or willingness — of the international community to prevent threats to international peace and security from flourishing.”

    …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo crisis: ‘The violence must end now’, UN Security Council told

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The UN Security Council convened its second emergency meeting in three days on Tuesday to address the escalating crisis in Goma – the regional capital of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), provided a detailed briefing from Goma, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and the need for “urgent and coordinated international action,” to stop the fighting between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and Congolese forces – as they battle for control of the city.

    She reported that the recent clashes have led to massive displacement, with over 178,000 people fleeing Kalehe territory after the M23 took control of Minova.

    More than 34,000 of those on the run have sought refuge in already overcrowded IDP sites in and around Goma, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and overwhelming the city’s infrastructure.

    Rebels and Rwandan troops joint attack

    “Despite the appeals from Member States during the Security Council meeting on 26 January, the M23/RDF [Rwanda Defence Force] launched an attack on Goma, using heavy direct and indirect fire,” Ms. van de Perre stated.

    “These attacks have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, further displacement, and significant trauma among the population.”

    She emphasised the critical role of MONUSCO in providing refuge and protection, noting that the mission has received a large number of people seeking safety, including officials and armed elements who have surrendered.

    “MONUSCO’s bases are not able to accommodate the large number of surrendering elements and civilians seeking refuge,” she said. “The Uruguayan Battalion (URUBATT) alone has taken in approximately 1,200 Congolese soldiers and over a thousand civilians, placing immense pressure on resources.”

    UN bases ‘not safe’

    The situation is further complicated by damage to water tanks, compromising the security of UN personnel and property.

    “Our bases are not safe: two mortars have hit MONUSCO bases and compounds in the last three days, as well as numerous bullets,” Ms. van de Perre reported.

    “Installations of [formed police unit] staff in Jambar camp have been destroyed and burnt.”

    Casualty evacuation efforts remain a significant challenge, with peacekeepers injured during the fighting in Sake.

    Despite the closure of Goma airport, MONUSCO continues to facilitate medical evacuations with the help of SAMIDRC – the Southern African Development Community mission in DRC.

    Evacuation of injured ‘blue helmets’

    “We continue to do our utmost to ensure timely evacuation of injured peacekeepers and other casualties to our level 3 hospital in Goma despite continued challenges,” Ms. van de Perre said.

    The M23 and Rwandan forces’ capture of Goma’s international airport and their advance from multiple directions have heightened the risk of weapons proliferation, as combatants blend into the civilian population, the Deputy UN Special Representative continued.

    The mass influx of IDPs, separation of families, and escape of prisoners from Goma prison have increased the vulnerability of women and children to sexual and gender-based violence.

    Ms. van de Perre called on all parties to guarantee the protection of life and access to basic services, and to prevent sexual violence.

    “The degree of suffering that the population here in Goma and its environs is enduring is truly unimaginable,” she said.

    “Let us please draw on our humanity and do our utmost to bring an immediate end to such levels of violence and suffering.”

    In light of the ongoing conflict, Ms. van de Perre urged the establishment of humanitarian corridors between Goma, Minova and Bukavu, and the reopening of critical airports and border points.

    Political solution must be found

    She emphasised that military action cannot resolve the conflict and called for a resumption of the Luanda Process under the auspices of the Angolan Government to ensure de-escalation and “avert the looming threat of a third Congo war.”

    The briefing concluded with a call for urgent and coordinated international action to address the crisis in Goma. Despite the challenges, MONUSCO remains a vital lifeline for vulnerable groups, but its effectiveness is being severely tested by the ongoing violence and logistical difficulties.

    “The protection of civilians and the pursuit of a peaceful resolution must be prioritised to end the suffering in Goma,” MONUSCO’s deputy head stressed.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening of the African Heads of State Energy Summit [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Your Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Excellencies, Majesties, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    It is a pleasure to join you here all today. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Her Excellency President Hassan and her Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for hosting the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.

    But I would also like to underscore that it is because of her incredible leadership and her vision, that we are all here today and gathered as an African continent.

    I would also thank the African Union for keeping the fire under our feet to do right thing for the continent.

    Congratulations to my two brothers, the African Development Bank Group, Akin, and the World Bank Group, Ajay. These are incredible partnerships, that bring genuine experience, decades of work from the public sector to the private sector.

    That is why we are looking to them for the success of this union.

    But we also look to the Rockefeller Foundation for a strong and meaningful partnership – one that brings key stakeholders together in this room.

    Your bold investments are a testament to Africa’s potential for a sustainable and resilient future.

    Today, Africa has one of the lowest levels of energy access, as we have heard, but it is also one of the most vulnerable to intensifying climate shocks.

    Yet our continent is rich in renewable energy resources and critical minerals. Which are all essential for the energy transition, and benefit from limited sunk costs in fossil fuel-intensive energy infrastructures. Africa is also home to a vibrant, young, and enterprising population.

    This provides immense potential for Africa to show the rest of the world what a new economic development paradigm grounded in sustainability, resilience, justice, and inclusivity can look like.

    Enhanced energy access, affordability, and reliability is not only crucial for achieving our Sustainable Development Goal 7 but also serves as a catalyst for broader development goals. Access to clean and sustainable energy underpins progress in health, in education, in gender equality, while driving economic growth and climate action. Many of the 17 goals.

    By advancing long-term energy security and sovereignty, we can foster peace, we can create green jobs, and build resilient livelihoods — paving the way for improved stability and prosperity across the continent.

    With renewables now being the cheapest source of new electricity almost everywhere on earth, Mission 300’s bold commitment to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030 represents a transformative opportunity for Africa.

    Combined with systemic initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, Africa is uniquely positioned to lead the global energy transition.

    By powering essential sectors such as healthcare, education, and commerce, bolstering industries like solar manufacturing, grid infrastructure, and clean energy solutions, renewable energy can unlock unprecedented economic potential.

    With reliable energy access, the continent’s 147 million small and medium enterprises — key drivers of economic growth — will have the tools to scale, innovate, and create jobs, turning energy into a true catalyst for inclusive and sustainable progress.

    Tanzania stands as a shining example of how rural electrification and off-grid renewable energy solutions can transform lives, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

    The country has made remarkable strides, with electricity access increasing from just 14% in 2011 to 46% in 2022. And what does that mean? It has led to over 1 million new connections, driving the rural electrification rate to 72%.

    In November 2024, more than 60,000 social institutions were connected by REA, benefiting 12,905 educational institutions, 6,768 health facilities, over 8,000 places of worship, and 29,000 commercial areas.

    This progress means that more boys and girls in remote areas can now study in well-lit classrooms, health workers can deliver life-saving services to off-grid populations, and rural businesses can thrive with reliable power. Tanzania demonstrates how energy access is not just about electricity—it’s about opportunity, equity, and the foundation of a brighter future and a life in dignity for everyone.

    We must ensure that Mission 300 seizes the opportunity that lies ahead.

    With five years to the endpoint of the SDGs and having completed the first decade of implementing the African Union’s 2063 Agenda, it is clear that transformation efforts remain insufficient.

    I would like to deeply commend the African leadership that is here today, as you seek solutions to address Africa’s energy access, climate vulnerability, and development challenges holistically.

    Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

    We must accelerate our collective efforts to fast-track solutions for SDG 7 but also the Paris Agreement and propel Africa to become a clean energy powerhouse.

    This requires urgent action in three key areas beyond this Summit.

    First, creating the right enabling environment to attract scaled private and public investments through stronger, stable, and more coherent policy and regulatory frameworks.

    We are very pleased to see, thank you Ajay, the private sector that is here today and we hope they will accompany us through this very difficult but at the end profitable journey.

    This year, every Party to the UN Climate Convention has committed to submit a new economy-wide national climate action plan, that is aligned with the 1.5 degrees world that we need, well before COP 30 in November.

    If done right, these climate plans should align with national energy strategies and development priorities – and they would doubling as investment plans to seize the potential of renewables, helping to eradicate poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. 

    Furthermore, the Secretary-General’s panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals offers important Principles and Actionable Recommendations to ensure we do not repeat historical patterns of exploitation on this continent.

    Second, mobilizing affordable, accessible, and adequate finance.

    The chronic underinvestment in renewable energy in Africa, and long-standing structural barriers such as exorbitant capital costs, mean that a continent with the potential to be a renewable powerhouse accounts for less than one percent of global installed solar capacity.

    It is why we are calling for an SDG Stimulus to scale up affordable, long-term financing for developing countries, and for the “Baku-to-Belém Roadmap to $1.3 trillion” to bridge the climate finance gap by leveraging all sources and by addressing unjust and structural barriers. 

    Last year’s Pact of the Future sent an unequivocal message — reform of the international finance architecture is urgent and essential to:

    And this Pact would have not gotten over the line, if not for the leadership of the African leaders in the United Nations.

    It spoke to strengthening the voice and the representation of developing countries;

    It spoke to mobilizing far greater levels of financing for the SDGs, and directing that financing to countries most in need;

    It spoke to enabling countries to borrow sustainably, and with confidence, to invest in their long-term development;

    But it also spoke to provide effective and equal support to countries during systemic shocks.

    Finally, multilateralism – our international cooperation- still remains our best hope for delivering solutions at the necessary scale and speed.

    And I note to many of us, as I look to the geopolitical challenges that we have today. Multilateralism does not seem like the best offer on the table – but it is.

    It is a place that we come to. It is a global townhall for our global village. It is where we have visibility and where we can shine a light on the opportunities. But also, where we can give hope to the millions that look to us – to serve them.

    The United Nations remains dedicated to supporting your efforts every step of the way.

    Through our UN expertise and presence in the country, we are committed to supporting Mission 300, the African Development Bank and the World Bank. And we are committed to help identify and attract investments, strengthen policy, and secure the support you need to make Mission 300 a success.

    Finally, I would like to also commend our Special Representative. It is not often that we have women in leadership positions. Today, we are hosted by a great leader that is a woman.

    But we also have the Special Representative of the UN on Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi, who is playing a critical role within the Mission 300.

    In this critical countdown to 2030, let us ensure that Mission 300 delivers concrete outcomes towards the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Agenda 2063.

    Let us seize this moment to accelerate and to deliver transformative progress. Together, I am sure that Africa can lead the clean energy transition, creating lasting prosperity and resilience for generations to come and actions and aspiration fulfilled today for our women and our youth.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Cuba Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Rodolfo Benítez Verson, the new Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Benítez Verson had been serving as Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba since 2021.  He served as Cuba’s Ambassador to South Africa from 2017 to 2021.  He was also Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations in New York from 2009 to 2012, where he was also posted from 2006 to 2009 and from 1997 to 2003.

    Mr. Benítez Verson has also held various positions within Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, including as Head of the Department of Multilateral Political Affairs (2012-2017), and Advisor to the Cuban Minister for Foreign Affairs (2004-2006).  In 2017, he was awarded the Order of San Carlos, degree of the Grand Cross, by the President and Government of Colombia for his contribution as Chief Cuban Guarantor to the successful mediation of the Colombian peace process.

    Mr. Benítez Verson carried out Master studies in international relations at the Higher Institute of International Relations Raúl Roa García (2006), and has a degree in international political relations from the same Institute (1991).  He also graduated from various higher studies programmes on disarmament and conflict resolution, including the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme (1995).

    Born in Havana, Cuba, on 3 November 1968, he is married and has two daughters.

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    CR.24.049E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of New Zealand Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Deborah Mary Geels, the new Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. 

    Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ms. Geels held the position of Deputy Secretary of the Americas and Asia Group from 2022 to 2024, and before that of Deputy Secretary of the Multilateral and Legal Affairs Group from 2019 to 2022 at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Ms. Geels served as Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Vienna from 2013 to 2017, with bilateral accreditation as Ambassador to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. She served at the Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1997 to 2002.  She also served as New Zealand’s Deputy Head of Mission in Beijing from 2006 to 2008 and was earlier posted to Vanuatu. She has held a number of other positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade focusing on multilateral work, the Pacific Islands, Asia and development assistance.

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    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Nauru Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Frederick W. Pitcher, the new Permanent Representative of Nauru to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Pitcher had been serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the Nauru Maritime and Port Authority and the Nauru Shipping Line since 2023.

    He was a member of Parliament from 2004 to 2013, served as Nauru’s Minister for Commerce, Industry and Environment from 2004 to 2010, and was elected briefly as President in 2011.  Prior, Mr. Pitcher held the position of Nauru’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2000 to 2004.

    Mr. Pitcher began his career in Nauru’s Public Service in 1993, where he held several positions, including as the Director of the Bureau of Statistics (1993-1995); Private Secretary to the President (1995-1996); and Secretary for Finance (1996–1997).  

    Since 2013, he had been working mainly in the private sector.

    Mr. Pitcher obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Management and Business Administration from the Edinburgh School of Management in Scotland (1997-2000); a Graduate Certificate and United Nations Fellowship in Statistical Analysis from the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific, in Tokyo, (1992-1993); and a Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Studies from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia (1988-1991), among other professional certificates.  He was born on Nauru in February 1967 and is married with three adult children.

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    CR.12.048E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Children killed in Darfur hospital attack, date set for US climate pact withdrawal, WHO leads call to fight neglected diseases

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    At least one girl and three boys were killed, and three boys injured, during an attack on the Saudi Hospital in the besieged Sudanese city of El Fasher, North Darfur, on Friday. 

    The children were among the patients being treated in the hospital’s emergency ward for injuries from previous bombings in the area, said the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

    “This heinous attack is a blatant violation of children’s rights. Children are being killed and injured in the very places where they should be safest from harm,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

    “Such attacks exacerbate the dire situation for children and families who are trapped in areas affected by conflict, insecurity, and lack of protection.”

    70 per cent of hospitals out of action

    In Sudan, over 70 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are currently non-operational due to damage, destruction, lack of supplies, or being used as shelters.

    The delivery of medical supplies, vaccines, and routine immunisation has been hindered by ongoing security concerns and lack of access, worsening the humanitarian crisis and putting countless lives, especially those of children, at significant risk.

    Under International Humanitarian Law, hospitals enjoy special protection and must not be targeted. Attacks on them undermine the essential care and relief the facilities provide to civilians, including children. All parties to the conflict have an obligation to ensure the protection of civilians, including children, and refrain from any actions that could impede access to life-saving medical services.

    “Continued attacks on health facilities endanger children’s lives and restrict their access to lifesaving medical care, which can have immediate and long-term impacts on their health,” said Ms. Russell. “The violence must end now. Children in Sudan cannot wait any longer.”

    US with pull out of Paris Agreement 27 January next year

    The United States has officially notified the Secretary-General of its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, effective 27 January 2026, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

    The historic accord reached by 193 countries in December 2015 in a bid to keep temperature rises to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, was signed by the US on 22 April 2016.

    During the first Trump administration the US withdrew from the Agreement effective 4 November 2020, before his successor took the country back into the accord on 19 February 2021.

    Fight continues against global warming

    The UN Spokesperson said the latest withdrawal would not lead to any slowdown in the UN’s efforts to combat climate change.

    “We reaffirm our commitment to the Paris Agreement and to support all effective efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said Mr. Dujarric.

    The international community continues to work towards the goals set by the Agreement, despite the US’s decision to withdraw.

    UN health agency leads call to fight neglected disease scourge

    Health news now, and an appeal from the UN World Health Organization (WHO) for concerted action to tackle neglected tropical diseases, which impact more than one billion people – often with devastating health, social and economic consequences.

    Every year, around 800 to 900 million people are treated for at least one neglected tropical disease, according to the UN health agency, which warned that global warming has emerged as a threat in this field of medicine.

    Long list

    The list of tropical diseases is a long one and includes Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dengue, chikungunya and dracunculiasis. They tend to thrive among vulnerable people who live in poverty and are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins.

    Progress in tackling these diseases remains hampered by a lack of investment and conflict, the WHO said, ahead of World Neglected Tropical Disease Day on Thursday.

    Today, 54 countries have successfully eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease; WHO’s goal is for 100 countries to do the same by 2030. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: With Israeli Laws Set to Take Effect in 48 Hours, UN Palestine Refugee Agency Chief Warns Security Council of Risks to Gaza Ceasefire, Recovery Efforts

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    While Many Speakers Support Agency as Lifeline, Israel’s Delegate Says It Failed

    The implementation of Israel’s legislation on 30 January — curtailing the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) — will undermine the ceasefire and sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition, a senior UN official told the Security Council today.

    Expressing hope that the long-awaited ceasefire — which began nine days ago — “will hold and then the tremendous suffering in Gaza will subside”, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, welcomed the return of Israeli hostages and imprisoned Palestinians to their families. He also recognized the marked improvement in the flow of humanitarian aid and operating conditions.  As the largest UN presence in Gaza — with 13,000 personnel and 300 premises — the Agency is critical in supporting a shattered population under a ceasefire, he emphasized.

    Yet, in two days, “our operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will be crippled as legislation passed by Israel takes effect”, he warned, adding that the fate of millions of Palestinians is at stake. “In the wake of the ceasefire, we must contend with the devastation of the last 15 months and the enormity of the challenges ahead,” he said, pointing to a peer-reviewed study of death by traumatic injury in Gaza, which reveals that the mortality figure provided by the Ministry of Health is “a minimum estimate”.  In fact, 46,000 deaths is likely an undercount by over 40 per cent, with the majority of those killed being women, children and the elderly.  The study also confirms that those who escaped death by bombardment, starvation and disease have emerged shell-shocked.

    Tens of thousands of people are now returning to the decimated north “to search for the living and to bury the dead”, he said, noting UNRWA’s unique mandate to provide public-like services to an entire population. He rejected Israel’s claim that the Agency plays “a negligible role” in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza and that its services can be transferred to other entities.  UNRWA constitutes half the emergency response, having delivered two thirds of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons and vaccinated a quarter of a million children against polio since October 2023.  Less quantifiable, but critical for the humanitarian response and the ceasefire, is community acceptance:  “Palestinians know and trust UNRWA,” he stressed.

    Furthermore, Israel’s Government is investing significant resources to portray the Agency as a terrorist organization and its staff as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers.  Billboards and ads accusing UNRWA of terrorism recently appeared in major cities worldwide.  The political attacks on the Agency are motivated by the desire to strip Palestinians of their refugee status and erase their history and identity.  Underscoring the need to allow the Agency to progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political process, he stated: “We are determined to stay and deliver until it is no longer possible to do so.”

    Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, recalled his visit to Gaza City in December 2024 and expressed shock at the destruction: clearing over 50 million tons of rubble in the aftermath of Israel’s bombardment “could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion”.  For two decades, children will have nowhere to play in the rubble and debris caused by this war, having to fear unexploded bombs. “The principles of proportionality, distinction and military necessity have been thoroughly violated,” he stated. 

    While his organization managed to have 18 trucks of humanitarian cargo enter Gaza last week, looting and attacks on aid convoys remain a major concern.  He recalled that, on 12 September 2024, the Israeli National Security Council admitted to the Knesset that Israel was no longer issuing visas to employees of international non-governmental organizations — apparently part of a broader effort to undermine humanitarian work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. However, as the occupying Power, Israel is legally obliged to facilitate humanitarian operations — in Gaza and in the West Bank alike.

    Addressing the urgent humanitarian need, he called for full unrestricted access to northern Gaza, including the immediate opening of the Netzarim Corridor to facilitate the movement of civilians, humanitarian personnel and life-saving supplies.  He further voiced alarm over intensified Israeli military operations and settler attacks across the occupied West Bank, urging the Council to “put all of our energies into achieving a peaceful resolution to the question of Palestine”. 

    …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Marking Lunar New Year, Secretary-General Urges Renewed Commitment to Peace, Equality, Justice ‘In These Trying Times’

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Press Release

    SG/SM/22539

    Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year 2025, observed on 29 January:

    Happy Lunar New Year.  I am pleased to send my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating Lunar New Year — and this Year of the Snake.

    The snake symbolizes wisdom, resilience and renewal.  In these trying times, let us be guided by these qualities and renew our commitment to peace, equality and justice.

    Let us embrace this time of new beginnings with hope and determination to create a better future for all.  May the Year of the Snake bring good health, happiness, prosperity and new beginnings.

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Israel UNRWA ban will undermine Gaza ceasefire, Security Council hears

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The implementation of new laws banning the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA – set to take effect on Thursday – will heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Security Council has heard.

    Briefing ambassadors in New York on Tuesday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the laws passed in October last year jeopardize the lives of millions of Palestinians and risks undermining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

    They require that UNRWA cease its activities in the territory of the State of Israel – including the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as the Knesset defines it, in defiance of international law – as well as restricting any Government contacts with the agency or anyone acting on its behalf.

    “Curtailing our operations now – outside a political process, and when trust in the international community is so low – will undermine the ceasefire. It will sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition,” Mr. Lazzarini said.

    He called for a “decisive intervention” by Council to support peace and stability in the occupied Palestinian territory and the broader region.

    Disastrous consequences

    Mr. Lazzarini further stressed that the full implementation of the Knesset legislation will be “disastrous”.

    In Gaza, undermining UNRWA’s operations would compromise the international humanitarian response, he said, adding that it would also degrade the capacity of the United Nations just when humanitarian assistance must be scaled up.

    “This will only worsen the already catastrophic living conditions of millions of Palestinians.”

    UN Photo/Manuel Elías

    Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, briefs the Security Council.

    Unique role

    UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly to provide humanitarian and other essential services to Palestine refugees until a political solution is reached. Read our explainer on how the Gaza war has impacted UNRWA services, here.

    Mr. Lazzarini emphasised that its work cannot simply be transferred to other entities, as its scale and trusted relationship with communities are unmatched.

    “The Agency’s mere presence brings stability amid profound uncertainty,” he said. “Undermining UNRWA will sabotage Gaza’s recovery and any prospects for peace.”

    In East Jerusalem, where the Knesset legislation calls for the immediate expulsion of UNRWA, 70,000 patients and 1,000 students will lose access to health and education services.

    Mr. Lazzarini also noted that the legislation coincides with plans to expand illegal settlements on the land currently used by the Agency.

    Financial and political challenges

    Compounding these threats are severe financial constraints, with key donors reducing or suspending contributions.

    Mr. Lazzarini appealed for urgent funding to sustain UNRWA’s operations, warning that its lifesaving work could abruptly end without sufficient resources.

    He also highlighted a disinformation campaign spearheaded by Israeli authorities that falsely accuses the Agency of supporting terrorism. Such propaganda, he said, undermines UNRWA’s neutrality and puts its staff at risk.

    Call to action

    In conclusion, Mr. Lazzarini urged Security Council members to push back against the Knesset legislation, ensure continued funding for UNRWA, and advocate for a genuine political pathway to address the plight of Palestine refugees.

    “UNRWA was always meant to be temporary,” he said.

    “A fair and lasting political solution would allow the Agency to conclude its mandate, ensuring that its vital services are handed over to a functioning Palestinian state.”

    More updates to come…

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR CONGO CRISIS: Live updates for 28 January as Security Council meets

    Source: United Nations 4

    As fighting intensifies between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and Congolese forces, UN chief of Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix underscored the critical state of the battle for eastern DRC’s regional capital Goma, describing the crisis as “volatile and dangerous”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General Tells Africa Energy Summit Policy Coherence, Finance, Transparent Cooperation Key to ‘Illuminate the Lives of Millions’

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks to the panel on “Policies and Reforms for Transforming African Energy” at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, in Dar es Salaam today:

    I want to start by thanking the Government of Tanzania and the African Union for its leadership, and the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the Mission 300 partners for convening this summit. 

    Mission 300 has undertaken an enormous task: to help close the energy access gap and unlock sustainable development across the continent by delivering electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.  As we have heard, we face a stark reality:  685 million people across the continent still lack access to electricity, with the gap widening as population growth outpaces new electricity connections.

    And yet, Africa is richly endowed with natural resources vital for renewable energy technologies:  it is home to 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources and possesses vast wind, hydro and geothermal potential.  And critical minerals mined in Africa are powering the renewables revolution around the world.

    Despite this abundance, and record global investments in renewable energies worldwide, Africa continues to be left behind and many Africans continue to lack access to clean, affordable energy.  This injustice must be urgently resolved.  Access to electricity is an essential development requirement, one that can also be the multiplier for acceleration in building a sustainable future for all.

    Providing clean energy to local communities represents a unique opportunity to improve health, widen access to education and social protection, make food systems resilient and create green jobs, e-commerce and financial services, while at the same time protecting the environment and biodiversity. 

    We have heard our distinguished speakers discuss why companies and Governments should get involved.  The business case is clear:  the falling costs of renewables and storage offer a great opportunity to deliver access to energy, energy security and sovereignty and climate resilience. 

    With the new African Continental Free Trade Area, aiming at a trade zone without barriers to the transfer of goods and services, the business opportunities will further multiply if the right policy environments — coherent and predictable — are put in place.

    As we move into discussing what policies and reforms for transforming African energy can enable millions to access energy, I would like to focus on three areas of urgent attention for policymakers.

    First, fostering policy coherence.  We are five years away from the target of our SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals], and we are not on track.  Policymakers and the international institutions need to strive to ensure sector-wide plans are coherent and aligned with the achievement of the SDGs due in 2030, while investors need robust regulatory laws in place to ensure business can operate aligned with them.

    At this Summit, Mission 300 target countries are presenting their first national energy strategies for achieving universal energy access.  These strategies need to be part of a broader plan, one that — while achieving universal energy access — needs to be aligned with the new economy-wide national climate action plans, or NDCs, consistent with 1.5°C, well before COP 30 [the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference] in November.

    NDCs represent a unique opportunity for all countries to align their new climate plans and energy strategies, together with addressing adaptation needs.  NDCs must coordinate the transition from fossil fuels with scaling of renewables and grid modernization and expansion, ensuring energy security and affordability.  And they must be anchored in justice — providing support for affected workers and communities.

    If done right, climate plans align with national development priorities and double as investment plans — becoming blueprints for a more sustainable and prosperous future.  The Secretary-General’s panel on critical energy transition minerals offers important principles and actionable recommendations to ensure this new era does not repeat historical patterns of exploitation.  SEforALL [Sustainable Energy for All], UN Resident Coordinators and country teams will continue to support country-level policy reforms, integrate stakeholder innovations, build institutional capacities and boost infrastructure investments across the entire clean-energy supply chain. 

    Second, mobilizing finance and support.  While private-sector investments and innovation are important, public financing remains vital — especially in modernizing grid infrastructure to expand access and integrate renewables.  Blending concessional public funds with commercial funds can help multiply renewable-energy investments in developing countries.  We must work to strengthen the health of Africa’s public finances and tackle unsustainable debt burdens that are crowding out essential public investments.

    The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, that will take place in July to underpin the needs for long-term concessional finance, and the 1.3 trillion roadmap, agreed in Baku, that needs to be delivered by COP 30 in Brazil, must provide investments to scale up, among others, the energy transition.

    Third, enhancing transparent international cooperation.  International investments and cross-border partnerships hold the key to delivering electricity projects at a massive scale.  Institutions must be strengthened to operate in complex regulatory environments, with multiple actors across jurisdictions.

    Public-private partnerships need to be subject to stable and transparent public procurement rules throughout the whole project cycle — rules that prioritize long-term sustainability and allow for mutually beneficial contractual relationships.  Transparency and accountability should be a hallmark of Mission 300 and set a new standard for cooperation across the continent. 

    As we start the five-year countdown to delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals, and mark the ten-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, let us work together to illuminate the lives of millions, power the industries of tomorrow and ensure that no one is left behind in the race to deliver universal clean energy, climate resilience and economic prosperity.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message on the occasion of the Lunar New Year

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+Luna+New+Year+29+Jan+25/MSG+SG+Lunar+New+Year+2025+Global+Version+CLEAN+16+DEC+24.mp4

    Happy Lunar New Year.

    I am pleased to send my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating Lunar New Year – and this Year of the Snake.

    The snake symbolizes wisdom, resilience, and renewal. 

    In these trying times, let us be guided by these qualities and renew our commitment to peace, equality, and justice.

    Let us embrace this time of new beginnings with hope and determination to create a better future for all.

    May the Year of the Snake bring good health, happiness, prosperity, and new beginnings.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP reaches hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza in first week of the ceasefire

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: WFP/Photolibrary. WFP distribution point operated at the Nusierat camp by WFP’s partner, Global Communities.

    GAZA/CAIRO – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reached more than 330,000 people in Gaza with food assistance in the first week of the ceasefire, providing food parcels, hot meals and cash assistance to war-weary families.

    “The first week has brought hope, but it is still early days. We must keep up this momentum,” said Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director in Palestine. “And with so many people on the move now, keen to reach their homes and reunite with their families in the north, we need to make sure they have food wherever they are. WFP’s priority is to ensure assistance follows the people.”

    Here are the latest updates on WFP operations in Gaza:

    • WFP has brought 10,130 metric tons of food into Gaza since the ceasefire. Food entered Gaza through all available corridors from Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

    • For the first time in months, families in Gaza are now receiving significantly more rations – two food parcels and a 25-kg bag of wheat flour.
    • In total, WFP reached more 330,000 people in the first week of the ceasefire with food parcels and hot meals.
    • WFP has also distributed nutrition products to 46,000 people, including children under 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
    • If the ceasefire holds, WFP aims to reach one million people each month for the next three months. WFP has enough food pre-positioned along the borders and on its way to Gaza to feed over a million people with full rations for three months.
    • A cash assistance programme started on Monday, with 7,000 people reached on day one, and more than 32,000 as of today. This money will enable families to meet their basic needs – not only food – as they seek to relocate and rebuild. The aim is to reach 30,000 families (150,000 people) in one month.
    • Thanks to the influx of fresh supplies entering the Strip, WFP has also been able to get bakeries up and running in the south – eight old and 5 new ones – and prepare hot meals and deliver ready-to-eat meals to families in shelters.
    • The humanitarian situation in the West Bank is also critical. WFP is ready to provide voucher assistance to approximately 3,750 people in Jenin camp, allowing them to obtain food at a local retailer or receive food parcels. Additionally, cash assistance will be provided to 12,750 displaced households affected by military operations.

    Download photos here

    Download video footage here

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit: “Introduction to the Panel on “Policies and reforms for transforming African energy” [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Your Excellency Mr. Doto Biteko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy of the United Republic of Tanzani], Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I want to start by thanking the Government of Tanzania and the African Union for its leadership; and the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Mission 300 partners for convening this Summit.

    Mission 300’s has undertaken an enormous task: to help close the energy access gap and unlock sustainable development across the continent by delivering electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

    As we have heard, we face a stark reality: 685 million people across the continent still lack access to electricity, with the gap widening as population growth outpaces new electricity connections.

    And yet, Africa is richly endowed with natural resources vital for renewable energy technologies: it is home to 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources and possesses vast wind, hydro, and geothermal potential.

    And critical minerals mined in Africa are powering the renewables revolution around the world.

    Despite this abundance, and record global investments in renewable energies worldwide, Africa continues to be left behind and many Africans continue to lack access to clean, affordable energy. 

    This injustice must be urgently resolved.

    Access to electricity is an essential development requirement, one that can also be the multiplier for acceleration in building a sustainable future for all

    Providing clean energy to local communities,  represents a unique opportunity to improve health, widen access to education and social protection, make food systems resilient, create green jobs and e-commerce and financial services while at the same time protecting the environment and the biodiversity.

    We have heard our distinguished speakers discuss why companies and governments should get involved.  

    The business case is clear: the falling costs of renewables and storage offer a great opportunity to deliver access to energy, energy security and sovereignty, and climate resilience.  

    With the new African Continental Free Trade Area , aiming at a trade zone without barriers to the transfer of goods and services, the business opportunities will further multiply if the right policy environments, coherent and predictable, are put in place.

    As we move into discussing what policies and reforms for transforming African Energy can enable millions to access to energy, I would like to focus on three areas of urgent attention for policy makers:

    First, fostering policy coherence.

    We are 5 years away from the target of our SDGs. And we are not on track.

    Policy makers and the international institutions need to strive to ensure sector wide plans are coherent and aligned with the achievement of the SDGs due in 2030, while investors need robust regulatory laws in place to ensure business can operate aligned with them.

    At this Summit, Mission 300 target countries are presenting their first national energy strategies for achieving universal energy access. These strategies need to be part of a broader plan, one that while achieving universal energy access need to be aligned with the new economy-wide national climate action plans – or NDCs –   consistent with 1.5 degrees, well before COP 30 in November.

    NDCs represent a unique opportunity for all countries to align their new climate plans and energy strategies, together with addressing adaptation needs.

    NDCs must coordinate the transition from fossil fuels with scaling of renewables and grid modernization and expansion, ensuring energy security and affordability.

    And they must be anchored in justice – providing support for affected workers and communities.

    If done right, climate plans align with national development priorities and double as investment plans – becoming blueprints for a more sustainable and prosperous future.

    Excellencies,

    The Secretary-General’s panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals offers important Principles and Actionable Recommendations to ensure this new era does not repeat historical patterns of exploitation.

    SE4ALL, UN Resident Coordinators and Country Teams will continue to support country level policy reforms, integrate stakeholder innovations, build institutional capacities, and boost infrastructure investments across the entire clean energy supply chain. 

    Second, mobilizing finance and support.

    While private sector investments and innovation are important, public financing, remains vital – especially in modernizing grid infrastructure to expand access and integrate renewables.

    Blending concessional public funds with commercial funds can help multiply renewable energy investments in developing countries.

    We must work to strengthen the health of Africa’s public finances, and tackle unsustainable debt burdens that are crowding out essential public investments.

    The fourth conference on Finance for Development that will take place in July to underpin the needs for long-term concessional finance and the 1.3 trillion roadmap, agreed in Baku, that needs to be delivered by COP 30 in Brazil must provide investments to scale up, among others, the energy transition.

    Third, enhancing transparent international cooperation.  

    International investments and cross-border partnerships hold the key to delivering electricity projects at a massive scale.

    Institutions must be strengthened to operate in complex regulatory environments, with multiple actors across jurisdictions.

    Public private partnerships need to be subject to stable and transparent public procurement rules throughout the whole project cycle, rules that prioritize long term sustainability and allow for mutually beneficial contractual relationships.

    Transparency and accountability should be a hallmark of Mission 300, and set a new standard for cooperation across the continent.

    Excellencies,

    As we start the 5-year countdown to delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals, and mark the tenth-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, let us work together to illuminate the lives of millions, power the industries of tomorrow, and ensure that no one is left behind in the race to deliver universal clean energy, climate resilience, and economic prosperity.

    Thank you. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo emergency: next 24 hours are critical, warn UN agencies

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    Latest reports from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from UN teams on the ground indicate a fast-deteriorating situation on Tuesday amid an ongoing assault by M23 rebels on the provincial capital.

    Dead bodies lie in the streets, hospitals are overwhelmed and there has been an uptick in reports of sexual violence, rape and looting.

    “Roads are blocked, ports are closed and those crossing Lake Kivu risk their lives in makeshift boats,” said Shelley Thakral, spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) – one of many UN agencies on the ground striving to provide assistance and protection wherever possible. “I spoke just moments ago to an activist In Goma and he told me, ‘We’re here, we’re hiding. We don’t know who will come to help us.’”

    The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, echoed the humanitarian community’s deep concerns about the spiralling violence across the resource-rich region that has uprooted some 300,000 people from camps around Goma in a matter of days.

    Aid targeted

    “Our colleagues in the DRC report heavy, small arms fire and mortar fire across the city and the presence of many dead bodies in the streets,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke. “We have reports of rapes committed by fighters, looting of property, including of a humanitarian warehouse and humanitarian and health facilities being hit.”

    The emergency has left hospitals in Goma reportedly overwhelmed by the influx of wounded people, electricity and water supplies “compromised” and internet services cut off on Monday. “Goma is still offline this morning,” Mr. Laerke told journalists in Geneva.

    The development came amid urgent calls from the international community including the Security Council in New York, where ambassadors on Tuesday demanded an immediate halt to the M23 rebel offensive and called for the group to withdraw from territories it has seized.

    The ambassadors reiterated their support for the UN peacekeeping force in the DR Congo, MONUSCO, and paid tribute to blue helmets who have lost their lives from South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay in recent days.

    The Council also condemned the presence of “external forces” in eastern DRC – amid reports Rwandan troops are heavily involved in the offensive – and called for all parties to adhere to the ceasefire and return to diplomatic talks.

    Years of crisis

    Before the latest escalation in violence in eastern DRC’s Kivus, some 5.1 million people had already been displaced by years of insecurity in the mineral-rich region and forced to live in overcrowded camps with little food and no security.

    UN agencies and partners continue to monitor the highly unstable situation which has forced WFP to temporarily pause food assistance activities in around Goma. “The airport and major access roads within the region have been cut off…Depending on the duration of violence, the supply of food into the city could be severely hampered,” said WFP’s Ms. Thakral.

    “This is a huge test for Congolese trapped by fighting in Goma and surrounding areas…the next 24 hours will be critical as people start to run low on supplies and will need to see what they can find to survive.”

    Disease fears

    The highly mobile nature of the emergency has prompted additional fears that existing diseases may spread quickly among uprooted populations, although preventive measures were taken before the latest escalation, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said. 

    For the moment the immediate concern is to help victims of the violence.

    “There are currently hundreds of people in hospital, most admitted with gunshot and shrapnel wounds, with secondary infections becoming a health risk,” said Dr Adelheid Marschang, Emergency Response Coordinator for the DRC.

    She noted that before Goma airport closed on Saturday, WHO had sent critical medical supplies for trauma and emergency care, infection prevention, cholera and more.

    The UN agency’s response to the crisis has also included providing tents for hospitals to cope with the increasing number of injured. It has medical hubs in North and South Kivu, in the cities of Goma and Bukavu to support health care needs in eastern DRC.

    Last year the provinces of North and South Kivu reported high numbers of cholera, measles and malaria cases and deaths, Dr. Marschang said, warning of a “heightened risk for spillover of cholera” into neighbouring countries and provinces.

    The area was also the epicentre of an outbreak of a new strain of mpox, declared a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024. Dr. Marschang warned that the new wave of displacement will make it increasingly hard to track and treat the disease.

    Amid the lethal violence, hospitals and health workers themselves are in danger, the WHO official said, with “reports of health workers being shot at and patients including babies being caught in crossfire”.

    “Attacks on healthcare violate the rules of war. Healthcare must be protected at all times,” she insisted.

    Sexual violence alert

    WHO and other UN agencies and partners said that they are especially worried about the increasing risk to women and girls from violence, including rape.

    “Pregnant women are at risk, with very high maternal death rates, even before the violence escalated,” WHO said.

    “Sadly, hospitals and health workers are in danger.  We are hearing reports of health workers being shot at, and patients, including babies, being caught in the crossfire.  WHO reminds everyone that attacks on healthcare violate the rules of war.  Health care must be protected at all times.”

    Echoing those concerns, WFP’s Ms. Thakral reported that mobile teams and mobile clinics are at work amid reports that women had been raped multiple times while searching for firewood or after leaving the perimeter of their camp.

    Other reports indicated “an increase in rape along the pathways that some of the conflict partners are now taking into South Kivu,” she said, underscoring the agency’s efforts “to have some solutions to follow the populations as they move”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Crisis in eastern DRC escalates – leads to greater humanitarian and protection needs

    Source: World Food Programme

    This is a summary of what was said by WFP DRC’s Spokesperson, Shelley Thakral, to whom quoted text may be attributed – at a press briefing In Geneva today

    Kinshasa/Geneva: A major surge in violence in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has led to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing multiple active conflict zones.

    There are growing protection concerns as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in and around Goma, many are exposed to the Gender Base Violence crisis and with limited access to food, safe clean drinking water and an income – the risks facing the populations will only increase in these volatile conditions. 

     Families fleeing the fighting face unimaginable challenges. Every step of their journey is fraught with danger. Roads are blocked, ports are closed, and those crossing Lake Kivu risk their lives in makeshift boats. Certain IDP sites have been emptied where fighting has been the most violent. 

    I spoke earlier to a CSO activist in Goma:

    “The security and humanitarian situation in Goma is currently deteriorating. We are still here, but in hiding. We don’t know who will come to help us, we who are activists. There is a massive displacement of the population, including both new and long-time displaced people.”

    Even before the recent escalation of violence some 5.1 million people in Ituri, North and South Kivu, have been displaced and forced to live in overcrowded camps with little food and no security.    

     WFP’s priority is keeping staff and their dependents safe. Only critical WFP staff remain in the area and once the security situation improves, we can resume our emergency assistance and operations.  

    Food assistance activities in and around Goma have been temporarily paused. WFP is concerned about food scarcity in Goma and rising food prices as the airport and major access roads within region have been cut-off. Depending on the duration of violence the supply of food into the city could be severely hampered. This is a huge test for Congolese trapped by the fighting in Goma and surrounding areas – of their resilience and the next 24 hours will be critical as people start to run low on supplies and will need to see what they can find to survive.

    WFP strongly condemns the escalation of violence in the eastern DRC that is endangering civilian populations. We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and uphold obligations under International Humanitarian Law, including the protection and safety of humanitarian workers. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM and Partners Launch Project to Strengthen Environmental Health Awareness in Lebanon 

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Beirut, Lebanon – December 2024 – In cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with Seed Global Health, has launched the “Environmental Health Capacity and Awareness Strengthening in Primary Healthcare Facilities” project. This initiative aims to empower healthcare workers at selected primary healthcare centers across Lebanon by addressing the growing challenges of climate-related health impacts.   

    A recent study by the Lebanese Red Cross Climate Center highlighted the significant health risks posed by climate change in Lebanon. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events increase the risks of heat-related health issues, including heatstroke and dehydration, particularly in urban areas. Furthermore, climate change in Lebanon is expected to worsen water scarcity and quality, with more frequent droughts, variable rainfall, and disrupted agriculture. This will lead to higher risks of waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and food insecurity, further straining Lebanon’s already fragile healthcare system.  

    The project, which will run from January to April 2025, is aligned with the Ministry of Public Health’s National Strategy and brings together interdisciplinary expertise to strengthen the health sector’s resilience.  

    Dr. Firas Abiad, the Minister of Public Health in Lebanon stated: “Public, private and peripheral hospitals have proven their critical role during the Lebanese conflict, not only in providing care but also in addressing the broader health needs of the population. While the priority for international support to Lebanon remains the health sector, we must seize this opportunity to advance in all areas, including environmental health. Strengthening environmental health measures will ensure that facilities across Lebanon can provide safer, and more sustainable healthcare services. A resilient health system integrates environmental health into its foundations to safeguard the well-being of both residents of the region and the Lebanese population.” 

    Dr. Vanessa Kerry, CEO of Seed Global Health, said, “Health workers are our frontline defense against the impacts of climate change on health and it is crucial they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to better understand and respond to these impacts. Seed Global Health is proud to partner with IOM and others to ensure people in Lebanon and elsewhere are better protected against the growing threat of climate change on health.”  

    The project will take a phased approach, starting with a comprehensive needs assessment to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of primary healthcare staff regarding environmental health and climate change. The results will inform tailored training programs, equipping healthcare workers with the tools to address climate-health challenges. Key activities include developing gender-sensitive, equity-focused survey tools, engaging stakeholders, and gathering actionable data to enhance preparedness and capacity.  

    The project will be supported by technical experts from global and academic institutions, including the University of Melbourne and its Climate CATCH Lab, and will involve active collaboration with local stakeholders such as the Ministry of Public Health, PHCC managers, and NGOs.  

    About the Project  

    This initiative reflects IOM’s commitment to addressing the intersection of climate change and health. The project’s key outcomes include a final needs assessment report, recommendations for future capacity-building efforts, and a roadmap for sustained environmental health interventions.  

    About Seed Global Health  

    Seed Global Health partners with governments, health professional schools, hospitals, and clinics to educate health workers, strengthen the quality of health services, and support policies that enable health professionals to deliver high-quality services to those in need. To date, Seed Global Health has trained more than 45,000 health workers who work in health facilities serving over 76 million people. 

    For more information, please contact:
    In Lebanon: Joelle Mhanna, jmhanna@iom.int

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council: International Criminal Court Prosecutor to Give Semi-Annual Briefing on Situation in Sudan

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Meetings Coverage

    9851st Meeting (PM)

    (The full summary of the meeting will be available later.)

    Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, briefs members this afternoon on ICC’s Darfur-related work and provides an update on its recent judicial activities.

    Follow the proceedings live at https://press.un.org/en/live

    …

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Darfur: ICC Prosecutor urges immediate action to address atrocities

    Source: United Nations 4

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Peace and Security

    The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday called on the UN Security Council to act decisively to address the worsening atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region.

    Briefing ambassadors, Karim Khan highlighted the urgent need for justice and accountability as violence and humanitarian suffering escalate.

    “Criminality is accelerating in Darfur. Civilians are being targeted, women and girls are subjected to sexual violence, and entire communities are left in destruction,” he said.

    “This is not just an assessment; it is a hard-edged analysis based on verified evidence.”

    Violence in Darfur has displaced thousands of families and devastated the region, with vital civilian infrastructure attacked, civilians killed and communities suffering from famine and disease.

    Deepening crisis

    The gravity of the situation in the wider region was underscored by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who condemned a 24 January attack on the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur.

    At least 70 patients and their relatives were reportedly killed, and dozens more injured.

    “This appalling attack which affected the only functioning hospital in Darfur’s largest city comes after more than 21 months of war have left much of Sudan’s health care system in tatters,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said in a statement.

    The Secretary-General reiterated that international humanitarian law mandates the protection of medical facilities and personnel and that the deliberate targeting of such facilities may constitute a war crime.

    He also renewed his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustainable, inclusive political dialogue to end the conflict.

    Echoes of past crimes

    Mr. Khan urged the 15-member Council to recommit to the principles outlined in resolution 1593, adopted 20 years ago, which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC.

    “We hear those echoes that gave rise to the original referral,” he said, warning that a new generation is suffering the same atrocities endured by their parents.

    The ICC Prosecutor announced that his office is preparing applications for new arrest warrants tied to alleged crimes committed in West Darfur.

    He emphasised that these applications would only proceed with robust evidence to ensure a realistic prospect of conviction, reinforcing the ICC’s commitment to justice for victims.

    Mr. Khan also stressed the need for greater cooperation in transferring ICC fugitives, including former President Omar al-Bashir and other high-ranking officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    Deja vu

    The ICC Prosecutor also painted a grim picture of Darfur’s humanitarian and security landscape.

    “The same communities targeted 20 years ago are suffering today, with crimes being used as weapons of war,” Mr. Khan stated, stressing that such acts violate international humanitarian law and demanded an immediate halt to the violence.

    The trial of Ali Kushayb

    Mr. Khan also highlighted the significance of the ICC trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, addressing crimes committed in 2003 and 2004.

    This trial has shown the people of Darfur that they are not forgotten and “not airbrushed out of public consciousness” he said, highlighting the efforts made by Darfuris themselves to ensure justice and accountability.

    Mr. Khan concluded by emphasising the moral and legal responsibility of the international community to deliver justice.

    “The people of Darfur are in danger, and they have a right to justice. It is time to deliver on the promise of resolution 1593,” he said.

    “It is time for us collectively to join hands and deliver on that promise to prevent this constant cycle of despair that generations of Darfuris have suffered.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo: Battle for Goma continues as ‘volatile’ crisis unfolds

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    As fighting intensifies between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and Congolese forces, UN chief of Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix underscored the critical state of the battle for eastern DRC’s regional capital Goma, describing the crisis as “volatile and dangerous”.

    In a briefing on Monday, Mr. Lacroix told journalists in New York that some staff from the UN’s Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) was forced to seek shelter for a few hours due to the ongoing conflict.

    He explained that this had “limited their ability to have the full level of information that they would have gotten if they had not been sheltering”, making it difficult to assess the fast-evolving situation.

    Mr. Lacroix said that peacekeepers remain in their positions but noted that safety was “paramount” for non-essential personnel and their dependents, who have been relocated away from Goma.

    He confirmed that MONUSCO personnel would continue to deliver on their mandate to the best of their ability, including protecting civilians and disarming combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law.

    “The fate of the millions of civilians living in Goma or having been displaced is really the priority, along with the safety and security of UN personnel,” Mr. Lacroix said.

    Humanitarian catastrophe

    Bruno Lemarquis, UN Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC, briefed the press from the ground and painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis.

    “What is unfolding in Goma is coming on top of already one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth, with close to 6.5 million displaced people in the country, including close to three million displaced people in North Kivu,” he said.

    He described scenes of mass displacement and violence: “Civilians are taking the brunt of the escalating hostilities”, with heavy artillery fire “directed at the city centre” including a maternity hospital.

    “For example, several shells struck the Charity Maternity Hospital in central Goma, killing and injuring civilians, including newborn and pregnant women,” he emphasised.

    “[Hospitals] are struggling to manage the influx of wounded people,” he said, noting that basic services, including water, electricity and internet, are severely disrupted.

    Mr. Lemarquis called for temporary humanitarian pauses to facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians and ensure aid delivery. “We must act now to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the people of Goma,” he urged.

    Rwanda’s role

    Responding to questions about Rwanda’s involvement, Mr. Lacroix confirmed the presence of Rwandan troops supporting M23 in Goma, citing significant troop numbers.

    He condemned the killing of peacekeepers, noting that three had died, including two from South Africa and one from Uruguay, with 12 others injured.

    The Under-Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s call for all parties, including Rwanda, to respect the safety and security of UN personnel.

    Regarding Rwanda’s role as a leading troop-contributing country to UN missions, Mr. Lacroix stated, “At this moment, we have to focus on the emergency, with saving as many lives as possible, and trying to bring about the cessation of hostilities.”

    Diplomatic efforts

    Mr Lacroix reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting regional peace initiatives, welcoming the East African Community’s plan for a summit on 28 January and an African Union Peace and Security Council session on Tuesday.

    Both officials stressed the urgency of international engagement, with Mr. Lemarquis highlighting a recent $70 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support humanitarian efforts.

    The press conference concluded with a stark message from Mr. Lacroix: “I urge the international community to intensify its engagement to prevent the bloodshed and to support the humanitarian response. We must act now.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council Adopts Presidential Statement Acknowledging Inputs for 2025 Review of 20-Year-Old UN Peacebuilding Architecture

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Meetings Coverage

    9850th Meeting (PM)

    The Security Council today noted that the upcoming review of the UN peacebuilding architecture in 2025 will be the fourth, marking the structure’s twentieth anniversary.  Unanimously adopting a presidential statement (to be issued as S/PRST/2025/3), the 15-member Council also noted with appreciation the Secretary-General’s report on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace on 27 December 2024 and took note of the Peacebuilding Commission’s inputs for the 2025 review, through its letter dated 13 November 2024. It also acknowledged submission of a letter dated 21 November 2024 by the Group of Independent Eminent Persons and the inputs from thematic and regional consultations. 

    Lastly, the Council looked forward to the outcome of the 2025 review and the consideration of its recommendations.

    The review offers an opportunity to reflect on two decades of peacebuilding efforts and assess the effectiveness of the current architecture.  Its outcome will shape the future direction of the UN’s peacebuilding initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to preventing conflict and sustaining peace worldwide.

    Peacebuilding

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Malta Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Randolph De Battista, the new Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. De Battista had been serving as a member of Parliament in Malta’s House of Representatives since 2022.  He was Chief Executive Officer of Malta’s Labour Party Partit Laburista for two separate terms, from 2022 to 2024 and from 2017 to 2020.  He worked as Chef de Cabinet in the office of Malta’s Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels from 2014 to 2017 and as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Union Affairs in Malta from 2013 to 2014.

    Mr. De Battista began his career as a reporter.  He worked as editor of an online media portal from April 2021 to April 2022. He has a Doctor of Laws (2012), a Diploma of Notary Public (2010), and a Bachelor of Laws (2009), all from the University of Malta. 

    _________

    CR.25.047E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Concerned by Escalating Violence in Democratic Republic of Congo

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

    The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and reiterates his strongest condemnation of the M23 [23 March Movement] armed group’s ongoing offensive and advances towards Goma in North Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces.

    In the last 48 hours, two United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) peacekeepers from South Africa and one peacekeeper from Uruguay were killed while implementing the mandate entrusted upon them by the Security Council.  Eleven peacekeepers sustained injuries and are being treated in the UN hospital in Goma.

    The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers as well as to their Governments and the people of South Africa and Uruguay, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured.  He pays tribute to the bravery of all the United Nations peacekeepers while implementing their mandate to protect civilians and defend them against armed group violence, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law.  He recalls that attacks against United Nations personnel may constitute a war crime.  He calls on the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.

    The Secretary-General reiterates his call to respect the ceasefire agreement.  He calls on M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.  He further calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to M23 and withdraw from Democratic Republic of the Congo territory.  He reaffirms the United Nations support to the Luanda Process and calls for an immediate resumption of negotiations in this framework.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Deadly Attack on Hospital in Darfur

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

    The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack that hit the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur state on 24 January, in which at least 70 patients and their relatives were reportedly killed, with dozens more wounded.

    This appalling attack which affected the only functioning hospital in Darfur’s largest city comes after more than 21 months of war have left much of Sudan’s healthcare system in tatters.

    The Secretary-General reiterates that, under international humanitarian law, the wounded and sick, as well as medical personnel and medical facilities, must be respected and protected at all times.  He further recalls that perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable, and that the deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities may constitute a war crime.

    The Secretary-General renews his appeal for the parties to immediately cease the fighting and take steps towards the lasting peace that the people of Sudan demand.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and reiterates his strongest condemnation of the M23 armed group’s ongoing offensive and advances towards Goma in North Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces.

    In the last 48 hours, two MONUSCO peacekeepers from South Africa and one peacekeeper from Uruguay were killed while implementing the mandate entrusted upon them by the Security Council. Eleven peacekeepers sustained injuries and are being treated in the UN hospital in Goma.

    The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers as well as to their Governments and the people of South Africa and Uruguay, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. He pays tribute to the bravery of all the United Nations peacekeepers while implementing their mandate to protect civilians and defend them against armed group violence, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).

    The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. He recalls that attacks against United Nations personnel may constitute a war crime. He calls on the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice. 

    The Secretary-General reiterates his call to respect the ceasefire agreement. He calls on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.  He further calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory.  He reaffirms the United Nations’ support to the Luanda process and calls for an immediate resumption of negotiations in this framework.

    ***** 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: International Science Council ‘an Indispensable Bridge between Science, Policy’, Stresses Secretary-General

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message to the General Assembly of the International Science Council, in Muscat today:

    Uniting through science is key to tackling our common challenges — from addressing the climate crisis, to combating global pandemics, to taking on the untold risk posed by emerging technologies.

    The International Science Council is an indispensable bridge between science and policy, connecting researchers to the work of global decision-makers.

    Your crucial role is the reason I invited the Council to contribute to the work of the United Nations through the Scientific Advisory Board.  By uniting experts across disciplines, the Board connects UN leaders to global networks representing thousands of scientists and academics, especially in developing countries.  And it helps ensure that science shapes policy solutions for people and planet.

    This spirit is central to the Pact for the Future, adopted at the United Nations by Member States last September.  The Pact recognizes the crucial role of science and technology cooperation to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and supercharging progress around the world.

    We need your insights and expertise in this important task.  Together, let’s harness the power of science to build a more peaceful, sustainable and healthy future for all.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Expresses Concern over Pause in United States Foreign Aid

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Press Release

    SG/SM/22538

    The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

    The Secretary-General notes with concern the announcement of a pause in United States foreign assistance.

    The Secretary-General calls for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this support.

    The Secretary-General looks forward to engaging with the new United States administration on the provision of much-needed development support to people grappling with the most difficult challenges confronting the developing world.  The United States is one of the largest aid providers and it is vital that we work constructively to jointly shape a strategic path forward.

    United States
    Humanitarian issues

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: On International Day, Secretary-General Urges Fight against ‘Spreading Cancer of Holocaust Denial’

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly on the Observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, in New York today:

    It is an honour to be here with you.  I am humbled to have Holocaust survivors and their families with us today.

    Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7 October 2023 terror attacks by Hamas.  We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage-release deal.  The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief.  We will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages. Since the beginning, we have asked for the unconditional immediate release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

    Every year on this day, we come together to mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.  We mourn the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.

    We grieve the Roma and Sinti also targeted for genocide, the people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people and all those enslaved, persecuted, tortured and killed.  We stand alongside victims, survivors and their families.

    And we renew our resolve never to forget:  Never to forget the atrocities that so “outraged the conscience” of humankind.  And never to forget their putrid foundations:  millennia of antisemitic hate — manifest in marginalization, discrimination, expulsions and murder.

    This year, our commemoration marks a milestone.  Eighty years ago, the Holocaust ended.  And our efforts began to keep the terrible truth alive; building on the work of those who chronicled Nazi atrocities as they were perpetrated around them — and against them.

    The courage of survivors in telling their stories has played an enormous role.  We are deeply grateful to them all.  But, the responsibility belongs to every one of us.  Remembrance is not only a moral act.  Remembrance is a call to action.

    To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.  The extraordinary Auschwitz survivor, Primo Levi — who bore witness to all he had seen and endured — urged us to carve the knowledge into our hearts.  And we must.

    To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink.  It is to understand how the Nazis were able to commit their heinous crimes, with the complicity of others.  And it is to comprehend our solemn duty to speak up against hate, to stand up for the human rights of all and to make those rights a reality.

    Following the hell of the Holocaust, countries came together: They created the United Nations and our Charter 80 years ago — affirming the worth of every human person; they adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide — for which we owe a debt of gratitude to the Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin; and they established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — the foundation of all international human rights law.

    As one of the drafters, Lebanese diplomat and intellectual, Charles Malik, said, the Declaration was:  “…inspired by opposition to the barbarous doctrines of Nazism and fascism.”

    The dignity of every member of our human family is enshrined in that document, which draws from traditions around the world.  It is a pure expression of our shared humanity. And in dark times it remains a shining light.

    Today, our world is fractured and dangerous.  Eighty years since the Holocaust’s end, antisemitism is still with us — fuelled by the same lies and loathing that made the Nazi genocide possible.

    And it is rising.  Discrimination is rife.  Hatred is being stirred up across the globe.  One of the clearest and most troubling examples is the spreading cancer of Holocaust denial.  Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished and dismissed.

    Efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators.  We must stand up to these outrages.  We must promote education, combat lies and speak the truth.

    And we must condemn antisemitism wherever and whenever it appears — as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry which we see proliferating today.  Because we know these evils wither our morality, corrode our compassion and seek to blind us to suffering — opening the door to atrocities.

    The United Nations has long worked to combat antisemitism, through a wide range of activities, including our Holocaust Outreach programmes. And we recently launched our Action Plan on Antisemitism, recommending the ways the United Nations system can further enhance those efforts.

    In these days of division, it is all the more important — that we hold fast to our common humanity and renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.

    Every one of us has a duty.  The history of the Holocaust shows us what can happen when people choose not to see and not to act.  And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prescribes that:  “Every individual and every organ of society […] shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms.”

    Each of us must answer that call:  denounce lies, resist hate and ensure our common humanity overcomes division.  These causes are at the very core of the United Nations.  We will never forget.  And we will never waver in that fight.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on pause on US foreign Assistance

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General notes with concern the announcement of a pause in US foreign assistance. 

    The Secretary-General calls for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this support.

    The Secretary-General looks forward to engaging with the new United States administration on the provision of much needed development support to people grappling with the most difficult challenges confronting the developing world. The United States is one of the largest aid providers and it is vital that we work constructively to jointly shape a strategic path forward.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –