Ukraine

In Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is having three days of events to mark World Philosophy Day, including a Night of Philosophy, a presentation of digitized philosophy archives and a talk about Barbara Cassin, initiator of the International Network of Women Philosophers.

Briefing the Security Council yesterday, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs said that there has been little progress in talks to end the fighting in Ukraine, with the conflict now in its fifth year.  She said that the Minsk Agreements form the only agreed framework for a negotiated peace in east Ukraine.

Reporting civilian casualties again on the rise and separatist elections planned outside of the long-stalled Minsk agreements in eastern Ukraine, the United Nations top political-affairs official today called on all parties to recommit to swift implementation of those agreements to end the conflict.

The Indonesian Government has confirmed that 1,234 people have died following last week’s earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports.  United Nations agencies and others are on the ground or en route to the affected areas to provide assistance and assess needs.

A new report released today by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that 4 million refugee children do not attend school.  The report shows that enrolment of refugee children in school is failing to keep pace with the growing refugee population.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that an estimated 200 to 250 civilian casualties have been reported in Afghanistan following recent fighting in Ghazni, which damaged the water system and electricity services.  In support of Government efforts, humanitarian partners are on standby to scale up activities once safe, secure access is ensured for aid workers and people in need.

Heavy rains marking the start of the monsoon season in Bangladesh have impacted nearly 2,500 families in the Rohingya refugee settlements in the Cox’s Bazar district, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is continuing aid distribution and prepositioning more supplies.

The World Food Programme has begun distributing food rations to people affected by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Equateur Province.  The World Health Organization is helping the nine surrounding countries scale up national emergency preparedness and response capacities.

The Security Council expressed grave concern about the recent deterioration of the security situation in eastern Ukraine and its severe impact on civilians.

Staff of the Human Rights Office say they are appalled at the ongoing violence in Nicaragua, where at least 16 people are reported to have been killed this week and more than 100 injured amid anti-Government protests.  They are also concerned at the reported arrest and detention of six human rights defenders.