Afghanistan

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Vassily A. Nebenzia (Russian Federation):

In Ukraine, the United Nations and aid agencies are urgently calling for $52 million to address the most acute, time-critical humanitarian needs before sub‑zero temperatures arrive.  Only 32 per cent of the Organization’s $162 million Humanitarian Response Plan for the country in 2019 has been funded so far.

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

The Security Council decided today to extend, until 17 September 2020, the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to support the organization of elections in that country, including the presidential ballot scheduled for 28 September.

While operational and technical preparations for the upcoming 28 September presidential election are on track, deep concerns such as voter security, turnout and possible fraud still remain, the top United Nations official for Afghanistan told the Security Council today.

At least 14 people were killed and many more injured yesterday, including children, when a bus hit an improvised explosive device near Douentza in the Mopti region, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali reported.  The Mission supported the medical evacuations of 16 victims.

The Yemen office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed that 52 detainees were among those killed when air strikes hit a former community college compound on the northern outskirts of Dhamar City, United Nations teams in the country reported on Sunday.  As many as 170 detainees were being held there.

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

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the international conference on “Forty Years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan:  A New Partnership for Solidarity”, taking place in Islamabad from 26 to 27 August:

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Joanna Wronecka (Poland):