Afghanistan

The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the State of Palestine’s Minister for Social Development launched a $350 million humanitarian response plan today aimed at providing critical aid to 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, amid rising challenges.

On 3 December 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) adopted revised Guidelines for the Conduct of its Work (“Guidelines”).  The Guidelines were revised in compliance with paragraph 43 of Security Council resolution 2255 (2015), which directed the Committee to review its Guidelines.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Kacou Houadja Léon Adom (Côte d’Ivoire):

Speakers today warned of escalating violence as the General Assembly adopted its annual resolution pledging to support the people and Government of Afghanistan.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message, delivered by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to the Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, in Geneva today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, in Geneva today:

Noting that 2019 will mark 40 years of conflict in Afghanistan, the United Nations Children’s Fund says 2018 has been especially challenging.  A spike in violence, unprecedented drought and poverty has taken a disproportionate toll on children:  5,000 were killed or maimed in the first three quarters, compared to all of 2017.

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, telling students at Tsinghua University in China that the Paris Agreement on climate change was a great start for countries to commit to lowering emissions, said she was counting on young people to hold leaders accountable to ensure a secure future for themselves and future generations.

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

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ma Zhaoxu (China):