In Afghanistan, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights welcomed the commitment by the Government to improve the human rights situation, but he also urged more action to end attacks on civilians, mainly by extremists, and the continued discrimination against Afghan women at all levels of society.

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

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres left New York on Friday, 6 April, for China.  He arrived in Beijing late on Saturday, 7 April.

A new report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, warns that armed groups in that country, including those affiliated with the State, hold thousands of people in prolonged arbitrary and unlawful detention, submitting them to torture and other rights violations.

Forces from the Central African Republic and the United Nations Mission in the country launched a joint disarmament and arrest operation targeting criminal groups in the PK5 neighborhood in Bangui, resulting in arrests and the seizure of arms, ammunition and drugs.  The joint efforts will continue until the criminal groups are dismantled.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index rose for the second consecutive month, led by prices of wheat and maize, whose production FAO expects will decline in 2018.  This follows global record high levels of cereal production in 2017.

Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller is in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to take stock of the ongoing humanitarian crisis there and advocate for unfettered access to, and protection of, civilians.

The new Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, Ma Zhaoxu, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

Welcoming a $1 million contribution from the United States in support of Western Sahara refugees in Algeria, the World Food Programme said today it will use the funds to provide staple food items as part of monthly food rations for thousands of refugee families living in extremely harsh conditions for more than 40 years.

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