Detailing the death and destruction in the nearly two-year war in Ukraine, a senior UN official urged all parties to spare all civilians and civilian objects and facilitate the swift and unhindered provision of humanitarian relief during his briefing to the Security Council today, emphasizing that what Ukrainians need, above all, is an end to the devastating war.
Civilians in Gaza must not be the target of collective punishment, speakers told the Security Council today, as calls for a ceasefire gained greater urgency amid the intensification of Israel’s lethal military offensive into the besieged enclave, following the 7 October attacks by the armed group Hamas against that country.
Immediate de-escalation and a refocus on a credible political process that respects Syria’s sovereignty is urgently needed, said the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the country during his briefing today to the Security Council, emphasizing that the spillover into Syria of the violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory has already begun.
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year, calling on the parties to resume negotiations to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution for the region.
Welcoming progress made towards peace across Colombia amid the Government’s outreach efforts to domestic armed groups, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in that country for one year to monitor and verify implementation of a ceasefire between the Government and the National Liberation Army.
On 19 October 2023, and in pursuance of paragraph 5 of resolution 2664 (2022), a representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, on behalf of the Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the delivery of life-saving assistance and other activities that support essential human needs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Security Council decided today to extend until 31 October 2024 the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), as it expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of catastrophic flooding in the east of the country and urged Libyan political institutions and key stakeholders to resolve outstanding differences on the road to nationwide elections.
The Security Council discussed the transfer of arms supplies to Ukraine today, with some members voicing concern over potential unwarranted diversion of weaponry and calling for effective measures to prevent this, while speakers also said that the meeting’s call was a distraction from the Russian Federation’s own procurement of weapons from other countries.
The importance of strengthening the participation of women for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security remained in the spotlight today as the Security Council resumed — and concluded — its annual open debate on the topic of women, peace and security.
The Government of the Central African Republic must engage in inclusive dialogue with opposition parties and armed groups to build trust among stakeholders ahead of local elections in October 2024, the United Nations top official there told the Security Council today, as she highlighted progress in the country’s peace process.
