Democratic Republic of the Congo

The United Nations remains concerned about reports of continued tensions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.  All efforts must be made to ensure full respect for the ceasefire and full implementation of agreed commitments.

Four peacekeepers were injured near Tessalit yesterday, following an attack on their convoy using an improvised explosive device, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) reports.  They were evacuated to Bamako, the capital, for medical treatment.

Happy birthday, Radio Okapi, the United Nations radio in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Now 20 years old, the peacekeeping mission’s radio station has, over the years, become a trusted, reliable source of information, with programming for adults and children across the country, in multiple languages.

The text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening remarks to the tenth High-Level Meeting of the Regional Mechanism Follow-Up to the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement, delivered in Kinshasa today by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, is not available in English.

Some 14.6 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance in 2022, the Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview for 2022 says, 9 per cent more than in 2021.  More households are turning to negative ways of coping, including child labour, child marriage and the sale of productive assets.

As South Sudan marks the two-year anniversary of the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, the United Nations Mission there is calling for a fresh push to finalize transitional security arrangements and pass new legislation to support constitution-making and elections, among other steps.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed deep concern today over the increasing violence and serious human rights violations against refugees and migrants at European borders.  He noted that many European States have failed to investigate, despite mounting and credible evidence.

Wildfires are burning more severely and more often, and urban noise pollution is growing into a global public health menace, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  The report identifies and offers solutions to those and other environmental issues.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, today urged the President of Tunisia, Kaïs Saïed, to restore the High Judicial Council, warning that its dissolution would seriously undermine the rule of law, the separation of powers and independence of the judiciary in the country.

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