Disarmament

Typhoons in South and South-East Asia have had a devastating impact on children’s education. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that since late November, more than 4.1 million children in Viet Nam, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have had their education disrupted due to climate-related disasters.

New York, 4 December — The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Korea, will convene the twenty-fourth Republic of Korea-United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues at United Nations Headquarters from 4 to 5 December. The theme of this year’s Conference is “The Evolution of Outer Space Security in an Era of Growing Insecurity”. It will bring together senior officials, diplomats, technical experts, academics and civil society representatives at a time of growing global reliance on space-based technologies.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the twenty-second Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention), in Geneva today:

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, rapid advances in weapons technologies, and the erosion of key arms-control agreements, the General Assembly today adopted more than 60 resolutions and decisions put forward by its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), including a new text addressing the risks of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the command, control and communications systems of nuclear weapons.

In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the city and region of Kyiv were hit by large-scale drone and missile strikes, killing and injuring several civilians. Up to 500,000 families in Kyiv lost electricity, with water and heating services disrupted. In Dnipro, an attack also killed and injured civilians.

In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that large-scale attacks continued in Kyiv and across multiple regions, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. Authorities reported that parts of Kharkiv were left without electricity and water. Nationwide, more than 100,000 consumers are without electricity.

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

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, observed on 30 November:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the sixth session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction, in New York today:

In the Philippines, super typhoon Fung-Wong, or Uwan, made landfall Sunday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. UN agencies and its partners have provided cash assistance and reinforced shelters and are working closely with authorities and aid agencies to assess damage and plan the response.