Ethiopia

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

United Nations humanitarian officials say violent protests in Ethiopia’s Somali region have led to at least 29 deaths, and that houses of worship, homes and businesses have been attacked and destroyed.  The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that some 22,000 households were already provided with emergency supplies, but more than 150,000 still need assistance.

UNHCR says that more than 1,500 refugees and migrants have lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in the first seven months of 2018.  The bleak milestone was confirmed after more than 850 lives were lost in June and July alone, marking the Mediterranean crossing as the world’s deadliest sea route.

On the heels of the landmark rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which ended two decades of hostility, the international community must honour its responsibilities to support historic efforts to build peace in the Horn of Africa, the Security Council heard today following a briefing on the recent visit to the region by the Sanctions Committee on Eritrea and Somalia.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Addis Ababa early on Monday morning, 9 July, to attend the second annual United Nations-African Union conference.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Olof Skoog (Sweden):

The United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti reports that the situation there remains tense and volatile following the suspension of a fuel price hike by Prime Minister Lafontant on Saturday.  The Mission is helping to remove roadblocks to ensure access to key roads.

Thousands of Rohingya people continue fleeing Myanmar’s Rakhine State and describe continued violence and human rights abuses, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, told the Human Rights Council yesterday, warning that the international community will not forget the outrages committed.

As hostilities escalate in southern Syria, civilian deaths continue to be reported and up to 66,000 people have now been displaced.  Many who fled towards the Jordanian border remain stranded in the desert with little access to humanitarian help.  Planned aid convoys will proceed as soon as the security situation allows.

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