Europe

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the European Investment Bank Group, in Luxembourg today:

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that Israeli authorities today reopened the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing for the entry of 500,000 litres of fuel and humanitarian assistance that is arriving through Israel and Egypt.

By waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has breached every Principle set out in the Helsinki Final Act 50 years ago — the document that laid the foundation for today’s Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), its Chairperson-in-Office told the Security Council today.

In Jamaica, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has mobilized an initial $2 million in Resilient Recovery grants for hurricane recovery efforts. This includes clean-up and management of debris — estimated at 4.8 million metric tons — as well as recycling opportunities through cash-for-work modalities.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the seventh annual African Union-European Union Summit, in Luanda today:

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are deeply saddened over the tragic capsizing of a boat off the coast of Malaysia and Thailand carrying up to 70 people from Myanmar, including Rohingya. Some 13 people were brought ashore by Malaysian authorities; at least 21 people died.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Peter N. Due of Denmark as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

The Food and Agriculture Organization today released a report showing that deforestation has slowed in all of the world’s regions in the last decade. More than half of forests are now covered by long-term management plans, and one fifth are within legally established protected areas.

Warning of political deadlock and growing tensions, the top United Nations official in Kosovo stressed need for Belgrade and Pristina to “avoid measures that might erode trust”, as he briefed the Security Council via video link on the Secretary-General’s latest report on developments in the area.

The World Food Programme (WFP) today reported that millions in Somalia are at risk of worsening hunger and malnutrition as critical funding shortfalls have forced the agency to reduce the number of people it supports by over two thirds to just 350,000 in November, down from 1.1 million in August.