Humanitarian issues

The Secretary-General’s annual report on intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, was issued today, documenting how human rights defenders, activists, journalists, victims and witnesses, among others, continue to experience reprisals for actual or perceived cooperation with the United Nations.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the high-level ministerial meeting in support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in New York today:

The Special Coordinator for Lebanon is in Israel where she is meeting with Israeli authorities to discuss the latest situation and the Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission is in contact with both Lebanese and Israeli parties, stressing the urgent need for de-escalation. Efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions and halt shelling.

All key stakeholders in Syria’s 13-year conflict must engage with the United Nations in a single format as the country remains in “a profound state of high conflict and territorial division,” the Organization’s senior mediator told the Security Council today, rejecting “piecemeal” diplomacy conducted by different groups.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today issued its latest report on Myanmar, detailing a range of serious human rights violations that continue to underscore the deepening crisis and lack of rule of law throughout the country.

Underscoring that the only credible measure of progress is the actual condition on the ground in Gaza, the head of United Nations humanitarian efforts in the Strip told the Security Council today that sufficient political will is sorely needed to ensure effective humanitarian operations amid restrictions, security incidents and continued suffering.

In a statement issued on 15 September, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan called for the warring parties to refrain from targeting El Fasher and protect civilians. The International Organization for Migration estimated that at least 250 people were displaced in the latest round of fighting there.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today that they are stepping up their support to the Government to protect the lives of children under 15, who account for about 60 per cent of the suspected cases of mpox and 80 per cent of the deaths in the country this year.

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

On the situation in Venezuela, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) highlighted the urgent need for increased support for over 4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the Americas.