Mali

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the high-level meeting on Mali and the Sahel, in New York today:

On 12 September 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) concerning Mali held informal consultations to hear a briefing by the Acting Special Representative of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to the United Nations.

Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, called today for urgent funding to restore depleted supplies of emergency fuel for essential services in the Gaza Strip.  Within a week, Al Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area of the Gaza Strip may have to shut down, and, without fuel, some 300,000 people will potentially be affected by serious public health concerns.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Dennis Gyllensporre of Sweden as Force Commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The Security Council today renewed for one year sanctions imposed by resolution 2374 (2017) concerning Mali, also extending until 30 September 2019 the mandate of the expert panel established to monitor their implementation.

The Special Envoy for Syria warned of what he called a possible “perfect storm” in Idlib due to the potential military escalation in the area.  He stressed that 2.9 million lives are at stake in Idlib, which is the largest of the so‑called de‑escalation areas.

A new report released today by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that 4 million refugee children do not attend school.  The report shows that enrolment of refugee children in school is failing to keep pace with the growing refugee population.

On 7 August 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) concerning Mali held informal consultations to consider the final report of the Mali Panel of Experts, submitted in accordance with paragraph 11 of resolution 2374 (2017).

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Karen Pierce (United Kingdom):

The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory called on donors to immediately provide funding for emergency fuel to prevent emergency services in the Gaza Strip from shutting down.  To ensure that a minimum level of essential services continues through the end of the year, $4.5 million is required.