Middle East

Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks to the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, in Dead Sea, Jordan today:

A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme and the European Union, finds that 113 million people in 53 countries experienced acute food insecurity in 2018, down slightly from 124 million in 2017.  Nearly two thirds of those suffering are in just eight countries.

Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, calls upon all parties to avoid further deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the “Great March of Return” demonstrations in the enclave.

Updating the Palestinian Rights Committee on recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the observer for the State of Palestine today cautioned that the international community’s inaction, blanket support from the United States President and hate speech by Israeli politicians in the run‑up to Israel’s presidential elections in April has emboldened the occupying Power.

Most Security Council members expressed regret today over the decision by the United States to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Syrian Golan, stressing the importance of upholding international law, as the 15-member organ heard briefings on the situation in that occupied territory.

The World Food Programme (WFP) says tens of thousands of South Sudanese children in 150 schools will benefit from a just-launched programme for education in emergencies.  Funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by WFP and the United Nations Children’s Fund, it will provide hot meals daily to 75,000 children.

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process warned the Security Council today about the danger of renewed violence in the Gaza Strip, “with potentially catastrophic consequences”, in the aftermath of rocket and mortar attacks from the Palestinian enclave and Israel’s robust military response.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said today that it is concerned that, according to its preliminary findings, an airstrike by international forces against the Taliban carried out overnight between Friday and Saturday in Kunduz killed 13 civilians, 10 of whom were children.

The Secretary-General’s report “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse” is now available, outlining progress made, including a new reporting form, a measure to track victims’ assistance and the launch of a tool to ensure perpetrators are not rehired in any part of the Organization.

Humanitarian officials are concerned by reports of civilian casualties in Syria due to both continued hostilities and unexploded ordinance left behind in the country’s north-west.  At least four civilians were reported killed and many more hurt by shelling in Idleb, Hama and Aleppo in the first three days of March.