The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today that funding shortfalls are threatening education for millions of children caught up in conflicts or disasters. Of the $932 million needed this year for its education programmes in emergency countries, it has so far received recorded voluntary contributions of less than $115 million.
Myanmar
The Secretary-General deeply regrets the adoption of the so-called “Regularisation bill” on 6 February. This bill will have far-reaching legal consequences for Israel. The Secretary-General insists on the need to avoid actions that would derail the two-State solution.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the ongoing tensions and intensification of the fighting in eastern Ukraine. He appeals to all parties to fully observe the ceasefire and allow for immediate humanitarian access.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq briefed the Security Council today noting the progress that had been made by Iraqi forces in Mosul. He said that in the foreseeable future, the liberation operations in Iraq are coming to an end and the days of Da’esh are numbered.
The Secretary-General, in Addis Ababa for the African Union Summit, expressed profound solidarity, respect and deep sense of gratitude because African countries provide the majority of United Nations peacekeepers, are among the world’s most generous hosts of refugees and include some of the its fastest growing economies.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations briefed the Security Council today saying that the 31 December 2016 agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had contributed to defusing tensions there. However, he noted that major efforts would need to be made to ensure all parties follow and implement the agreement.