Just 18 per cent of the $48.7 billion needed to humanitarian aid worldwide this year has been received, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. The consequences are particularly acute in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Honduras, Mali, Myanmar and Sudan.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Joonkook Hwang (Republic of Korea):
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, in New York today:
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
In 2023, the United Nations verified a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children in 26 conflict zones, senior officials from the world body told the Security Council today, reporting that a staggering 5,301 children were killed and another 6,348 maimed and injured — a shocking 35 per cent rise over previous years.
Following the completion of a technical assessment, the Secretariat of the United Nations has responded positively to a request of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela to deploy a UN Panel of Electoral Experts for the July 2024 presidential elections there.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the Economic and Social Council humanitarian affairs segment, in New York today:
Against the backdrop of a two-year political deadlock in a 13-year-old conflict, Syria remains beset by ongoing violence, an economic crisis and a worsening humanitarian situation, the Security Council heard today, as the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Envoy for the country urged sustained de-escalation towards a nationwide ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian aid via all modalities and parties’ meaningful engagement in a political process under UN auspices.
Amid widespread concerns about a dysfunctional Council unable to discharge its responsibility to maintain peace, the General Assembly took up that body’s 2023 report today, and called for more transparent and analytical reports that go beyond meeting records.
Recent escalation in the Middle East — particularly between Israel and Hizbullah along the Blue Line — is concerning, the head of United Nations peace efforts in the region told the Security Council today, as he also warned that ongoing hostilities in Gaza are further fuelling regional instability.
