The UN Mission in South Sudan says that, given the security situation and the projected deterioration of the food security situation, the number of displaced persons in Mission bases is expected to remain high over the coming months. The Mission today said that work continues on improving existing Protection of Civilians sites and building new sites.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia condemned the recent attack on the Somali Parliament and the many killings claimed by Al-Shabaab since the start of Ramadan. He called on all Somalis to unite, and work with the authorities to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Secretary-General condemns the recent multiple rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza. These indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas must stop. He reiterates his call on all actors to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further civilian casualties and overall destabilization.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has released a report, noting that the number of civilian casualties in that country had increased by 24 per cent during the first half of 2014 compared to the same period last year. The greatest impact of ground combat has been on children and women. The Mission calls for more efforts to protect civilians from the devastating impact of conflict.

The Secretary-General briefed the Security Council this morning on the situation in Israel and Gaza, warning of the risk of an all-out escalation, with the threat of a ground offensive still palpable — and preventable only if Hamas stops firing rockets.

At a meeting with the Afghan President and other officials, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan proposed an additional audit of polling stations to strengthen the credibility of the country’s electoral process, supporting an extensive and thorough investigation of serious and credible allegations of fraud.

The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of resolution 2165 (2014), which will allow the delivery of aid to people in need in Syria by the most direct routes.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has condemned today’s deadly attacks in Urgun and in Kabul. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative said that the perpetrators must be held accountable.

In a message to a conference in Honduras, the Secretary-General called the plight of unaccompanied child migrants from Central America an urgent humanitarian situation, saying the migrant children often rely on unscrupulous human smuggling networks. He urged Governments to urgently protect their human rights.

The World Food Programme took advantage of the humanitarian pause in Gaza to provide emergency assistance to thousands and to move food stocks into position around the enclave. Humanitarian agencies report that up to half the Gazan population is without water, with medical supplies urgently needed for hospitals.