The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President T.S. Tirumurti (India):

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Humanitarian Day, observed today:

Today marks three years since the death of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan.  As the current Secretary-General said, Kofi was one-of-a-kind, a man who embodied United Nations values.  Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that, on this day three years ago, the world lost one of its moral voices.

The Security Council today encouraged the United Nations to make greater use of the rapidly expanding array of new technologies — including digital technology — to make its peacekeeping missions more effective in some of the world’s most complex political and security environments, as it held a ministerial-level open debate on the topic.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro of Italy as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Venezuela, with the host Government’s approval.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Yesim Oruc of Turkey as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana, with the host Government’s approval.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Karima El Korri of Morocco as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, with the host Government’s approval.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Barbara Manzi of Italy as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Burkina Faso, with the host Government’s approval.

On 16 August, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Stefan Priesner of Austria as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Iran, with the host Government’s approval.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said today it urgently needs $27 million to continue providing emergency shelter for internally displaced people in Tigray.  With more than 2.1 million people internally displaced, some have fled Ethiopia and sought refuge in neighbouring Sudan, the agency reported.