Palestinian issues

In Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called today on that country’s military to stop all attacks on civilians and civilian objects. He said the unremitting violence inflicted on civilians underscores the need for the parties to commit to a genuine and permanent nationwide halt to hostilities.

In Afghanistan, the United Nations today released a record $16.6 million to help vulnerable communities mitigate the effects of drought in the north and north-east of that country. This new financing includes $6.6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund and $10 million from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.

In the Central African Republic, the Special Representative there welcomed the decision by the leaders of the two armed groups, Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) and UPC — Unité pour la Paix en Centrafrique — to rejoin the Political Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation, signed in 2019.

At a critical juncture in Middle East history, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning to the Security Council: the prospect of a two-State solution — where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security — is in grave danger of vanishing.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in New York today:

In Haiti, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that gang activities continue to fuel violence, displace families and disrupt humanitarian operations. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 200,000 people were living in displacement sites across the country.

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes that the depletion of critical stocks there goes far beyond food. One example is trauma-related medical supplies, which are running out at a time when the number of people injured in mass casualty incidents continues to increase.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is deeply concerned by reports of clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition in Morobo and Yei Counties, Central Equatoria State, which have led to civilian displacement and casualties.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that there’s been an increase in the number of vulnerable individuals among those deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, particularly women — including pregnant and lactating women.

In Somalia, flash floods have impacted nearly 30,000 people in different parts of the country. Authorities say at least four people have been killed in the past week. Humanitarian officials note that the rains come after months of dry conditions that decimated water sources and grazing land.