Peacekeeping

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message on paternity and child support to children born out of sexual exploitation and abuse, today:

In Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that since the war began 19 months ago there, the first domestic UN flight travelled today from Port Sudan to Kassala. The WFP-managed flights will now offer regular flights to transport aid workers and light humanitarian cargo from Port Sudan to Kassala once a week.

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that bakeries serving as lifelines for hundreds of thousands of hungry or starving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are on the verge of shutting down due to lack of flour and fuel. This comes at a time when parts of Gaza are at risk of famine.

Despite pledges to slash methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 — key to getting global warming under control, only 1 per cent of the Methane Alert and Response System in the past year were responded to, a UN Environment Programme report released today states. The system is an untapped opportunity for climate action.

The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) until 15 November 2025, mandating it to advance a multi-year strategic vision to create the political, security and institutional conditions conducive to national reconciliation and durable peace.

In Haiti, over 4,300 people were forced to flee their homes in Port-au-Prince and neighbouring towns since 10 November, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports. Starting today, the World Food Programme (WFP) is delivering assistance to over 50,000 internally displaced people in the capital Port-au-Prince.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Major General Ramón Guardado Sánchez of Mexico as Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom):

Joyce Msuya, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, has allocated $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for early action for drought in Somalia, which, according to local authorities, national partners and UN humanitarian colleagues, faces a 70 per cent likelihood of La Niña-induced drought and reduced rainfall.

As the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its debate today on peacekeeping, speakers stressed the need to revise the current model, seeking stronger engagement between peacekeepers and communities, deeper understanding of local contexts and cultures, and a greater focus on addressing conflicts’ root causes, with some calling on the Security Council to adapt non-military approaches and increase cooperation with regional organizations.