Peacekeeping

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today released a report urging the Government of Colombia to protect civilians during ongoing violence by armed groups. The report details how armed groups use violence to exert control over the population, furthering their own economic interests and undermining governance.

The Advisory Committee established by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) concluded its second three-day meeting in Tripoli on 20 February. The Committee held discussions on the current electoral framework, focusing on the contentious aspects that have impeded the holding of national elections in Libya.

The Central African Republic has made significant progress towards the 2025 elections, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country told the Security Council today, while also noting overall security improvements and persistent fragility in border areas.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Food Programme has partially resumed food assistance in parts of Goma, delivering vital nutrition supplies to treat moderate acute malnutrition in children, and plans to resume operations fully as soon as it is safe to do so.

In an ever-shifting security landscape, ensuring sufficient funding, technology and training, and promoting gender equality in peacekeeping operations while also recognizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations in conflict zones is more critical than ever, speakers told the opening of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, which also marked 60 years since its establishment.

The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is sheltering and protecting some 1,400 people in its premises in Goma, North Kivu. In recent days, nearly 56,000 displaced persons have relocated to 34 newly created collective centres across Goma, mainly schools, churches and hospitals.

In Sudan, the total number of newly displaced people in Shamal Jabal Marrah, in Central Darfur State, reached over 120,000, after hostilities over the past week in Zamzam in North Darfur state caused about 5,500 people to seek safety and shelter there, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

In Syria, over the past two days, 77 trucks carrying UN food, health supplies, blankets and other aid have crossed from Türkiye to Idlib through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, bring the number of trucks crossing from Türkiye to 200 this year — more than triple the amount compared to the same time last year.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Fu Cong (China):