The Security Council today failed to hold a public meeting on the human rights situation in Syria — which would have featured a briefing by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein — following a procedural vote on the matter called by the Russian Federation.
The Security Council turned its attention this morning to the humanitarian aspects of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a rural women’s rights activist and an Episcopalian clergyman warning the international community of dire consequences if it failed to help to turn the tide on a conflict that had raged in the centre of Africa for two decades.
The top United Nations official in Syria briefed the Security Council today on the implementation of its recent resolution demanding a ceasefire in that country, noting that, while progress had been made in Duma, more remained to be done to ease the humanitarian crisis and find a political solution to the conflict.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom (Netherlands):
The Security Council today underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, emphasizing that an inclusive political solution was needed to end the conflict.
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 March 2019, demanding that parties end the fighting and signalling its intention to consider all measures, including an arms embargo, against those obstructing peace in the war-torn nation.
While the security situation in Sudan’s Darfur region remained stable, the causes of the conflict — and their related consequences — were largely unaddressed, the Joint Special Representative told the Security Council today, calling on armed groups that had not signed the foundational 2011 peace agreement to do so without delay.
On 14 March 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and underline in the entries below on its Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the travel ban and assets freeze set out in paragraph 3 of Security Council resolution 1591 (2005) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations:
The Security Council met today to discuss a letter written by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the President of the Security Council, which outlined a nerve-agent attack against Sergei Skripal and his daughter that had left them both in critical condition.
Despite the demands of the Security Council’s resolution for a ceasefire in Syria, humanitarian convoys had not been able to enter eastern Ghouta without impediment, members heard today as the Secretary‑General provided an update on the situation.
