Syria

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen told the Security Council today that the situation in the country remains extremely grave, with the conflict intensifying daily and the tragic humanitarian situation continuing to worsen.

The Secretary-General welcomed the establishment of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.  The Mission is tasked with verifying the peace agreement commitments relating to reintegration of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and implementation of security guarantees for the group and conflict-affected communities.

In Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) said it will be able to provide food assistance to more than 577,000 people in need thanks to a $20 million contribution by the United States.  The money will be spent to buy local wheat flour, salt, yellow peas and cooking oil, among other supplies.

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

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) condemns continuing ceasefire violations by two signatories of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement — the CMA and the Plateforme.  The Head of MINUSMA urged the leadership of both groups to put an end to the violations immediately.

The Secretary-General yesterday strongly condemned the launch of a ballistic missile of possible intercontinental range conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  He said that the action is yet another brazen violation of Security Council resolutions and constitutes a dangerous escalation of the situation.

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

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Catherine Marchi-Uhel of France as Head of the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011.

The Head of the United Nations Mission in Colombia told the Security Council today that, with the final handover of weapons by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army’s (FARC-EP), the United Nations had been requested to establish a second mission aimed at verification and fostering cooperation.

Today, in a message to a forum being held by the Palestinian Rights Committee to mark 50 years of occupation, the Secretary-General said it was time to return to direct negotiations and resolve all final status issues on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, agreements and international law.