Tag: Peace and security

‘Take urgent action now’ urges ECOSOC President — Global Issues

Lachezara Stoeva was addressing a special crisis meeting on Haiti organized by ECOSOC to address the country’s urgent food security needs and noted that the humanitarian response plan for this year is only 22.6 per cent funded.

Wake-up call

“This plan targets 3.2 million Haitian people whereas around 5.2 million Haitian people are in need. This should be our wake-up call”, she told the group of Prime Ministers, UN aid chiefs, civil society and other stakeholders gathered at UN Headquarters in New York.

During the high-level meeting, both the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced they would be travelling to Haiti in the next few days to highlight the depth of the crisis there.

The recent earthquake, flooding and landslides, have exacerbated political and economic turmoil combined with rampant insecurity and violence perpetrated by armed gangs – all of which has triggered a food and health crisis for millions.

“We must learn the lessons of our past efforts in Haiti. A whole-of-society approach that engages the Haitian people would be key to building resilient food systems”, she said, calling for bold thinking combined with immediate action.

‘Alarming’ descent

Bob Rae, Chair of the ECOSOC Advisory Group on Haiti said the crisis was continuing to deteriorate “at an alarming rate.”

Humanitarian needs have doubled in the last year. Now 1.8 million Haitians are facing emergency levels of food insecurity and nearly five million do not have enough to eat. “This represents half of the country’s population”, he added.

UNICEF delivering: Russell

UNICEF chief Catherine Russell warned that the country was “on the precipice of catastrophe.”

She reminded the meeting the agency had worked in Haiti for decades and remained deeply committed to supporting all children there.

“Alongside our partners, we are engaging with community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the safe movement of humanitarian workers and supplies”, she said.

“We are also expanding our response in health, nutrition, protection, education, water, sanitation and hygiene. So far this year, we have screened more than 243,000 children under five for wasting, helped nearly 70,000 women and children access healthcare, provided more over 417,000 people with safe water and reached 30,000 children with learning materials.”

Action is now long overdue, she said, announcing her intention to go to Haiti “in the coming days” to assess the collective response and “reiterate UNICEF’s commitment to helping the Haitian people.”

Investments and action are sorely needed for Haiti, she said.

“Let’s work together to make sure this happens. Together we can join with the Haitian people to break through the cycle of crises and begin building towards a more peaceful and hopeful future.”

Welcome focus on ‘forgotten crisis’: McCain

WFP chief Cindy McCain, said she would be on the ground next week, “so I welcome your focus on this forgotten crisis.”

The situation is dire and getting worse every day, she added.

“Hunger has reached record levels. 4.9 million people – almost half of the population – are acutely food insecure. This includes 1.8 million people who are at serious risk of starvation.”

She said that “a coordinated and well-funded humanitarian response must be part of the broader strategy to restore security and political stability in Haiti.”

Despite the challenges, WFP has stayed and delivered, with support for 1.8 million people and the aim of reaching 2.3 million through this year, having already supported 1.4 million with lifesaving food and livelihood support so far.

“But we urgently need the support of the international community. Without additional funds, we will not be able to reach all those we are targeting for help”, Ms. McCain stressed.

“Ladies and gentlemen: we must act now, and work together to get food and cash transfers to the millions of people who are relying on us. Together we can make a difference – and help the people of Haiti rebuild their shattered lives.”

Build local food resilience

The UN’s Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, told the special meeting that the UN was working hand-in-hand with the Government, together with local and international partners, to make food systems more resilient.

This includes a recent national policy and strategy for food security and independence, and it must not be forgotten how the impact of climate change and climate risks are jeopardizing food supplies.

The UN in Haiti is promoting local production and boosting local farming, through measures such as basing school food programmes on locally produced crops. By 2030, she said all food programmes should be entirely locally sourced.

“Addressing root causes of instability and restoring social and economic wellbeing in Haiti can be achieved through promoting food sovereignty, recalibrating agrifood policies, fostering stakeholder consensus and leveraging international support.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

UN Mission backs constitutional referendum in Mali — Global Issues

“This is obviously an important time for the mission, coinciding with discussions on the renewal of its mandate, and also for Mali, which continues to face complex security and other forms of challenges,” Special Representative El-Ghassim Wane told ambassadors.

The long-awaited vote on Sunday marks the first phase towards presidential elections next year following a coup in May 2021. Citizens in the West African country will choose whether or not to support a draft constitution.

MINUSMA was established in the wake of a 2012 coup and armed rebellion in the north, leading to the signing of a Peace Agreement in Algeria three years later. Its mandate is up for renewal at the end of the month.

Link to peace process

Mr. Wane said the mission and the UN country team have provided support for the holding of the referendum, which was originally scheduled for March.

They have transported necessary equipment and staff, assisted with the training for members of the Independent Election Management Authority, and disseminated the draft constitution.

Consultations on the constitution were held in December 2021. “The discussions on the draft constitution have shown, as if it were needed, the close links between the transition process and the peace process,” he said.

Bridging differences

Addressing the Peace Agreement, he noted that while some signatory movements had stated that their interests were not adequately reflected in the draft constitution, others are “calling for a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum.”

MINUSMA and Algeria worked to help the sides overcome their differences and to understand the link between the draft constitution and the peace agreement.

“As a result of this exercise, it appears that nothing in the draft constitution runs counter to the implementation of the agreement, including the legislative and regulatory provisions relating to the institutional framework and to territorial reorganization,” he said.

Insecurity remains a challenge

Meanwhile, terrorist groups continue their deadly operations in some areas of Mali, affecting citizens, the security forces and UN peacekeepers. Five “blue helmets” have been killed since January, and 31 injured, in hostile acts.

Persistent insecurity is also having an impact on humanitarian activities in a country where nearly nine million people will require assistance this year.

As the end of its mandate approaches, Mr. Wane took stock of MINUSMA’s work over the past year, highlighting examples such as its support for the transition, “stabilizing presence” in urban areas and action to protect civilians.

“After almost 10 years in Mali, I would like to underscore that MINUSMA, like all other United Nations peacekeeping operations, is there to establish the right conditions for its exit from Mali in assisting Mali to ensure the security of its population and its territory, and to lay the foundations for lasting stability,” he said.

Request for withdrawal

Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop also addressed the Council. He called for MINUSMA to withdraw from the country “without delay”, saying the Mission has not been able to adequately respond to the security situation.

“Realism means noting the failure of MINUSMA, whose mandate is no longer up to facing the security challenges in the country,” he said.

Additionally, “MINUSMA seems to have become a part of the problem in fueling inter-community tensions exacerbated by allegations of extreme gravity which are extremely harmful to peace, reconciliation, and to national cohesion,” he added.

“This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Wane was asked about the Minister’s request.

He said the UN Mission is mandated by the Security Council, and “we stand to be guided by whatever decision the Council may take.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Armed group attacks displace nearly 1 million since January — Global Issues

An estimated 6.1 million are internally displaced, a 17 per cent increase from October, according to its Displacement Tracking Matrix.

IOMsaid civilians have been killed or forced to flee their homes due to a surge in violence and attacks by armed groups.

Deadly attack, intolerable dangers

At least 46 people were killed in the latest incident which occurred at a camp for displaced persons in eastern Ituri province on Sunday.

IOM strongly condemned the attack, which was reportedly carried out by Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO), a coalition of militia groups.

“This recent gruesome attack is a testament to the intolerable dangers displaced people in DRC face daily,” said Federico Soda, Director for the Department of Emergencies.

“IOM strongly condemns this heinous violation of international humanitarian law and recalls that attacks against civilians may constitute war crimes. Concerted efforts are desperately needed to end the violence and help the Congolese people find peace.”

Humanitarian situation worsens

As conflict intensifies, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with millions facing acute food insecurity as well as other critical needs. Overall, more than 26 million people across the DRC need humanitarian aid.

Despite insecurity, and limited access to parts of the country, IOM and partners have been striving to provide emergency relief to displaced people and those affected by the violence.

The UN agency said it is scaling-up operations which will enable a more effective crisis response to the humanitarian emergency caused by the surge in violence.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

UN in Sudan condemns killing of West Darfur governor, raises alarm over ‘vortex of hate speech’ — Global Issues

In a statement, UNITAMS strongly condemned the killing of Khamis Abbaker who just hours earlier on Wednesday, according to news reports, had publicly blamed the deaths of civilians caught up in the violence stemming from the military power struggle across Sudan, on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“Compelling eyewitness accounts attribute this act to Arab militias and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), even though the RSF communicated a denial of their involvement to the mission”, UNITAMS said.

‘Vortex of hate speech’

“The UN Mission in Sudan calls for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice and the cycle of violence in the region to not expand further. We appeal to the wisdom of the Sudanese people not to be drawn into the vortex of hate speech and ethnic polarization.”

Fighting between the rival militaries – the RSF and the national army – has left thousands dead or injured since 15 April and displaced some two million people.

Earlier this week, the head of UNITAMS Volker Perthes said that in West Darfur’s capital El Geneina, there was an emerging pattern of “large-scale targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnic identities, allegedly committed by Arab militias and some armed men in Rapid Support Forces uniform”.

UNITAMS said Mr. Abbaker had been “a key interlocutor in the region” who was one of the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement in 2020, which paved the way for the transition period towards democratic rule following the ouster of Omar al-Bashir.

‘Address the growing ethnic violence’

UNITAMS strongly denounced the military escalation in Darfur, urging “an immediate cessation of all military operations in order to de-escalate the situation, address the growing ethnic violence, allow access to humanitarian aid and prevent further deterioration that could lead to a large-scale conflict.”

UNITAMS reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, to ensure the safety and protection of civilians.

“The crimes and violations committed during this conflict will not be ignored”, the statement continued, adding that the Sudanese people “deserve peace, security, and the utmost respect for their human rights.”

‘Shocking’ reports from North Darfur

Violent clashes in and around camps for displaced people in North Darfur have killed over 100 people there, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi tweeted on Thursday.

He also described as “shocking” the reports of sexual violence against women and girls in the region. He warned that this will worsen unless the warring generals agree to end “a fight that is destroying Sudan”.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Faith leaders critical to combating ‘groundswell’ of hatred globally — Global Issues

The Council met specifically to discuss “the values of human fraternity in promoting and sustaining peace”, building on a 2019 declaration co-authored by Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al Sharif, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and also considered the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought.

The declaration urges religious and political leaders to bring an end to wars, conflicts, and environmental destruction.

‘Groundswell’ of hatred

Although threats to peace come in many forms, hatred is “an all-too-common denominator to the onset and escalation of conflict,” Mr. Guterres told the high-level meeting, convened by the United Arab Emirates, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency this month.

“Around the world, we are witnessing a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, anti-Muslim hatred, virulent anti-Semitism, and attacks on minority Christian communities,” he said.

“Neo-Nazi white supremacist movements today represent the top internal security threat in several countries – and the fastest growing.”

Halt online hate

Meanwhile, “social media has equipped hatemongers with a global bullhorn for bile”, giving credibility to unverified assertions and lies and facilitating the spread of hateful ideas and language “from the margins to the mainstream”.

The effects in the real world have been deadly as the perpetrators of heinous attacks on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand; a synagogue in Pittsburgh in the United States, and a church in the US city of Charleston, were all radicalized online.

Mr. Guterres called for action to reign in the hate spreading online. Earlier this week, he launched a policy brief that proposes a code of conduct for making digital spaces safer and more inclusive while also upholding human rights, such as the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Respect for diversity

He emphasized the need for greater investment in social cohesion as societies become more multi-ethnic and multi-religious.

“We need to ensure that every community feels respected in their unique identity while feeling valued as an integral part of society as a whole,” he said. “We need to recognize diversity as a richness of all societies – not a threat.”

Because “hatred takes root in the soil of ignorance and fear”, countries must ensure quality education for everyone, and support education systems that both instill respect for science and celebrate humanity in all its diversity.

Compassion and solidarity

“Finally and fundamentally, we must strengthen the values of compassion, respect and human fraternity anchored in international human rights norms and standards, and secure free and safe civic spaces. They are our best antidote to the poison of discord and division,” he said.

“This demands action by all of us – across international organizations, governments, civil society, and the private sector. And it requires intervention by faith leaders everywhere.”

Mr. Guterres said that because examples of intolerance are found in all societies, and among all faiths, religious leaders have a duty to prevent instrumentalization of hatred amidst their followers.

He urged the international community to take inspiration from the 2019 declaration and renew commitment to stand together as one human family.

“Together, let us forge an alliance of peace, rooted in human rights and the values of human fraternity. Rich in diversity, equal in dignity and rights, united in solidarity,” he said.

End ongoing wars

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif addressed the Council via videoconference from Egypt.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said it is logical that relations among people from different backgrounds “should be built upon the bedrock of peace and security”.

He appealed for the international community to end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and “on the eastern borders of Europe”, and “to expedite without delay the recognition of an independent Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital.”

He also addressed the refugee crisis and environmental degradation, among other global challenges.

Concern for humanity

The Grand Imam underlined the need to continue advocating for peace and love. He also called for opposing hate speech, the manipulation of religion and doctrines to ignite wars among nations, and instilling fear and terror in the hearts of people.

He said this was the mission pursued by Al Azhar Al-Sharif, in partnership with the Catholic Church, Western and Eastern Churches, and other religious institutions, in a collective effort to revive the culture of dialogue among followers of religions and to consolidate the principles of peace and harmonious coexistence.

“Our gathering today is not a luxury, but a necessity, dictated by concern for the future of humanity,” he said. “We are seeking a solution to its complex crisis which has begun to expand and infiltrate, warning of severe consequences if allowed to persist on this disastrous path.”

‘Famine of fraternity’

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher of the Holy See delivered remarks on behalf of Pope Francis. He lamented that even though the globalized world has brought humanity closer, it has not made us any more fraternal.

“Indeed, we are suffering from a famine of fraternity, which arises from the many situations of injustice, poverty and inequality and also from the lack of a culture of solidarity,” he remarked.

The worst effect of this famine is armed conflict and war, according to the English priest, who serves as the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

Say no to war

“As a man of faith, I believe that peace is God’s dream for humanity. Yet sadly I note that because of war, this wonderful dream is becoming changed into a nightmare,” he said.

“The time has come to say an emphatic ‘no’ to war, to state that wars are not just, but only peace is just: a stable and lasting peace, built not on the precarious balance of deterrence, but on the fraternity that unites us.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Kakhovka dam disaster a health crisis in the making: WHO — Global Issues

WHO’s representative in Ukraine Dr. Jarno Habicht told reporters that after the collapse of the dam caused severe flooding and massive displacement, the agency’s primary concern was the potential outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as well as rodent-borne diseases.

The agency’s teams were monitoring the situation on the ground and were ready to scale up support, he said.

Water and food security fears

Dr. Habicht noted that back in the spring, WHO had provided cholera kits to people in the Kherson region and neighbouring areas “as a preventive measure”. Water safety messages were being shared in collaboration with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health on social media, along with information materials on how to avoid getting sick from contaminated water.

But the situation was evolving fast, Dr. Habicht said, and hundreds of thousands were in need of drinking water.

He also pointed out that WHO and partners in the field were monitoring the long terms impact of the release of hazardous chemicals into the water. Food security was another major concern in the flooded settlements.

As of Monday, the UN and partners had delivered water, hygiene items and food to nearly 180,000 people in the affected areas, according to the UN aid coordination office (OCHA).

Dr. Habicht also informed of ongoing discussions with the authorities on pipelines to support neighbouring cities like Kryvyi Rih and Mykolaiv, which are experiencing water shortages.

‘Emergency within the emergency’

The WHO representative described the mental health toll of the devastation on the population as “significant”, explaining that the Dnipro River was very frequented by locals in the summer and that the humanitarian disaster in the area “ruptured people’s memories”.

The situation has compounded the population’s distress following months of attacks on civilian infrastructure and a “dark and cold winter” amid power cuts, Dr. Habicht said.

Overall, there were more than 10 million people in the country with mental health needs. “It is an emergency within the emergency,” he stressed.

Access to care

Dr. Habicht also flagged the lack of care for non-communicable diseases, with many health facilities flooded and water and electricity supply issues impacting the cold chain. He said that the water damage had similar effects on health facilities as last October’s Russian strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure. Many elderly people in the area were at particular risk due to the lack of care.

Medical supplies, including pneumonia kits and pediatric kits, were part of the humanitarian convoys to Kherson last week and this week, Dr. Habicht said. WHO and partners were also assessing needs related to the restoration of health facilities.

Working as one

Describing the organization of operations on the ground, Dr. Habicht underscored that the whole UN was working together under the leadership of Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown, and that every day a coordination meeting was held on how to best support hundreds of thousands of desperate civilians together with the Government of Ukraine and partners.

He also recalled that there was still no humanitarian access to the parts of the affected areas occupied by Russia, and that security guarantees needed “to go there and save lives” were currently being discussed.

Attack on Kryvyi Rih

Meanwhile, a Russian missile attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region hit a residential building on Tuesday according to media reports, killing at least 11 civilians.

The central Ukrainian city is the home town of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Denise Brown condemned the attack, saying that “Russia’s invasion has, once again, claimed lives and brought suffering to the people of Ukraine”, and insisting that civilians and civilian infrastructure should never be a target, in line with international humanitarian law.

The city has also been impacted by the Kakhovka dam destruction as water supply to residents has been severely limited.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Climate shocks set to worsen already fragile hotspots, Security Council hears — Global Issues

Climate shocks are triggering worsening security environments, from Afghanistan to Mali, and UN peacekeeping missions are taking steps to adapt, from reducing their carbon footprint to addressing myriad related consequences.

“Given the growing linkages of climate change, peace, and security as well as the broader changes to the conflict dynamics in the areas in which we work, we must continue to adapt,” he said.

He noted that the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report, showed that climatic and such risks as biodiversity loss and violent conflict will increasingly interact.

At the Security Council’s second formal meeting of 2023 to debate this trend, more than 70 speakers, including former Colombian President and Nobel Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos, exchanged views on connections between climate change and worsening security.

Climate-security nexus

Providing an overview of current efforts, Mr. Lacroix said that within the past several years, most UN peace operations have faced greater dangers and political challenges.

“Cross-border challenges, environmental degradation, and extreme weather events, amplified by climate change, are increasingly challenging our ability to implement our mandates,” he said. “We already see a strong correlation between Member States facing fragility and those facing climate change.”

Of the 16 countries that are the most climate vulnerable, nine of them host a UN field mission: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen, he said, emphasizing that the majority of UN peace operations are deployed in contexts that are both highly climate exposed and characterized by high levels of gender inequality.

While UN field missions do not hold the “ultimate solution” to climate change, they are “profoundly” affected by its impact, he said.

Dual vulnerabilities

“Our missions witness first-hand the dual vulnerabilities posed by climate change and insecurity,” he said, offering several examples, from Mali to South Sudan.

As such, priority areas for action in UN field missions include investing in capacities to anticipate and address climate and security linkages, reinforcing the mutual benefits of climate action and making environments safer, and making sure the missions do not become part of the problem, he said.

“Guided by the Environmental Strategy for Peace Operations, the UN is progressively introducing renewable energy solutions, reducing our environmental footprint while also minimizing the security risk for fuel convoys,” he said.

Renewed efforts

Noting that in 2021 and 2022, six per cent of the electricity used by UN peace operations was generated from renewable energy sources, he welcomed such new initiatives as the Nepal-United States partnership to deploy a large-scale solar hybrid system in Rumbek, South Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates and Norway launch of the Energy Compact in Peace Operations.

“The deployment of dedicated capacity on climate, peace, and security in a growing number of field missions has been a game changer,” he said. “Integrating climate considerations across their work has strengthened missions’ abilities to implement the mandates given by this Council.

Mr. Lacroix said the 2023 UN Peacekeeping ministerial meeting to be held in in Ghana in December, will provide additional opportunities to strengthen efforts through the generation of pledges that meet needs, from specialized capabilities to equipping partnerships in such key areas as the environment.

“Together we can build a future where our efforts in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping reinforce and are complemented by our commitment to addressing the climate crisis,” he said.

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, briefs Security Council members on threats to international peace and security.

Call for Security Council action

Former Colombian President and Nobel Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos called on the Security Council to do more.

“We are at a moment in history where the world is at risk of dividing into blocs which compete for power and supremacy over each other, rather than cooperating to address the unprecedented challenges and existential threats that we all face,” he said.

Despite the desire by some members of the Council to treat climate change and security as separate issues, in the real world the consequences of climate change and conflict very clearly converge, he said.

“Climate change exacerbates threats to human security, and war damages nature and the environment in numerous ways, from the destruction of dams – just look at Ukraine – to attacks on oil pipelines and agricultural land that sustains rural communities,” he said.

The Security Council must step up and play its part in addressing the unprecedented challenge of climate insecurity, working with other parts of the UN and other international institutions to find sustainable and just solutions, he said, suggesting such actions as integrating climate more effectively into UN operations on the ground, having more climate and security advisors attached to peacekeeping missions, and using climate forecasting as part of the UN’s prevention toolkits to anticipate and mitigate risk in fragile contexts.

“There cannot be peace without sustainable development, and there cannot be sustainable development without peace,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Peace can only be maintained if the very forests, soils, and rivers that communities depend on are protected and managed sustainably, he said.

“We need bold policy action,” he said. “We must redouble our efforts not only in mitigation and adaptation but in nature-positive solutions including conserving high-integrity forests, peatlands, coral reefs, and other ecosystems that provide humanity with clean air, clean water.”

Calling on Council members to find common ground, constructive dialogue, and cooperation, he said, there is only one way forward, he said: “Unite, cooperate, or we will all perish.”

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Attacks based on ethnicity may amount to war crimes — Global Issues

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and rival military group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in mid-April, has left thousands dead or injured, and displaced more than a million.

Communities also continue to face severe shortages of food, access to medical supplies and restricted movement out of conflict areas, while allegations of sexual violence against women and girls have emerged.

‘Deeply worrying’

UN Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, said the security, human rights and humanitarian situation continue to rapidly deteriorate across the country, particularly in the greater Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan areas.

Mr. Perthes, who also heads the UN Integrated Transition Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), said he was particularly alarmed by the situation in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, where the violence has taken on ethnic dimensions.

“While the United Nations continues to gather additional details regarding these reports, there is an emerging pattern of large-scale targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnic identities, allegedly committed by Arab militias and some armed men in Rapid Support Force (RSF)’s uniform. These reports are deeply worrying and, if verified, could amount to crimes against humanity,” he said.

Two decades ago, thousands were killed across Darfur, and millions displaced, in fighting between Sudanese Government forces backed by allied militia known as Janjaweed on one side, and rebel groups on the other.

Document all violations

Mr. Perthes added the UN “condemns in the strongest terms all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, whatever the form and whoever the alleged perpetrators are.”

He emphasized that the security forces and non-State armed actors must uphold their duty to respect the right to life and refrain from attacks against civilians, in line with international humanitarian law.

“While I am encouraged that in some areas, local communities and state authorities have taken proactive measures to help de-escalate and mediate, it is important to ensure that all violations are documented and protected for accountability purposes,” he said.

UNITAMS will continue efforts to monitor the situation and towards engaging with all parties to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, in coordination with regional and international partners.

Genocide expert’s condemnation

Meanwhile, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, has strongly condemned the ongoing fighting and the parties’ “blatant disregard for ceasefires”, her office said in a statement.

Ms. Nderitu was also gravely concerned by renewed fighting in the capital, Khartoum, particularly targeted missile attacks against two neighbourhoods on Sunday, which killed 18 people and injured many others.

“In addition to human rights violations and abuses committed in Khartoum, the Special Adviser is alarmed by reports that the security vacuum and the protection gap in several states has been exploited by armed groups, including the Janjaweed and other rebel armed groups,” the statement said.

“These groups have allegedly been retaliating against ethnic communities on the basis of their ties to the main parties to the conflict, the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF. These attacks, if confirmed, could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

No justification for reprisals

The Special Adviser also warned of the potential of war crimes in Darfur, where hundreds have been killed and injured in reported clashes between members of different groups.

Homes have been looted and burned, and the hospital in El Geneina was also attacked. As civilians flee the fighting, homes abandoned by Masalit communities have been occupied by Arab communities, according to reports.

Although tensions between ethnic communities are not new in Darfur, they could not be used as a justification for reprisal, the statement said.

Civil war fears

“The violence in West Darfur is shocking. If it continues, it can develop into renewed campaigns of rape, murder, and ethnic cleansing amounting to atrocity crimes,” the Special Adviser warned.

Ms. Nderitu feared that if left unaddressed, the violence and intercommunal clashes occurring in some areas of Sudan could engulf the entire country in a civil war, with high risks of atrocity crimes being committed.

The Special Adviser stressed that the SAF and RSF leaders have a responsibility to protect civilians, and to respect international human rights and humanitarian law.

She also called for an urgent and consolidated ceasefire, and for accountability for human rights violations and abuses.

UN chief ‘highly worried’

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is “highly worried about the increasing ethnic dimension of the violence in Sudan, as well as by reports of sexual violence”, his spokesperson said in a statement issued later on Tuesday.

Mr. Guterres is deeply concerned about the situation in Darfur and appalled by reports of large-scale violence and casualties across the region, particularly in El Geneina, and other areas, including the city of Nyala in South Darfur, and in Kutum and El Fasher, located in North Darfur.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General reiterates his call for the SAF and RSF to cease fighting and commit to a durable cessation of hostilities. The parties were also reminded of their obligation to protect civilians.

“The Secretary-General reaffirms the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the Sudanese people,” Mr. Dujarric added.

“With nearly nine million people now urgently requiring humanitarian aid and protection in Darfur, he stresses the need for an end to looting and widened access so aid can reach those who most need it.”

The UN chief also paid tribute to humanitarian workers, especially local partners, who risk their lives to deliver assistance.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

‘Immense tragedy’ underscores need to address unexploded ordnance danger in Somalia — Global Issues

UNMAS issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened and profoundly alarmed” by the deaths of 27 civilians, including 22 children, in a “tragic incident” involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) that occurred on Friday in the Lower Shabelle region.

Fifty-three people were also injured.

Innocent lives lost

“UNMAS expresses its sincere condolences to the families affected by this devastating event and shares in their grief and pain during this incredibly difficult time,” said Justin Smith, the agency’s chief in Somalia.

“The loss of innocent lives, especially children, is an immense tragedy that underscores the urgent need for heightened efforts to address the dangers posed by explosive ordnance in Somalia,” he added.

UNMAS was established in 1997 and its work goes beyond removing landmines from the ground in countries affected by armed conflict.

‘A stark reminder’

Actions also address the problem of UXO, which are weapons such as bombs, mortars, grenades and missiles that failed to detonate. In many countries they pose an even greater threat to safety than landmines, according to its website.

UNMAS said the incident in Lower Shabelle serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat faced by civilians, particularly children, in conflict-affected areas, and highlights the critical importance of swift and decisive action to mitigate the risks associated with explosive remnants of war.

The UN, through UNMAS and its partners, has renewed commitment to working with the Government of Somalia, international organizations, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen mine action efforts.

Intensify collective efforts

“Together, we must intensify our collective efforts to eliminate the risks posed by explosive ordnance and safeguard the lives of vulnerable individuals, particularly children,” Mr. Smith said.

Since 1991, the UN has been engaged in advancing peace and security in Somalia, where African Union peacekeepers support national forces in their ongoing battle against Al-Shabaab militants.

Last Friday also saw a deadly attack on a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, which left 16 people dead, including a staff member of the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We condemn all attacks on innocent civilians and humanitarian aid workers and express our deepest condolences to the family members of all those who were killed in this attack,” said Malik Mamunur, WHO representative in Somalia.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

UN human rights officers on the frontline in Somalia — Global Issues

UN Photo/Fardosa Hussein

Every day, UN human rights officers are on the frontlines to support them.

They are part of the UN’s field work, talking to those most affected by conflict and monitoring how human rights principles and international humanitarian law obligations are being respected in situations of conflict and insecurity; like in Garowe, Somalia, where nearly 75,000 men, women, and children have fled to safety from nearby armed clashes amid a conflict that has already displaced as many as 200,000.

Read about a day in the life of a UN human rights team here.

UN Photo/Fardosa Hussein

Amina Abdirahman shares a room with three of her six children in Garowe, Somalia, after fleeing an outbreak of fighting in Laascaanood, 127-km away.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version