AFGHANISTAN
The Secretary-General is following, with deep concern, developments in Afghanistan, including the latest fighting in Herat and Kandahar. We are particularly concerned about the shift of fighting to urban areas, where the potential for civilian harm is even greater.
We hope that the discussions this week in Doha between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Taliban along with regional and international envoys, will restore the pathway to a negotiated settlement to the conflict. The United Nations stands ready to contribute to such a settlement and remains focused on providing assistance to the increasing number of Afghans in need.
On the humanitarian front, I can tell you that many people are arriving in Kabul and other large cities, seeking safety from the conflict and other threats. With 18.4 million people already in need of humanitarian assistance, and conflict displacement of up to 390,000 people this year alone, humanitarian organizations continue to operate in Afghanistan.
Inter-agency assessments are ongoing in the field, focusing on displacement, conflict, floods, gender issues and protection monitoring to determine the humanitarian needs and immediate response requirements.
The humanitarian community – both the UN and non-governmental organizations – remains committed to helping people in Afghanistan, but the security environment is highly complex and clearly challenging.
MALI
From Mali, our colleagues at the UN mission there tell us that their camp in Aguelhok, in the Kidal region, was attacked yesterday, with multiple rounds of both direct and indirect fire landing near the UN premises.
UN peacekeepers repelled the attack, in which three UN military personnel and two civilians were injured. This was the fifth attack on this UN camp this year.
The Mission also tells us that, in response to the August 8th attack against civilians in Gao, in which at least 50 civilians were reportedly killed, UN peacekeepers continue to patrol the area, day and night, to protect civilians and help them access basic services.
This includes air and ground reconnaissance led by UN peacekeepers, who are working alongside Malian armed forces. Peacekeepers have established a temporary base in the area of Ouattagouna, from where they will protect civilians.
NIGER
From Niger, the Secretary-General condemns the attack conducted by unidentified gunmen on August 9th in the district of Banibangou, in the region of Tillabéri of Niger. He expresses his condolences to the bereaved families and wishes the injured a swift recovery. The Secretary-General reaffirms the UN’s readiness to support the Government’s efforts to enhance the protection of civilians across the Sahel.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our UN peacekeeping mission there reports that it has facilitated discussions between the Hema and Bira communities in Irumu territory in Ituri. As a result, the rival groups signed a protocol of non-aggression and cessation of violence, and community leaders agreed to work for the restoration of peace in the territory.
The move was welcomed by youth organizations who are supporting the Mission’s disarmament and reintegration efforts.
SOUTH SUDAN
From South Sudan, the UN Mission in that country is concerned about the division that has developed within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, which has led to clashes between factions that took place last week.
Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the ground, said the Mission is committed to supporting the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, which must continue to move forward quickly.
He said that the Mission joins the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), civil society groups and others in calling for the factions and all signatory parties to work together to overcome their differences peacefully.
SUDAN
From neighbouring Sudan, our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that limited amount of aid has been provided to 30,000 internally displaced people at a camp in Sortony in North Darfur due to lack of access following clashes last month.
Aid agencies have not been given security assurances to access the area where displaced people are.
Our humanitarian colleagues say the most urgent needs are protection, shelter, and healthcare.
More than 350,000 people have been displaced in Sudan due to intercommunal conflict and armed attacks between January and June of this year.
SYRIA
The International Syria Support Group’s Humanitarian Task Force meeting convened virtually today in Geneva. At that meeting, Geir Pedersen, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, expressed his growing concern as increased hostilities, which have included heavy shelling and intensified ground clashes, which have resulted in civilian casualties.
Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee Daraa al-Balad, he said. Civilians are suffering acute shortages of fuel, cooking gas, water, and bread. Medical assistance is in short supply to treat the injured.
The Special Envoy reiterated his call for an immediate end to the violence and for all parties to uphold the principle of the protection of civilians and civilian objects, in accordance with international humanitarian law. He also stressed that the immediate, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be granted to all impacted areas and communities, including Daraa al-Balad, and that the near siege-like situation must end.
SOMALIA
This morning, you heard from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, James Swan, who briefed Security Council members on the situation in the country.
He said significant progress has been made since the signing of the Electoral Implementation Agreement between the Prime Minister and leaders of the Federal Member States on May 27th. However, Mr. Swan said that more progress is needed in the areas of electoral security due to the continuing threat posed by Al-Shabaab. And he said we are continuing to work closely with the Prime Minister and the committees on election preparations.
LIBYA
Ján Kubiš, the Special Envoy for Libya, spoke at the session of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum and stressed that the ideas and proposals developed by the Forum contain all the ingredients necessary to reach a constructive compromise, if the participants can mobilize the political will.
ZAMBIA
As you will have seen, we issued a statement yesterday on Zambia, in which the Secretary-General said he is closely following developments in Zambia ahead of the general elections, which are taking place today.
The Secretary-General calls on all Zambians, notably all candidates and political party leaders, to do their part to create an environment conducive to credible, inclusive and peaceful elections.
The UN will continue to support the Government and the people of Zambia in achieving this outcome.
COVID-19
A quick update for you from Cameroon and Trinidad and Tobago.
In Cameroon, the UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Matthias Naab, continues to work with authorities on communication campaigns to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as advocating for more funding and doses to vaccinate the entire population.
On Sunday, Cameroon received more than 150,000 vaccine doses through COVAX. These were purchased by the UN Economic Commission for Africa through the African Union’s Vaccine Acquisition Trust initiative.
Cameroon has received 1 million doses so far.
As of yesterday, more than 300,000 people – or 1.6 per cent of the total population – had received their first dose of the vaccine.
And, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Resident Coordinator, Marina Walter, continues working with authorities, the private sector and civil society to address the impacts of the pandemic.
The country received more than 30,000 doses of the vaccine yesterday, its third shipment from COVAX.
The Caribbean region has reported 1.3 million cases and more than 16,000 deaths, with more than 10 million people vaccinated so far.
YOUTH DAY
Lastly, today is International Youth Day. This year’s theme is “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.” It highlights solutions developed by young innovators to address challenges to our food systems.
There is a message from the Secretary-General on that.
