HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE U.N. SYSTEM,
THURSDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2022
SECURITY COUNCIL/UKRAINE
This morning, the Security Council held an open meeting on Ukraine. Briefing Council members, the Secretary-General, António Guterres, noted that Russia’s war in Ukraine shows no sign of letting up and that the past seven months have seen unspeakable suffering and devastation.
The Secretary-General warned that the latest developments are dangerous and disturbing and that they are further steps away from any prospect of peace – and towards an endless cycle of horror and bloodshed. The idea of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, has become a subject of debate, he said, adding that this, in itself, is totally unacceptable.
The Secretary-General said that he is also deeply concerned by reports of plans to organize so-called “referenda” in areas of Ukraine that are currently not under government control. He stressed that any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the UN Charter and of international law.
Mr. Guterres noted that the United Nations is working to maximize every opportunity to alleviate suffering, including through his visits to Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the region, and his direct engagement with President Zelenskyy and President Putin. Together with its humanitarian partners on the ground, the United Nations have provided aid to nearly 13 million people in need.
The Secretary-General pointed out that the Fact-Finding Mission he established following the tragic incident at the detention facility in Olenivka on 29 July is ready to deploy as soon as all necessary assurances are received. He stressed that the Mission must have safe, secure and unfettered access to all relevant places and people, and to all relevant evidence, without any limitation, impediment or interference.
UKRAINE
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General warmly welcomed the exchange of more than 250 prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This is no small feat, but much more remains to be done to ease the suffering caused by the war in Ukraine. He commended the efforts of both parties.
He will continue to support any additional efforts that may be undertaken, including further exchanges under an “all for all formula" approach. The Secretary-General reiterated the need for the full respect of international law, including international humanitarian law, with regard to the treatment of prisoners of war.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/PRESS ENCOUNTER
Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General spoke to journalists following a meeting of the Global Crisis Response Group and a Leaders’ Roundtable on Climate Change. On climate, he said he asked leaders to address four burning issues before COP27 in Egypt:
He called for more ambition on mitigation to keep 1.5 alive and for commitments to the developing world to be delivered in full. The Secretary-General emphasized the need to double adaptation support to $40 billion dollars a year by 2025 and called for a serious discussion and meaningful action on the issue of loss and damage.
Turning to the meeting of the Global Crisis Response Group, the Secretary-General renewed his appeal for international cooperation and solidarity to bring down prices, increase support to developing countries, including through social protection floors, and to prevent a larger crisis next year.
He said the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the agreement to facilitate unimpeded access to food and fertilizer from the Russian Federation are essential steps, but they are not enough. He called for International Financial Institutions to step up for developing countries.
YEMEN
David Gressly, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said on Wednesday that donors have generously pledged all of the $75 million required for the emergency operation to transfer oil from the FSO Safer to a safe vessel. Mr. Gressly said reaching the amount needed to implement the emergency operation was a fantastic milestone. It followed the Netherlands’ announcement that it would increase its pledge to $15 million from $7.5 million.
To begin work on the emergency operation as soon as possible the United Nations needs donors to convert all of the pledges to cash. As of 18 September, $59 million has been disbursed or was in the process of being disbursed. Mr. Gressly said he was hopeful the remaining undisbursed pledges would be converted to cash very soon.
The UN also needs a further $38 million to finish the job with the installation of safe long-term replacement capacity for the Safer.
UGANDA
To scale up the response to Ebola in Uganda, the World Health Organization (WHO) is delivering medical supplies, providing logistics and deploying staff to support the national authorities in halting the spread of the virus. WHO says that so far, seven cases, including one death, have been confirmed to have contracted the Sudan ebolavirus. This is the first time Uganda has detected the Sudan ebolavirus since 2012.
WHO has deployed a technical team to Mubende district to support surveillance, infection prevention and control and the management of cases. The Organization is also assisting in the activation of surveillance structures in neighbouring districts and is repurposing its country-based staff to bolster the response. “We are acting quickly and decisively to draw the reins on this outbreak,” said Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye, Regional Emergency Director with the WHO Regional Office for Africa. “Africa’s stronger homegrown emergency readiness is proving ever more crucial in tackling outbreaks such as Ebola.”
ENERGY JOBS
Worldwide employment in renewable energy reached 12.7 million last year, a jump of 700,000 new jobs in one year, despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the growing energy crisis, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Solar energy was found to be the fastest-growing sector. In 2021 it provided 4.3 million jobs, more than a third of the current global workforce in renewable energy.
The report shows that an increasing number of countries are creating jobs in renewables. Almost two-thirds of all these jobs are in Asia. China alone accounts for 42 per cent of the global total, followed by the EU and Brazil with ten per cent each, and the USA and India with seven per cent each.
