SECURITY COUNCIL 
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke to members of the Security Council at the Open Debate on “Challenges of Maintaining Peace and Security in Fragile Contexts.” 
He said that even before the pandemic, conflicts were already increasingly complex - fueled by greater regionalization, the proliferation of non-State armed groups and their linkages with criminal and terrorist interests. Now with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been pushed into poverty and humanitarian needs have multiplied, reaching the highest levels since the Second World War, he noted. 
He also repeated his call for more funding for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, adding that on 26 January he will be co-chairing a replenishment conference for the Peacebuilding Fund. He told Council members that he counted on their support at this critical time. 

GULF  
Yesterday a statement was issued in which the Secretary-General welcomed the al Ula declaration on "solidarity and stability" announced at the Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The declaration recognizes the importance of unity among the GCC states and aims to strengthen regional security, peace, stability and prosperity. The Secretary-General also welcomed the announcement on opening the airspace, land and sea borders between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and the State of Qatar. 
The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to those from the region and beyond, including the late Emir of Kuwait and the late Sultan of Oman, who worked tirelessly towards resolving the Gulf rift. He trusts that all countries concerned will continue to act in a positive spirit to strengthen relations. 
 
YEMEN  
The Special Envoy for the Secretary-General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, met earlier today with President Hadi in Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia.   
Mr. Griffiths congratulated President Hadi of Yemen on the formation of the new Cabinet and condemned the horrific attack against the newly formed Government of Yemen last week that aimed at undermining peace efforts.  
Mr. Griffiths also conveyed, on behalf of the Secretary-General, condolences to the Government and people of Yemen and reiterated the support and solidarity of the UN and the international community to the country.  
The United Nations remains committed to helping Yemen find a way towards a sustainable and comprehensive end of this conflict through a negotiated, political solution. 
 
SYRIA 
The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Riza, as well as the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Muhannad Hadi, strongly condemned two separate events in northern Syria in which improvised explosive devices claimed civilian lives and led to the serious injury of others. Those events were car bomb attacks in Ras al-Ain market and in Jinderis, both took place on 2 January. 
Mr. Riza and Mr. Hadi expressed their profound condolences to the families of the civilian victims and those affected by the attacks. This year, civilians in Syria will have endured ten years of crisis. These two attacks so early in the new year serve as a tragic reminder of the price civilians across the country continue to pay. 
They further remind all parties to respect their obligations to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians, in line with international humanitarian and human rights law. 
 
STOCKHOLM INITIATIVE 
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke by video message to a ministerial meeting of the Stockholm initiative on Nuclear Disarmament.  
We know the only way to eliminate nuclear risks is to eliminate nuclear weapons, he told participants.  
The Secretary-General commended the group’s efforts to strengthen the disarmament and non-proliferation regime, especially its centrepiece, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 
The Secretary-General added that the proposals developed by the Stockholm initiative to reduce nuclear risks and advance nuclear disarmament align with his own Agenda for Disarmament. He also expressed the hope that all States will support these efforts, including at the Tenth NPT Review Conference this year. 
He added that the Conference remains the best opportunity to reinforce this vital pillar of our collective security and ensure that it remains fit for purpose.

NIGER 
According to local authorities, over 100 people were killed and more than 25 others were injured, following the 2 January attacks in two villages of the Tillaberi area.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that a UN interagency assessment mission arrived yesterday in the town of Ouallam to evaluate the situation of people who fled the attacks.  
According to the mission’s findings, about 10,600 people have been displaced and a majority of them found refuge in Mangaize village with host families who are already vulnerable. More than 500 displaced children are now out of school.  
Urgent needs include food, protection, shelter and non-food items, healthcare, water, sanitation, hygiene and education. A joint interagency mission to assess the situation of the displaced people in Mangaize village and Tondikiwindi district is planned for tomorrow.  
In addition to the assessment missions, the UN, along with our humanitarian partners, will support the government-led response by assisting with the registration of displaced people and the delivery of emergency assistance. Mobile clinics are already set up to strengthen the health care situation.