RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
This morning the Secretary-General spoke at an event in the General Assembly Hall on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
He said that racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. Racism continues to be a driver of persistent inequality and to deny people their fundamental human rights.
The Secretary-General also stressed that the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable. We see some of the worst impacts in the overlaps and intersections of discrimination suffered by women of colour and minority groups, Mr. Guterres said. This year’s theme – “Voices for Action against Racism” – calls on us to listen closely, to speak out loudly, and to act decisively, the Secretary-General said. We all have a responsibility to engage in solidarity with movements for equality and human rights everywhere.
UKRAINE
Daily attacks reportedly by Russian forces continue to batter Ukrainian cities. Many are reportedly indiscriminate, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Between 24 February and 15 March, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded 2,149 civilian casualties. The total consists of 816 people killed and 1,333 injured. The actual number is likely to be much higher, unfortunately.
Most of these casualties were caused by the use in populated areas of explosive weapons with a wide impact area. Hundreds of residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed, as have hospitals and schools.
The devastation and suffering in Mariupol and Kharkiv raise grave fears about the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing intensifying attacks.
International humanitarian law is crystal clear. Civilians are entitled to protection against the dangers arising from military operations. Direct attacks on civilians are prohibited.
Yet, the magnitude of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine cannot be denied. This demands a thorough investigation and accountability.
UKRAINE/ HUMANITARIAN
A number of UN senior officials briefed Member States on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. The meeting was chaired by Martin Griffiths, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator.
Speaking from Ukraine, the UN Crisis Coordinator Amin Awad warned that this war has created unprecedented humanitarian challenges that continue to rise. He said that we, along with our humanitarian partners, are on the ground and we are in 17 locations operating out of 10 hubs. However, Mr. Awad stressed that we need to do more and we need safe humanitarian access.
From Lviv, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN in Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani, said that we are working on a joint response to integrate the long-term development needs with the immediate humanitarian response. She noted that water and sanitation have either been partially or totally destroyed in Ukraine, with dramatic and immediate and long-term socioeconomic impacts.
And just a few more details for you on what is happening on the ground. We continue to be extremely concerned that many people – including the most vulnerable groups such as older people and people with disabilities – are trapped in areas of escalating conflict. With essential services disrupted, they are unable to meet their basic needs for food, water, and medicines.
The World Food Programme for its part has been warning that the country’s food supply chain is falling apart: trucks and trains are being destroyed, airports bombed, many bridges have fallen, supermarkets and warehouses have been emptied. WFP said that is has mobilized food supplies for 3 million people inside Ukraine for one month.
In recent days, the World Food Programme has delivered 26 metric tons of high-energy biscuits in the capital Kyiv, targeting 30,000 people.
In Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine, WFP distributed more than 53 metric tons of bread to 212,400 crisis-affected people. The distribution of value vouchers continues for 2,000 displaced people in Lviv.
For its part, the International Organization for Migration said its newly established hotline has received more than 10,000 calls over the last 10 days, including from people seeking specialized counselling.
The UN refugee agency said that almost 3.3 million people, most of them women and children, have crossed international borders out of Ukraine.
For its part, the UN Children’s Fund said that as of yesterday 17 March, it had dispatched 85 trucks carrying 858 tons of emergency supplies to support children and families in war-torn Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Out of this total, 78 trucks carrying more than 780 tons were sent to Ukraine while the remaining 7 trucks were sent to nearby countries.
A total of 34 trucks have already arrived in Ukraine, with more deliveries expected in the coming days.
In Moscow, our humanitarian colleagues have strengthened the engagement with the Russian Ministry of Defense. We are making progress with both the Russian Federation and Ukraine to allow for regular discussion on specific humanitarian issues, including safe passage and supply routes for humanitarian cargo. We, along with international and local non-governmental organizations, are pushing east towards areas of greater needs. I do hope to have a bit more of an update for you on that front later today.
SECURITY COUNCIL
Back here in the Security Council you will have heard the High Representative for Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, briefing the Security Council on the allegations concerning biological weapons in Ukraine. She reiterated that the United Nations is not aware of any biological weapons in Ukraine.
Ms. Nakamitsu noted that the Biological Weapons Convention, to which both the Russian Federation and Ukraine are party, contains several measures to which concerned parties may take recourse to solve problems, including the convening of a consultative meeting. She reiterated the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Yesterday afternoon, in the Council you heard from Rosemary DiCarlo, Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization and Raouf Mazou the Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees for Operations. All, I think, painted a very bleak picture of what is going on in Ukraine currently.
YEMEN
Moving on to Yemen. The UN appreciates all initiatives to reach an inclusive negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen. In that context, we welcome the GCC initiative to hold consultations among host the parties to the conflict in Yemen in the coming weeks in support of the UN’s own efforts.
MYANMAR/HUMANITARIAN
Our colleagues tell us that civilians continue to suffer due to the worsening humanitarian crisis and continued fighting, particularly in the country’s southeast and northwest.
Across Myanmar, as of March 14th, 889,900 people remain displaced. This includes 370,000 men, women and children who were already displaced before the military took over the government last year and 519,500 people who have been displaced since that takeover in February.
Humanitarian needs are growing but our access to people in need remains limited, hampering the planned scale-up humanitarian assistance in 2022.
The demand for support to people in need exceeds the capacity to respond, but we along with our partners – including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Myanmar Red Cross Society and national NGOs are continuing to provide food, water, warm clothes, blankets, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, and COVID-19 prevention items.
We along with our partners are also providing protection services to displaced people and communities in conflict areas across the country.
Clashes, road blockages and military checkpoints limit our access to areas where needs are critical. This has led to the needs of thousands of vulnerable families in displacement sites and camps increasing.
We and our partners in Myanmar urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law to protect civilians and to ensure people in need have access to humanitarian aid.
The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, calling for $826 million for Myanmar aims to reach a record 6.2 million people with assistance.
To date, only 6 per cent funded. We urge donors to give generously in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
VENEZUELA
Quick COVAX update for you this time from Venezuela, where an additional 4,680,000 doses of vaccines arrived yesterday. They have been procured through COVAX.
In total, the country has received more than 16,700,000 doses through COVAX. This figure is higher than initially expected, thanks to the savings achieved in the purchase of these doses.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, WHO and UNICEF have accompanied the Venezuelan authorities in their efforts to ensure rapid diagnosis and adequate management of cases, as well as training and logistical and technical support, including in areas that are hard to reach.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
And finally, we say thank you to Ethiopia, which has paid its budget dues in full. Addis Ababa’s payment raises up to 74 fully paid up Member States.
