SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held an open meeting on sanctions.
The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, said that sanctions are not an end in themselves. To be effective, sanctions should be part of a comprehensive political strategy, working in tandem with direct political dialogue, mediation, peacekeeping and special political missions.
Also speaking at the meeting was Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, who said that sanctions are a fact of life in many humanitarian relief operations, affecting our operations directly and indirectly.
He said that UN sanctions are designed to limit unintended consequences, and he welcomed the Council’s signals that they are not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences.
AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT
On Saturday, the Secretary-General sent a video message to the 35th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
He noted that the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations is stronger than ever.
The Secretary-General said that we are living in troubling times, with injustice baked into global systems and Africans paying the heaviest price.
The immoral inequalities that are suffocating Africa are fuelling armed conflicts; political, economic, ethnic and social tensions; human rights abuses; violence against women; terrorism; military coups; and a sense of impunity.
The Secretary-General said that he and the UN family stand with Africa as we ignite four engines of recovery: for vaccine production and coverage; economic recovery; a green recovery; and for peace across Africa.
We’ve shared his full message with you.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
Also on the African Union Summit, as we announced last week, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, represented the Secretary-General at the meeting.
Yesterday, she began a series of visits to some regions in Ethiopia where, first in Amhara, she met with a range of people, including the Vice President of Amhara region, civil authorities and others.
The Deputy Secretary-General heard and witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of the conflict in the region on the people, particularly women and children. This included looting of, and damage to property and assets, including hospitals, markets, secondary schools and the agricultural sector, among others.
During meetings with women and students who shared their experiences, Ms. Mohammed emphasized the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations for sexual and gender-based violence.
She expressed solidarity with the plight of the survivors, noting that the United Nations will continue to support peace efforts in Ethiopia, including by finding solutions to ease the physical and psychological damage inflicted on the women due to the atrocities they had experienced as a result of the conflict. Ms. Mohammed urged the leaders to ensure that women are included in the healing, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
Upon leaving Kombolcha, the Deputy Secretary-General said that it is clear that the price of conflict was too high and that peace is indispensable. “We must help the people of Ethiopia to find peace,” she said.
Later in the day, in Mekelle, Ms. Mohammed also saw how the conflict has affected women and children. She held discussions with the President of the region of Tigray on reaching a peaceful resolution to the conflict and the opportunity it would offer to all Ethiopians.
The Deputy Secretary-General visited Ayder Hospital, which is supported by the United Nations, and provides holistic support to rape survivors. She said that the women’s stories needed to be told, pointing out that “in conflict there are no winners”.
Ms. Mohammed will continue her visits to other regions of Ethiopia, including Afar and Somali.
YEMEN
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, held constructive meetings last week on the UN-coordinated proposal to mitigate the threat posed by the aging floating storage and offloading unit, FSO Safer, moored off the coast of Hodeidah.
During meetings with the Government of Yemen in Aden, Mr. Gressly discussed the proposal with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport, and the Safer Emergency Committee. He said that the Government officials confirmed that they support the UN-coordinated proposal to shift the million barrels of oil onboard the vessel to another ship, and that they want to see the threat mitigated as soon as possible.
He said that he also held very constructive discussions on 29 January with senior representatives of the Sana’a authorities on the FSO Safer. They stressed their concern over the environmental and humanitarian risk posed by the tanker and their wish to see rapid action to resolve the problem. They also agreed in principle on how to move forward with the UN-coordinated proposal. There is strong commitment from the leadership to see this project implemented.
Mr. Gressley warned that the risk of imminent catastrophe is very real. We need to translate the goodwill being shown by all interlocuters into action as soon as possible.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
From the Central African Republic, the UN Mission there says that, on Friday, the UN and G5 Ambassadors met with the leaders of opposition parties, who confirmed the opposition’s return to the preparatory committee of the national dialogue, scheduled for March.
This meeting followed the withdrawal of judicial proceedings against some opposition leaders.
The UN Mission, as part of its mandate, continues to use its good offices role to promote political solutions to the conflict in the CAR and to support the implementation of the 2019 Political Agreement through promoting an inclusive dialogue.
Meanwhile, the Mission deployed a patrol to Komaye, in Ouaka prefecture, over the weekend to protect civilians following insecurity and attacks.
MADAGASCAR
We have an update on Tropical Cyclone Batsirai, which made landfall as an Intense Tropical Cyclone on the east coast of Madagascar on Saturday night, local time.
At least 10 people have died and more than 43,000 are displaced across 180 displacement sites. At least 211 schools have been affected, according to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management. These numbers are expected to rise as we get more information.
The first aerial assessment took place today with a UN Humanitarian Air Service flight. Other needs assessments carried out by teams on the ground will follow for a more comprehensive overview to inform response priorities in the days ahead.
The UN and our humanitarian partners - in close coordination with government counterparts - have deployed surge teams and are ramping up the response.
The World Food Programme is distributing hot meals to evacuated and displaced people in shelters.
The UN Children’s Fund and other protection partners are providing kits for setting up child-friendly spaces and training social workers on gender-based violence and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
The UN Population Fund and partners are providing psychosocial support and dignity kits for women and girl affected by gender-based violence and also medical care for survivors of sexual violence.
AFGHANISTAN
Turning to Afghanistan, we have an update from our humanitarian colleagues on the ongoing humanitarian response.
Between 2 and 3 February, more than 123,000 families received food assistance in ten provinces in the country. Cash assistance was also provided to close to 8,000 families in eight provinces.
Over the same period, several hundred families - in Kabul, Badakshan, Laghman, Kandahar and Zabul provinces - received non-food items and other assistance, including emergency shelter kits and tents, blankets and warm clothes, water and sanitation and hygiene supplies, as well as cash for shelter repairs. Needs assessments continue.
This year, 24.4 million people in Afghanistan – more than half of the total population – require humanitarian assistance.
Afghanistan’s 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan seeks $4.4 billion to assist 22 million people. It is 9 per cent funded.
TONGA
From Tonga, our UN team there tells us that $1 million has been allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund following last month’s volcano and tsunami.
These funds will support humanitarian workers to provide assistance, including clean water and sanitation services, to the people of Tonga.
We hope to deploy UN staff to Tonga this week to provide help in the areas of water and sanitation; coordination; and telecommunications.
MYANMAR
From Myanmar, the UN Children’s Fund says it is deeply concerned over a growing wave of violence against children in the country.
Since the military takeover last February 1st, at least 114 children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been killed by security forces, including at least 18 children in January alone. Countless others have been injured or maimed.
UNICEF reminds everyone of their obligations to uphold children’s rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Myanmar is a signatory, and the Myanmar Child Rights Law, which was enacted in 2019.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Late on Friday afternoon, we put out the announcement that the Secretary-General has appointed Major General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz of Spain as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL.
Major General Lázaro Sáenz succeeds Major General Stefano Del Col of Italy. The Secretary-General is grateful to Major General Del Col for his exemplary service and leadership.
Major General Lázaro Sáenz has had a long and distinguished career in the Spanish Army, currently serving as Adviser to the Ministry of Defence.
Lots more on this appointment online.
RESIDENT COORDINATORS
Our colleagues in the UN Development Coordination Office tell us that we have two new Resident Coordinators to announce today.
Anna Marttinen-Pont of Finland is the new Resident Coordinator in Equatorial Guinea, while Roli Asthana of the United Kingdom is the new Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. Both were appointed by the Secretary-General, with the agreement of the host governments.
As you know, Resident Coordinators are the Secretary-General’s representatives for development on the ground, leading our teams’ work to support countries to respond and recover from COVID-19 and to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Their full biographies are online.
VENEZUELA
On Friday, we were asked about talks in Venezuela, and what I can tell you is that, at this stage, the United Nations has not received any formal request.
The Secretary-General urges the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Unitary Platform of Venezuela to resume negotiations and remain fully committed to an inclusive and meaningful negotiation.
He reiterates his support to the facilitation role of Norway and calls on all members of the international community to support a negotiated solution that is owned and led by Venezuelans themselves.
GUERNICA
You’re aware that, on Saturday, Pablo Picasso’s iconic Guernica tapestry was rehung outside the United Nations Security Council Chamber. The return of the Guernica had been announced by Nelson A. Rockefeller, Jr., whose family has been the longtime steward of the tapestry.
In a letter to Mr. Rockefeller, the Secretary-General welcomed the return of the tapestry and said that “the Guernica tapestry speaks to the world about the urgent need to advance international peace and security.” He added that the UN is honoured to serve as careful stewards of this one-of-a-kind iconic work – as we draw inspiration from its message.
HONOUR ROLL
And last, three more countries have paid into the regular budget, for which we are enormously grateful. Our thanks go to Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nepal. Their payments take the Honour Roll to 50.
