SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Secretary-General, as you know, has begun his travels to Central Asia, with Uzbekistan being his first stop.
Today, in Tashkent, the capital of the country, the Secretary-General met with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Secretary-General and the President discussed cooperation between the United Nations and Uzbekistan, as well as issues related to regional stability and cooperation in Central Asia.
The Secretary-General, in speaking to the press, noted that Uzbekistan’s Government has developed a policy that is entirely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, adding that in the recent universal periodic review, Uzbekistan has accepted most of the recommendations.
Mr. Guterres noted that the United Nations is ready to support the Government in the implementation of these Sustainable Development Goals related policies. Also today, he met Tanzila Narbayeva, the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
During a visit to a Riverside Solar Photovoltaic Plant, the Secretary-General highlighted the excellent example of the country’s commitment to embracing renewable energy and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. He also visited a traditional community-based neighbourhood organization.
Later in the afternoon, he departed to Kyrgyzstan, where he just landed, and tomorrow, he will have a meeting with Sadyr Zhaparov, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as other Government officials. He will also visit a project related to climate change and speak with local communities and youth activists.
AFGHANISTAN
Earlier this morning New York time, in Doha, Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, spoke to your colleagues about the third Meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan. She described the discussions as frank and useful.
At the opening yesterday, the Special Envoys and the de facto authorities from Afghanistan aired their expectations, while discussions today focused on the private sector and counternarcotics.
Ms. DiCarlo added that “we are pursuing a principled, step-for-step approach” with clear understanding of the outcomes and commitments from all sides.
She said that she hopes that the exchanges on the various issues over the last two days “have moved us a little closer to resolving some of the problems” that are having such a devastating impact on the Afghan people.
The concerns and views of Afghan women and civil society were front and centre during the discussions, Ms. DiCarlo said. For us at the UN, she added, the meaningful inclusion of women in political and peace processes is a guiding principle.
Answering questions at the press conference on whether the issue of education of women and girls was discussed with the Taliban representative, Ms. DiCarlo said this is something that was raised a number of times, and it was a number one concern and request coming from Special Envoys from around the world.
Tomorrow, Ms. DiCarlo and the Special Envoys are set to meet with representatives of Afghan civil society, including women’s groups and human rights organizations. Ms. DiCarlo will speak to the press again tomorrow.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
From Gaza, our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that we and our partners in Gaza are providing food assistance to newly displaced people. This is in the wake of the displacement last week of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the areas of Gaza City in the north and from southern Al Mawasi in Rafah in the south.
Unfortunately, there [are] little to no shelter materials or other critical supplies available to support these newly displaced people.
It continues to be nearly impossible to collect humanitarian aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing to distribute that assistance inside Gaza. This is due to the lack of public order and safety, as well as ongoing hostilities, damaged roads, fuel shortages, and access restrictions.
OCHA reports that during the entire month of June, Israeli authorities facilitated less than half of the 115 planned humanitarian assistance missions to northern Gaza. More than a third were impeded; nearly 10 per cent were denied access; and about 9 per cent were canceled due to logistical, operational, or security reasons.
Meanwhile, our humanitarian colleagues warn that the unexploded ordnance continues to pose a significant risk to the lives of people across Gaza, that includes internally displaced people and people trying to return to areas from whence they came. Children are particularly at risk. As an example, on Saturday, a nine-year-old girl was reportedly killed, and three others injured by unexploded ordnance in an area south of Khan Younis.
LEBANON
Just moving north to Lebanon, our peacekeeping colleagues tell us that the head of the peacekeeping mission, General Aroldo Lázaro, went over the weekend to meet with 13 mayors of the Al Qalaa Union representing communities in southwest Lebanon. That visit took place in Tibnin in sector west of the peacekeeping mission.
They discussed the current situation amid ongoing exchanges of fire along the Blue Line and the severe impact on the local population. Since 8 October 2023, several villages in southern Lebanon have suffered severe damage.
General Lazaro underscored UNIFIL’s commitment to working towards a restoration of a cessation of hostilities under the framework of resolution 1701 (2006) and stability and security for the people of Lebanon and Israel.
As a reminder, the ongoing hostilities on both sides of the Blue Line have impacted tens of thousands of people, both in Israel and Lebanon.
MYANMAR
Turning to Myanmar, concerns over the protection of civilians are on the rise, as conflict continues to expand across the country. Landmines, the use of heavy weapons and aerial bombardment continue to push people from their homes and worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.
According to our figures, more than 3 million people are estimated to be displaced in the country. Many are living without proper shelter, enduring severe weather conditions.
In the state capital, Sittwe, there are reports of newly planted mines, forced evictions, and mass arrests around the town.
There has also been a worrying trend of attacks on humanitarian facilities in Rakhine and other areas.
The NGO Médecins Sans Frontières has suspended its medical activities in three townships in northern Rakhine, citing the deteriorating security situation.
Six months into the year, the $994 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Myanmar is only 12 per cent funded, with about $123 million in the bank. We urgently need more resources to restore funding and support operations.
UKRAINE
Moving back to Europe in Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that attacks which started last Friday and continued over the weekend caused more than 100 casualties in front-line regions, with Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia being the most affected. Cumulatively, authorities reported more than 120 civilian casualties over the past days, including nearly 40 people killed and massive damage to civilian infrastructure.
Aid workers are providing emergency assistance, complementing the efforts of the first responders and municipal services. They provided medical and psychological support, food and construction and helped to find temporary homes and facilities.
BRAZIL
Quick update from Brazil, where the UN team led by Resident Coordinator Silvia Rucks, and 14 agencies are supporting the Government’s recovery and reconstruction efforts after the recent floods in the southern part of the country.
The UN Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration and UNICEF are providing services such as documentation, legal counselling, and social benefits with multilingual services and guidance to those impacted by the floods.
The UN Population Fund is providing gender-based violence prevention and response services, including safe spaces. They’re also helping vulnerable populations, including the LGBTQIA+ community as well as older people.
AUSTRIAN FORUM FOR PEACE
And in a message from our Secretary-General to the Austrian Forum for Peace, at its session entitled “Towards a Climate of Peace.” The Secretary-General said, this year’s theme which underscores the interconnectedness between conflicts and climate chaos. “The damaging effects of climate change are a major driver and multiplier of suffering, displacement and competition for scarce resources,” he said. “Because the impacts transcend borders and battle lines, they also offer potential to find common-ground solutions.”
Global peace depends on harmony with our planet and its natural gifts, requiring leaders to overcome geo-political divisions for the common good to cultivate peace.
The event is going on through Thursday and the message is online.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Finally, we got some money in the bank, which means you will have to answer a question.
Fresh payment from a landlocked country in Africa which borders the longest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is 410 miles long.
And an additional factoid is that this country has two capital cities - the political capital is Gitega. Burundi! So we thank our friends in Burundi for their dues payment which has taken us to 119 fully paid-up Member States.
