Middle East: Advancing Political Solutions - UN Chief's remarks | United Nations

Remarks by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on advancing political solutions in the Middle East: mediation and dialogue for a lasting peace. Guterres warned that the Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis, as this week has brought wider attacks and further deterioration, and said, “a brutal price is being paid by the region's people, and it is extending to the wider world, particularly the most vulnerable countries and communities.” Escalation in the Middle East, Guterres said, “reverberates across borders and continents, through political tensions, displacement and rising insecurity, through markets and trade routes, through food and fuel costs.” In Lebanon, he said, “we have witnessed a serious escalation as Israel intensified its operations in Lebanese territory and Hezbollah fired deeper into Israel. Guterres said, “we have seen the killing of civilians, entire communities uprooted and extensive demolition of homes and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, the forced displacement of over a million civilians, the killing of seven UN peacekeepers, including one last week. And through it all, the risk and reality of war escalation.” Gaza, he continued, “still faces profound uncertainty and immense human suffering,” as “violence is on the rise, with civilians killed on a daily basis.” The Secretary-General said, humanitarian operations “remain heavily constrained, “as “basic human needs for clean water, sanitation, food, shelter, healthcare, and more are going unmet. And the Israeli government is declaring its intent to control 70 percent of the Strip. “ In the West Bank, he said, “reports of settler violence now averaging six attacks per day; the demolition of homes; destruction of farms and confiscation of lands; the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements; the ongoing displacement of Palestinians at levels not seen since 1967; the threat of an attempt of annexation that would, like the decades long occupation, have no legal validity; the risk of making a two-state solution impossible when there is no other viable option. And throughout, the presumption of impunity.” Guterres said, “civilians and civilian infrastructure have come under attack in multiple countries,” and stressed that “all threats to national sovereignty and territorial integrity are violations to international law.” At the same time, he said, “restrictions on navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz are causing hardship and instability across the world, driving up energy prices and disrupting supply chains, making fertilisers more costly and hunger more prevalent, pushing up inflation and piling on debt, and in fragile states, raising the risk of fresh conflicts.” Even in the best-case scenario, the Secretary-General said, “these shocks will be felt for many months, with developing countries bearing the heaviest impact,” and called on all parties “to honour the ceasefire and redouble efforts to reach a lasting agreement.”


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Middle East: Advancing Political Solutions - UN Chief's remarks | United Nations

Produced by United Nations

Remarks by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on advancing political solutions in the Middle East: mediation and dialogue for a lasting peace. Guterres warned that the Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis, as this week has brought wider attacks and further deterioration, and said, “a brutal price is being paid by the region's people, and it is extending to the wider world, particularly the most vulnerable countries and communities.” Escalation in the Middle East, Guterres said, “reverberates across borders and continents, through political tensions, displacement and rising insecurity, through markets and trade routes, through food and fuel costs.” In Lebanon, he said, “we have witnessed a serious escalation as Israel intensified its operations in Lebanese territory and Hezbollah fired deeper into Israel. Guterres said, “we have seen the killing of civilians, entire communities uprooted and extensive demolition of homes and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, the forced displacement of over a million civilians, the killing of seven UN peacekeepers, including one last week. And through it all, the risk and reality of war escalation.” Gaza, he continued, “still faces profound uncertainty and immense human suffering,” as “violence is on the rise, with civilians killed on a daily basis.” The Secretary-General said, humanitarian operations “remain heavily constrained, “as “basic human needs for clean water, sanitation, food, shelter, healthcare, and more are going unmet. And the Israeli government is declaring its intent to control 70 percent of the Strip. “ In the West Bank, he said, “reports of settler violence now averaging six attacks per day; the demolition of homes; destruction of farms and confiscation of lands; the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements; the ongoing displacement of Palestinians at levels not seen since 1967; the threat of an attempt of annexation that would, like the decades long occupation, have no legal validity; the risk of making a two-state solution impossible when there is no other viable option. And throughout, the presumption of impunity.” Guterres said, “civilians and civilian infrastructure have come under attack in multiple countries,” and stressed that “all threats to national sovereignty and territorial integrity are violations to international law.” At the same time, he said, “restrictions on navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz are causing hardship and instability across the world, driving up energy prices and disrupting supply chains, making fertilisers more costly and hunger more prevalent, pushing up inflation and piling on debt, and in fragile states, raising the risk of fresh conflicts.” Even in the best-case scenario, the Secretary-General said, “these shocks will be felt for many months, with developing countries bearing the heaviest impact,” and called on all parties “to honour the ceasefire and redouble efforts to reach a lasting agreement.”


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Trump DARK PAST SURFACES as Epstein Assistant DIMES HIM OUT!!!

Episode Title: Trump DARK PAST SURFACES as Epstein Assistant DIMES HIM OUT!!!
Produced by: MeidasTouch

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Trump LAUNCHES STRIKES and INSTANTLY QUITS IN 20 MINS!!!!

Episode Title: Trump LAUNCHES STRIKES and INSTANTLY QUITS IN 20 MINS!!!!
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She trapped him with Trump's own words 😳

Episode Title: She trapped him with Trump's own words 😳
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Trump gets DEVASTATING NEWS DAYS before UFC EVENT!!

Episode Title: Trump gets DEVASTATING NEWS DAYS before UFC EVENT!!
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Ghanaian Movie Posters: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Bonus Segments)

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This episode features: Ghanaian Movie Posters: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Bonus Segments)

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Central African region: Encouraging signs in peace efforts - Briefing | United Nations

Assistant Secretary-General Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee told the Security Council that the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has shown “encouraging signs” in its peace efforts in the subregion, yet “deepening multidimensional security and humanitarian crises, socio economic pressures and, most worryingly, restrictions to civil and political rights have increased.” Pobee said, “two fulcrums of instability stand out in Central Africa, Eastern Chad and the Lake Chad region,” and noted that “with the conflict in the Sudan in its fourth year, its direct impact on Chad cannot be overemphasised.” She said, “the influx of over 900,000 Sudanese refugees and 300,000 Chadian returnees, including over 800,000 children since April 2023, has placed a significant strain on national resources,” and has “undermined social cohesion in Chad's eastern provinces, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. Civilians in Cameroon and Chad, Pobee said, “continue to suffer indiscriminate attacks and human rights abuses by the various Boko Haram affiliated and splinter groups,” as they are “exploiting the limited presence of state authorities and services in those areas.” The Multinational Joint Task Force, she said, “remains an essential cross regional mechanism to combat the violent extremist threat in the Lake Chad Basin.” The political affairs and peacebuilding official said, “there is a worrying trend of increasing restrictions on civil and political rights in several parts of Central Africa,” warning that “if not reversed, these could contribute to a narrowing civic space, affecting long term stability and leading to conflict.”


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Central African region: Encouraging signs in peace efforts - Briefing | United Nations

Produced by United Nations

Assistant Secretary-General Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee told the Security Council that the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has shown “encouraging signs” in its peace efforts in the subregion, yet “deepening multidimensional security and humanitarian crises, socio economic pressures and, most worryingly, restrictions to civil and political rights have increased.” Pobee said, “two fulcrums of instability stand out in Central Africa, Eastern Chad and the Lake Chad region,” and noted that “with the conflict in the Sudan in its fourth year, its direct impact on Chad cannot be overemphasised.” She said, “the influx of over 900,000 Sudanese refugees and 300,000 Chadian returnees, including over 800,000 children since April 2023, has placed a significant strain on national resources,” and has “undermined social cohesion in Chad's eastern provinces, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. Civilians in Cameroon and Chad, Pobee said, “continue to suffer indiscriminate attacks and human rights abuses by the various Boko Haram affiliated and splinter groups,” as they are “exploiting the limited presence of state authorities and services in those areas.” The Multinational Joint Task Force, she said, “remains an essential cross regional mechanism to combat the violent extremist threat in the Lake Chad Basin.” The political affairs and peacebuilding official said, “there is a worrying trend of increasing restrictions on civil and political rights in several parts of Central Africa,” warning that “if not reversed, these could contribute to a narrowing civic space, affecting long term stability and leading to conflict.”


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Ukraine: Civilians must be protected - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator ad interim, at the Security Council, on maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine. Speaking via video link, Ratwatte said, “international humanitarian law is clear: civilians and civilian objects, including humanitarian personnel and assets, must be protected.” He continued, “these rules exist to limit suffering and preserve dignity precisely when there is war, and they must be respected. Accountability for violations and measures to prevent them are essential.” The OCHA senior official also pointed out that Ukraine remains one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Today, 10.8 million people require humanitarian assistance. Yet OCHA has received less than half the funding needed to reach them. Ratwatte said, “we recognise the enormous pressures on humanitarian budgets as crises continue to emerge and deepen around the world. But needs in Ukraine have not diminished.” He continued, “for communities in need, funding is the difference between help reaching them, or not. It allows humanitarian organisations to remain present, respond rapidly and support those facing the greatest risks.” The Acting Assistant Secretary-General concluded with three asks to the Council. He said, “first, use all your influence to reverse the erosion of protection for civilians. Do not allow this level of civilian harm and suffering to become the new normal. Second, help preserve and expand our humanitarian operations to reach civilians in need wherever they are. Where access is possible, it must be safeguarded. Where it is impeded, it is vital to open it. Third, ensure humanitarian organizations have the funding needed to remain present where needs are greatest.


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Ukraine: Civilians must be protected - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Produced by United Nations

Briefing by Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator ad interim, at the Security Council, on maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine. Speaking via video link, Ratwatte said, “international humanitarian law is clear: civilians and civilian objects, including humanitarian personnel and assets, must be protected.” He continued, “these rules exist to limit suffering and preserve dignity precisely when there is war, and they must be respected. Accountability for violations and measures to prevent them are essential.” The OCHA senior official also pointed out that Ukraine remains one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Today, 10.8 million people require humanitarian assistance. Yet OCHA has received less than half the funding needed to reach them. Ratwatte said, “we recognise the enormous pressures on humanitarian budgets as crises continue to emerge and deepen around the world. But needs in Ukraine have not diminished.” He continued, “for communities in need, funding is the difference between help reaching them, or not. It allows humanitarian organisations to remain present, respond rapidly and support those facing the greatest risks.” The Acting Assistant Secretary-General concluded with three asks to the Council. He said, “first, use all your influence to reverse the erosion of protection for civilians. Do not allow this level of civilian harm and suffering to become the new normal. Second, help preserve and expand our humanitarian operations to reach civilians in need wherever they are. Where access is possible, it must be safeguarded. Where it is impeded, it is vital to open it. Third, ensure humanitarian organizations have the funding needed to remain present where needs are greatest.


For more information or to watch video on YouTube, click here.