The Middle East, Myanmar, Somalia & other topics - Daily Briefing (12 May 2021)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "The Middle East, Myanmar, Somalia & other topics - Daily Briefing (12 May 2021)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Secretary-General/Moscow - Security Council/Middle East - Middle East/Humanitarian - Middle East/Children - Security Council - Myanmar/Humanitarian - Secretary-General/Myanmar - Somalia - Ethiopia - Democratic Republic Of The Congo - Central African Republic - COVID-19 - COVAX - Financial Contribution SECRETARY-GENERAL/MOSCOW Today, the Secretary-General landed in Moscow. He met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a wide range of issues and also spoke to the press. SECURITY COUNCIL/MIDDLE EAST This morning, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, briefed the Security Council in a close session, as the situation on the ground continues deteriorating into “the most serious escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in years”. We are very concerned by the growing civilian casualties in both Gaza ad Israel and deeply saddened by reported deaths of children in Gaza. The Secretary-General and Mr. Wennesland have both reiterated that Hamas and other militants’ indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars from highly populated civilian neighbourhoods towards civilian population centres violates international humanitarian law, and it is unacceptable and has to stop immediately. While recognizing Israel’s legitimate security concerns, Mr. Wennesland also reiterated that Israeli authorities must also abide by their responsibilities under international law and that Israeli security forces should exercise maximum restraint, calibrate their use of force to spare civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of military operations.  The Secretary-General is particularly appalled that children continue to be victims of violence. They should be afforded special protection from any form of violence. He and his Envoy have called on the international community to take action to enable the parties to step back from the brink and return to the previous understandings that have maintained a relative calm in Gaza and avoid a descent into chaos, with the massive casualties and immense damage to civilian infrastructure that would result. He reminded, Mr. Wennesland reminded the Council members that it is the civilian population on both sides that bears the burden of war and that the most vulnerable are at the ones at greatest risk of suffering. He also highlighted that these devastating cycles of violence, which destroy the lives and futures of Palestinians and Israelis alike, will only stop with a political resolution of the conflict, an end to the occupation and a realization of a two-State solution on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and existing agreements, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=12%20May%202021


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