Ukraine, Central African Republic & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (23 February 2022)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Ukraine, Central African Republic & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (23 February 2022)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights - Ukraine - Ukraine/Humanitarian - Central African Republic - Middle East - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Madagascar - Afghanistan - Syria - Brazil - Colombia - Population Growth - Finance Institutions - Wildfires - Financial Contribution UKRAINE The Secretary-General spoke in the General Assembly today and said we are facing the biggest global peace and security crisis in recent years – certainly in his time as Secretary-General. He told General Assembly members that the decision of the Russian Federation to recognize the so-called “independence” of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the follow-up are violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter. He also added that the Minsk Agreements were surviving in an intensive care unit thanks to a number of life support devices. But those devices have now been disconnected. He added that it is time for restraint, reason and de-escalation. There is no place for actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation over the abyss. It is high time, he said, to establish a ceasefire and return to the path of dialogue and negotiations to save the people of Ukraine and beyond from the scourge of war. UKRAINE/HUMANITARIAN On the humanitarian front, the UN continues to receive reports of hostilities impacting civilians and their properties, as well as infrastructure, on both sides of the “contact line”. Once again, the UN calls on all parties to take all measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Despite the volatile security situation, the UN, along with its humanitarian partners in eastern Ukraine, are making all efforts to respond to the needs of people on both sides of that line. Response efforts are however constrained due to limited funding. As of today, the existing Humanitarian Response Plan for 2022 has been funded by less than 10 per cent. We are calling on donors to prioritize their support to this plan, which seeks $190 million to address the needs of 1.8 million of the most vulnerable people on both sides of the “contact line”. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC In a statement, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the arrest of four members of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic. As we told you yesterday, they were arrested at Bangui’s airport on Monday, while escorting a senior UN military officer of the Mission. The Secretary-General emphasizes that, pursuant to the 2014 Status of Forces Agreement between the UN and the Government of the Central African Republic, these members of the UN Mission enjoy privileges and immunities, which are held in the interest of the organization. He recalls that the 2014 Status of Forces Agreement establishes a specific procedure in cases where members of the Mission are suspected by the authorities of the Central African Republic of having committed an offence. He also notes that this procedure has not been followed in this present case. The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of the Central African Republic to abide by all of its obligations under international law, including the Status of Forces Agreement, and release our four colleagues unconditionally and without delay. The Secretary-General reaffirms the solidarity and continued support of the United Nations to the people of the Central African Republic. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=23%20February%202022


Click here for more information, to subscribe to the channel of United Nations or to watch the video on YouTube.