DRC, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (29 March 2022)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "DRC, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (29 March 2022)"
The topics: Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Security Council - International Atomic Energy Agency - Ukraine/Humanitarian - Ukraine/Refugees - Nagorno-Karabakh - Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade - Somalia - Eric Adams - Financial Contribution DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Starting off unfortunately with some sad news from our peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A search and rescue operation was launched today after a Puma helicopter lost contact with our colleagues and crashed earlier today. The helicopter, with eight people on board, including six crew members – all from the Pakistani military – and two military personnel – one from the Russian Federation and one from the Republic of Serbia – they were on a reconnaissance mission in the area of Tshanzu, south-east of Rutshuru in North Kivu. There have been clashes there between the M23 armed group and Congolese forces in recent days. An investigation is underway. We will update you as soon as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are obviously with the families and friends of those onboard the helicopter, and all of our colleagues of the UN Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UKRAINE/HUMANITARIAN Moving to the humanitarian situation you will recall that yesterday the Secretary-General told you that he had asked Martin Griffiths to immediately explore with the parties the possibility for a humanitarian ceasefire. I can tell you that Mr. Griffiths who is currently in Kabul where he will lead the high-level pledging Conference on Afghanistan, on 31 March, is already working on the Ukraine issue. He’s already been in touch with both parties who have welcomed the initiative, and he will travel to the region within days, and we will keep you updated on his movements. Also yesterday, a UN relief convoy led by our Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani, made its way into hard-battered Kharkiv in northern Ukraine. They safely delivered five trucks with food rations, medical supplies and household items for thousands of people. The World Food Programme colleagues are telling us they have delivered enough food to support 3,000 people for 2 weeks and WHO says there are enough medical supplies to assist 10,000 people for the next 3 months. Speaking from Kharkiv in a video posted on Twitter, Osnat Lubrani said the supplies will now be distributed by the Ukrainian Red Cross to the most vulnerable communities in the city, as well as to the suburbs of Izium, Balakliia and Chuhuiv. I’m probably mispronouncing that name. Ms. Lubrani and the team returned safely to Dnipro yesterday afternoon. And also, UNICEF says there are non-food items on the truck to assist 6,000 people and UNHCR also put in some non-food items to help about 500 households. Just on the money issue, which is the backbone of our operations in Ukraine, the Flash Appeal for 2022 received $505 million so far, which puts us at about 44 per cent funded. And this afternoon, the Security Council will have an open meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. From the UN side they will hear from Joyce Msuya, the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, and they will also hear from Amir Mahmoud Abdulla, who is the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20March%202022


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