Peacebuilding Commission, DRC, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (30 March 2022)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Peacebuilding Commission, DRC, Ukraine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (30 March 2022)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Peacebuilding Commission - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Myanmar - Ukraine - Ukraine/Security Council - Afghanistan - Yemen - South Sudan - Israel - El Salvador - COVID-19/Schools - Population PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION This morning, the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, spoke to the Peacebuilding Commission, via video link, and reminded Member States that right now, one quarter of humanity lives in conflict-affected areas. That’s two billion men, women and children. The Secretary-General said his report to the Commission is a call to ensure that our peacebuilding architecture is fit-for-purpose in this rapidly changing environment. Peacebuilding works, he said, but the needs far outpace the ressources and the Peacebuilding Fund remains dependent on voluntary contributions from a small number of donors. The Secretary-General said that he presented a proposal for an annual $100 million in assessed contributions for the Peacebuilding Fund. He urged Member States to take steps to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for peacebuilding — especially for the fragile transition stage of peacekeeping operations. He also called on Member States, the UN system, and the International Financial Institutions and all partners to do far more to join-up our humanitarian, peace and development efforts. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO An investigation into the tragic incident that took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo yesterday is underway. Today, the Mission said they will establish and send a team that will work in cooperation with the Congolese government. The Mission is also continuing to carry out reconnaissance in the area around Rutshuru to monitor the activities of armed groups and to do whatever it can to protect civilians. Efforts to support the Congolese army through information sharing, logistics and first aid for soldiers injured during the fighting continues. You will have seen that in a statement we issued yesterday, the Secretary-General said he was deeply saddened to confirm the death of the eight peacekeepers who were on board a Puma helicopter, which was doing a reconnaissance flight in the area. The bodies of our colleagues were recovered yesterday during an initial search and rescue operation, that was launched by the peacekeeping operations. The helicopter was being operated by the Pakistani contingent, and also carried two military officers, one from the Russian Federation and the other from the Republic of Serbia. The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the resurgence of M23 activities in the border area between the DRC close to Rwanda and Uganda, as well as the ongoing impact of violence involving armed groups on civilians. We, of course, send our condolences to all the families of our fallen colleagues, as well as to their friends and all our friends in the peacekeeping mission in the Congo. The Secretary-General reiterates the UN’s commitment to support the Congolese Government and people in their efforts to bring peace and stability to the eastern part of the country. MYANMAR Noeleen Heyzer, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar, will be in Cambodia tomorrow to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as his Foreign Minister in their capacities as the Chair of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar to discuss their ongoing cooperation and the complementarity of the UN-ASEAN efforts on Myanmar. The UN Migration Agency is appealing for $128 Million to support 1.4 million Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar. Healthcare is a major area of focus. Additional funding will enable IOM to maintain its network of community health workers, along with the 49 primary and secondary healthcare centres that it runs or supports. UKRAINE Today, the UN Refugee Agency said that 4 million people have now fled Ukraine and 6.5 million people are displaced within the country. UNHCR also said that 13 million are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave. Also today, the UN Children’s Fund said two million children have now been forced to flee Ukraine. UNICEF estimates that more than 2.5 million children have been internally displaced within Ukraine. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=30%20March%202022


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