Development, Climate, Libya & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (17 May 2022)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Development, Climate, Libya & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (17 May 2022)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Development - Climate - Libya - Ukraine - Malnutrition - Syria - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Lebanon - World Telecommunication and Information Society Day - International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia - Noon Briefing Guest Tomorrow - Financial Contribution DEVELOPMENT This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the Economic and Social Council’s Segment on Operational Activities for Development. He said that, in a world in crisis, rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals is more important than ever. “The world is on fire and so far, international cooperation has not delivered for those who need it most,” he said, adding that we have no alternative but to keep pushing our limits and stepping up our efforts. The Secretary-General outlined five areas for urgent attention for UN Country Teams. These are: ensuring that teams can support countries’ transitions in energy, food systems and digital connectivity; helping governments expand and improve partnerships; changing our approach to collaboration where humanitarian, development and security challenges interact; and improving the efficiency of our business operations and strengthening collaboration at the regional level. CLIMATE Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will have a climate announcement, setting out five urgent and concrete actions to jumpstart the renewable energy transition. This will accompany the launch of the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Global Climate 2021 report. LIBYA Turning to Libya, in a statement, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed its serious concern about armed clashes on Sunday that involved indiscriminate fire and the alleged use of heavy weapons, in the Janzour area, a densely populated neighbourhood in Tripoli. The current mobilization of forces affiliated with different armed groups creates tensions and increases the risk of clashes that could spiral into even more armed conflict. Such incidents highlight again the urgent need to address the proliferation and use of weapons outside the control of the state, according to the Mission. The Mission calls on all Libyan actors to maintain calm on the ground at this critical juncture in the country. The Mission also calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to use dialogue to resolve contentious issues. The Mission reminds all parties of their obligations to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as public calm. UKRAINE Turning to Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that hostilities are continuing to severely impact eastern and southern parts of Ukraine over the past day, resulting in civilian casualties and further aggravation the already dire humanitarian crisis. Eastern Luhanska oblast remains the epicentre of the ongoing clashes. Local authorities report that water and electricity have not been available for over a week, as access to these areas for humanitarian organizations remains extremely limited. This is also preventing the evacuation of civilians on a larger scale. Access to piped water supply remains a critical issue in the non-Government-controlled areas of eastern Donetska oblast, with water reserves expected to last only for a few more weeks. Our colleagues note that, while we are pleased to see that small-scale Government-led evacuations from hard-hit areas in eastern Ukraine, that they have resumed, people in southern Khersonska oblast now face enormous difficulties with relocation to safer areas. There have been reports of civilians waiting to cross the oblast’s administrative boundary to central Dnipropetrovska oblast for days without success. The delivery of humanitarian aid to Khersonska oblast is also challenging, leaving civilians in extremely dire conditions. Local authorities in Khersonska oblast warn that medicines could run out in two weeks if safe passage for the delivery of humanitarian assistance is not opened. As a reminder, yet again, parties to the conflict have an obligation, under international humanitarian law, to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to ensure that civilians can safely leave conflict-affected areas in the direction they want. Further human suffering can only be avoided if the parties to the conflict fulfil these obligations. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=17%20May%202022


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