Moldova, Ukraine/Secretary-General & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (9 May 2022)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Moldova, Ukraine/Secretary-General & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (9 May 2022)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Moldova - Ukraine/Secretary-General - Ukraine/School Attack - Afghanistan/Women - Afghanistan/Hunger - Central African Republic - South Sudan - Syria - Elsie Fund - Desertification, Forests - Environment - Resident Coordinators - UNOPS - Financial Contribution MOLDOVA The Secretary-General arrived in the Republic of Moldova this morning for a two-day visit to express his solidarity and thank Moldova for its steadfast support for peace, and for its people’s generosity in opening their hearts and homes to almost half a million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.  Shortly after arrival, the Secretary-General was received by Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița. Following their meeting, the Secretary-General spoke to the media. In his remarks, he thanked Moldova and said that the impact of the war in Ukraine across the region and the world is profound and far-reaching. He underscored his deep concern about the continuation and possible spread of the war that Russia is waging in Ukraine, and by the impact it is having not only in the region but around the world. Countries like Moldova, he underscored, are already struggling with the ramifications of the conflict. The Secretary-General added that the United Nations was committed to supporting the people of Moldova as they help those in need. Later in the day, the Secretary-General will meet with Igor Grosu, Speaker of the Parliament, before attending an official dinner hosted by the Prime Minister. Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will visit a Refugee Centre run with the support of UN agencies. UKRAINE/SECRETARY-GENERAL In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General welcomed the arrival of a new group of more than 170 civilians that have been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks and other areas of Mariupol in a safe passage operation, successfully coordinated by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. This group of evacuees arrived safely in Zaporizhzhia yesterday. The Secretary-General thanked all those involved in this complex operation, including the leaders in Kyiv and Moscow for ensuring the necessary humanitarian pauses. He noted that this latest safe passage operation brings to over 600 the number of civilians who have been safely evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks and other areas of Mariupol. The Secretary-General urged the parties to the conflict to spare no effort to secure safe passage for all those wishing to leave, in any direction they choose, and for aid to reach people in need. UKRAINE/SCHOOL ATTACK The Secretary-General issued a statement in which he said that he was appalled by the reported attack on Saturday, which hit a school in Bilohorivka, Ukraine, where many people were apparently seeking shelter from the ongoing fighting. He said that this attack is yet another reminder that in this war, as in so many other conflicts, it is civilians that pay the highest price. The Secretary-General reiterated that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be spared in times of war. He stressed that this war must end, and peace must be established in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Amin Awad, the UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, also said that he was profoundly shocked by reports of the attack. He emphasized that the UN agencies and its humanitarian partners in Ukraine will continue supporting those whose lives have been shattered by the war. And we also have a statement from UNICEF’s Executive Director on that attack. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20May%202022


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