Rescue workers are working to clear the rubble left after the strike on Poltava. Top news of the day | Friday: Ukraine, Security Council, International Court of Justice, Gaza UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: casualties among humanitarian workers in Ukraine, the role of the CSTO, SCO and the CIS in maintaining international peace, the conclusion of the International Court of Justice on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the polio virus in the environment Gases.
Combat in Ukraine
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the fighting in Ukraine continues to pose serious risks to the safety of humanitarian workers. OCHA documented 19 incidents in May and June, including the deaths of two humanitarian workers, one while on duty. In a further eight incidents, 12 aid workers were injured. Most of them worked in areas within five kilometers of the front line. Meanwhile, humanitarian access to Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine remains extremely limited.
Security Council
On Friday, Russia, which chairs the UN Security Council in July, held a debate in the Council on the topic of UN cooperation with regional organizations. The meeting participants discussed the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in maintaining international peace and security. The meeting was chaired by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin. In her speech, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar highly appreciated the role of UN cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, including the CSTO, SCO and the CIS.
International Court
International Court of Justice, responding to the request of the General Assembly, issued an advisory opinion on Friday regarding the legal consequences arising from Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In particular, the Court considers that the continued presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and must be ended as soon as possible. According to the conclusion, Israel is obliged to immediately put an end to the creation of new settlements and evacuate all settlers from Palestinian territory.
Polio in Gaza
Due to the disastrous sanitation and healthcare situation in Gaza, the population is threatened by the spread of polio. World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Christian Lindmeier said vaccine-derived poliovirus was detected in wastewater samples from six enclave locations. To date, no one in Gaza has sought medical attention for paralysis or other symptoms of polio virus infection. Lindmeier stressed that only a ceasefire would allow immunization efforts to be rapidly scaled up “to fill the gaps created by the ongoing war.”