Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Eboh (archive). Top news of the day | Thursday: Ukraine, famine, DPRK, Security Council UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: UN coordinator called for an end to violence after the attack on Kharkov, the scale of famine in the world will increase in the coming months, the Secretary-General condemned the launch of a ballistic missile by the DPRK, the Security Council held a briefing on the conflict in Ukraine.
Strike in Kharkov
UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale condemned another attack on Kharkov. According to his statement, the previous evening, as a result of an attack by Russian armed forces in Kharkov, a multi-story residential building was damaged. There were reports of dozens of casualties, including the death of two children. According to Shmale, in the last 24 hours alone, dozens of civilians have been killed and wounded in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Hunger on the Rise
A new UN report predicts that hunger will rise. The spread of conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, combined with climate and economic factors, is putting millions of people in dire straits. The report, in particular, highlights the regional impact of the Gaza crisis, which has engulfed Lebanon in conflict. A total of 22 countries and territories are classified as “hunger hotspots,” where food security is expected to worsen further between November 2024 and May 2025 due to conflict, economic instability and climate shocks.
DPRK missile launches
UN Secretary-General António Guterres “strongly condemned” the launch of a long-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This is stated in a statement by his press service. The ongoing launches using ballistic missile technology are a clear violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, the document says. The head of the UN has consistently called for de-escalation, full implementation of Security Council resolutions, the creation of an environment conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of negotiations.
Security Council meeting on Ukraine
The Security Council held a meeting on arms supplies to Ukraine, convened at the initiative of the Russian Federation. Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Eboh said in his briefing that as the tragic milestone of 1,000 days since the start of the full-scale invasion approaches, escalating Russian attacks are being reported across Ukraine. He called on all parties to refrain from any steps that could lead to a further escalation of hostilities. Eboh also reaffirmed UN support for all meaningful efforts to establish a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions.