Residents of El Fasher, captured by the Rapid Reaction Forces, were trapped. Top news of the day | Monday: Small Arms, Sudan, Ukraine, KS-30 UN
The main news of the day in the UN and the world: open debate in the Security Council on small arms, interruptions in electricity, heating and water supply in the cities of Ukraine, the worsening crisis in Sudan, the opening of the UN Climate Conference in Brazil.
Illegal arms flows
There are more than a billion firearms circulating around the world. UN Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo stated this on Monday at an open debate in the Security Council. Of particular concern, Ebo said, is the rise in illicit weapons production, including the proliferation of 3D printed designs, especially in Western Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. In Haiti, criminal gangs are expanding their control over territory, using smuggled weapons to undermine government authority. Illicit arms flows in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region are turning local conflicts into cross-border ones.
Power outages in major cities of Ukraine
Last weekend Large-scale attacks and hostilities have resulted in civilian casualties and disrupted critical services across Ukraine, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said, citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Major cities, including Kyiv, Kharkov and Odessa, are experiencing severe power outages, with electricity only available for a few hours a day. In Kharkov, there are still interruptions in heating and water supply, the work of public electric transport has been partially suspended.
Escalation of violence in Sudan
The crisis in Sudan’s North Darfur state is deepening. Following the capture of the state capital, El Fasher, by the Rapid Action Force, there continue to be reports of clashes along key access routes to the city, with civilians trapped and humanitarian aid being disrupted. Meanwhile, violence in the Kordofan region is escalating, leading to increased civilian casualties and new waves of displacement. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed an attack on a hospital in South Kordofan state that left people dead and injured. Since April 2023, there have been almost 200 attacks on medical facilities in Sudan.
Openings of the UN Climate Conference
On Monday, the UN Climate Conference (COP-30) kicked off in Belém, Brazil. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called at the opening of the summit for more active measures to reduce emissions. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Still, spoke about the need to act together to combat the climate crisis. Dozens of countries have announced new climate pledges, bringing the total number of countries with emissions reduction commitments to 113. Together, they account for nearly 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.