A mother and child in a displaced persons camp in Haiti. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Gaza, MH17 crash, Arab states, Haiti UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: a meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza, the tenth anniversary of the crash of the Malaysian airliner, a meeting of representatives of the UN and the League of Arab States, dangerous conditions for women in Haiti.
Security Council on Gaza
During a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to make every effort to find a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to him, the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is on the verge of collapse. UN staff face serious obstacles and deadly risks. Despite ongoing dialogue with Israeli authorities and some improvements, much more needs to be done to ensure the well-being of civilians, the UN chief said in a statement. Guterres also recalled that violence continues in the occupied West Bank.
Plane crash over Ukraine
On the 10th anniversary of the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 over eastern Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for full cooperation from all nations in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2166. This is necessary to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice through the work of an independent investigative team. Let us recall that on July 17, 2014, a Boeing 777 was on flight MH-17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and was shot down over the territory of the Donetsk region in Ukraine. All 298 people on board the airliner, including 80 children, were killed.
The situation in Haiti
According to a UN Women report, 300,000 women and girls in Haiti face dangerous living conditions in displacement camps. There is no access to basic necessities, and women and girls are particularly at risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Most camps do not have lights or locks on the bedrooms and toilets. There are also security risks such as accidentally getting caught in gunfire. UN Women stated the need to ensure safe conditions in places of displacement, as well as guarantee the active participation of women and girls in decision-making.
Arab region
A meeting of representatives of more than 40 institutions, funds and programs of the UN and the League of Arab States opened in Geneva. Until July 19, they will discuss issues of common interest in the Arab region, including in the political, economic and social spheres. At the opening of the event, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific Khaled Hiari emphasized the vital importance of multilateralism and international cooperation in addressing the wide range of challenges facing the Arab region and the world.