Camp for internally displaced persons in DR Congo. Top stories of the day | Thursday: ICC, Middle East, DRC, COP29 UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Galant and one of the leaders of Hamas, more than 25 million people in the DRC lack food, the Secretary General stated the need to overcome disagreements at COP-29, the UN calls for de-escalation in the Middle East region and support for the population of Syria.
ICC warrants
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. They are accused of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes between October 7, 2023 and May 20, 2024. The court also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas commander Mohammed Deif on similar charges. Israel previously said Deif was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July.
Famine in the DRC
According to the latest estimates, 25.6 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to experience acute food insecurity. Armed violence, ongoing conflicts and soaring food prices have limited access to food, particularly among displaced people and refugees. In October alone, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided assistance to nearly two million people in the DRC. However, the WFP faces a funding gap of $350 million.
UN chief at COP29
Speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, which is due to formally end on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders and negotiators to overcome their differences and reach an agreement on climate finance. Guterres returned to Baku after attending the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Speaking in the capital of Azerbaijan on Thursday afternoon, he voiced the main message of his address to the G20 leaders: the time for talk is over, important decisions must be made without delay.
Crisis in Syria
The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate amid growing violence, a humanitarian crisis and destabilization in the region. This was stated by UN representatives at a meeting of the Security Council. They called for immediate de-escalation in the region and assistance to the population, who are facing unprecedented difficulties. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is currently in the country, his deputy Najat Rochdi told the Security Council. Pedersen will meet with representatives of the Syrian government in the coming days. Earlier, the Special Envoy visited Astana, where he held meetings with participants of the Astana format.