Distribution of winter clothes to residents of Ukraine (archive). Top news of the day | Friday: Middle East, Central Asia, Ukraine UN
Top news of the day in the UN and in the world: escalation of hostilities in the Syrian province of Aleppo, Central Asian countries adopted the Dushanbe Declaration on cooperation in the field of sustainable development, attacks on the energy system of Ukraine, more than 15 thousand people returned to Lebanon.
Escalation in Syria
Escalating fighting in Syria’s Aleppo province has forced thousands of families to flee their homes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. The inaccessibility of major roads has disrupted humanitarian and commercial supplies, driving up the cost of essential goods. An estimated 7,000 people have been displaced in Aleppo city, with most staying with relatives and one collective shelter. No civilian casualties have been confirmed. Ongoing security concerns are disrupting humanitarian operations, OCHA added.
Cooperation in Central Asia
The countries of Central Asia have adopted the Dushanbe Declaration, in which they recognized the need for regional cooperation on green development and committed to strengthening partnerships in key sectors, including energy, trade, investment, small and medium-sized enterprise development, water resources and innovation. The Dushanbe Declaration was adopted following a meeting of the Economic Forum and the Governing Council of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), held this week in Tajikistan.
Ukraine’s energy system
Massive strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this week have heightened concerns about the plight of civilians during the winter, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said. Missile and drone strikes on Thursday reportedly led to power outages in at least 13 regions of Ukraine, as well as in Kyiv. Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants had cut output following renewed attacks, further threatening nuclear safety.
Lebanon Ceasefire
The ceasefire in Lebanon is a “massive relief” for millions of people who have suffered more than 13 months as a result of the current round of conflict in the Middle East, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesman Jeremy Lawrence said on Friday, calling on all parties to abide by the agreement and resolve any disputes within its framework. More than 15,000 people have returned to Lebanon from Syria since the ceasefire agreement came into force early Wednesday morning. UNHCR provides assistance to people at the border.