Refugees from Sudan at a UN-run transit center. Top news of the day | Friday: Ukraine, Middle East, Sudan, DRC UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: two years since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, human rights violations in Palestine and Israel, the UN report on the situation in Sudan, the crisis in the DR Congo.
Two years of war against Ukraine
On the eve of the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, the UN called on the international community to do more to end the war. Independent experts of the organization made a corresponding statement. In addition, the UN Security Council meets on Friday to mark this somber anniversary. During his speech, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled the suffering that the war brought to the Ukrainian people. According to the UN, more than 10.5 thousand civilians have been killed, and 14.5 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Israel and Palestine
Murders, hostage-taking, destruction of property, collective punishment, attacks on civilian infrastructure – these and other gross violations of human rights and international law have been committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel over the past year. This is stated in a new UN report prepared by experts from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). They called for accountability for all those responsible for serious abuses committed in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Israel.
War in Sudan
As a result of the armed conflict in Sudan, which continues to spread to new areas of the country, thousands of civilians have died and millions have had to flee their houses. In addition, children are subject to recruitment to participate in hostilities. This is stated in a report by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), published on Friday. The report’s authors report numerous indiscriminate attacks on residential areas and safe havens by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and rebels since April 2023. The capital, Khartoum, was particularly hard hit, as were Kordorfan and Darfur.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to the escalation of conflict in the east of the country. Since fighting resumed on February 7, 144,000 people have been forced to flee North Kivu province. Humanitarian operations in the DRC will require $2.6 billion this year. In addition, UNHCR and its partners on Thursday called for $668 million to support refugees from the DRC in neighboring countries.