The devastated area of Rafah in southern Gaza. Top news of the day | Monday: Gaza, HRC, Ukraine, Russian Federation, disarmament UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: difficulties with the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the opening of the session of the Human Rights Council, strikes on Ukraine, the prosecution of Oleg Orlov, the head of the UN at the Conference on Disarmament.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Gaza has received half as much humanitarian aid this month as in January, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said on Monday. He said a lack of political effort, regular closures of checkpoints, as well as hostilities and the collapse of civil order were hampering humanitarian operations in the sector. An average of 98 aid trucks entered the enclave daily this month, UNRWA said in a report released Monday. The agency noted “significant difficulties” with the delivery of goods through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings.
Human Rights Council
The Israeli offensive on Rafah will put an end to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned about this on Monday, speaking in Geneva at the opening of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council. Guterres also said that the rule of law and the rules of war are now being violated around the world. Answering a question during a press conference about whether the conflict in Ukraine could spread to NATO countries, the UN chief said that when a conflict continues for a long time, there is always a risk of escalation.
Strikes on Ukraine
From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that in recent days another wave of shelling across Ukraine has resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. In the Donetsk region, according to local organizations, the water supply network was damaged. The authorities of the Kherson region reported damage to the gas pipeline. Humanitarian organizations and emergency response services quickly mobilized assistance to the victims. In addition, an inter-agency convoy led by UN Country Coordinator Denise Brown on Monday delivered essential supplies to the village of Mylovoe in the Kherson region.
The trial of Oleg Orlov
UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia Mariana Katsarova condemned the ongoing prosecution of Oleg Orlov, co-chairman of the liquidated Memorial Society. In her statement, the human rights activist called the trial against Orlov “politically motivated.” He is accused of discrediting the Russian armed forces. Following the news of Alexei Navalny’s death, a group of UN special rapporteurs called on the Russian government to immediately release all political prisoners. Katsarova noted that the authorities are moving in the opposite direction and the number of political prisoners continues to grow.
Conference on Disarmament
Speaking at the Conference on Disarmament, which takes place February 22-28 in Geneva, the UN chief expressed concern about geopolitical conflicts and fierce competition in the arms sector. He noted that the military is developing “terrifying” technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence, and an arms race in outer space could lead to potentially catastrophic consequences. The Secretary-General reiterated his call on countries to accelerate the implementation of all nuclear disarmament commitments. He noted that the Conference itself had reached a dead end, and called for its urgent reform.