A building in Beirut, Lebanon, destroyed by a missile. Top news of the day | Monday: Lebanon, Ukraine, Yemen, Somalia UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: three UN peacekeepers were killed in Lebanon, a maternity hospital in Odessa was damaged as a result of shelling, the UN calls on the Houthis to refrain from further escalation, clashes in Somalia are aggravating the humanitarian crisis.
Death of peacekeepers in Lebanon
This morning, two Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed in an explosion near a mission convoy in the Bani Hayyan area; two more were injured. This was announced by the UN Deputy Chief of Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The day before, another Indonesian soldier was killed in an explosion at a UN base, and another was critically injured and had to be evacuated. The circumstances surrounding both incidents are currently under investigation. Lacroix emphasized that the peacekeepers remain in their positions and continue to carry out the tasks assigned to them by the UN Security Council in extremely dangerous conditions.
Shelling of Odessa
As a result of shelling last weekend, a maternity hospital in Odessa was damaged. This is the fifth Ukrainian hospital supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to come under fire this year. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that as a result of the strikes in Odessa, two people were killed and 12 were injured, including one child. Residential buildings and critical infrastructure were also damaged in the city. UN humanitarian agencies and their partners provided emergency assistance to those affected, including providing them with materials for emergency shelter repairs.
Yemen Crisis
UN urges Houthis in Yemen to refrain from any actions that could drag the country into a regional conflict and instead focus on diplomatic efforts, including through the mediation of UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg. Grundberg warns that the escalation will further complicate efforts to resolve the country’s internal crisis. The UN also emphasizes the need for strict compliance with Security Council Resolution 2768 and other relevant resolutions relating to attacks on commercial and commercial vessels.
Clashes in Somalia
The UN Office in Somalia calls for the protection of civilians in the city of Baidoa. Over the past week, clashes have forced about 45,000 people to flee their homes in the southwestern state where the city is located. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, George Conway, warned that without urgent action the humanitarian situation in Baidoa, where some 430,000 people are already displaced, will worsen. The UN Secretary-General calls on the Federal Government of Somalia and the states that make up the federation to resolve their differences through constructive dialogue.