Results of the shelling of the city of Slovyansk, Ukraine. Top news of the day | Monday: UN Secretary General, Lebanon, Ukraine, Afghanistan UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: visit of the UN Secretary General to Brussels, shelling of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, delivery of humanitarian aid to the front-line areas of Ukraine, extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Afghanistan.
Visit of the UN Secretary-General to Brussels
The UN Secretary-General will arrive in Belgium on Tuesday, where he will take part in an informal discussion with members of the European Council. The visit will be part of a series of meetings devoted to the state of international relations, cooperation between the UN and the European Union, as well as prospects for strengthening multilateralism. The Secretary General will hold separate bilateral meetings with the President of the European Council, António Costa, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. It is expected that during the negotiations the parties will exchange assessments of the current global situation and discuss the role of the EU and the UN in responding to international crises.
UN peacekeepers fired at in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Monday that peacekeeper patrols came under fire three times in the south of the country on March 15. The two patrols returned fire in self-defense and then continued their missions. There were no casualties among the peacekeepers. The mission emphasized that the presence of weapons outside the control of the state in its area of operation violates Security Council Resolution 1701, and attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable and can be considered a war crime.
Delivery of humanitarian aid to front-line areas of Ukraine
UN humanitarian agencies in Kyiv report that after a series of night and morning drone and missile strikes in Ukraine over the weekend, numerous civilian casualties were recorded, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure. National and international non-governmental organizations, the Ukrainian Red Cross and UN agencies are working on the ground. They provide victims with first medical and psychological aid, legal advice, materials for repairs and financial support. On Friday, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, together with partners, sent two humanitarian convoys to front-line areas. Electric generators, solar lamps, ready-to-eat foods, hygiene kits for women, blankets and diapers were delivered to the Kupyansk area in the Kharkov region and Kherson.
Extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Afghanistan
The UN Security Council on Monday extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for another three months. The decision was made against the backdrop of growing humanitarian and human rights problems in the country. The UN Secretariat emphasized that the Organization remains committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan through “principled and pragmatic engagement” within the framework of the political mission. The Secretary-General reiterated his call on the country’s de facto authorities to lift restrictions placed on women and girls. Antonio Guterres also welcomed the Security Council’s request to restore access for UN staff to the Organization’s premises in Afghanistan.