Old City in Sana’a, Yemen. Daily Top Stories | Wednesday: Davos, Colombia, Middle East, Yemen Peace and Security
Daily Top Stories in the UN and the World: UN Secretary General speaks at World Economic Forum in Davos, UN condemns violence in Colombia, UN warns of consequences of Israeli military operation in West Bank, Houthis free crew of ship captured in Red Sea.
Davos Economic Forum
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, stressing that climate change and the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence require greater attention and international cooperation as they threaten to radically change life on Earth.
He called attention to some in the private sector backtracking on their climate commitments, calling such moves “short-sighted and selfish.” Later in the day, the Secretary-General welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza, praising the “vigorous diplomatic efforts” that led to the outcome.
Violence in Colombia
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is deeply concerned about the recent violence that has engulfed the Catatumbo region in northern Colombia. He calls for an immediate end to the bloodshed. This is stated in a statement issued on behalf of the UN chief by his press service. António Guterres, as emphasized in the document, condemns the killings of civilians, including former combatants who signed the 2016 Final Peace Agreement, human rights defenders and community leaders. He is also concerned about reports of the displacement of thousands of civilians.
On Wednesday morning, the head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, briefed the Security Council on the developments in the situation. He called on armed groups to stop actions that pose a threat to the civilian population and to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to the victims.
Release of Yemeni Hostages
The UN welcomes the release of 25 crew members of a cargo ship taken hostage in November 2023 in the Red Sea. Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, called on Ansar Allah to continue “steps in the right direction” and stop attacking ships in the Red Sea. According to Grundberg, this will help create conditions for the resumption of the Yemeni political process.
Sigrid Kaag visits Gaza
Acting Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Sigrid Kaag visited the southern and central Gaza Strip today. This is her first visit to the enclave since the ceasefire, which took effect on January 19. In Khan Younis, she visited a newly built building where 3,000 children receive education with the support of UNICEF. In recent days, Kaag has held several meetings in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and continues to engage with countries in the region, the UN press service reported.
Meanwhile, as a result of the Israeli military operation in the West Bank, in Jenin, ten people were reportedly killed and dozens more were injured. The UN warns that Israel’s actions in Jenin pose a threat to the civilian population and also lead to the destruction of civilian infrastructure.