Briefing the Security Council, Political and Peacebuilding Affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors: “We aren’t any nearer to the tip of this unlawful and unjustified warfare”.
“With every passing day, the injury the battle has achieved – and is doing – to Ukraine, but additionally to world peace and safety and worldwide regulation, turns into more and more clear,” she mentioned, including:
“Solely an answer according to the UN Charter, worldwide regulation and UN Basic Meeting resolutions will obtain a simply and lasting peace.”
Ms. DiCarlo highlighted the work of humanitarians, together with native and women-led initiatives to ship support to these in want.
She famous the $4.2 billion humanitarian enchantment launched by the UN and companions to assist affected communities all through Ukraine, Ukrainian refugees and host communities.
Mounting demise toll
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, 30,041 civilian casualties have been confirmed by the UN human rights workplace (OHCHR), together with 10,382 killed and an extra 19,659 injured. The precise quantity is probably going increased.
The variety of civilian casualties elevated considerably in December 2023 and January in contrast with earlier months, reversing a development of lowering civilian casualties earlier within the yr, the senior UN official mentioned.
OHCHR verified that 158 civilians have been killed and 483 injured simply in January.
“I have to underscore as soon as once more that assaults on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they happen, are prohibited beneath worldwide regulation. They’re unacceptable and should cease instantly,” Ms. DiCarlo mentioned.
UN atomic watchdog to go to Zaporizhzhya Plant
In the meantime in Ukraine, Rafael Grossi, the top of the UN Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) is about to go to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy Plant – Europe’s greatest.
It is going to be his fourth go to to the plant, whose six reactors have all been in shutdown for practically 18 months, however nonetheless maintain giant quantities of nuclear gas that should be stored adequately cooled, the company mentioned in a news release.
The intention of the mission is to evaluate the standing of present energy and cooling programs important for the protection of the plant and the degrees of certified employees on web site.
In line with IAEA’s newest replace on the scenario in Ukraine, a brand new announcement from the occupied plant acknowledged that no workers of Ukraine’s nationwide operator Energoatom can be allowed to proceed working on the web site.
“The destiny of the most important nuclear energy plant in Europe and the results of an issue there exceed a merely technical facet; these are problems with a world concern for worldwide peace and safety,” Mr. Grossi mentioned.
“This is the reason, for me, past the technical elements, additionally it is necessary to have a dialog on the basic implications of what’s taking place there – now and sooner or later,” he added.
