Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Underneath-Secretary-Common for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, was briefing a gathering of the Safety Council, which additionally coincided with the thirty second anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
“I wish to congratulate the Ukrainian folks as we speak and take this event to emphasize, as soon as once more, that the UN’s dedication to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity inside it internationally acknowledged borders is unwavering,” she mentioned.
“Recognizing the rising calls around the globe for an finish to the warfare, I reiterate the UN’s dedication to help all significant efforts to realize a simply and sustainable peace in Ukraine, consistent with the UN Constitution, worldwide regulation and related Common Meeting resolutions.”
For the reason that outbreak of hostilities on 24 February 2022, the battle has had devastating penalties for civilians. The UN human rights workplace, OHCHR, has confirmed not less than 9,444 civilian deaths, together with 545 kids, and about 17,000 accidents, amongst them 1,156 kids.
Nevertheless, some estimates put the whole variety of fatalities – civilians and navy, on either side – at half 1,000,000.
Reversing positive aspects towards starvation
“And there’s no finish in sight to this warfare, launched in violation of the rules of the UN Constitution and worldwide regulation. Certainly, since Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative on July 17, the combating has solely escalated,” Ms. DiCarlo informed ambassadors.
She emphasised the affect on world meals safety, noting that assaults focusing on grain amenities threat undoing progress towards starvation.
“The Secretary-Common continues to emphasize the significance of meals and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine to world meals safety and to advocate for the resumption of the Black Sea Initiative,” Ms. DiCarlo mentioned.
Environmental and cultural toll
The senior UN official additionally outlined the battle’s affect on the surroundings and on Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
The UN Academic, Scientific and Cultural Group (UNESCO) has verified in depth harm to some 284 cultural websites. Amongst them have been 120 non secular websites, together with the Historic Centre of Odesa, an space protected beneath the World Heritage Conference, she mentioned.
“One other latest UN evaluation on the affect of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam concluded that the breach induced a far-reaching environmental catastrophe, the size of which could not be clear for many years to come back,” Ms. DiCarlo added.
Resilience of Ukrainian ladies
Regardless of bearing the brunt of the battle, together with representing the overwhelming majority of the 6.2 million folks compelled to maneuver to different international locations, Ukrainian ladies “stood on the forefront” of humanitarian response, Ms. DiCarlo mentioned.
“Girls-led civil society organizations have been among the many first to reply to the full-scale invasion,” she mentioned, noting UN help to civil society organizations aiding ladies and ladies inside Ukraine and people displaced in Moldova.
Youngsters have additionally not been spared, with a number of assaults on faculties and well being amenities, she added.
Affect on Russian civilians
Ms. DiCarlo additionally voiced concern over the doable affect on civilians of the shelling of Russian border communities and drone assaults deep inside Russia, together with Moscow.
“Assaults towards civilians and civilian infrastructure – wherever they might happen – are indefensible and strictly prohibited beneath worldwide regulation,” she mentioned.
