UN appeals for stronger support for Syria, with millions still in need – As Syria’s humanitarian needs soar and aid funding dries up, UN officials urged the Security Council on Wednesday to step up support, warning that millions face continuing hardship even as the country rebuilds its political institutions. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi, briefing from Damascus, called for a renewed commitment to the participation of women in the country’s political transition, saying their exclusion risks undermining hard-won progress. – UN appeals for stronger support for Syria, with millions still in need | UN News
Green light for Gang Suppression Force tells Haitians ‘they are not alone’, Security Council hears – The people of Haiti have not given up and “their fortitude gives us hope,” the UN Special Representative to the country told the Security Council on Wednesday. Addressing ambassadors for the first time as head of the UN office in Haiti (BINUH), Carlos Ruiz Massieu addressed the continuing gang violence and humanitarian crisis in the country, the upcoming political transition set to take place next year and bid to restore national security through the recently agreed Gang Suppression Force (GSF). – Green light for Gang Suppression Force tells Haitians ‘they are not alone’, Security Council hears | UN News
Israel is obliged to let aid flow into Occupied Palestinian Territory, says World Court – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) says that Israel must uphold its responsibilities as the “occupying power” by ensuring aid can flow freely and by respecting the rights of the UN and other humanitarian agencies working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In a detailed advisory opinion requested by the General Assembly, the UN’s top court found that Israel is required to “ensure that the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory [OPT] has the essential supplies of daily life, including food, water, clothing, bedding, shelter, fuel, medical supplies and services.” – Israel is obliged to let aid flow into Occupied Palestinian Territory, says World Court | UN News
Most major methane leak alerts ignored despite climate threat – UN satellite tracking has greatly improved detection of major methane leaks – a gas responsible for about a third of global warming – yet companies and governments are acting on only around 12 per cent of alerts. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Cutting emissions would deliver rapid, tangible climate benefits, with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reporting that cutting human-caused emissions by around half is one of the most cost-effective ways to slow climate change in the near term. In 2022 UNEP launched a satellite tracking system to detect unintentional methane leaks from the oil and gas sectors. – Most major methane leak alerts ignored despite climate threat | UN News
Russian strikes on Ukraine kill at least six civilians, injure dozens – Russian forces carried out “another massive wave of overnight attacks” targeting energy facilities, the UN said on Wednesday, killing and injuring civilians – including children. “At least six civilians were killed, including two children and over 30 people injured” due to missile and drone attacks, underscored the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMM) in a social media post. Monitors said they had visited one kindergarten which had been seriously damaged during drone strikes in the eastern city of Kharkiv – close to the Russian border – noting that all 50 children had been safely evacuated. – Russian strikes on Ukraine kill at least six civilians, injure dozens | UN News
Four winters on, UN in Ukraine continues to deliver aid under fire – As Ukraine enters its fourth winter since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the United Nations remains committed to providing aid for embattled civilians across the country. From providing emergency care and evacuation support, to repairing bombed energy plants, UN humanitarian workers are delivering despite reduced resources, an expanding frontline and direct attacks on their colleagues. The widespread use of drones and glide bombs in the Ukraine war means that a large swath of the country is directly exposed to Russian strikes, further complicating the work of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is preparing for the famously harsh Ukrainian winter. UN News spoke to Andrea de Domenico, OCHA’s Ukraine country chief, about the challenges he and his colleagues are dealing and how they cope with working under fire. – Four winters on, UN in Ukraine continues to deliver aid under fire | UN News
New forum builds on Sevilla pledges to tackle global debt crisis – A new UN-backed forum launched on Wednesday to help developing nations escape the weight of unsustainable debt – which has left more than three billion people worldwide living in economies forced to spend more on repayments than health or education. The Sevilla Forum on Debt will promote fairer lending, faster restructuring and long-term reform of the post-war financial system. Hosted by Spain and supported by the United Nations, the forum is designed to keep global attention on the debt crisis while converting firm commitments made at June’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville into concrete action. – New forum builds on Sevilla pledges to tackle global debt crisis | UN News
