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Gaza: We must prevent a large-scale offensive in Rafah, UN pleads

© UNRWA Forced displacement and military operations in Rafah are worsening an already catastrophic situation.
INTERNATIONAL, 12 May 2024, Peace and Security - The Secretary-General and the UN human rights chief said again on Sunday that a large-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah must be prevented at all costs, warning of catastrophic consequences in the densely populated southern area in Gaza.
The warning comes as the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, reported that over the past week that nearly 300,000 people have now fled Rafah following the Israeli military’s orders for further evacuations from area.

“There is nowhere safe to go,” the agency warned in a message on X.

Catastrophic consequences

In a telephone conversation on Saturday, UN chief António Guterres and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani agreed that “a full-scale military operation in Rafah would have catastrophic consequences and must be prevented,” according to a report of the conversation published by the office of the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

“The Secretary-General expressed deep appreciation for Qatar’s continued mediation efforts to broker a deal for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of hostages,” he said.

Mr. Guterres also discussed the situation in Gaza on Sunday in Kuwait City with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber.

In a comment to the press on Sunday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said he was “deeply distressed by the fast deterioration in Gaza as Israeli forces intensify their air strikes” across Gaza.

He also expressed concern about reports of indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza.

‘Where should they go now?’

Mr. Türk noted that the latest evacuation orders from the Israeli army concern nearly a million people in Rafah. Since the Israeli military issued initial evacuation orders on 6 May, more than 278,000 Gazans have fled Rafah, an area one deemed a safe zone.

“Where should they go now? There is no safe place in Gaza,” he said.

These are exhausted and hungry people, many of whom have already been displaced several times, and do not have good options, he said.

Other towns in Gaza, including Khan Younis, which is currently supposed to host displaced people from Rafah, have already been reduced to rubble and remain under attack.

“These are not safe places,” he stressed.

Flouting world court orders

The human rights chief said he did not see how the latest evacuation orders, much less a general assault, in an area with an extremely dense presence of civilians, can be reconciled with the binding demands of international humanitarian law and with the two sets of binding provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“A large-scale offensive on Rafah cannot take place,” he said, calling on all influential States to do everything in their power to prevent it to protect civilian lives.

As Israeli Forces' bombardment intensifies in Rafah, forced displacement continues.
© UNRWA
As Israeli Forces' bombardment intensifies in Rafah, forced displacement continues.

Dire aid shortage amid border closures

At the same time, there is a “dire shortage” of aid reaching Gaza, Mr. Türk said.

“At this desperate moment, exacerbated by acts impeding the entry of humanitarian aid in Gaza through the three crossings, there is a dire shortage of fuel,” he warned.

Fuel shortages are “hindering everything”, from the movement of food and operation of hospitals to sewage treatment and telecommunications, he added.

Expressing concern for the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers, he called on Israel and Palestinian armed groups to urgently agree to a ceasefire and immediately release all hostages.

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UN teams dispatch aid as deadly flash floods hit northern Afghanistan

© UNICEF/Hasinullah Qayoumi UN agencies worked with local authorities in Afghanistan to distribute aid and emergency services following floods in 2023. (file)
INTERNATIONAL, 12 May 2024, Humanitarian Aid - UN humanitarian teams scrambled to get lifesaving aid to communities devastated by deadly flash floods in northeastern Afghanistan over the weekend.
Flash floods in the area have reportedly killed at least 300 people, including 51 children, with many more injured, with these figures expected to increase as additional reports come in, according to UN agencies.

UN chief António Guterres expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

“The United Nations and its partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance,” said his spokesperson in a statement, extending wishes for a swift recovery to those injured and condolences to the families of the victims.

Most of the casualties were reported in Baghlan province, where heavy rains destroyed an estimated 3,000 houses, flooded farmland, washed away livestock, closed schools and damaged health centres.

Takhar and Badakhshan provinces were also impacted with initial reports of at least 300 houses damaged, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

UN teams mobilise on the ground

“UNICEF and our partners are on the ground and are making every effort to bring quick relief to the affected families and communities,” Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, said on Sunday, expressing condolences to the families mourning the loss of loved ones.

A UNICEF-supported mobile health and nutrition team has also been dispatched and teams are on the ground to help conduct additional assessments.

“The heavy rains and subsequent floods have disrupted lives and pose a significant risk to children in the affected provinces,” Dr. Oyewale said. “As families cope with the loss, maintaining access to safe water, health and protection services is paramount. As always, UNICEF stands with the children and people of Afghanistan during this difficult time.”

Aid swiftly deployed

Working with partners, UN agencies are already distributing aid.

UNICEF has dispatched 450 family kits, 500 hygiene kits, 476 blankets for adults and babies and 100 clothing kits alongside support provided by other UN agencies and partners.

Meanwhile, the UN migration organisation (IOM) has been distributing aid packages that include temporary shelters, essential non-food items, solar modules, clothing and tools for repairs to their damaged shelters.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is currently distributing energy biscuits to survivors of the floods, according to the agency’s post on social media on Sunday.

WFP also said this flood is one of the many events in recent weeks caused by unusually heavy rains.

Extreme weather highlights need for resilient efforts

UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said “this extreme weather event underscores the need for climate-resilient humanitarian efforts.”

Meanwhile, the UN relief agency, OCHA, is working with partners and national authorities to provide shelter, food and healthcare, he said in a post on X on Sunday.

Afghanistan is among the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change and has been experiencing a rise in extreme weather conditions, notably floods, drought and sand and dust storms, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods and significant damage to infrastructure.

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Japan: Safeguarding a mother tongue and mother nature

Sao Family The Sao's youngest son picks up plastic bottles from the beach.
INTERNATIONAL, 12 May 2024, Culture and Education - When asked what might be the most beautiful word in Shimamuni, the Indigenous language variety spoken on Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima prefecture of southwestern Japan, Nami Sao pondered for a moment before replying “mihedirodoo.” Her husband, Tomoyuki Sao, is quick to elaborate that its utterance is always enlivened with a smile and tends to make fellow Shimamuni speakers noticeably more pleased than arigatou, the standard Japanese equivalent for saying thank you.
Even though both Nami and Tomoyuki were born on Okinoerabu Island (currently home to only 12,000 inhabitants), neither learned to speak Shimamuni – a local variety of the Kunigami language – fluently as children.

Kunigami was added to UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger in 2009 and classified as “definitely endangered” to raise public awareness that “children no longer learn the language as a mother tongue in the home.”

A family takes action

After learning that the indigenous language of Okinoerabu Island was officially considered endangered, the couple and their four children took it upon themselves to translate their love for language into impactful actions that have since resonated far beyond the island.

Okinoerabu Island residents were not just concerned about losing a language, but also increasingly alarmed by the proliferation of marine litter. In what began as a school project assigned over the summer break, the Sao children decided that they could tackle both issues simultaneously by performing daily beach clean-up while engaging in language activities, such as singing and keeping a diary in Shimamuni to document their day-to-day progress.

Residents of Okinoerabu Island collect rubbish on a beach.
Sao Family
Residents of Okinoerabu Island collect rubbish on a beach.

Leveraging the Shimamuni vernacular as a thread of shared local identity connecting people from diverse walks of life, the Sao family has since expanded its conservation pursuits to include cooking local delicacies, providing haircuts to residents of nursing homes, learning arts and crafts at the community centre and participating in a “Shimamuni Salon” where language lessons are offered and local environmental issues are regularly discussed. The goal is to cultivate the next generation of eco-conscious Shimamuni speakers.

“Without these community-driven activities, the language would become extinct with the passing of its elderly speakers,” said Dr. Sumittra Suraratdecha, assistant professor of linguistics at the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia (RILCA) in Thailand.

Linguistic diversity and sustainable development

When queried about the underlying motivation for his family’s involvement in such a broad range of activities, the thoughtful Tomoyuki cites the urgency of reaching the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

He felt that rather than imparting to his children knowledge that he acquired through formal education 20 to 30 years ago, it would be better to support their learning by doing and thereby facilitate their accumulation of real-life experiences that will empower them to make a difference.

Residents of Okinoerabu Island prepare local delicacies.
Sao Family
Residents of Okinoerabu Island prepare local delicacies.

As it turns out, the Shimamuni language not only serves as a vehicle for transmitting local knowledge, such as traditional dessert recipes, to the island’s youth, it also improves the efficiency of communication about environmental issues to elderly islanders, some of whom once harboured the mistaken belief that marine litter should simply be left to degrade on its own.

Given the current global reality of burgeoning non-degradable waste and microplastics, the Shimamuni mother tongue helps to convey the true extent of the problem to senior residents with greater immediacy.

Reflecting on the circumstances of the Sao family and their creative response to local ecocultural challenges, Kyungah Kristy Bang, a consultant for multilingual education at the UNESCO regional office in Bangkok and coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group, remarked that “celebrating linguistic diversity can be an effective tool and solution to achieving the SDGs at the local level.”

Recognition on a global stage

In October 2023, the Sao family had the opportunity to present their inspiring story at the seventh International Conference on Language and Education, in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Sao family
UNESCO/Santibhap Ussavasodhi
The Sao family

As representatives of Okinoerabu Island participating in a major international conference co-hosted by UNESCO, they attended the event, which drew over 450 language experts and participants from all over the globe.

The Sao family garnered island-wide support, as the two principal towns on the island united in helping to prepare the family’s presentation videos and cover a portion of their travel expenses.

“While the conference brings together various stakeholders, such as policy makers, practitioners and researchers who share their experiences with language in education, we often forget that there is more often an entire team or community, or in such case a family, driving the sustainability of linguistic diversity,” said Brandon Darr, a education consultant with UNESCO’s regional office.

For Tomoyuki, achieving recognition on an international stage has only served to strengthen his family’s guiding sense of purpose.

“Our goal is to live a mentally abundant life,” he said.

His wife concured.

“When our children grow up, they can live anywhere,” she said, “but I want them to preserve their language and culture in their hearts.”

Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger

Launched in 1996 with some 600 endangered languages mapped globally, the Atlas continues to thrive today as an interactive online tool premised on the belief that linguistic diversity underpins sustainable development and fosters equitable and pluralistic societies.

Learn more about the Atlas and the languages it protects here.

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Madagascar: Coordination, convergence and change from the grass roots up

UN News/Daniel Dickinson Access to water is a priority amongst the largely rural population of southern Madagascar.
INTERNATIONAL, 11 May 2024, SDGs - How can people be best supported during humanitarian crises with limited aid budgets and what can be done to help those same people break out of the cycle of dependency caused by multiple crises and move towards more sustainable development?
Those are the questions that UN agencies on the ground in Madagascar are considering as the island nation struggles against climate change, huge humanitarian needs and persistent underdevelopment.

UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Head of Programmes Gilles Chevalier and Natasha van Rijn the Resident Representative for the UN Development Programme discuss how changes in the way they are working are helping to reinforce resilience and sustainable development.

Gilles Chevalier: One of the major decisions we have made at UNICEF is to reinforce our staff footprint in the south of Madagascar which has been affected by drought due to climate change and the El Nino effect. The people in this part of the country are very vulnerable; many suffer from malnutrition and a lack of access to basic services, so there are many humanitarian needs.

UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Head of Programmes Gilles Chevalier (left) and UNDP Resident Representative Natasha van Rijn (right) join a discussion on sustainable development in Madagascar.
UN Madagascar
UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Head of Programmes Gilles Chevalier (left) and UNDP Resident Representative Natasha van Rijn (right) join a discussion on sustainable development in Madagascar.

There are a number of UN humanitarian agencies which are converging to contribute to the relief effort in the Grand Sud region. Systematically, those actors are also looking at ways to prevent and mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change in the south.

Natasha van Rijn: The development indicators in the south, for example, for health, education, nutrition, infrastructure, energy supply, are all weaker than they are in other parts of the island, and that is as central to the planning and the conversations that need to take place as it is to the humanitarian response that is currently ongoing.

The UN is engaged in both humanitarian and development work. One way to define the difference is to consider humanitarian work as addressing the symptoms of an illness in an emergency situation while development works towards health and well-being by addressing the underlying structural issues which may eventually lead to a humanitarian crisis.

Gilles Chevalier: As best we can, we're trying to avoid working on small-scale interventions in many different locations. Instead, we are looking at what complementarities are possible between the interventions of the United Nations system and its partners. We have selected what we are calling “convergence zones” based on the multidimensional vulnerability that can be identified in the various districts. In this way the UN system can really build a coordinated long-term intervention.

Natasha van Rijn: Investing more heavily in one geographical area, has created the environment in which others can capitalize on the investments being made.

A pregnant woman is monitored at a UN-supported mobile clinic in the south of Madagascar
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
A pregnant woman is monitored at a UN-supported mobile clinic in the south of Madagascar

In these convergence zones, and generally as a rule, it's really important to underscore that development and humanitarian actors work in partnership. We bring different skill sets to the table depending on the issue; whether it’s long-term experience with national partners or how to respond rapidly in an emerging crisis.

Of course, it’s important to also acknowledge the role of national counterparts, the government, private sector, civil society or communities as they are at the core of humanitarian and development work.

Gilles Chevalier: We've already seen a very clear shift in the partners' approach to programmes in convergence zones. A large number of them are not only looking at the survival of populations but increasingly, they also focus on resilience building. We’re pleased to see that financial partners are injecting increasingly large amounts of money with a longer-term outlook, recognizing the importance of creating a sustainable impact. This can only happen if systems are strengthened locally and solutions are contextually adapted.

In Madagascar, UN agencies are prioritizing their support in 'convergence zones.'
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
In Madagascar, UN agencies are prioritizing their support in 'convergence zones.'

Natasha van Rijn: We call this the humanitarian and development nexus. The nexus is about aligning efforts to address risks, prevent development losses and build resilience in the midst of crisis. Peace is the third aspect of the nexus together with development and the fulfillment of humanitarian needs. None of these can be achieved without one another.

There is a good example of this with the intervention of the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund in Betroka, Anosy region in the Grand Sud of Madagascar, an area which was insecure due to cattle rustling. The Fund’s work there contributed towards stabilizing the local situation and enabled humanitarian agencies to provide aid more safely and for development actors to start discussions with the local authorities about a range of issues including local governance, policing and boosting economic activity.

Gilles Chevalier: It’s essential for Madagascar to remain at the center of attention not only for our governmental partners, but also for donors. Globally, Madagascar was not a priority for a long time, but now it is recognized as one of the countries most affected by climate change worldwide. In this sense, Madagascar has put itself firmly on the map in recent years.

Natasha van Rijn: If we allow ourselves to look at the situation in Madagascar with all the complexity it deserves, then we have a chance of addressing the needs in all their complex multi-sectoral dimensions. Unfortunately, typical funding mechanisms don't necessarily always lend themselves to that as they are targeted at either humanitarian or development or peacebuilding interventions.

This is why the coordinating role of the UN, and specifically the Resident Coordinator’s Office, is as important as applying nexus approaches in the field as it brings all partners together to discuss the most effective way to contribute to the long-term stability and prosperity of Madagascar.

See more content on Madagascar in French

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UNRWA staff ‘not going anywhere’ despite forced closure of East Jerusalem compound

Shirin Yaseen/UN News the Old City East Jerusalem.

INTERNATIONAL, 10 May 2024, Humanitarian Aid - Two arson attacks and growing protests forced UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA to temporarily close its office in East Jerusalem this week, but its vital work will continue as war rages in Gaza and violence rises in the West Bank, Senior Communications Manager Jonathan Fowler told UN News on Friday.

For roughly two months, demonstrations have been held outside the East Jerusalem compound, which is in an area where many Israeli settlements are located.

The situation came to a head on Thursday evening when Israeli residents lit fires at two locations on the perimeter of the grounds. Mr. Fowler was among the small number of staff in the office at the time.

Smoke and stones 

“The fire alarm was ringing, and we looked out of the window, and I saw smoke kind of billowing over the top of the building,” he said, speaking from Amman, Jordan after leaving Jerusalem on Thursday night. 

Colleagues who went to douse the fire, to prevent it from spreading, were “treated to stone throwing by groups of youths who had gathered on the street opposite.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, another fire had been lit at a fence next to a petrol station for UNRWA vehicles. 

“If that fire had reached the gas station, I dread to think what would have happened to the houses, the apartment blocks that live right nearby.  We would have been in a situation of an absolute disaster.” 

From fiery rhetoric to ‘real flames’ 

Both UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the attack, which followed a protest just days before that turned violent. 

“People were gathering, and they were starting to get wooden sticks and stones, and there was some sort of bash against the gate,” Mr. Fowler said, recalling the demonstration on Tuesday.  “And the police were just kind of there in the background.” 

Although an investigation into the fires is underway, he pointed to the wider issue of increased tension around UNRWA’s work following the war in Gaza. 

“There's a sense that this kind of behaviour has been encouraged, and encouraged, and encouraged by inflammatory rhetoric,” he said. “So, we go from inflammatory rhetoric to real flames in the space of a few days.”  

‘A territory of intimidation’ 

Mr. Fowler said the protests against UNRWA have been “called by different organizations and individuals,” including one of Jerusalem’s deputy mayors, and there has been no noticeable increased police presence despite the repeated demonstrations. 

While upholding the right to freedom of expression, “even if we don't agree with the contents of what is shouted at us”, he said things have “sort of moved into a territory of intimidation.” 

Demonstrators have blocked the gates to the UN compound, and in one instance surrounded the car of a staff member while brandishing toy weapons. Shuttle buses transporting UN staff have been slapped on the sides and spat at, and the people onboard filmed. 

Undermined and unprotected 

So far, staff have not faced any incidents of intimidation after working hours. “We have to hope sincerely that we don't get to that kind of level,” he said. 

Mr. Fowler underscored that it is incumbent on Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure the proper protection of UN facilities. 

“We feel this is not happening,” he said. “It's clear from the evidence, and it's part of the context of a much wider campaign against UNRWA, basically to undermine the agency; things like use of lawfare to try to argue that legally we have no right to be in our compounds.” 

‘Not going anywhere’ 

Although the East Jerusalem premises are closed for the time being, he insisted that staff will not be deterred in carrying out their work. They have made a “COVID-like” pivot, where people work from home or other locations. 

“It complicates our functioning at a time when of course, we should be fully focussed on the unprecedented levels of violence in the West Bank and, it goes without saying, the enormous, unprecedented level of humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.” 

Mr. Fowler underlined UNRWA’s mandate, established nearly 75 years ago by the UN General Assembly, to provide services to Palestine refugees, which includes healthcare, education and social support.

“We're proud of our work. Many of us are deeply passionate about our work,” he said. 

“We do it because we have a mandate from the United Nations system to do something. Until such time as that mandate no longer exists, we're not going anywhere, whatever anybody might like to say.” 

He added that in response to the hostilities against UNRWA there have been a number of “robust public statements” from donors to the agency, saying “enough is enough.” 

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UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give ‘favourable consideration’ to full Palestinian membership

UN Photo/Manuel Elías Results of the General Assembly's vote on the resolution on the status of the Observer State of Palestine.
INTERNATIONAL, 10 May 2024, Peace and Security - The UN General Assembly convened again in New York on Friday for an emergency special session on the Gaza crisis and overwhelmingly passed a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights at the world body as an Observer State, without offering full membership. It urged the Security Council to give "favourable consideration" to Palestine’s request.

What does the resolution mean?

Here’s a quick recap of what this means: by adopting this resolution the General Assembly will upgrade the rights of the State of Palestine within the world body, but not the right to vote or put forward its candidature to such organs as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). 

Granting Palestinian membership requires a recommendation from the Security Council. At the same time, the Assembly determines that the State of Palestine is qualified for such status and recommends that the Security Council “reconsider the matter favourably”.

None of the upgrades in status will take effect until the new session of the Assembly opens on 10 September.

Here are some of the changes in status that Palestine will have a right to later this year:

  1. To be seated among Member States in alphabetical order
  2. Make statements on behalf of a group
  3. Submit proposals and amendments and introduce them
  4. Co-sponsor proposals and amendments, including on behalf of a group
  5. Propose items to be included in the provisional agenda of the regular or special sessions and the right to request the inclusion of supplementary or additional items in the agenda of regular or special sessions
  6. The right of members of the delegation of the State of Palestine to be elected as officers in the plenary and the Main Committees of the General Assembly
  7. Full and effective participation in UN conferences and international conferences and meetings convened under the auspices of the General Assembly or, as appropriate, of other UN organs

3:04 PM

Assembly President Francis resumed the meeting, with about 72 speakers left to take the floor. The spokesperson for the General Assembly announced earlier in the day that due to the number of remaining speakers, the meeting will likely continue on Monday.

1:07 PM

With the last speaker for the morning having delivered their statement, the President of the General Assembly adjourned the meeting. It will reconvene at 3PM New York time. For a full summary of this and other major UN meetings, visit UN Meetings Coverage in English and French.

1:00 PM

Switzerland: Ceasefire urgently needed

Swiss Ambassador Pascale Christine Baeriswyl explained that her country’s abstention from the vote was in line with its position at the Security Council last month.

Ambassador Pascale Christine Baeriswyl of Switzerland addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo

“We felt that in view of the great instability prevailing in the region, this stage was not conducive to improving the situation,” she said.

“Without opposing it, we believe it would be preferable to consider admitting Palestine as a full member of the United Nations at time when such a step would insert itself in the logic of emerging peace,” she added, noting that such admission would have to follow the procedures enshrined in the UN Charter.

She also voiced Switzerland’s firm support to the two-State solution, stating that only a negotiated solution in which two States – Israel and Palestine – live side by side in peace and security can lead to lasting peace.

Ambassador Baeriswyl also voiced deep concern over the catastrophic situation of civilians in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stating that it could worsen further in the event of a major Israeli military offensive in Rafah.

“Such a prospect is unacceptable, and Switzerland reaffirms its opposition to such an operation,” she said, emphasising the need to ensure protection of humanitarians and respect for international humanitarian and human rights laws.

In conclusion, she called for an immediate ceasefire.

“Safety of civilians must be ensured. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally, and safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian aid must be allowed via all crossing points.”

12:10 PM

Firmly committed to two-State solution: UK

Barbara Woodward, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, said that her country remains “firmly committed” to the two-State solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.

Ambassador Barbara Woodward of the United Kingdom addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo

“We are abstaining from this resolution because we believe the first step towards achieving this goal is resolving the immediate crisis in Gaza,” she said, emphasising that the fastest way to end the conflict is “to secure a deal which gets the hostages out and allows for a pause in the fighting”.

“We must then work together to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.”

She added that “setting out the horizon” for a Palestinian State should be one of the vital conditions from moving from a pause in fighting to a sustainable ceasefire.

“Recognising a Palestinian State, including at the UN, should be part of that process,” she said.

Ambassador Woodward also noted that the UK remains deeply concerned about the prospect of a major operation in Rafah and that it will not support such an act, unless there is a “very clear plan” on protecting civilians as well as their access to aid and medical care.

“We have not seen that plan, so in these circumstances, we will not support a major operation in Rafah,” she said.

11:58 AM

France: High time for political solution

French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière said his country voted in favour of the resolution, noting also the clarifications provided in the text on the right to vote and the right to be elected, which are the prerogatives of Member States alone.

Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière of France addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo

“France recalls that the procedure for admitting a new Member State is defined by the UN Charter, and it must not be circumvented,” he said.

He also noted that France is in favour of the admission of Palestine as a full member of the Organization, which is why it voted in favour at the Security Council last month.

Reiterating his country’s condemnation of the terrorist attacks by Hamas and other groups on 7 October, Ambassador de Rivière stated France’s demand for a ceasefire and release of all hostages.

“The offensive that has started in Rafah risks causing numerous victims and displacing people at a time where nowhere can be deemed safe today in Gaza. There is further risk of disrupting delivery of aid,” he said, expressing his country’s opposition to the military operation.

“All parties must do everything they can to protect civilians and guarantee access for humanitarian aid. It is high time to mobilise for a political solution,” he added.

11:46 AM

Statehood must be negotiated: US

Explaining the US’s negative vote, Ambassador Robert Wood said that it did not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood.

Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood of the United States, addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo

“We have been very clear that we support it and seek to advance it meaningfully. Instead, it is an acknowledgement that statehood will come from a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties,” he said.

“There is no other path that guarantees Israel’s security and future as a democratic Jewish State. There is no other path that guarantees Palestinians can live in peace and dignity in a State of their own,” he added.

He further expressed the US commitment to intensifying its engagement with Palestinians and the rest of the Middle East region to advance a political settlement that will create a path to Palestinian statehood and subsequent membership in the UN.

“This resolution does not resolve the concerns about the Palestinian membership application raised in April in the Security Council…and should the  Security Council take up the Palestinian membership application as a result of this resolution, there will be a similar outcome,” he said.

Results of the General Assembly's vote on the resolution on the status of the Observer State of Palestine.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías
Results of the General Assembly's vote on the resolution on the status of the Observer State of Palestine.

11:24 AM

Draft resolution passed overwhelmingly

The vote is in. It has passed overwhelmingly with 143 countries in favour, nine against and 25 abstaining.

11:22 AM

The Assembly just voted to pass the draft resolution as long as two thirds agree.

11:18 AM

Pakistan: Resolution vote will determine strong support

Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan said there will come a day when Israel will be held accountable for the crimes committed against Palestinians, especially in Gaza.

The insults hurled today are “the arrogance of the aggressor” reflecting the impunity of the occupier, he said, explaining his delegation's position ahead of the vote on the draft resolution.

He also expressed hope that the international community will appropriately respond in that regard.

The Ambassador underscored that the resolution’s adoption will determine the widespread support for Palestine to be accorded full UN membership.

11:05 AM

Russia: A moral duty

The Assembly is now preparing to vote on the draft resolution.

Before that, some countries are exercising their right to make statements before the vote, starting with Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia.

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of the Russian Federation addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo

He is criticising the US, saying that the resolution is complicated because it is attempting to advance Palestinian membership as far as possible without provoking another veto from Washington on full membership.

He said Palestine deserves nothing less than full membership at the UN. 

“It is the moral duty of everyone," he said.

"Only full-fledged membership will allow Palestine to stand alongside other members of the Organization and enjoy the rights that this status implies."

10:55 AM

Israel: Extra benefits for Palestine would appease terrorists

Israel’s Ambassador Gilad Erdan said that after Hitler’s rise to power, the Nazis had sought to annihilate the Jewish people and all those they deemed sub-human, but the forces of good fought to return peace to the world, and the UN was founded to ensure that such tyranny never raised its head again.

Ambassador Gilad Erdan of Israel shreds the UN Charter at the podium of the General Assembly.
UN Photo

“Today, you are doing the opposite…welcoming a terror State into its ranks,” he said. 

“You have opened up the United Nations to modern-day Naziism. It makes me sick.”

The terrorist group Hamas controls Gaza and has taken over areas of the West Bank, he said, holding up a poster showing Hamas’s leader, who he described as “a terrorist diplomat whose stated goal is Jewish genocide”.

“Today, you have a choice between weakness and fighting terror,” he said, adding that the UN is appeasing “murderous dictators” and destroying the UN Charter. “This day will go down in infamy.”

In closing, he held up a mini portable electric document shredder and inserted the cover of the UN Charter.

10:48 AM

Palestinian flag ‘flies high and proud’

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the observer State of Palestine, recounted the devastating impacts of the ongoing war in Gaza, with over 35,000 Palestinians killed, a further 80,000 injured and over two million displaced.

“No words can capture what such loss and trauma signify for Palestinians, their families, their communities and for our nation as whole,” he said.

He added that the Palestinians in Gaza have been pushed to the “very edge” of the Strip “to the very brink of life” with “bombs and bullets haunting them”.

Mr. Mansour highlighted that despite the attacks and destruction, the flag of Palestine “flies high and proud” in Palestine and across the globe, becoming a “symbol raised by all those who believe in freedom and its just rule”.

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

‘Lives cannot be restored’

“It is true that we will not disappear, but the lives lost cannot be restored,” he stated.

The Permanent Observer said people have to make a decision: stand by the right of a nation to live in freedom and dignity on its ancestral land, standing with peace and recognising the rights of Palestinians or they can stand on the sidelines of history.

Mr. Mansour said after holding observer status for 50 years, “we wish from all those who invoke the UN Charter to abide by the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination guaranteed by the Charter.”

“A ‘yes’ vote is a vote for Palestinian existence; it is not against any State, but it is against attempts to deprive us of our State,” he added, stating that it would be an investment in peace and empowering the forces of peace.

10:29 AM

Security Council must heed global call for Palestinian statehood: UAE

On behalf of the Arab Group, Mohamed Issa Hamad Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, introduced the draft resolution, saying it recommends that the Security Council reconsider Palestine’s full UN membership application.

“Today marks a defining moment,” he said.

Ambassador Mohamed Issa Abushahab of the United Arab Emirates addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

The State of Palestine has demonstrated that it deserves full membership in the international community by acceding to international treaties, adhering to the UN Charter and meeting requirements of statehood. In addition, more than 140 countries now recognise Palestine as a State, he said.

Voting for the resolution amid the ongoing conflict would support the two-State solution to the crisis, he said, adding that the Security Council must respond to the will of the international community.

Vote to take place at 11:00 AM

After delivering his statement, the UAE Ambassador called on the Assembly to vote on the draft at 11:00 AM New York time.

Members agreed to do so and would afterwards resume the debate.

10:17 AM

Middle East on course for ‘full-scale catastrophe’, warns Francis

Mr. Francis said from the podium of the Assembly Hall that the Israel-Palestine crisis was the original crisis before the world body when it was founded in 1946.

Peace has remained elusive, and today has become an untenable situation that is deteriorating "at an alarming speed", he told delegates.

General Assembly President Dennis Francis addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

This is “bringing countless innocent victims into its deadly fold and pushing the region further to the brink of full-scale catastrophe”.

He urged the international community to not look away from the dire situation that has unfolded since the  7 October terror attacks and the ensuing Israeli devastation of Gaza.

End the scourge of war

“Today, let us remember the legacy from which we hail. We stand proudly upon the shoulders of those who, many decades ago, recognised their ultimate responsibility to forge a peace that will banish the scourge and terror of war,” he urged.

“I therefore call upon the membership to purposely assess the situation before us, with nothing else in mind but a commitment to peace as our utmost ambition,” he said.

He called upon the parties to the conflict, supported by nations with leverage, to urgently come to an agreement on a ceasefire to bring to an end to the suffering of countless people and secure the release of all hostages.

“We must believe in the essential goodness of others," he said, and "in the understanding that no problem of human relations is insoluble", calling on them to help bring lasting peace, save lives and end the violence.

10:14 AM

He’s inviting the Assembly to recognise the fact that some members are in arrears with their mandatory contributions. If you don't pay up, you lose your vote. Those are the rules. But, there are exceptions that have been made, including today. 

10:12 AM

The President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis has just gavelled in the resumed session on the Gaza crisis.

09:55 AM

Aid operations have come to a standstill since the start of the military’s ground operation in Rafah this week, with an estimated 100,000 Palestinians displaced once again in a highly fluid situation, according to humanitarians.

UNRWA
Smoke rises above Rafah as bombardments continue.
UNRWA

The Assembly is also expected to vote on a draft resolution, co-sponsored by a group of countries, concerning the status of the observer State of Palestine at the United Nations.

Read our explainer on Palestine’s status at the UN here.

The draft resolution follows the veto cast by United States at the Security Council on 18 April, which blocked Palestine’s admission as a full UN Member State. That draft resolution, submitted by non-permanent Council member Algeria, had received 12 votes in favour, with Switzerland and the United Kingdom abstaining.

Draft resolution on Palestine

The draft resolution expected to be put to a vote at the 193-member General Assembly, where no nations have veto power, would have the world body “recommend” that the Security Council reconsider the matter of Palestine’s membership favourably in line with Article 4 of the UN Charter concerning membership and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1948.

A revised version of the draft resolution, as of Thursday evening in New York, also included an annex, which on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent, lists significant changes to the State of Palestine’s status at General Assembly meetings and conferences, including its order in the list of speakers and seating arrangements.

These would not just be of symbolic importance, but signal a shift in Palestine’s diplomatic heft within the entire UN system. That said, General Assembly will not grant Palestinian membership in the UN, since this requires a recommendation from the Security Council.

No voting rights

The draft resolution also notes that as an observer State, Palestine does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or to put forward its candidature to UN organs such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council.

If adopted, the resolution’s provisions would only apply from the start of the 79th session of the General Assembly, which gets underway in mid-September 2024.

Draft resolutions do not represent the official position of the General Assembly until they are formally adopted.

Once the resolution is voted on, the whole issue of Palestine’s status will return to the 15-member Security Council for further consideration, where any effort to attain full membership is likely to be blocked again by the United States, which holds veto power alongside the organ’s other permanent members – China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom.

The majority of the General Assembly will have had their say, however, amid the continuing crisis.

10th Emergency Special Session

The meeting is the continuation of the 10th Emergency Special Session (ESS), which last convened on 12 December 2023, against the backdrop of a worsening crisis in Gaza.  

At that meeting in a resolution passed overwhelmingly, the Assembly demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The Assembly also decided to adjourn the session temporarily and authorised the President of the General Assembly to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.

The 10th ESS convened for the first time in April 1997 following a request from Qatar. It followed a series of Security Council and General Assembly meetings regarding the Israeli decision to build a large housing project in an area of East Jerusalem.

Learn more about these emergency special sessions from our explainer here.

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Gaza: As exodus from Rafah continues, UN urges reopening of aid lines

UN News / Ziad Taleb Displaced persons build new tents in Al-Mawasi area in central Gaza.
INTERNATIONAL, 10 May 2024, Peace and Security - With no let-up in the Israeli military operation in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah into Friday, UN humanitarians issued renewed calls for a ceasefire as “the only hope” to avert further bloodshed and restore desperately needed aid deliveries.
“As Israeli Forces bombardment intensifies in Rafah, forced displacement continues,” said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in a post on X. “Around 110,000 people have now fled Rafah looking for safety. But, nowhere is safe in the Gaza Strip and living conditions are atrocious. The only hope is an immediate ceasefire.”

In addition to the immediate threat of ongoing military action, UN aid agencies have warned with increasing urgency since Israeli tanks rolled into the Rafah border crossing on Monday that the humanitarian operation across the enclave has been crippled.

"Impossibly, again, it will worsen if humanitarian operations are not revived in the next 48 hours,” said UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Senior Emergency Coordinator in the Gaza Strip, Hamish Young.

UN under attack 

In a related development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned a new attack by protesters on an UNRWA facility in Jerusalem.

“I condemn the recent attack on @UNRWA's Headquarters in East Jerusalem. Targeting aid workers and humanitarian assets is unacceptable, and must stop,” the UN chief said in a post on X.

His comments underscored those of UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on Thursday who reported that Israeli residents had “set fire twice to the perimeter” of the agency’s headquarters, marking the second time UNRWA had been targeted in a week amid weeks of demonstrations.

Uprooted again

Back in Gaza, the latest images from Rafah provided by UNRWA showed a steady stream of people leaving the east of the city with cars, motorbikes and donkey carts laden with their belongings in response to evacuation orders from the Israeli military.

Most of those displaced are seeking safety in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah. But, these areas lack the basic services required to support civilians who need food, shelter and healthcare, aid teams maintain.

Roads to the coastal zone of Al Mawasi, where Gazans have been instructed to move to, “are jammed”, said UNICEF’s Mr. Young. Speaking from Rafah via video-link to journalists in Geneva, he described desperate scenes as families were uprooted once again, with “many hundreds of trucks, buses, cars and donkey carts loaded with people and possessions” continuing to stream out of the southern city.

“People I speak with tell me they are exhausted, terrified and know life in Al Mawasi will, again, impossibly be harder,” he said. “Families lack proper sanitation facilities, drinking water and shelter. People are making improvised toilets by digging holes in the ground around groups of tents. Open defecation is on the rise.”

"One of the fathers told me he had nothing other than bad options to choose from. And as he was telling me where he was going, he started sobbing. Then his children starting crying and then started asking me what to do. It’s just a tragic situation and there’s just nowhere safe in Gaza for children.” 

Griffiths call

"Civilians in Gaza are being starved and killed...This is Gaza today,” said the UN’s top aid official, Martin Griffiths.

In a social media post on X, he warned late Thursday that for days, “nothing and no one had been allowed in or out of Gaza.”

The closure of Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in southern Gaza – the main entry points for critically needed aid food, water, fuel and medical supplies – “means no aid”, Mr. Griffiths continued.

“Our supplies are stuck. Our teams are stuck,” he said, a message echoed by aid teams whose assessment missions have been cancelled because of a lack of fuel. 

Meanwhile, civilians have faced and repeatedly fled intense and daily bombardment and clashes “and we are prevented from helping them”, the emergency relief chief insisted.

Aid stores too dangerous to access

At the same time, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that its main warehouse in Gaza was now out of reach. 

“Our main warehouse is now inaccessible. No aid has entered from southern crossings in two days,” said WFP Palestine Country Director ad interim Matthew Hollingworth on X late Thursday. 

“Thousands of people are on the move. Only one bakery is still working. Supplies of food and fuel in Gaza will only last one to three days. Without them, our operations will go into standstill.” 

Hospital services critical

The outlook is equally dire for the enclave’s remaining medical facilities, warned the UN World Health Organization (WHO), which said that “without fuel, the whole system collapses”.

WHO is responsible for fuel deliveries to all hospitals in Gaza, but it has had to suspend missions to the north so that those in the south can stay open, said spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris.

“All the things that a hospital does, all the lifesaving treatments no longer can be done, even if you’ve got somebody back from the brink, you’ve operated on them, you’ve put them on a ventilator, the ventilator stops, they no longer breathe.”

The following health facilities are scheduled to run out of fuel within the next 24 hours, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said, citing Gazan authorities: 

•        Five ministry of health-run hospitals

•        28 ambulances (14 Palestinian Red Crescent Society and 14 from the health ministry)

•        17 primary health care centers run by UNRWA and other partners

•        Five field hospitals

•        10 mobile clinics which provide immunizations, trauma care and malnutrition services and 23 medical facilities in Al Mawasi

From UNICEF, Executive Director Catherine Russell also warned that services for premature babies risk losing power unless fuel supplies reached Gaza. 

“We need fuel to move lifesaving supplies – medicine, treatments for malnutrition, tents and water pipes – as well as staff to reach children and families in need.”

Without fresh aid supplies, children and families face becoming dehydrated or will be forced to drink dangerous water, while sewage treatment centres “will overflow and spread disease further”. 

According to UNICEF, approximately 80 babies are born at Emirati hospital every day. But, it “cannot function” without fuel, insisted Mr. Young, who added that pregnant women “are left without options for safe delivery of their newborns. As we have seen in other parts of Gaza over the last seven months, when hospitals run out of fuel, lifesaving equipment such as ventilators and incubators stop working.”  

Rising toll

According to the Gazan health authorities, at least 34,900 people have been killed and well over 78,500 wounded during the Israeli bombardment and ground operation in Gaza since 7 October. 

Some 1,250 people were killed in Hamas-led terror attacks on southern Israel that sparked the war, with more than 250 taken hostage. Dozens are still being held.

Gaza crossings are ‘aid lifelines’: Rights chief

In a statement later on Friday UN Human Rights Chief (UNHCR) Volker Türk said he disapproved of any hostilities that impact the “entry and distribution of critically needed humanitarian aid” to Gaza.

“The handful of land crossings into Gaza serve as lifelines for the supply of food, medicine, fuel and other necessities that must be allowed to reach the despairing and terrified population,” Mr. Turk said.

He called on all warring parties to “lay down their weapons immediately” to ensure that crossings for civilians and necessary goods and aid will reach people in Gaza with no delay and without risk through military operations.

Donate to the humanitarian response in Gaza

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UN expert raises alarm over unfair treatment of pro-Palestinian student protesters in US

UN Photo/Evan Schneider Protesters demonstrate outside the Columbia University campus in New York City.
INTERNATIONAL, 10 May 2024, Human Rights - A UN independent human rights expert warned on Friday that the recent increase in student protest attacks across campuses in the United States indicates an “erosion of intellectual freedom and democratic principles within educational settings.”
“I am deeply troubled by the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, arrests, detentions, police violence, surveillance and disciplinary measures and sanctions against members of the educational community exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Farida Shaheed said, in a statement at the end of an official visit to the US.

The UN Human Rights Council-appointed expert said she is particularly concerned by the way protesters are unfairly treated based on their political viewpoint – specifically pro-Palestinian protestors.

Core constitutional commitment

While Ms. Shaheed was in the US, she visited Washington DC, Indiana and Colorado.

Her visit occurred simultaneously with US students setting up encampments on campus grounds to stand in solidarity with Palestinians, call for a ceasefire, and in many cases demand that university divest any assets linked to Israel.

She said, “These attacks signal a concerning erosion of intellectual freedom and democratic principles within educational settings.”

Ms. Shaheed is appealing to the US Government to reiterate its core commitment to freedom of speech by ensuring all students have unrestricted access to diverse ideas and perspectives.

Academic freedoms under threat

The Special Rapporteur also expressed concern about 307 policies and educational gag order bills introduced in the US since January 2021.

“These policies, manifested through book bans and restrictions on curricula, have instilled a pervasive ‘chilling effect’ that stifles the free exchange of ideas and silences marginalised voices,” she said.

Ms. Shaheed found that underfunding in the US educational system paved the way for other systemic issues including teacher shortages and student mental health support challenges.

These educational funding disparities are worsened by over reliance on local property taxes, harming marginalized and low-income neighbourhoods.

The rapporteur said, “Communities need to find a way to distribute funds more equitably between wealthier and poorer districts to end the cycle of deprivation and segregation.”

“I also urge the federal government to take decisive action to address disparities in educational funding,” she added.

Increased educational rights

The Special Rapporteur has called on federal and state authorities to acknowledge education as a human right while ensuring fair access for all students irrespective of background or identity, level of income, place of residence or any other personal circumstance.

Ms. Shaheed also mentioned that despite federal non-discrimination safeguards, school safety and police presence in schools in addition to standardised testing and students’ mental health, are all related but negatively affect people from marginalized and minority communities.

“It is crucial to remove police presence from schools and invest in qualified personnel such as counsellors and social workers to create a safe and nurturing learning environment,” Ms. Shaheed said.

“It is time to shift the narrative, prioritising holistic growth and social interaction skills over standardised testing results reducing students to mere numbers.”

Special Rapporteurs and other UN rights experts are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organisation. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

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In Nairobi, Guterres reiterates appeal for end to Gaza war

UNEP/Duncan Moore UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the media in Nairobi, Kenya on the margins of the UN Civil Society Conference.

INTERNATIONAL, 10 May 2024, Peace and Security - With the situation in Rafah “on a knife’s edge”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed again on Friday for Israeli and Hamas leaders “to demonstrate political courage and spare no effort” in reaching an agreement to end the war in Gaza and free all hostages. 

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, he warned that “the fate of Palestinians and the entire region hangs in the balance.” 

More than a million Palestinians are crowded into Rafah Governorate in southern Gaza as Israeli military operations continue throughout the area. Roughly 100,000 people have left and are moving north. 

“A massive ground attack in Rafah would lead to an epic humanitarian disaster and pull the plug on our efforts to support people as famine looms,” he said.

UN engagement continues 

The UN is actively engaging with all sides towards resuming the delivery of life-saving aid into the enclave, including desperately needed fuel, through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. 

Meanwhile, key medical facilities in Rafah could soon become inaccessible or inoperable, including the only dialysis department still operating in Gaza. At the same time, humanitarians in the south have no more tents or food stocks. 

Stressing that international humanitarian law in unequivocal, he said civilians must be protected, particularly vulnerable people unable to relocate from active fighting, such as pregnant women, children, the injured, the sick, and older people and those with disabilities. 

‘West Bank ‘repercussions’ 

As “what happens in Gaza has profound repercussions in the occupied West Bank,” the UN chief also noted the “deeply disturbing spike in settler violence, excessive use of force by the Israeli Defense Force, demolitions and evictions” in the territory. 

“All of this speaks to the need for the international community to speak with one voice for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and a massive surge in life-saving aid,” he said.

IOM and Kenya Red Cross organization, with generous contribution from Japan are supporting displaced people in Tana River, Kenya with shelter & essential household items.

IOM

IOM and Kenya Red Cross organization, with generous contribution from Japan are supporting displaced people in Tana River, Kenya with shelter & essential household items.

Solidarity with Kenya 

The Secretary-General was speaking to reporters in the Kenyan capital ahead of the closing of the UN Civil Society Conference held there this week.

Expressing solidarity with the people, he extended deepest condolences to those who have been affected by the devastating floods in the country and elsewhere in East Africa.

He said the UN will continue to support relief efforts by the Government. 

Concern for Sudan 

Mr. Guterres also addressed conflicts in Africa that are “tearing lives and communities apart”.

He voiced particular concern over the ongoing war in Sudan, where nine million people have fled their homes and starvation looms in Darfur.

Violent clashes in El Fasher are preventing aid from getting through, he said, and an attack on the city would be devastating for civilians. 

The UN chief was also very concerned by reports of escalating violence in North and South Kordofan and Al Jazirah States.

He urged all parties to abide by international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and facilitate full and unrestricted humanitarian access.

‘Get Sudan back on track’ 

“Ultimately, we know that there is no military solution to this conflict. We need an urgent, coordinated international effort to deliver a political process that can get Sudan back on track,” he said.

In this regard, he welcomed steps taken to end the conflict, including efforts by the East African bloc IGAD, the African Union, the League of Arab States, and through talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  

Participants gathering at the opening of the UN Civil Society Conference, which is being held at the UN Office in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9-10 May 2024.

UN Nairobi

Participants gathering at the opening of the UN Civil Society Conference, which is being held at the UN Office in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9-10 May 2024.

Salute to civil society 

The Secretary-General participated in the UN Civil Society Conference, which was held over the past two days and attracted some 1,500 participants.

In remarks to the closing ceremony, he thanked representatives for their work, noting that he has witnessed the enormous impact of civil society in every corner of the globe.

He also acknowledged that many of them work at great personal risk.

“Climate activists are being criminalised and persecuted; human rights defenders are threatened; and humanitarians killed,” he said.

Call for reform 

Mr. Guterres urged civil society to keep working with the UN to build a better world amid ongoing crises, including conflicts, climate chaos and threats to sustainable development.

While these challenges demand collective solutions, the current international system “is not up to the task”, he said, highlighting the need for reform, including of the “dysfunctional and unjust” international financial system.

“We need to reform and revitalise multilateralism so that it reflects the realities of today, and is fit to face the challenges ahead,” he said. 

Summit of the Future 

He pointed to the Summit of the Future, to be held at UN Headquarters in September, as “a key moment to drive forward our vision for a renewed multilateralism.” 

Among the aims are “turbocharging” sustainable development, unlocking finance for climate action and development, and driving progress towards reforming the international financial architecture. 

Other areas for action include considering future generations in decision-making today, closing digital divides, prioritizing conflict prevention, and working towards a nuclear-free world. 

“The Summit of the Future is a chance to push progress on the issues that matter to you – and to us,” he said.  “Together let’s seize this chance and make the Summit of the Future really count.” 

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‘Keep working with us to build a better world,’ Guterres says, as major UN civil society forum closes in Kenya

UN Photo/Duncan Moore Secretary-General António Guterres (at podium) addresses the closing of the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
INTERNATIONAL, 10 May 2024, UN Affairs - The first-ever UN civil society conference held in Africa wrapped up in Nairobi on Friday hearing calls for “bold and honest” conversations among governments and civil society to drive forward shared vision for reinvigorated multilateralism, a better world and a brighter future for all.
At the closing session of the 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference in the Kenyan capital, Secretary-General António Guterres and President William Ruto praised the efforts of civil society and underscored their “indispensable contributions.” 

In his address, Mr. Guterres said time and again he had witnessed the enormous impact of civil society in every corner of the world; easing suffering, pushing for peace and justice, standing for truth, and advancing gender equality and sustainable development, with many working at great personal risk. 

Pointing to current conflicts – the devastating civilian death toll in Gaza, the civil war raging in Sudan, and ongoing crises in the Sahel, Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions – he pledged: “We won’t give up in our ... push for peace, justice and human rights, and I know you won’t give up either. My best hope for the future is you.”

‘Keep working with us’

Mr. Guterres went on to stress that the involvement of civil society was crucial to tackling the many problems being faced by the world today, including when responding to crisis’, closing the digital divides, and revitalizing the collective approach to peace and security. 

“We need to be informed by your frontline know-how; We need your can-do attitude to overcome obstacles and find innovative solutions,” explained the UN chief, adding: “We need you to use your networks, knowledge and contacts to implement solutions, and to persuade governments to act. Your contributions have been indispensable, and I thank you.”

The Secretary-General invited civil society to bring their spirit to the so called ‘Action Days’ being held in connection with this September’s highly anticipated UN Summit of the Future and asked them to engage their governments to demand ambitious commitments at that event.

“Keep working with us to build a better world,” he concluded.

For his part, Kenyan President William Ruto outlined his government’s commitment in recognition of the civil society sector, noting that yesterday, it had moved to bring the Public Benefits Organization Act into law in the country.

The Act now consolidated the operations of civil society into one predictable legal regime, making it easier for civil society, including those from outside of Kenya, to operate. 

“We are determined to reinvigorate our development agenda by harnessing the organizing and advocacy power of civil society,” he said, but stressed that it was evident that significant work lay ahead. 

There is no room to lock others outside: “Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment to a strong partnership with an empowered civil society, to advance our pursuit of a sustainable, just and inclusive future.”

Attendees at the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, listening to addresses by the speakers.
UN Photo/Duncan Moore

 ‘Bold, honest conversations’ 

Over the past two days, the 2024 Civil Society Conference, held at the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), has seen more than 2,500 participants, from 110 participating in events. The Conference featured a host of briefings, interactive dialogues, and some 37 workshops, and 20 ImPACT coalitions. 

The Conference is being held ahead of the Summit of the Future, which will bring delegations from all over the globe to UN Headquarters in New York this September to agree a roadmap of bold multilateral actions aimed at ensuring a fairer, safer and more sustainable world now and for generations to come. 

Friday’s closing of the Civil Society Conference also heard from Mithika Mwenda, of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, who underscored that needed to be “boldness and honest conversations” to achieve the radical transformations needed to ensure sustainable development for all, poverty alleviation, and ultimately, an action-oriented Pact for the Future [one of the expected outcomes of the Summit]. 

Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN and Co-facilitator of the Global Digital Compact, delivering a statement on behalf of all the Co-facilitators, said the Conference had heard from a rich variety of voices, including from the youth, women and those from underrepresented regions from around the world. 

The Co-facilitators remained open to dialogue, to engage with civil society and to hear all the voices in the process, she added.

Conference Co-Chair Nudhara Yusuf said that over the past two days, civil society had made a “big statement” of what they expected from intergovernmental processes and what they could offer. If the Summit of the Future expected UN Member States to be ambitious, civil society must be willing to do the same.  

For her part, Co-Chair Carole Ageng’o said that at the close of the Conference, she was highly optimistic among others, considering the new partnerships that had been formed which opened space for all stakeholders to engage towards creating a more inclusive, sustainable and safe future for all.

Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General of Global Communications, who’s Department had organized the Conference, underlined that civil society ideas and voices had always been crucial for the world of the United Nation’s: from the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals, to delivering impact and setting the stage for the Summit of the Future. 

Solidarity was needed more today than ever before, said Ms. Flemming, and the Conference had set a powerful example in this regard. 

Find full coverage of today's events at the Conference here.

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