Welcoming the Syrian interim authorities’ continued engagement to address chemical-weapons issues long left unresolved by that country’s previous Administration, the United Nations’ disarmament chief told the Security Council today that international support is needed to fully realize the elimination of Syria’s chemical-weapons programme.
In Ukraine, attacks across the country, which started last night and continued this morning, have reportedly killed over 45 civilians. The UN and humanitarian partners are providing immediate assistance in the impacted regions, including construction materials, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and psychological support.
In Sudan, five members of a UN humanitarian convoy were killed on 2 June and several more were injured during an attack in North Darfur. The joint World Food Programme-UNICEF convoy was made up of 15 trucks, and they had travelled over 1,800 kilometres from Port Sudan, and they were carrying nutrition supplies and food.
The security and humanitarian situations in Syria remain precarious, top UN officials told the Security Council today, urging an end to sectarian violence —particularly involving Alawite and Druze communities — and warning of a deepening economic crisis and financing shortfall that is preventing vital humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, yesterday and today, Israeli authorities granted access to Kerem Shalom so that UN teams could reach additional humanitarian supplies that crossed into the Strip on Monday and Tuesday.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN welcomes the transfer of over 1,300 disarmed Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and National Police personnel (PNC), along with their dependents, from the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) premises in Goma to Kinshasa.
In Haiti, the UN and its partners continue to support thousands of people who fled violence in the Centre Department in the first two weeks of April. More than 50,000 people who were uprooted by clashes in the department continue to live in informal sites or with host families, with limited access to essential services.
In Syria, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that more than 670,000 people have been displaced since November 2024, while over 1 million people have returned to their areas of origin. Meanwhile, the UN and its partners continue to deliver aid across the country despite reduced funding.
In Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called today on that country’s military to stop all attacks on civilians and civilian objects. He said the unremitting violence inflicted on civilians underscores the need for the parties to commit to a genuine and permanent nationwide halt to hostilities.
Four and half months after the fall of the Assad regime, the recently appointed head of the entity investigating violent crimes committed in Syria since the start of its civil war highlighted new hope that justice will be served.
