Security Council hears top concerns of displacement, global security and civilians in Ukraine |

Rosemary DiCarlo explains: “These are only verified numbers and the actual number could be significantly higher.

Movement

The war is also prompting large-scale displacement, which has displaced more than 6.9 million people internally to date.

The head of the peace building organization said: “Most of the newly evacuated people are from eastern and southern Ukraine, adding that the Ukrainian refugees recorded across Europe have crossed the border. past 7 million, up from 6.7 million “just two weeks ago”.

Ukrainian women, who make up half of these refugees, face significantly increased security risks, including sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

Against the backdrop of the international community’s inability to “stop this senseless war”, Ms. DiCarlo emphasized the importance of documenting its horrific consequences “as honestly and as accurately as possible.” “.

“Our responsibility is… to help prevent further escalation of the war and prevent other potentially violent conflicts,” she stressed.

UN is working

Meanwhile, the UN continues to address the major impact of the war on civilians.

The top political official noted that the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) is assessing the consequences of war on health, access to education, livelihoods, food security, general poverty levels, and human development. Results are expected in December.

At the same time, the UN’s large-scale humanitarian response operation has now reached 12.7 million people, and more than 560 humanitarian organizations are operating nationwide, all of which complement the work. of thousands of Ukrainian volunteers.

“The United Nations is actively seeking to ensure that protection and assistance is available in all regions of Ukraine,” she said, expressing concern about people living in areas that are not part of Ukraine. control of Ukraine.

Global impact

Turning to food and fertilizer shortages, Ms. DiCarlo expressed concern for countries that have been hit hard by climate change, drought or instability.

Ms. DiCarlo told the ambassadors that thousands of people in Somalia are dying in the historic drought.

On a brighter note, the Black Sea Grains Initiative continues to allow food exports from Ukraine.

Since August 1, 100 ships have left Ukrainian ports carrying more than 2,300,000 tons of grain across three continents, including 30% to low- and middle-income countries, said the political head. short.

Although world food prices remain high, this is helping to bring prices down, she said, citing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)FAO) report.

Zaporizhzhia and Olenivka

Ms. DiCarlo drew attention to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, recalling that during yesterday’s briefing, the Secretary-General and Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned of the dangers of continued military activity in and around the plant.

“De-militarization is the only answer to ensure the safety of this facility,” she stressed.

In the coming days, a fact-finding mission will be deployed to Olenivka to probe an incident on July 29 that resulted in the death of 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war and the injury of 75 to 130 others. .

“The mission must be able to conduct its work without any interference and have safe, secure and unregulated access to people,” said the peacebuilder. , location and evidence.

Obstacles to repatriation

Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, spoke by videoconference about the persistent allegations of forced displacement, deportation and so-called “filter camps” by Russia and local forces governing body.

As people fleeing danger often feel compelled to evacuate in any direction possible, regardless of their preferences, she told the Council that a significant number of documented civilian cases have been reported. moved to Russia.

Once there, they can move freely, but if they choose to return to Ukraine, they are not provided with the necessary support, so they cannot return home.

There are also credible allegations of forced transfers of unaccompanied children to Russian-occupied territory, or to the country itself.

“We are concerned that the Russian authorities have adopted a simple procedure to grant Russian citizenship to children without parental care and these children will be eligible to apply for citizenship,” Ms. Kehris said. adopted by Russian families.

“Moreover, we are particularly concerned that the announced plans of the Russian authorities to allow the movement of children from Ukraine to families in the Russian Federation do not appear to include steps for family reunification or in other ways ensuring respect for best practices. children’s preferences”.

Source of NGO Revival

IOM support is reaching affected communities across Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine.

‘War of choice’

Finally, she reiterated that the war in Ukraine is not only “devastating for that country but also jeopardizes regional and global stability”.

Just last week, 10th Summary Conference of the parties involved Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Unable to produce “a substantive outcome after consensus was blocked because of war-related issues,” she said, the failure was “just the latest example” of how conflict has affected influence international relations and cooperation.

“All wars are tragic, but none is better than the war of choice.”

Camp ‘filter’

UN Humanitarian Office, OHCHRverified that the Russian armed forces and groups subjected civilians to so-called “filtering” – a system of security checks and collection of personal data, including individuals who leave hostile regimes and those residing in or moving through Russian-controlled territory.

“According to credible reports received by OHCHR, this activity has resulted in numerous violations of human rights, including freedoms, human security and privacy,” said the senior UN official. said.

OHCHR was unsuccessful in reaching detainees after failing or failing to pass the ‘filter’ and they were taken to an ‘evacuator center’ in the area. Donetsk, close to the Russian border.

OHCHR is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and the wider region, paying particular attention to human rights violations, including human trafficking.

Ms. Kehris concluded by calling on Russia to “grant unobstructed and confidential access to our Office… to all detention facilities under their control, especially… where those who have undergoing ‘filtering’ being incarcerated”.