United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Ukraine late Wednesday for talks with Ukrainian officials. Photo courtesy of United Nations/Twitter
April 28 (UPI) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials on Thursday in Kyiv as he seeks to improve the humanitarian situation in the war-torn country. The U.N. chief landed in Kyiv late Wednesday after meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
"We will continue our work to expand humanitarian support & secure the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones," Guterres tweeted on landing in Ukraine. "The sooner this war ends, the better -- for the sake of Ukraine, Russia and the world."
Guterres had embarked upon the his Europe trip Monday, which began with a stop over in Turkey for talks with its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before heading to Moscow for talks with Putin, who agreed "in principle" to allow the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross to be involved in evacuating civilians from an iron and steel plant in the besieged southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
Russian attacks have targeted the Azovstal plant where resistant fighters and civilians have sought refuge. The ICRC over the weekend called for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to allow thousands of civilians and hundreds of wounded to evacuate from the city and the plant.
Fahan Haq, deputy spokesman for Guterres, told reporters during a press briefing Wednesday that the U.N. held follow-up conversations about those evacuations efforts with officials in Moscow and Kyiv, specifically about developing an operational framework for that effort.
"Speed is of the essence," he said, adding they have put people on the ground to in preparation.
"Ultimately, what we want is to make sure a cease-fire would be respected that would allow us to move people safely," he said.
The evacuations, however, depend on the outcome of discussions with both parties, he added.
Guterres' trip to Ukraine comes as the country's defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, warned of "extremely difficult weeks ahead."
"The enemy is fully aware of its strategic defeat, but will still try to harm us as much as possible," he said in a post on Facebook. "Unfortunately, we will still lose members of our armed forces because we achieve victory. There will still be destruction and painful casualties."
Ahead of the trip Haq had told reporters that Guterres believed that there was a "real opportunity" to achieve either a cease-fire or concrete improvements in the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine Feb. 24, resulting in nearly 2,800 civilians killed and more than 5.3 million forced to flee the country, according to U.N. data. UPI
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi arrived in Uganda on Wednesday afternoon for a three-day official visit.
He was received at Entebbe International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo and other Ugandan officials.
Mr Nyusi received a 21-gun salute on arrival at the airport and will hold bilateral talks with his host President Yoweri Museveni in the afternoon.
President Nyusi and President Museveni are set to hold discussions on strengthening historical ties, and political, economic, social and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Mozambique and Uganda have enjoyed good relations of friendship, solidarity, cooperation and camaraderie since the national liberation struggle stemming from the 1970s during the days of Frelimo, as the country fought for independence.
According to President Yoweri Museveni, 28 of the soldiers who formed the Front for National Salvation, which later became the National Resistance Army before it became the Uganda People’s Defence Force, were trained at Montepuez, the second largest city in the province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique.
Only four—Gen. Yoweri Museveni, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, Gen. Ivan Koreta and Brig. Bosco Omure—out of this team are still alive.
The same group comprised of a number of trainees, such as the late Fred Rwigyema, the founder of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, a group that later fought and captured power in 1994 in Rwanda.
In 2018, President Nyusi hosted Museveni in Maputo for official talks during a three-day visit, during which a general cooperation agreement on defence, tourism, diplomacy and trade was inked.
During that visit, Museveni said the Ugandan army had its roots in Mozambique.
The Mozambique Presidency says both Heads of State will assess the stage of bilateral cooperation, with emphasis on the decisions taken during Museveni’s last State visit to Mozambique.
Mozambique exports to Uganda mainly sea food, cashew nuts, sugar and coal, while Kampala exports maize, beans, timber, fruits, beef, and coffee to Maputo. - NELSON NATURINDA, The EastAfrican, Additional reporting by Arnaldo Vieira
UNMISS has strongly condemned the violations committed by armed youth from Koch and Mayendit counties, located in neighouring Unity state, which have forced thousands to flee to safety.
Between 17 February and 7 April, some 72 civilians were killed, at least 11 injured, and 64 cases of sexual violence recorded, according to UNMISS human rights teams, which have conducted 10 verification missions to the area.
Ensure justice for victims
Two survivors reported that they were repeatedly raped and gang-raped after they came out of hiding to find food for their children. Another woman who had recently given birth recounted that she was raped and severely beaten for three days.
“I am strongly appalled by these horrific attacks on civilians in Leer. We must all do everything we can to ensure that victims and survivors get the justice they deserve and receive the care and support they need,” said Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and head of UNMISS.
Displacement and looting
Initial reports from Leer county, located in Upper Nile state, indicate that some 40,000 people have fled the violence, with thousands reportedly crossing the Nile to Fangak, a community in Jonglei state.
Thousands of cattle were raided during the attacks, while homes, humanitarian facilities and warehouses were looted and burned to the ground.
Meanwhile, the wet season has already begun, along with risks of floods, making conditions dangerous for thousands of displaced families. UNMISS is also investigating violence in Mayendit and Koch counties, including Mirmir Payam.
The Mission has deployed additional peacekeepers to conduct regular patrols, including night patrols in Leer town, to avert further loss of life.
Authorities urged to act
While UN ‘blue helmets’ are providing protection to displaced people, and the humanitarians serving them, UNMISS emphasized that civilian protection “is first and foremost the responsibility of the Government.”
The Mission has welcomed initial steps taken by the authorities, including the formation of an investigation committee and the deployment of troops to restore security.
UNMISS is engaging with leadership at the capital and state level to mitigate violence. Civil affairs teams are also meeting with communities to conduct focus group discussions in conflict-affected areas.
“The Mission urges national and local authorities to take immediate measures to reduce tensions and prevent further escalations and retaliatory attacks,” said Mr. Haysom.
“Impunity on violations of human rights must end and perpetrators held accountable for these horrible crimes.”
Women plead for peace
Relatedly, women in South Sudan have been pleading for peace, the top UN humanitarian official in the country said on Monday, following a visit to Unity and Upper Nile states from 22-23 April.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Sara Beysolow Nyanti led a high-level delegation to the state capitals, Bentiu and Malakal, respectively, to assess needs on the ground and to meet with people affected by ongoing violence and natural disasters.
Displaced women spoke of how insecurity, rape, and lack of livelihood opportunities and education are impacting their lives, stating “this is not the life we chose”.
Violence and tensions
Ms. Nyanti also condemned the ongoing violence in Leer county, and conflict tensions across the country, in the strongest terms.
The surge in fighting this month has resulted in widespread devastation, she added, with numerous people reported killed and wounded, women abducted and raped, homes burned, and properties looted.
“These atrocities happened at the time when humanitarians are responding to mitigate suffering as a result of rains and standing water from the 2021 floods as well as preparedness activities to mitigate the impact of the oncoming rains and projected flooding,” she said.
'Tragic loss of life'
Innocent civilians have been killed in the violence, and the Humanitarian Coordinator mourned the loss of a staff member with the international non-governmental organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) killed in Leer earlier this month while trying to flee an attack on his community.
“This tragic loss of life of those who commit to save other people’s lives is unacceptable,” she said.
Ms. Nyanti called on “armed actors” to respect international humanitarian law and to immediately cease targeting civilians, women and humanitarian personnel and their assets.
“Continuation of violence hampers the delivery of humanitarian services to the most vulnerable, especially women, children, elderly and disabled people, and deteriorates further their already dire situation. It increases the number of those in dire need of humanitarian assistance, and we do not have the funds to reach those already in need,” she said.
This year, some 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people in South Sudan will need urgent life-saving assistance and protection. A $1.7 billion humanitarian response plan for the country is currently only around eight per cent funded. - United Nations
Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.
To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854. If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.
We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.
