In his video messages Before the meeting of some 40 country representatives in Lugano, the Secretary-General highlighted the tragic human impact of the conflict, as well as the long-term challenges that lie ahead:
“Russia’s war in Ukraine has claimed thousands of lives and forced millions to evacuate,” the UN chief said. Millions of Ukrainians have lost their livelihoods and are at risk of falling into poverty. The damage and destruction to homes, schools and hospitals will take years to rebuild…It’s been a long road, but it has to start now. “
In addition to the UN, international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank attended the meeting.
On the agenda, projects promote climate protection, a digital economy and diversification of energy sources.
FAO supports Ukrainian farmers
Development to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) make a bid to help Ukrainian farmers save their summer harvest later this month.
The US$17 million project funded by Japan also aims to support grain exports to unnamed “alternative” international markets, while strengthening food security for countries dependent on imports. grain, vegetable oil and other commodities from Ukraine.
It involves restoring Ukraine’s grain silos, and also ensuring that the country’s farmers have the tools they need to work in the future, the FAO said in a statement.
“Ukrainian farmers are feeding themselves, their communities and millions of others around the world. Ensuring they can continue to produce, safely store and access alternative markets to sell their produce is important to ensuring food availabilitysafeguard livelihoods, enhance food security in Ukraine and ensure other import-dependent countries have a stable and sufficient supply of grain at manageable costs”, said Rein Paulsen, Director FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience.
Highlights of the Human Rights Council
A large number of civilian casualties and massive destruction of civilian infrastructure by the Russian military – and on a much smaller scale by the Ukrainian armed forces – are non-compliance with the Humanitarian Law. Internationally, the UN human rights chief said Michelle Bacheletin a report presented Tuesday at Dong Nhan Quyen Association in Geneva.
The report examines the human rights situation in Ukraine from the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 to May 15.
The findings are based on information gathered by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine during 11 field visits, visits to three detention facilities and 517 interviews with victims and witnesses of human abuses. rights, as well as other sources of information.
© UNDP / Oleksandr Ratushniak
Destroyed apartment buildings after shelling in the Obolon district, in Kyiv, Ukraine.
No access to occupied territory
“Although we have not yet been granted access to the territory occupied by the Russian armed forces, we are aware of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) that all breached by the parties, and we remain fully committed to monitoring the human rights situation throughout Ukraine“, UN High Commissioner said.
As of July 3, OHCHR More than 10,000 civilians were killed or injured across Ukraine, with 335 children out of 4,889 recorded as killed. However, the actual figure could be much higher.
“Most civilian casualties were recorded from the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas“, Ms. Bachelet said “The shelling from heavy artillery, such as a variety of rocket launchers, missiles and air strikes, including weapons that can carry cluster munitions, has been used many times.
The mass displacement of the civilian population – which includes more than 8 million people in the country – has had disproportionate effects on women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
“Concerns persist about extrajudicial killings, including summary executions,” Mrs. Bachelet said. “A growing body of evidence provides my Office with reasonable grounds to believe that the Russian armed forces have seriously violated International Humanitarian Law in this regard.”
OHCHR is working to corroborate more than 300 allegations of murders by the Russian armed forces in situations that do not involve active combat.
