Ukraine war: Attacks on civilians and infrastructure must stop, head of disarmament tells Security Council

Briefing on Russia’s request on “the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine and their consequences”, Izumi Nakamitsu reminded the ambassadors that she had solve the problem in september.

Risk of redirection

United Nations disarmament issues (UNODA) chief repeated what she said at the time, that a large-scale flow of weapons into any war zone, “causes many concerns for peace and security,” including “the risk of transferring direction as well as the possibility of spillover and escalation.”

She said that the transfer of weapons and munitions systems by countries to Ukraine for use by the country’s defense forces against Russian attacks is a well-recognized matter.

Ms. Nakamitsu added that there have also been “widely and independently verified reports of the transfer of large conventional weapons systems to non-State groups involved in the conflict against Ukraine, including even artillery missile systems.”

Arm control

She said what happens to weapons systems in the period after gunfire is also a big issue, crucial to any successful and lasting peace deal.

“Measures against potential diversion of arms and ammunition, will be key to post-conflict recovery, ensuring regional security and stability, as well as the potential for conflict in other regions. .”

Transparency and accountability

It is equally important to protect and account for all military equipment transferred, she said. She pointed in United Nations Register of Conventional Weapons as a primary instrument, alongside the Arms Trade Treaty.

She said all member states should follow these policy approaches and use available tools, for the sake of transparency, so that weapons do not disappear on the black market.

civil suffering

In addition to facts and figures, she appeals to all fighters in Ukraine and everywhere else, to fulfill their duty to protect civilians from weapons of war.

More than 17,000 Ukrainians have been killed or injured, she said, “and the number is constantly increasing”, most of them killed by explosive weapons.

Russia’s attacks on a wide range of civilian infrastructure, including the energy grid as winter approaches, bring “a new dimension to the humanitarian crisis, leaving millions in distress risk”.

International humanitarian law is clear, she said: “Militants must not directly attack civilians or civilian infrastructure and must take all possible precautions when conducting military operations. measures to avoid, or at least minimize, loss of life, civilian injury and damage. for civilian subjects.”

Devastation in towns and cities

Citing the adoption of a Political Declaration last month on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from Humanitarian Consequences Arising from Use Explosive weapons in densely populated areasSigned by more than 80 countries, the head of UNODA said it was a “major milestone in our efforts to better protect civilians”, calling on all countries to join.

“The past nine months have seen tremendous devastation – largely the result of heavy conventional weapons use. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.”

Stop redirecting weapons

Finally, she called on States to adopt effective arms control measures to address the risks associated with weapons disappearing, only to reappear elsewhere.

Preventing a diversion to other battlefields is essential, she stressed, “to avoid causing conflict and insecurity in the region and beyond.”