HOLOCAUST
This morning, the Secretary-General paid tribute to Holocaust survivors at the General Assembly ceremony in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. He said that the rise of National Socialism in Germany 90 years ago was made possible by the indifference – if not connivance – of so many millions of people. Today, he warned, we can hear echoes of those same siren songs of hate.
The Secretary-General said that the painful truth is that antisemitism is everywhere. In fact, it is increasing in intensity, with survey after survey showing antisemitism at record highs. And what is true for antisemitism is true for other forms of hate, Mr. Guterres added.
He also said that he is issuing an urgent appeal to everyone with influence across the information ecosystem: to stop the hate. Set up guardrails. And enforce them. Many parts of the Internet are becoming toxic waste dumps for hate and vicious lies, he said.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, El-Ghassim Wane, the head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) briefed the Security Council. He discussed security in the country, the Mission’s ability to contribute to the improvement of the situation, as well as Mali’s critical year on the road back to constitutional order.
This afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., the Security Council will hold consultations on Afghanistan. Council members will hear from Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, and the Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari on the trip they undertook last week with the head of UN Women, Sima Bahous, to Afghanistan and a number of other countries.
After that, the Council will hold consultations on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine. Council members will receive an update from the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The UN condemns the new military offensive by the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and reiterates its call on the armed group to cease all hostilities and to withdraw from the occupied areas, in accordance with the decisions made at the mini-summit held in Luanda.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today noted that, according to initial reports from partners, some 90,000 people have been displaced by the clashes between Congolese forces and the M23 in and around Kitchanga, in North Kivu. Many of those displaced are seeking refuge in nearby Mweso, in schools, churches and with host families.
As more displaced people arrive in Mweso, humanitarian organizations are concerned about the spread of cholera there, following last month’s outbreak.
The clashes have also impeded road access, making it very difficult to deliver humanitarian aid. The UN peacekeeping Mission in the country is continuing to provide physical security and immediate assistance. That includes shelter, water and medical care, to about 500 Congolese civilians who are currently in and outside the UN base in Kitchanga.
The UN also reiterates the Secretary-General's call on all armed groups to lay down their weapons and join the national Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization programme.
HAITI
The UN team in Haiti has strongly condemned the targeted and deliberate attacks by members of armed gangs who have resulted in the deaths of several police officers on duty. The UN offers its condolences to the bereaved families and to the Haitian national police, and also calls on the authorities to do everything possible to identify the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and to prosecute them.
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