United Nations's video: Ukraine Yemen Peacekeeping Updates other topics - Daily Press Briefing 28 April 2022

Noon Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson of the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Ukraine - Yemen - Peacekeeping Updates - Central African Republic/Refugees - Philippines - Haiti - Colombia - Cambodia - Palestine/COVID-19 - International Days - Financial Contributions UKRAINE The Secretary-General met in the past hours in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Earlier, the Secretary-General visited the town of Borodianka and expressed his sadness upon seeing the destroyed buildings there. He added that, “The war is an absurdity in the 21st century. The war is evil. And when one sees these situations our heart, of course, stays with the victims.” He then visited the St. Andrew’s Church in Bucha, and he said after seeing the massacre site there, that it is important to have a thorough investigation and accountability. He expressed his support for the work of the International Criminal Court and appealed to the Russian Federation to cooperate with that Court. He also visited the destroyed Irpinsky Lipki residential complex in the town of Irpin and said that innocent civilians had been living in these buildings. Wherever there is a war, he said, the highest price is paid by civilians. YEMEN The Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, welcomes Ansar Allah’s release of the 12 detained foreign nationals from Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and the United Kingdom. He thanks Oman and Saudi Arabia for their efforts in that regard. He encourages the parties to continue their engagement with the Office of the Special Envoy to release all prisoners. PEACEKEEPING UPDATES In South Sudan, UN peacekeepers there recently wrapped up a fact-finding mission to the area of Magwi in Eastern Equatoria, as part of efforts to lower tensions between farmers and cattle herders over a lack of resources. Since February, skirmishes have led to the deaths and injury to dozens of civilians, as well as sexual violence and the displacement of some 20,000 people. The UN Mission, UN agencies and the Government have brought the feuding groups together for reconciliation and peace talks and to discuss how to improve basic services. The UN Mission will also help promote further talks between the local security forces and communities to reduce tensions and restore stability in the area. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN peacekeeping Mission has carried out a joint operation with the country’s armed forces to protect civilians and also to dislodge the CODECO armed group from the area of Sake, which is in the province of Ituri. As we have reported, people in this area of the DRC have faced attacks by this group in recent weeks. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=28%20April%202022