United Nations's video: Ukraine other topics - Daily Press Briefing 29 April 2022 United Nations

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: • Trip Announcement • Secretary-General/Ukraine • Jordan • Ukraine • Afghanistan • Central African Republic • Ethiopia • Security Council • Central and Western Mediterranean • China/COVID-19 • Environment • Holiday • Financial Contribution TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT On Saturday, the Secretary-General will begin a Ramadan solidarity visit to Senegal, Niger and Nigeria, during which he will also highlight the impact of the Ukraine war on the African continent. The Secretary-General will meet and share an Iftar dinner with President Macky Sall of Senegal, who assumed the Presidency of the African Union earlier this year. He will also take part in Eid celebrations with President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger and he is scheduled to meet President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. In the three countries, the Secretary-General will have meetings with senior government officials as well as civil society representatives, including women, youth groups and religious leaders. He will meet families deeply affected by violence and instability in the Sahel, including people internally displaced and refugees. Mr. Guterres will also see first-hand the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and will assess progress and challenges to the COVID-19 recovery. The Secretary-General began annual Ramadan solidarity visits when he was High Commissioner for Refugees, but the tradition was interrupted by the pandemic. This year, he will also use the visit to express his solidarity with victims of terrorism in the region. SECRETARY-GENERAL/UKRAINE The Secretary-General left Kyiv earlier today, and we shared yesterday afternoon the transcript of the press encounter he had with President Zelenskyy following their meeting. In his press remarks, the Secretary-General told the Ukrainian people that “the world sees you, hears you, and is in awe of your resilience and resolve.” He added that words of solidarity are not enough, and that he was in Ukraine to zero in on needs on the ground and scale up operations. He discussed our efforts to provide cash assistance to two million people by August and to expand food aid to reach six million people by June. And he added that as we keep pushing for a full-scale ceasefire, we will also keep striving for immediate practical steps to save lives and reduce human suffering, including through effective humanitarian corridors, local cessation of hostilities and safe passage for civilian and supply routes. Later, the Secretary-General met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal and they discussed the stepping up of UN humanitarian support to Ukraine. JORDAN The Secretary-General spoke by phone today to H.E. Mr. Ayman Safadi, the Foreign Minister of Jordan. They discussed the situation in Jerusalem, recognizing that it had improved. The Secretary-General called on all to do their utmost to ensure that calm continues, especially during the holy days. The Secretary-General reiterated the need to keep the status quo around the Holy Sites and to avoid any provocation. UKRAINE Also on Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration today appealed for $514 million to support its continued response to the humanitarian needs of war-affected people in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. IOM notes that since the start of the war, more than 7.7 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine and more than five million refugees and at least 233,000 third country nationals have sought safety across the border in neighbouring countries. The IOM Flash Appeal aims to reach more than eight million people in Ukraine and two million people who have fled the country. Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20April%202022