New York: Leaders convened in New York on Monday to address Haiti’s escalating security challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention. Kenyas President William Ruto, leading the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), remarked on the limited progress made since the deployment of police forces 15 months ago under UN Security Council approval. He highlighted achievements such as the restored functionality of the airport, the security of the presidential palace, and the reopening of vital access routes to Port-au-Prince. However, he stressed the necessity for immediate action, urging Member States to support a draft resolution with Panama to aid Haiti.
According to World Bank, Laurent Saint-Cyr, president of Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council, emphasized the indispensability of international support for the country. He expressed that Haiti cannot tackle the security crisis, exacerbated by transnational criminal networks, on its own. The Security Council is expected to make a decision soon regarding the future of international engagement in Haiti, where issues like hunger, displacement, and sexual violence are worsening alongside security concerns.
In Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva was briefed on the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion. Independent investigators from the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reported an alarming increase in civilian casualties due to relentless Russian attacks. Erik Møse, chair of the panel, described intensified attacks using long-range weapons and drones, which have targeted civilians and emergency services, causing numerous deaths and injuries.
In Sudan, the situation is deteriorating rapidly in El Fasher, North Darfur’s besieged capital. Reports from the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that between 17 and 19 September, over 7,500 individuals fled the Abu Shouk displacement camp and parts of El Fasher due to rising violence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and relief chief Tom Fletcher expressed urgent concerns over the escalating crisis, warning of famine conditions and the impact of a recent mosque attack that killed over 70 people, including at least 11 children.
The humanitarian response in Sudan has been severely affected by the violence, with operations in El Fasher suspended. The crisis is compounded by seasonal flooding and a cholera outbreak, with over 5,200 suspected cases and 250 deaths reported in South Darfur State since May. The UN and its partners have launched a cholera vaccination campaign targeting around 1.9 million people across Darfur.
In China, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, expressed deep concern over the jailing of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan. She was sentenced to an additional four years in prison on charges described as vague by the OHCHR, believed to stem from her social media activity. The UN rights office also raised concerns about her trial, which reportedly lacked independent observers.