Abu Dhabi (Etihad)
The United Arab Emirates confirmed that civilians are paying the highest price for the war in Ukraine, stressing that the world is feeling the consequences of the war due to the high prices and low food supplies. The UAE delegate to the United Nations called on both sides of the conflict to commit to dialogue to stop the war.
During a Security Council session on developments in Ukraine, Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs, Permanent Representative of the State to the United Nations, said that civilians are always the ones who pay the biggest price, as the repercussions of the conflict, which has entered its third month, have exceeded many expectations Issued since the start of hostilities in February.
H.E. Lana Nusseibeh said: “UNHCR has currently estimated that more than 8 million Ukrainians may end up fleeing outside the country, which is twice the initial estimate, and the United Nations Development Program expects that the war will soon wipe out Ukraine’s development progress. In nearly two decades, in addition to the fact that we have not yet fully understood the repercussions of this war at the global level, despite the manifestation of some of the repercussions represented by the rise in food prices, and the disruption of supply chains and global economic systems, on which we all depend to achieve stability and common development. .
“We continue to be deeply concerned by reports indicating the high number of civilian casualties and the continued destruction of civilian infrastructure,” she added, stressing that all parties must comply with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, which must include respect for the principles of international law. Basic international humanitarian law relating to necessity, proportionality and distinction.
Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh considered that the Security Council has established a framework to enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, including its unanimous adoption of Resolution 2573 regarding a year ago, which called on all parties to the armed conflict to take constant care to protect civilian objects, stressing that attacks once morest civilian infrastructure It would impede the provision of basic services to the civilian population, and cause horrific spillovers.
She said: “We appreciate the efforts made by international bodies to provide the necessary tools and mechanisms to activate this framework, and we call on all parties to participate in developing the urgently required solutions, especially to arrange safe and voluntary passage for individuals, and we see the recent progress made regarding the process of safe passage for individuals from Mariupol, which It was coordinated by the United Nations and the authorities in Russia and Ukraine, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross, and it is encouraging that we hope to build on it, but as we have previously emphasized, the development of initiatives such as the establishment of transit corridors does not deviate the parties from complying with their obligations to respect international humanitarian law.” .
The Permanent Representative of the country to the United Nations considered that the proposal of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, to form a humanitarian contact group, is a welcome starting point for implementing more measures that support the implementation of international humanitarian law, expressing her hope that more will be obtained regarding this proposal.
As the conflict continued, Her Excellency the Ambassador emphasized joining others in stressing the need to increase humanitarian aid inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries hosting refugees, noting that the UAE, as part of its continued support, sent a plane on April 28 carrying 30 tons of food supplies to support Ukrainian refugees. in Moldova, affirming the UAE’s commitment to continue working with international partners to support relief efforts.
She also stressed the need to take into account on a regular basis, gender, age and disability needs in the provision of humanitarian assistance, which would contribute to supporting recovery efforts in the long term.
At the conclusion of her speech, the Ambassador reiterated that the protection of civilians cannot be guaranteed without a cessation of hostilities and a diplomatic solution to this conflict, calling on both sides to continue their commitment to direct dialogue, despite the existing difficulties, and for the international community and this Council to work to create the appropriate conditions to stop the war urgently throughout Ukraine, in order to achieve sustainable peace in Europe and to establish stability in the international system, where the alternative will be increasing polarization and the accompanying disintegration of international cooperation, and this will not be in the interest of any state either today or in the future, which requires a retreat from This war.
