Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Middle East
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Sudan
UN-GCC/Security Council
Stephen Lewis
Guinea-Bissau
International Days
Financial Contribution
MIDDLE EAST
Earlier this morning the Secretary-General spoke to you at the onset of the second month of the Middle East crisis, and he warned that we are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the whole Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe. He said that when the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe.
The spiral of death and destruction must stop, Mr. Guterres said, and diplomatic efforts deserve the space and support to succeed — anchored firmly in international law, including the Charter of these United Nations.
He said that he remains in close contact with the parties and is dispatching his Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, to the region to support these efforts.
Once again, he told the United States and Israel that it is high time to stop the war and told Iran to stop attacking their neighbours.
Also, Jean Arnault, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on the Middle East conflict and its consequences, is finalizing arrangements to travel to the region. He will visit countries affected by the conflict and meet with authorities there. He also plans to meet the facilitators of the diplomatic track to discuss ways and means for the UN to contribute to efforts to bring about a comprehensive and durable settlement to this conflict.
UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
Earlier today, in Lebanon, in Beirut, there was a solemn ceremony that took place at the Beirut International Airport to pay tribute to our three fallen peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). They are Corporal Farizal Rhomadon, Major Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan. All are from the Indonesian Armed Forces, and they lost their lives in two incidents. One on March 29th and another on March 30th. And they lost their lives while bravely implementing their mandate and peacekeeping duties as part of UNIFIL. The three peacekeepers were posthumously awarded the UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces medals in recognition of their dedicated service to UNIFIL’s mission in south Lebanon.
Meanwhile the picture on the ground remains concerning and bleak. UNIFIL reports continuing rocket fire towards Israel, and airstrikes and artillery shelling impacting several locations in southern Lebanon coming from Israel. The Israel Defense Forces have expanded their incursion into the area towards the west, with a tank and clashes seen in areas in Sector West, located about 12 kilometers north of the Blue Line.
The hostilities continue to endanger the peacekeepers. This morning one peacekeeper was wounded in the shoulder by a bullet at a UN position near Meiss Jebel in Sector East. UNIFIL immediately issued a stop-fire request. The peacekeeper received treatment in the positions on medical facility. The falling bullet likely originated from clashes between Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces in that area.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the peacekeepers demanded that the Israel Defense Forces remove an Israeli flag they have erected near a UN position in Kafer Kela that is in Sector East. The flag undermines the perception of UNIFIL’s impartiality and risks drawing fire toward peacekeepers amid the ongoing clashes that we are seeing. The UN reminds all actors again of all their obligation to avoid any action that could put the lives of peacekeepers at further risk.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight