UN Peacekeeping Police Strengthen Election Security Worldwide – Briefing | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

“United Nations Police advisers and mentors are critical to the planning of public order management during electoral cycles,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations said.

Addressing the Security Council about the police components of UN peace operations, Lacroix said, “United Nations Police play a crucial role in supporting political processes, strengthening host-State police and other law enforcement institutions, and helping increase trust between communities and the host State.”

Also addressing the Council, UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, said, “Mis and disinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted our missions, complicating our engagement with communities and eroding trust with host State institutions. In response, the United Nations Police has expanded its community outreach mechanisms, enhanced cooperation with mission strategic communications teams, and strengthened local dialogue platforms to reinforce confidence in our presence.”

Police Commissioner of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mamouna Ouédraogo said, “Protection of civilians remains central to our mandate. Through daily engagement with communities, traditional leaders, civil society, and police counterparts, UNPOL contributes to enhancing early warning, preventing violence, and strengthening community trust in security institutions. Special emphasis is placed on displacement-affected areas, where insecurity exposes civilians, especially women and children.”

Police Commissioner with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Meinolf Schlotmann said, “The political and security environment remains volatile underscoring the importance of an agile, integrated Peacekeeping Mission with unrestricted freedom of movement under the Status of Forces Agreement. Within this context, UNPOL’s approach is to protect today, while helping build a police service that can protect tomorrow.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qSpnYBtlzE

‘Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe’ In #Sudan’s El-Fasher

Source: United Nations (video statements)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, gave an update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan. As the brutal Sudan war shows no signs of ending, Mr. Türk called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop more mass killings and other flagrant war crimes against civilians.

Rival militaries from the national army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have been battling for control of the country for nearly three years.

Something must be done to address the ‘continuous inflow of weapons’, the High Commissioner for Human Rights insisted, after recounting testimonies of survivors of atrocity crimes in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, by the RSF who overran the city last October.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UpM4NpYKCH0

Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the West Bank

Source: United Nations (video statements)

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the reported decision of the Israeli security cabinet to authorize a series of administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank. He warns that the current trajectory on the ground, including this decision, is eroding the prospect for the two-State solution.

He reiterates that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law, including relevant United Nations resolutions.

Such actions, including Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are not only destabilizing but – as recalled by the International Court of Justice – unlawful.

The Secretary-General calls on Israel to reverse these measures and on all parties to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U11c_9t618o

Palestine, Syria, Yemen & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (9 February 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
West Bank
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Syria
Yemen
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Western Sahara
South Sudan
Sudan
Madagascar
Haiti
Cuba
Ukraine
Cyprus
Honour Roll

WEST BANK

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the reported decision of the Israeli security cabinet to authorize a series of administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank. He warns that the current trajectory on the ground, including this decision, is eroding the prospect for the two-State solution.

He reiterates that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law, including​ relevant United Nations resolutions.

Such actions, including Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are not only destabilizing but – as recalled by the International Court of Justice – unlawful.

The Secretary-General calls on Israel to reverse these measures and on all parties to preserve the only path to lasting peace, a negotiated two-State solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the UN and partners continue serving hundreds of thousands of meals every day, as well as digital cash and monthly rations, despite persistent impediments. 

Also last week, food security partners completed the distribution of animal feed to more than 2,000 herders and farmers over nine days.

Meanwhile, our colleagues leading on water, hygiene and sanitation say that Gaza city continues to face a severe shortage of drinking and domestic water. This is despite a recent reopening of the valve on the Gaza city Mekorot supply line from Israel. Only 6,000 cubic metres are reaching people in the city every day, with significant water losses in hard-to-reach areas. To mitigate this shortfall, the UN and our partners have increased water production and trucked deliveries from groundwater wells and private sector desalination plants. 

Since late last month, our partners have distributed over 100,000 water jerry cans, over 700,000 bars of soap, over 25,000 hygiene kits, over 400 household latrines, and 250 anti-lice kits across Gaza. 

Mine action partners say that, over a week and by last Wednesday, they had conducted over 200 assessments of potential explosive hazards in support of debris removal. That’s in addition to support they provide to secure humanitarian movements and operations. Last week, they also reached over 10,000 children and adults with explosive ordnance risk education. They note this remains a major risk as 33 explosive ordnance incidents have been reported since the ceasefire came into force in October 2025, resulting in nine deaths and 65 injuries. 

OCHA adds that restrictions, including limitations on the entry of items listed as “dual use” or non-humanitarian continue to hamper the humanitarian response.

Such items include spare parts and certain shelter materials. Also undermining humanitarian operations is the de-registration of some international NGOs and restrictions imposed on UNRWA and other UN agencies. 

SYRIA

OCHA says that fighting has subsided in Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh and Raqqa following the agreement announced on January 30th. As of February 3rd, nearly 160,000 people are still displaced.

While there has been some improvement in humanitarian access, there are still major challenges. Electricity outages continue to disrupt water systems, telecommunications are intermittent, food supply chains are constrained, and schools are still suspended in many areas.

Between 25 January and 5 February, our partners facilitated ten inter-agency convoys to Qamishli and Ain al-Arab/Kobani, delivering 154 trucks of life-saving assistance. In total, our partners have reached more than 190,000 people across 83 communities with food, medicine, fuel, winter items and other essential support.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall between Saturday and today has caused severe flooding across parts of Idleb and northern Latakia, affecting more than 5,000 displaced people. Some 1,800 tents were partially damaged and 150 destroyed. Flooding also forced the closure of a local hospital, with patients evacuated and mobile medical teams deployed. Authorities have opened collective shelters and prepared additional housing for families who need it. Our partners are relocating families, repairing shelters and delivering assistance.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-09

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkEm_neameQ

Microhaplotypes Analyzed by Massively Parallel Sequencing Are Valuable Forensic Tools

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is a free and open meeting where attendees learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of 17 videos recorded at the 2018 symposium.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 18, 2018.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVkadrUbC1Y

Record Linkage of CODIS Profiles with SNP Genotypes

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is a free and open meeting where attendees learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of 17 videos recorded at the 2018 symposium.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 18, 2018.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIlJILW2PQ