STATEMENT BY
MS. SONIA KARIM
DEPUTY POLITICAL COORDINATOR
Thank you, Madam President,
I also thank Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Mr. Miroslav Jenča, and OCHA Director, Ms. Edem Wosornu for their sobering briefings on the serious escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
Sierra Leone is alarmed by reports of continuous air strikes on heavily populated areas of Ukraine, including on June 17, when 440 drones and 30 missiles struck residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure in the capital city of Kviv, according to a letter addressed to the Council from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine. According to the letter, the attacks on Kviv and other regions in Ukraine have resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people and injured dozens.
The intensification of the conflict with the use of long-range missiles and loitering munitions in residential areas has had a devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has reported that at least 183 civilians were killed and 836 injured from Russian attacks in May, and this disturbing trend seems to be continuing into this month, with a reported launching over 1500 long-range weapons into Ukraine since June 6. Retaliatory attacks by Ukraine have also resulted in civilian deaths and injuries and infrastructural damage in Russia.
We urge all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure to prevent further harm and ensure the restoration of essential services for the well-being and stability of the civilian population.
Madam President,
Today, on World Refugee Day, we remember the millions of Ukrainian refugees scattered across Europe and other regions, who have lost their homes and livelihoods in this conflict. With millions of people requiring life-saving assistance, including food and clean water, there is an urgent need to resolve this conflict. We urge both parties to actively engage in good faith negotiations. Recent talks facilitated by the United States, which have resulted in the exchange of prisoners of war, are a positive confidence-building measure that can be built upon. The most recent exchange of POWs and remains of soldiers, numbering over 1000, are a sad reminder of the human cost of this conflict.
It is imperative that direct talks between the parties continue to address the possibility of an unconditional ceasefire, as the starting point for a just and lasting peace. As dire as the situation seems, we maintain hope that the willingness both parties have previously demonstrated will continue.
Sierra Leone remains committed to supporting efforts towards a diplomatic solution to this conflict, noting that there are opportunities for good faith negotiations on a ceasefire at this very juncture. We call for the full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and for the legitimate concerns of all parties to be taken into account.
In closing, Madam President, we reiterate our call for increased funding support for humanitarian aid responses for civilians caught up in this conflict. As this and other conflicts around the world intensify, so do the victims and the need for the life-saving support provided by UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations. Let us honor the bravery of humanitarian workers who work tirelessly for a just and peaceful world, with many paying the ultimate price, and restore the dignity and rights of civilians by agreeing to a peaceful resolution of this conflict.
I thank you.
