New York: The UN has expressed concern that 1.4 million people in Ukraine have fled the country due to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Transcript of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ speech at the UN Security Council meeting:
Russia does not appear to be giving up its war on Ukraine. Due to this war, the people of Ukraine have been facing untold sufferings and disasters for the past 7 months. The current state of this war is dangerous and heart-wrenching.
This pointless war could cause unimaginable and terrible harm to Ukraine and the world. The world, which had not contemplated nuclear war, is now debating it.
Reports of a referendum on which side people want to join in areas not currently controlled by the Ukrainian government have raised concerns. It is against the UN Charter for one country to seek to annex territory by another country through threats or force.
Approximately 5 children are killed or injured every day by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Almost all children in Ukraine are afraid of war. They are suffering from violence and family separation. 1.4 million people have left Ukraine so far. Most of them are women and children.
Many developing countries, which are already suffering due to the corona pandemic and climate change, are facing further damage due to this war. Women and children are the most affected.
The UN Commission on Human Rights has documented shocking documents about the intolerable human rights violations caused by this war. The documents are the height of brutality, with death sentences, sexual assaults, inhumane attacks against civilians and prisoners of war. Recent reports of bodies buried at Isium are of great concern.
All such crimes should be thoroughly investigated. The guilty must be punished. Infiltrators should be brought under fair and independent judicial investigation. End impunity for international crimes. All these crimes should be investigated by the International Criminal Court. Criminals should be held accountable.
The situation of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the middle of the war zone is causing great fear. The IAEA should ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant in consultation with all parties involved.
Thus he spoke.