BY
H.E. MR. AMARA S. SOWA
AMBASSADOR AND DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. President,
Thank you for convening this meeting at the request of the delegations of Ecuador and France.
I thank Acting Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Joyce Msuya for her briefing.
Sierra Leone is deeply concerned about the escalating security situation and the deteriorating humanitarian situation relating to the conflict in Ukraine. The conflict has been ongoing for two and a half years with seemingly no end in sight.
In recent months the conflict has escalated drastically, and the battlefield has expanded as both Russia and Ukraine have reportedly intensified its offensives.
From the Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU) report of 9 August 2024, Sierra Leone notes an alarming increase in civilian casualties since March this year, with July being the deadliest month with at least 219 civilians killed and 1,018 injured. The number of civilian casualties, particularly in Ukraine for August are similarly alarming, with at least 184 civilians killed and 856 injured.
Ukraine’s emergency service has reported that Russia carried out the deadliest single attack of this year on the east central Ukrainian town of Poltava on Tuesday 3 September 2024, with 328 people injured and 55 dead reported from the ongoing rescue operation.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported on Wednesday that the “precision strike” in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava had targeted a Ukrainian armed forces’ centre where foreign instructors trained communications, electronic warfare specialists and drone operators.
Sierra Leone takes note of Ukraine’s letter of Wednesday 4 September 2024, reporting of major attacks carried out that same day in the western city of Lviv, and in the central city of Kryvyi Rih, which also resulted in civilian injuries and deaths, including children. The attacks also reportedly resulted in significant damage to civilian infrastructures such as schools/educational facilities, medical institutions, stores, and at least seven local architectural monuments – all buildings located in the city’s historic area and UNESCO buffer zone, which aims to protect World Heritage property.
Earlier today, Russian officials reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on populated areas in Moscow, resulting in one death and damage to housing facilities. The attack resulted in the closure of three of Moscow’s four airports for several hours and diversion of almost 50 flights.
Sierra Leone reiterates that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law. We call on all sides to ensure compliance with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law.
Mr. President,
Sierra Leone is deeply concerned about the immense impact of the conflict on civilians. This is more so the case in Ukraine. According to HRMMU reports relentless attacks on front-line oblasts and urban centres across Ukraine continue to destroy homes, hospitals, schools, railway infrastructure and energy facilities. Entire neighborhoods and villages have been destroyed. A major children’s hospital in Kyiv was recently attacked. It is recorded that 35,160 civilian casualties, including 11,520 deaths have occurred and more than 20,000 injured since the conflict began on 24 February 2022.
According to OCHA flash update on 6 September 2024, intensive attacks and shifts in the front line have resulted in the closure of basic public services, forcing millions of people to flee high-risk locations in Donetska Oblast, separating families and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Reported attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March 2024 have drastically reduced the country’s electricity capacity, leading to daily power cuts for millions of people across Ukraine. These outages, often lasting many hours, limit access to water, mobile networks and internet, and public transportation, and disrupt children’s ability to study, as many in Ukraine attend school remotely. Vulnerable groups, especially older people and persons with disabilities, have been particularly affected by these disruptions in essential services. Sierra Leone is deeply concerned over this development as Ukraine approaches its third winter since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
We note that to address the winter-specific needs, the humanitarian community launched the 2024-2025 Winter Response Plan, appealing for US$492.1 million to support 1.8 million people with critical winter-related humanitarian assistance as outlined in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. This Plan intends to support timely preparedness and response.
Only 28% of the 2024 humanitarian appeal had been received as of the end of June, a significant funding shortfall. Sierra Leone calls upon the international community to support this plan to address the pressing needs of the people, enhance living conditions, and ensure access to essential services.
Mr. President,
The attacks on nuclear energy infrastructure over the past two months pose serious security threats not only for Ukraine and Russia, but for the entire region. We note comments by IAEA chief Grossi on his recent trip to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, warning against further attacks on the plant which could further destabilize it, resulting in a nuclear disaster. We urge both parties to the conflict to refrain from launching attacks on nuclear power plants in both Ukraine and Russia.
The alarming civilian casualty figures and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine underscores the urgent need for all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and refrain from further escalation and pursuit of the option of winning the war on the battlefield at all costs.
Dialogue and diplomacy should be the primary tools employed to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The international community, including this Council, must remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting the pursuit of a just and sustainable peace.
Sierra Leone once more calls for good faith diplomatic efforts in pursuit of a peaceful resolution involving the parties to the conflict. Meaningful steps must be taken towards the immediate de-escalation and cessation of the hostilities. We urge Parties to the conflict to engage constructively, including on their legitimate concerns, to find a political and diplomatic solution as envisaged in article 33 of the UN Charter.
I thank you.
