STATEMENT BY
MR. ALAN E. GEORGE
MINISTER COUNSELLOR
Thank you, Madame President.
I thank Mr. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, for his briefing.
We also note the information provided by Mr. George Szamuely, Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute.
I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine in this meeting.
Sierra Leone takes note of the differing perspectives presented on the supply of arms with respect to the conflict in Ukraine, including those supply of weapons having the potential to prolong and escalate the level of violence in the conflict, potentially leading to a state of attrition and those that may be in breach of Security Council resolutions.
At the outset, Sierra Leone reiterates its principled position that all transfers of weapons in conflict situations should occur within the applicable international legal framework and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and include pre-transfer risk assessments and end-user verification to prevent diversion of arms and ammunition.
Madam President,
Sierra Leone is deeply concerned about the continuing toll of the conflict on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has verified that conflict-related violence has resulted in about 37,000 civilian casualties, including over 12,000 deaths and about 25,000 injured since the conflict began on 24 February 2022. In September alone, over 1,400 deaths and injuries were verified, the highest number since the start of the conflict.
OCHA has reported that the humanitarian situation in Ukraine worsened in August and September, due to intensified attacks in the northeast, east and south. Homes, hospitals and schools have been damaged, in addition to the disruption of other essential services, including water and electricity. Entire neighborhoods and villages have been decimated, leaving millions displaced internally and in other countries. It is estimated that roughly 40 percent of Ukraine’s population, need some form of humanitarian assistance.
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.
Damage to energy infrastructure is expected to exacerbate the challenges civilians will face in the coming winter, which is forecasted to be the toughest for Ukrainians since February 2022. Sierra Leone is deeply concerned over this development as Ukraine approaches its third winter since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
The alarming civilian casualty figures and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as verified by HRMMU and OCHA, 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.
The impact of this conflict also includes its adverse effects on the global economy, development and the environment. Prices of wheat, maize, edible oils and fertilizers have risen exponentially over the past three years from reduced agricultural production, and disruptions in supply chain including reduced activity in major ports and other means of transportation in Ukraine. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also estimates that the conflict has resulted in increased release of toxic materials into the air including greenhouse gas emissions, damaged ecosystems and biodiversity loss, soil pollution and landmine contamination.
Madam President,
It is clear that a military solution to the conflict is not feasible. The international community, including this Council, must therefore remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting dialogue and diplomacy as the primary tools for de-escalating tensions and paving the way for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
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.
In closing, Sierra Leone calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, and genuine diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict, taking into account the legitimate concerns of all parties involved.
I thank you.
