Bintou Keita published the message in an exclusive interview with UN News Only a few days after informing the Security advice On the situation in eastern DRC, expressing “compassion and empathy” for the population that has been suffering for a long time.

“We know that it is very difficult, and it is a daily difficulty,” she said, emphasizing the “resilience” of the Congolese people “despite all the sufferings”.

Current diplomatic efforts

For decades, armed groups have tormented the east, where large areas are now under the control of the M23 rebellious movement.

Ms. Keita, who also directs the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the DRC, Monuscohas highlighted the diplomatic efforts that are made, while noting that the gap is still “very wide” to translate them on the ground.

“Whether it is the United Nations, its own government authorities, but also the international community as a whole, all are determined so that we can find peace in the east of the DRC,” she said.

Regarding the so-called Washington and Doha peace process, she recalled that the DRC and Rwanda Foreign Ministers had signed the Washington agreement in the American capital on June 27.

Rwanda supports the M23, which has occupied parts of the provinces of northern and southern Kivu in the east of the DRC since the beginning of the year. Kigali’s government argues that it does not provide military support for the rebel group.

The Declaration of Doha Principles, establishing a framework for a permanent ceasefire, was signed on July 19 by the Congo River / M23 Alliance and the Congolese government under mediation by Qatar.

“We are not directly associated as Monusco in these conversations, although the agreement itself mentions Monusco and provides for a role for Monusco in the event of a ceasefire,” noted Ms. Keita.

However, the United Nations mission is preparing to be ready to observe the ceasefire when it is in place and to provide its expertise, in particular in terms of direct contact with communities and armed groups, to raise awareness among disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

On the question of women’s participation in peace processes, Ms. Keita recalled that the UN worked at the levels of the community, of the provinces, national and regional in the DRC. She said that the UN is working to train Congolese women in mediation in a local context so that they can have a voice in the peace processes.

M23 control areas

Meanwhile, Monusco implements his mandate to protect civilians in conflict zones in eastern DRC and peacekeepers are still deployed in three provinces in the region: North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.

In areas under M23 control, the mission has bases which “are places of refuge for those who feel in danger,” she said, representing “a form of direct protection”.

Ms. Keita underlined “another form of protection” for people who are hiding and who, for various reasons, cannot reach the basics of Monusco.

“We have telephone networks that allow us to be in contact with each other and we have the possibilities of ensuring that they can find themselves in a safe situation either by direct aid or by indirect aid with networks of associations and NGOs,” she said.

Monusco also monitors and documents human rights violations in areas under M23 control. The rebels captured the capital of northern Kivu, Goma, at the end of January this year, then took control of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu, on February 16.

Joint operations with the Congolese army in Ituri

In the province of Ituri, where other armed groups are active, Monusco has an “excellent relationship” with the Congolese armed forces, the FARDC, which results in “a good understanding of our role and our mandate” and in joint operations.

She also noted the presence of the Ugandan army, the UPDF, which is bilaterally deployed in the province, and praised the “best labor and coordination relations”.

In this context, the number of peace patrols has increased in Ituri.

“We have increasingly mobile bases,” said the UN envoy – an answer to the great mobility of the Armed Group of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), responsible for most murders in the region.

“To respond to their attacks, you must also be very mobile, and therefore the junction of efforts between the Congolese army and the United Nations strength and coordination with the UPDF allow us to do what is necessary.”

“We see a dangerous increase in emergency hunger levels, and our ability to respond is narrowed day by day,” said Ross Smith, Wfp Emergency director.

“Without urgent funding, Families already pushed to the edge will remain nothing at a time when they need it most. “”

4.4 million striking Somalians face a level of food insecurity in crisis or worse, the latest IPC index supported internationally, a global standard reported to measure hunger and malnutrition. This means that millions should use extreme lengths – such as selling essential livelihood assets – to obtain the calories they need.

Multiple crises both

The country’s hunger crisis takes place in a fragile and rapid context, where even the smallest shocks can have devastating consequences for families and communities, according to WFP.

This year, the effects made up of severe drought, conflicts and reduced humanitarian assistance quickly pushed the most vulnerable to food insecurity levels.

Somalia also suffers from an increase in displacement due to droughts. The communities affected with the scarcity of water and hunger have lost a lot of their cattle, the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Bureau (Ochha) in Somalia reported.

In the northern and east regions, less than 30% of the population has access to safe water.

Less funding, less assistance

Following funding discounts, the number of people who receive an emergency WFP assistance will drop from 1.1 million in August to only 350,000 next month; This makes food assistance essential available to less than 1 in 10 people.

Malnutrition is already alarming, with 1.8 million children in five malnutrition. WFP nutritional programs are also faced with discounts with only 180,000 children who still receive nutritional treatment.

The agency leads the largest humanitarian operation in Somalia, supporting more than 90% of the country’s food security response, but requires $ 98 million to maintain operations for 800,000 people throughout the lightened season, when food is less available, until March next year.

“The current level of response is much lower than what is necessary to meet growing needs,” warned Mr. Smith.

The country’s Russian invasion of the country began in February 2022 and “This year has experienced intense attacks along the front line and massive air strikes, largely in populated areas” he said THE Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“In some cities in front -line communities, almost all accommodation has been damaged or destroyed.”

In addition, on September 6, Russia would have launched the largest air attack in war, deployment of 823 ammunition across Ukraine during the night, including 810 long -range drones and 13 powerful missiles.

Save victims’ numbers

“The damage to Ukrainian civilians have increased sharply, with total victims in the first eight months of the year increasing by 40% compared to 2024. In July, we documented the greatest number of civilian victims in a month in more than three years,” he said.

The High Commissioner Office, OhchrDocused more than 50,000 civilians killed and injured, including more than 3,000 children, since the start of the war.

Continuous attacks against power plants, gas facilities, bridges, railways and other critical infrastructure, disrupt daily life and essential services, he said.

Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities, are the most affected and “the appearance of winter will only increase their living conditions”.

Although Russia has reported civilian victims at much lower levels, resulting from alleged Ukrainian forces attacks, the OHCHR has not been able to check the figures, he said.

Extrajudicial detentions and executions

Meanwhile, Russia has stopped a large number of Ukrainian civilians and military staff. Ohchr published a report last week which details the violations imposed on civilian detainees.

“In many cases, People living in an occupied territory were arbitrarily seized from the street and held for weeks, months, or even years. In a large number of cases, these detentions can constitute forced disappearances, ”said Türk.

Ohchr recorded 90 extrajudicial executions of Ukrainian civilians held by the Russian authorities, as well as by 38 death deaths resulting from torture, lack of medical care or bad conditions.

“Rooted” impunity in law

“We have also documented models of torture and systematic ill -treatment, including sexual violence, against Ukrainian civilian prisoners. My staff had already recorded these same violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war, “he said.

“Changes to the laws of the Russian Federation have rooted impunity For military staff, allowing executions, torture and extrajudicial ill -treatment to be unpunished. »»

The OHCHR also recorded cases of Ukrainian authorities torturing and mistreating detainees related to conflict, including cases of sexual violence, many of which were in 2022.

The head of the United Nations rights noted that the Ukrainian authorities have taken measures to strengthen the guarantees and improve the conditions of detention, but the responsibility is limited.

Deliberately deleted Ukrainian identity

“The Russian authorities continue to perpetuate generalized and systematic human rights violations against Ukrainian civilians in the territory they occupy in the south and east of the country,” he said.

“” Residents are facing increasing pressure to obtain Russian citizenship to access the basic services, or the intimidation of risks, the expulsion and the confiscation of their property. “”

Russian occupying authorities have also imposed their own school study program and introduces patriotic and military education. Surveillance and censorship have intensified, including on messaging and VPN applications. “These practices reflect a deliberate effort to remove Ukrainian dissent and identity,” he said.

The OHCHR teams continue to follow these developments closely, to collect evidence and to document alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

For the report, they conducted more than 400 interviews in 17 places of detention in all regions under Ukrainian control. For cases of the territory occupied by Russian, they conducted 216 interviews with released detainees.

Call on the parties

“I call the Federation of Russia to arrest all executions, torture, ill -treatment and extrajudicial sexual violence against civilian prisoners and prisoners of war, and to put an end to all practices of arbitrary and illegal detention,” said Türk.

He urged Russia to respect international law in territory under its control; ensure effective monitoring of all places of detention; and grant full access to independent monitors to civilian detainees.

“I exhort Ukraine to respect its obligations under international law in its treatment of prisoners, by protecting them from torture, ill-treatment and sexual violence,” he added.

Put an end to war

The Human Rights Head also called on all parties to conduct rapid, independent and effective surveys on all allegations of violations and to ensure the responsibility of the authors.

“This war must end. The human record on civilians, and on soldiers and their families, is amazing and heartbreaking, “he said.

“Recent reports that Russian military drones have been seen in neighboring countries of Ukraine remind us of the dangers that this war poses in the region and beyond. Every day, when violence continues, the risks of climbing and expansion increase. ”

Speaking of the enclave broken by the war in the middle of the Israeli military push in progress to take total control of Gaza City, Unicef Spokesperson James Elder described a short visit to a hospital where young people suffered or died wherever he looked at.

While we are talking to the surgeon there, she dies on the bed in front of us

A victim of the Al Aqsa hospital in Deir Al-Balah, Central Gaza, was Aya, six, injured by an air strike. “I really notice not only the injury, but the attention that the bobs in his hair, the care that a parent has given before the air strike,” he said. “While we are talking to the surgeon there, she dies on the bed in front of us. It’s 30 minutes in a hospital. ”

No space to move

In the same hospital, Mr. Elder said he saw three children “all slaughtered by quadcopters” – an attack drone with four propellers – in the midst of continuous reports according to which people continue to be injured while asking for help from controversial non -relief centers led by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

“” It is an area of ​​war, children on the ground, there is a boy who had been shot in GHF who was bleeding on the ground“” with others Wounded by shooting, bursts of shells or burns.

UNICEF spokesperson stressed that 1,000 infants have been killed in the past two years in Gaza since the terrorist attacks led by Hamas in Israel triggered the war. “” We do not know how many others have died of avoidable diseases“, He continued.

With only about 14 of the 36 Gaza hospitals still open and partially functional after almost two years of war, they are often “absolutely filled” by people who need help, said Elder.

Rescued, terrified

“I turn around and there is a little girl, Sham, who has just been drawn from the rubble; So, it is covered with this dust and this smoke with this terrified expression on her face, being held by an aunt or an uncle … Now Sham has no fracture or internal injury, [she] He was not told that his mother and sister were both killed in this attack. »»

By turning to Gaza City, the United Nations veteran stressed that several thousand people remain unable to leave, in the midst of the continuous Israeli evacuation orders who left children “shivering” and watching the sky “to follow the fire” of helicopters and quadcopters.

“” You have children without treasure that push the grandparents around the rubble, the amputated children struggle through the dust, the mothers wear exhausted children-their skin literally bleeds because of the gravity of the rashes“Continued Mr. Elder, before warning of” blind attacks continues in densely populated civil zones despite official declarations “.

Another assistant worker killed

On Thursday, the NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) confirmed the murder in Gaza of its fourteenth medical worker, the occupational therapist Omar Hayek, in an attack that also injured four of his colleagues in Deir Al-Balah.

Until September 13, he had worked in an MSF clinic in Gaza City before finally evacuating in the middle of “incessant attacks and forced displacement of Israeli forces”, maintained the NGO.

“People are afraid and rightly …” If you ask me now, can we do our job? ” I say no, of course, we cannot do our work in the North, “said Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The level of violence in Gaza is such that nowhere in security, including field hospitals, which offer no protection against wandering bullets, said Christian Cardon of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“We have had several opportunities for people injured, brought to hospital and during their treatment, injured again because of the wandering bullets arriving at the hospital“, He said, noting another type of this type on Thursday.