Protection of civilians in armed conflict: Guterres never mentions Ukrainian victims during UNSC speech

The top official devoted a significant part of his speech to the need to protect civilians in Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Syria, and also focused in detail on the importance of implementing the Black Sea initiative and the memorandum of understanding on the promotion of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets, as reported by Ukrinform's own correspondent in New York,

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine has contributed to the rise in the price of food, energy and fertilizer globally, with terrible effects for the world's poorest," he said, without mentioning multiple civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, all caused by the Russian war.

Speaking about the important role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the protection of the civilian population, Guterres also failed to mention the destruction of ICRC warehouses in Odesa region by Russian forces and the numerous strikes targeting humanitarian convoys.

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council, chaired by Switzerland this month, is holding an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Photo: EPA