Today's Edition
NEW YORK CITY (ALETIHAD)
His Excellency Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations (UN) in New York, delivered the UAE statement at the UN Security Council (UNSC) Meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security – Ukraine, emphasising the need for immediate action to protect civilians and stabilise the region.
Abushahab discussed the precarious conditions faced by Ukrainian civilians, especially with the arrival of winter and the escalation of attacks on vital infrastructure.
Of utmost concern was the vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy system, lacking excess capacity and spare equipment, crucial for providing essential services like electricity and heating, especially during the harsh winter months, he said.
The Ambassador highlighted the escalating military engagements in eastern Ukraine, leading to increased civilian displacement, posing a significant challenge, particularly for the elderly and disabled, expressing the UAE’s encouragement of all efforts to ensure their safety and provide them with assistance.
Moreover, the expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative exacerbated conflicts around the Black Sea region, Abushahab noted, adding that it negatively impacted Ukraine’s ability to export crucial food items like grains.
“Reduced food exports not only impact Ukraine, but also people around the world who rely upon the stable and affordable supply of food,” he said.
Drawing the links between conflict and hunger, the UAE stressed the importance of upholding international humanitarian law, specifically safeguarding civilian objects necessary for food production and distribution.
“The law is clear, and we call for all parties to conflict to fully adhere to it,” Abushahab said.
Abushahab explained that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was a practical mechanism to enable the protection of civilian objects required for food distribution and that it had a significant impact on global food security during the year it was in effect, enabling the export of nearly 33 million metric tonnes of Ukrainian grains and foodstuffs.
“While we regret its expiry, we note the subsequent establishment of the Black Sea Corridor, which has facilitated the export of Ukrainian food and goods through the Black Sea on over 150 ships. We also reiterate that civilian objects remain protected under international humanitarian law at all times, whether or not they are part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative or the Black Sea Corridor,” he added.
The UAE strongly encouraged discussions to re-establish a joint mechanism to ensure the protection of civilian ports, shipping and other necessary elements of food distribution and to potentially create momentum for broader diplomatic breakthroughs.
Emphasising the urgency for a sustainable end to the destructive impact of the conflict in Ukraine, the UAE called for a cessation of hostilities and a just, lasting peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in line with the UN Charter.
