Since the outbreak of the conflict, tens of thousands have lost their lives, many more have been wounded, and millions displaced within Ukraine and outside its borders.

“We must remember that behind every number lies a mother, a father, a child, a grandparent. To turn a blind eye would be an affront to the memory of those who have already perished,” Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, told the meeting of Member States.

He added that while the Security Council has failed to adopt a resolution related to the conflict, the General Assembly, “resolute and active, has not let the international community become numb to this war.”

Nuclear rhetoric must be stopped

At the meeting, held under Agenda Item 59, on the situation in the temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Mr. Kőrösi underlined that the nuclear rhetoric must stop.

Amidst the crisis, the threat of a nuclear catastrophe continues to loom large, with Europe’s largest nuclear power plant located in an active conflict zone, posing grave, imminent danger far beyond the region, he said.  

“I must repeat what I have said before: nuclear arms will not solve a conflict. We cannot play with a nuclear Armageddon,” the Assembly President stressed.

He appealed to Russia and Russian leaders’ sense of responsibility: “you have the power to end it. And, as one of the most influential decision-makers in the world, you can do it – if you want to.”

War and development

President Kőrösi also highlighted that the fighting is deeply connected to the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs), threatening the “very prospect” of a sustainable future.

“How can we expect to effectively address food and energy insecurity, climate change, water security, and biodiversity loss when conflicts have ripple effects across the globe?”

Simply put, he continued, the war is fundamentally unreconcilable with the pursuit of the 17 Goals, “the ones we hope to secure humanity’s survival.”

Vulnerable pay the price

Mr. Kőrösi also underlined the importance of the Black Sea Initiative, which ensured food for hundreds of millions worldwide, and which expired just a day ago, after Russia withdrew from the instrument.

“I implore all parties to come together in dialogue and diplomacy to restart negotiations, for it is always the most vulnerable who suffer the consequences. Let them not pay the price of political games”, he urged.

Attack on Ukrainian port condemned

Meanwhile, just hours after the termination of the Initiative, the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, one of the country’s main ports for exporting grain, came under attack. The port’s infrastructure was reportedly damaged.

Denise Brown, Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, condemned the assault and said that civilian infrastructure, which is key for food security globally, appears to have been targeted.

Civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected under international humanitarian law, she stressed.

Earlier on Monday, a key bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimea region, was also apparently targeted, reportedly killing a couple and injuring a child with them who were travelling on the Russian-built structure that’s a key supply route for the Russian war effort.

Overall, more than 2.6 million people have been internally displaced since the start of the conflict on 15 April.

Meanwhile, more than 730,000 people have fled Sudan for neighbouring countries, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Top UN officials visit refugee camp

On Tuesday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the head of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, visited a camp in eastern Chad that has taken in Sudanese refugees.

Ms.  Mohammed said she was inspired by the courage of those who had fled there, many of whom were women and children, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York.

“She said that she also heard stories of unimaginable suffering in Sudan and enormous needs in Chad,” he added. “More international support is needed for refugees and their host communities, she said.”

UN support continues

Back in Sudan, humanitarians continue to provide relief to civilians.  

In North Darfur, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) and partners are supporting water trucking to gathering sites for internally displaced people, as well as healthcare facilities. They have also constructed more than two dozen latrines.  

Mr. Dujarric said UN health agency WHO is working closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other partners in states sheltering internally displaced people to provide essential, reproductive, sexual, maternal and pediatric care.    

On Monday, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners managed to deliver life-saving supplies, including 3,000 reproductive health kits, to six hospitals in Khartoum state.

He said UNFPA is committed to reaching all women and girls in need in Sudan with urgent health and protection services.  

This reduction in aid comes at a time when Haiti is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, with almost half of its population, approximately 4.9 million people, unable to access sufficient food.

Further cuts possible

“It’s tragic being unable to reach some of the most vulnerable Haitians this month. These cuts could not come at a worse time, as Haitians face a multi-layered humanitarian crisis, their lives and livelihoods upended by violence, insecurity, economic turmoil and climate shocks”, said Jean-Martin Bauer, WFP Country Director for Haiti.

“Unless we receive immediate funding, further devastating cuts cannot be ruled out.”

In various regions, similar crises arising from reduced funding have led to significant cuts in emergency aid provision. In West Africa, the number of individuals receiving crucial assistance from the WFP has been reduced from 11.6 million to around 6.2 million. 

And in Syria, instead of providing aid to 5.5 million people, that figure has been reduced to three million who are being prioritised. In Jordan, approximately 50,000 out of 465,000 refugees will see their support cut, the agency has reported. 

Severe shortfall

WFP’s response plan in Haiti for the first half of 2023 is only 16 per cent funded, leaving a shortfall of $121 million needed to sustain vital humanitarian assistance until the end of the year. 

In the first half of 2023, WFP was able to provide 450,000 school children in Haiti with a hot meal. For many, it is their only full meal of the day. However, without additional funds, almost half of these children will lose access to school meals when they return to class after the summer break.

“We are proud of what we’ve been able to achieve so far in 2023, thanks to support from our donors. We have the people, the plan, and the capacity to continue, but at this point, without immediate funding, we’re forced to make cuts which mean thousands of the most vulnerable Haitians won’t receive assistance this year,” said Mr. Bauer.

“This isn’t the time to cut back. It’s the time to step up. We can’t let Haitians down when they need us the most.” 

Following weeks of negotiations, the UN-brokered accord that facilitated the export of more than 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to global markets via three Black Sea ports expired on 17 July.  

“Today’s decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere,” said Mr. Guterres, speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York.

Developing countries to suffer

The Black Sea initiative was agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye and the UN in Istanbul last July along with a parallel accord between the UN and Russia on grain and fertilizer exports from that country.

By its decision, Russia has also withdrawn security guarantees for ships navigating in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.  

“Ultimately, participation in these agreements is a choice.  But struggling people everywhere and developing countries don’t have a choice,” Mr. Guterres said.

‘Beacon of hope’

The grain initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding with Russia were “a lifeline for global food security and a beacon of hope in a troubled world,” he said.

“At a time when the production and availability of food is being disrupted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more, these agreements have helped to reduce food prices by over 23 per cent since March last year,” he added.

He noted that the World Food Programme (WFP) shipped 725,000 tons to support humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen, relieving hunger in some of the world’s hardest hit regions.

Attempt to keep deal alive

Mr. Guterres said he was aware of obstacles that remained in the foreign trade of Russian food and fertilizer products and that he had written to President Vladimir Putin with a new proposal to keep the Black Sea Initiative alive.

Quoting extensively from the letter, he noted that since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, and measures adopted by the Government, Russia’s grain trade had achieved high export volumes and fertilizer markets were stabilizing, with Russian exports nearing full recovery.

The letter also outlined UN action to facilitate trade amid sanctions against Russia, such as securing licenses from the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, and providing clarifications and guidance to the private sector.  

The Secretary-General’s letter also explained how the UN has worked to find “dedicated solutions” across the banking and private sectors, which included building a “bespoke payments mechanism” for the Russian Agricultural Bank outside the SWIFT international banking network.

Moscow had lighted that SWIFT access by the bank was a key factor influencing its decisions, according to the letter.

Mr. Guterres said he was deeply disappointed that his proposal went unheeded.  

UN efforts continue

Though lamenting the Russian decision, the Secretary-General was adamant that it would not stop efforts to get food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and Russia to international markets.

Mr. Guterres said he will remain focused on the goal of advancing global food security and global food price stability, “taking into account the rise in human suffering that will inevitably result from today’s decision.”

Assembly President’s appeal

Responding to the collapse of the landmark deal, UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi reiterated his call for the parties to return to dialogue.

“The challenges are complex, they are interconnected, but they are not insurmountable. It is not too late,” according to a statement issued by his Spokesperson.

Mr.  Kőrösi deeply regretted Moscow’s decision to withdraw from the Initiative which he said “has provided a lifeline to millions of people hit hard by the global food security crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine.”

He also called for an end to the conflict, in line with international law and the UN Charter.