New York: Europe and the Arabs
A year and a half after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, a senior UN official said that "numbers alone tell a horrific story," citing an estimate that the total number of war dead has reached half a million, including civilians and military personnel on both sides. United Nations news, which we received a copy of on Friday morning

In her briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said there was no end in sight to the war waged by Russia in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law, which has brought "death, destruction and unimaginable suffering." for the Ukrainian people.

While the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified that at least 9,444 civilians were killed, including 545 children, in addition to nearly 17,000 wounded.

Ms. DiCarlo said that the successive strikes in several areas not only killed and injured the civilian population, but also the paramedics who rushed to their aid.

"These heinous attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and must be strongly condemned," she added.

threat to global food
The Under-Secretary-General also referred to the escalation of fighting after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative, while tensions and threats to freedom of navigation in the Black Sea increased.

It said Russia's "brutal and persistent attacks" had damaged grain export infrastructure at Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and Danube River, jeopardizing the export of much-needed food around the world.

She referred to the recent Russian attacks on facilities in Kherson, Izmail and Mykolaiv, as well as Odessa, which was the target yesterday of a drone attack that destroyed 13,000 tons of grain.

Ms. DiCarlo stressed that attacks targeting grain facilities could have far-reaching global consequences, and threaten to reverse progress made in enhancing food security over the past year. "This could be catastrophic for the 345 million people who are already severely food insecure around the world," she said.

She said that the Secretary-General continues to stress the importance of food and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine to global food security, and calls for the resumption of the Black Sea Initiative.

gloomy teacher
The UN official expressed concern about the potential impact on civilians due to the bombing of Russian border communities and drone attacks in the Russian hinterland, including on the capital, Moscow. It said attacks "against civilians and civilian infrastructure - wherever they occur - are indefensible and are strictly prohibited under international law."

As the "gloomy milestone" of 18 months since the war coincides with Ukraine's National Day, the Under-Secretary-General extended her congratulations to the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed the United Nations' unwavering commitment to the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

  She added that the international organization is committed to supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a just and sustainable peace for the war.

Ms. DiCarlo also called on donors to continue their support to ensure timely assistance, including during the harsh winter season in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Humanitarian Response Plan has received more than $1.7 billion - 44 percent of the amount requested through the end of 2023.