In Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called today on that country’s military to stop all attacks on civilians and civilian objects. He said the unremitting violence inflicted on civilians underscores the need for the parties to commit to a genuine and permanent nationwide halt to hostilities.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the Day of Vesak, observed on 12 May:

In the Central African Republic, the Special Representative there welcomed the decision by the leaders of the two armed groups, Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) and UPC — Unité pour la Paix en Centrafrique — to rejoin the Political Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation, signed in 2019.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is deeply concerned by reports of clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition in Morobo and Yei Counties, Central Equatoria State, which have led to civilian displacement and casualties.

On 24 April, the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean celebrated a year of youth commitment to building a Latin America region free of armed violence through hosting a dedicated webinar on its “GenerAccion Paz” initiative.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Press Freedom Day, observed on 3 May:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that there’s been an increase in the number of vulnerable individuals among those deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, particularly women — including pregnant and lactating women.

In Somalia, flash floods have impacted nearly 30,000 people in different parts of the country. Authorities say at least four people have been killed in the past week. Humanitarian officials note that the rains come after months of dry conditions that decimated water sources and grazing land.

In Ukraine, humanitarian officials there report that civilians continued to suffer the impact of hostilities over the Easter period. Authorities reported nearly 190 civilian casualties between 18 April and today. The most severe attack occurred in Kharkiv on Good Friday, injuring several people and damaging schools and homes.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that escalating violence continue to harm civilians there. In North Kivu province, partners estimate that more than 2,300 people fled clashes between armed groups in the Kibua area of Walikale Territory on 15 April.