YouSaid · the spoken record

Thomas-Greenfield

lines on the record: 1,605
first: 2021-05-27
most recent: 2023-12-22
sittings or episodes: 219
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing. I want to start by condemning in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks that occurred in Jerusalem last week. I echo Secretary Blinken in expressing our condolences to the families of the men who were killed and wish all those injured a speedy recovery. We stand with the Israeli people in the face of those heinous attacks. Let me be clear: there is no justification for violence that is directed at civilians. That includes the 15 November terrorist attack in a settlement that killed three Israelis and the violence committed by settlers in Hebron on 19 November. Anyone who commits a violent act, Israeli or Palestinian, must face equal justice. It must be clear that no individual or group is above the law.”
2022-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9203 (2022) · source
“I was there partly to announce additional humanitarian assistance to help Ukrainians during the cold winter ahead, and I made the announcement in front of a group of displaced women and children in a civilian building that had been hit by Russian munitions. What I saw that day was what we continue to see now — the strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people. No matter the cold and dark that Putin tries to inflict, Ukraine will continue to defend its freedom, sovereignty and democracy, and the United States and our allies will continue to stand with Ukraine in its time of need for as long as it takes.”
2022-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9202 (2022) · source
“Today we announced an additional $400 million to help Ukraine’s military resist Russian attacks. This perilous moment demands a concerted international response. We call on more nations to lend support to Ukraine in the form of the equipment and financial assistance necessary to repair and rebuild the energy grid, as well as air-defence capabilities to help Ukraine protect itself from Russia’s air strikes. Putin seems to think his campaign of brutality will weaken the Ukrainian people’s resolve, but he is once again gravely mistaken. The Ukrainian people will not be deterred. I saw that first-hand when I visited Kyiv earlier this month.”
2022-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9202 (2022) · source
“Just today, we have seen media reports and heard from the Under-Secretary-General that a Russian missile killed a two-day-old baby in a maternity hospital in southern Ukraine. We must clearly and unequivocally condemn violations of international law, including international humanitarian law. There must be a mechanism for accountability, and we must do everything in our power to support the Ukrainian people. That is why the United States has contributed more than $250 million in winterization-specific humanitarian assistance to help provide heating supplies, blankets, shelter, repair materials, generators, centres for internally displaced persons and other critical infrastructure sites. Yesterday we pledged an additional $4.5 billion to help Ukraine keep its schools, hospitals, utilities and emergency services running.”
2022-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9202 (2022) · source
“Russia’s attacks on infrastructure supporting the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants cast doubt on the seriousness with which it is engaging on the prospects of a protection zone around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. As we know, the impact of the war is being felt beyond Ukraine’s borders. After the latest barrage of missile attacks, many Moldovans have been left without power, and Russia’s war of aggression is making it harder for Ukraine to harvest, store and transport the grain products that so many Middle Eastern and African countries rely on. We cannot overstate the catastrophic scale and cruelty of those attacks, which are part of a sick pattern of abuse against the people of Ukraine. The Council has seen video images of the horrors of Russia’s war.”
2022-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9202 (2022) · source
“Even more families will be forced to flee their homes, hospitals will be unable to treat patients, and more children and elderly people, especially the sick and those with disabilities, will die. The most vulnerable will pay the heaviest price. Having struggled on the battlefield, Moscow is now adopting a cowardly and inhumane strategy that punishes Ukrainian men, women and children. Let us be clear — these attacks on critical infrastructure are a shameful escalation in Russia’s already brutal and unjustifiable war. They are so extensive that they have cut off external power transmissions to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Reliable off-site power is essential to the safe operation of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, and the loss of outside power increases the risk of a nuclear reactor accident, potentially including a radioactive release.”
2022-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9202 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo for her briefing and President Zelenskyy for joining us today. His powerful words laid out the devastating consequences of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and their unconscionable impact on civilians. It seems that Putin is determined to reduce Ukraine’s energy facilities to rubble. His purpose could not be more clear or cold-blooded — he is clearly weaponizing winter to inflict immense suffering on the Ukrainian people. He has decided that if he cannot seize Ukraine by force, he will try to freeze the country into submission. If he gets his way, millions of Ukrainians will be left without power, water or heat during the cold winter months.”
2022-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9202 (2022) · source
“I strongly encourage all of my colleagues in the Security Council to join us in firmly condemning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and taking action to curb its unlawful advances of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Let me be clear: the United States is committed to pursuing a diplomatic approach. As we have repeatedly stated, we are prepared to meet without preconditions. And I call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy. But it has continued to refuse to respond and has instead chosen to continue its reckless behaviour. The Council must respond instead.”
2022-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9197 (2022) · source
“I have been meeting with Member States across the United Nations to hear their ideas on Security Council reform, and I can say that when they talk about abuse of the veto, they are talking about cases exactly like this one. We will offer another opportunity for the Council to hold the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea accountable for its dangerous rhetoric and its destabilizing actions. The United States will be proposing a presidential statement to that end. The Council should be pursuing strong actions such as draft resolutions of the kind we brought to a vote in May (see S/PV.9048 and draft resolution S/2022/431). But as a step forward, we are prepared to take our colleagues up on their assertion that they would have considered a presidential statement following the 24 March ICBM launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
2022-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9197 (2022) · source
“It has conducted escalatory and destabilizing ballistic-missile launches without fear of a response or reprisal from the Council. As noted by the Under-Secretary-General, this is the tenth time that we have met without significant action. The reason is simple. Two veto-wielding members of the Council are enabling and emboldening the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. They have allowed the regime to launch this latest reckless missile test, which endangered the lives of Japanese civilians and needlessly raises tensions in the region. Those two members’ blatant obstructionism has put the North-East Asian region and the entire world at risk. It is simply impossible to be considered a responsible steward of nuclear weapons if one condones such behaviour.”
2022-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9197 (2022) · source
“Sixty- three times this year the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has shown an utter disregard for the safety and security of the region and a complete lack of respect for the Security Council. How many more missiles must be launched before we respond as a unified Council? The Secretary-General’s statement on Friday condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile and reiterated his call for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to immediately desist from taking any further provocative actions and fully comply with its international obligations under all the relevant Security Council resolutions. It is time that the Security Council made the same call as the Secretary-General. For too long, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has acted with impunity.”
2022-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9197 (2022) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s blatant, brazen 7 November launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It has been widely reported that the missile landed just 125 miles from Japan’s shores. That is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s eighth ICBM launch this year, one of an unprecedented 63 ballistic missiles in 2022. That is more than two-and-a-half times its previous annual record of 25. Sixty-three times this year the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has flagrantly violated Security Council resolutions and attempted to undermine the global non-proliferation regime.”
2022-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9197 (2022) · source
“In the long run, the only way to ensure that food supplies are not further affected is for Russia to withdraw its troops, stop the atrocities and end the war. But, in the meantime, we are grateful for the efforts of Türkiye and the United Nations in sustaining and expanding that life-saving Initiative. I sincerely hope that we can continue to strive, with Ukraine in the driver’s seat, towards a just and lasting peace.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“The Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped to stabilize food markets, with reports that prices have fallen to pre-war levels. Two thirds of the wheat exported under the Initiative went to the global South. But the deadline for renewing the deal is fast approaching. When I was in Kyiv, I visited a granary and heard that farmers need the deal to be extended so that they would have the confidence to plant their wheat and continue serving as a breadbasket for the developing world. I could hear the desperation in their voices, and I promised them that I would take their message back to the Security Council. Russia must extend that essential, life-saving arrangement. Russia must allow those ships to keep feeding the world. I call on our fellow Council members to make the same calls, with the same urgency, to keep the deal alive.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“There is one man sitting comfortably in Moscow who can put a stop to this brutal, horrific war right now, this second. But, until he does, we must address not only the scale of the humanitarian and human rights crisis unfolding in Ukraine, but also the continued spillover effects of this needless war. We should just look at the outsized harm done by Russia’s exacerbation of the global food security crisis. If Council members are looking for a practical way to lower tensions and help those in need, it would be by supporting and securing an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. According to the United Nation records, nearly 500 ships, carrying more than 10 million metric tons of grain and other food items, have departed under the Initiative. That is enough to feed tens of millions of people.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“She said simply that she wanted to see her best friend, whom she had not seen since the start of the war. And I have to say that I wondered if she would someday see her friend again. When I met with President Zelenskyy his message was simple. He seeks peace. He told me he seeks a just peace based on the United Nations Charter and its principles, which is what everyone in the Council is here to uphold and defend. We cannot say the same for Russia. As Secretary Blinken told the Council, “[i f Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends” (S/PV.9135, p.11). It is Ukrainian civilians who are in danger. It is Ukrainian civilians whose electricity grids were targeted and who are not sure how they will keep warm throughout the winter. It is Ukrainian civilians who are suffering.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“I felt that toll when I met with a humanitarian aid worker who was detained and tortured by Russian forces. She was so traumatized that she could only share a portion of the horrors she experienced, unable to put the rest into words. I felt that toll when I met a 10-year-old named Malina, who lived in a facility where displaced families were gathered to prepare for a bitterly cold winter, a facility that itself had once been hit and damaged by Russian missiles. I was there to announce more humanitarian funding from the United States in order to provide supplies and support, while Russia prepared to weaponize the winter. I made that announcement in the dark, during a blackout caused by Russian attacks. Afterward, I asked Malina what she would do when the war was over. I could tell that this was something that she had given some thought to.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“He seems to have decided that, if he cannot seize Ukraine by force, he will try to freeze the country into submission. It is hard to overstate how horrific these attacks are. When I was in Ukraine last week, I saw first-hand the tremendous suffering these kinds of attacks and this war has wrought on the Ukrainian people, and on Europe more broadly. I know we have all seen the photos of cratered playgrounds, bombed-out hospitals and destroyed homes across Ukraine, but no photograph can capture the real lives affected and the real people suffering the immense human toll of Russia’s war against a fellow Member State. I felt that toll when I spoke with a mother in Kyiv who had to hold her daughter’s lifeless bloody hand after a Russian attack on her apartment building. Her daughter, in her mother words, “just wanted to go to school”.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“While we still do not know all the facts, we do know one thing — this tragedy would never have happened but for Russia’s needless invasion of Ukraine and its recent missile assaults against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. The Charter of the United Nations is clear — Ukraine has every right to defend itself against this barrage, to defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity. The more-than-90 missiles that rained down on Kyiv and other targets in Ukraine have devastated civilian infrastructure. In fact, this may have been the widest-scale missile attack since the beginning of the war. Now millions of Ukrainians are without heat or electricity. We extend our solidarity to the Ukrainian people for the fallout of this attack, and our deepest condolences for the lives lost. This is a deliberate tactic by Putin.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo for her valuable briefing today. I want to start by noting the tragic explosion that killed two people in Poland near the Ukrainian border. We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the Polish citizens who were killed. As President Biden told President Duda last night, we stand with Poland in this difficult moment, and have offered our full support for, and assistance with, Poland’s investigation to determine exactly what happened. We have complete confidence in the Polish Government’s investigation and appreciate the calm, careful and measured response.”
2022-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9195 (2022) · source
“We must fully implement the relevant Security Council resolutions necessary to impede the weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile advancements of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Full implementation includes holding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea accountable for its violations of the resolutions, as we unanimously committed to doing in resolution 2397 (2017), following an ICBM launch. I urge all Council members to condemn and address the dangerous and unlawful behaviour of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This moment demands Council unity.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is simply using that as an excuse to continue to advance its unlawful programmes. Even in the face of the escalations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States remains committed to a diplomatic solution. We have conveyed to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea our request to engage in talks at all levels of our Government. Despite the lack of engagement from Pyongyang, we will continue to pursue meaningful dialogue. We call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to abandon its provocative behaviour and at long last turn to diplomacy. The credibility of the Council is at risk. The security of every United Nations Member State is at risk.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“We have heard those two Council members claim that the United States and the Republic of Korea have stoked tensions on the Korean peninsula with military exercises. That is nothing but a regurgitation of propaganda by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and a misleading narrative. The United States and the Republic of Korea are engaging in long- standing defensive military exercises that pose no threat to anyone, never mind the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In contrast, just last month, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said that its flurry of recent launches were the simulated use of tactical battlefield nuclear weapons to “hit and wipe out” potential United States and Republic of Korea targets.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“Those members have bent over backwards to justify the repeated violations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. And, in turn, they have enabled the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and made a mockery of the Council. This cannot stand. The risks to the region and the world are simply too great. I want to remind the Council of our responsibility to protect global peace and security, defend the global non-proliferation regime and uphold Security Council resolutions. You do not get to abandon Security Council responsibilities because the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea might sell you weapons to fuel your war of aggression in Ukraine, or because you think they make a good regional buffer to the United States.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“For a United Nations Member State to so flagrantly violate the relevant Security Council resolutions and all that the Charter of the United Nations stands for is appalling. Equally appalling is the Council’s deafening silence on this issue. Thirteen Council members have joined in condemning the unlawful actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since the beginning of the year. And 13 Council members have joined in voting to impose costs on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that would impede its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile pursuits, while seeking new avenues to improve humanitarian assistance to the country’s people. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, however, has enjoyed blanket protection from two members of the Council.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“But the latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — the seventh ICBM this year — is particularly concerning, as is the unprecedented impact of a ballistic missile just about 50 kilometres, or 30 miles, from the Republic of Korea’s shoreline. This is about more than just advancing the unlawful military capabilities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and undermining the global non-proliferation regime. This is also about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea trying to purposely raise tensions and stoke fear in its neighbours. Let me therefore be clear. These actions are not the actions of a responsible State. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has now launched a staggering 59 ballistic missiles this year. That is right: 59.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his informative briefing. Over the past week and a half, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has exacerbated an extremely worrisome trend that we have seen all year: an increased number of launches in flagrant violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, destabilizing and threatening rhetoric and continued escalations. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms all 13 recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since 27 October.”
2022-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9183 (2022) · source
“I also want to note that the United States is now implementing its own strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability. That effort builds on lessons learned from our own experiences in conflict- affected environments and integrates best practices for addressing the root causes of conflict and preventing future ones. In fact, the United Nations has applied many of the same lessons, from the value of local buy-in to the importance of integrating all diplomatic, humanitarian and security activities under a coherent plan. The United States stands ready to continue working within and outside the Council to address all causes of armed conflict. Together let us continue to support the heroic work of United Nations peacekeepers and do everything in our power to end protracted conflicts and build sustainable peace.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“The Secretary- General’s New Agenda for Peace, as contained in the report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), offers an important opportunity for considering how to make the United Nations more responsive to modern challenges as we address the root causes of conflict. For its part, the United States remains deeply committed to United Nations peacebuilding efforts. As called for in Our Common Agenda, we strongly support the expanded role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) across a range of issues, including human rights and climate change, and we welcome its contribution to today’s meeting. The PBC has an important convening role to play and can help mobilize attention and commitment to international peacebuilding efforts.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“At the same time, we must ensure that young people have a seat at the table, since we know that their participation in peace and security is essential to the longevity of peace. Just look at Africa alone: the median age is 19 years old. That tells us how important young people are to the future of any peace operation. In many situations, we have also seen the importance of regional actors taking the lead, particularly in the case of the African Union. We applaud the AU’s efforts to promote peace and stability on the continent, and we encourage the AU to continue implementing compliance frameworks for peace support operations. The United Nations has a unique comparative advantage in advancing sustainable peace. We have the power to coordinate across the international community to identify clear and achievable goals.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“We also recognize that peace operations alone cannot address the underlying causes and drivers of conflict, which are generational challenges that require a full range of actors to come to the table, including local and national Government, civil-society leaders, humanitarian organizations, the private sector and United Nations Member States. Another key group that is too often shut out of the political process is women. We must work to ensure that women’s perspectives are integrated across peace operations functions so that the meaningful inclusion of women and girls in the political process and decision-making becomes the norm. The women and peace and security agenda has a vital role to play in United Nations peacekeeping operations.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“In Mali, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali is tasked with supporting Malian implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and a strategy to address the root causes of violent conflict in the centre of the country. In both cases, we have found that leaders of peace operations can operate more effectively and confidently when they have a clear sense of what the Security Council expects them to achieve. That is why we started to introduce longer-term strategic visions into peace-operation mandates. But let us be clear. To be successful, we must have the support and cooperation of host countries for the full implementation of United Nations peace operations and mission mandates.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“The Secretary-General has called on us to do just that through the Action for Peacekeeping initiative, which emphasizes the primacy of politics in conflict resolution and the role that peace operations play in supporting political solutions. It reminds us that the task of peacekeepers is to create space for political solutions and support local stakeholders as they tackle the root causes of conflicts. Here is what that looks like in practice. For the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the Security Council has outlined a strategic vision for the Mission’s role in supporting inclusive and accountable governance.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“We appreciate Ghana’s efforts in convening us for this important discussion. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing, as well as all the other briefers for their insightful contributions. I want to start by taking a moment to recognize those who risk their lives every day in the pursuit of peace, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others. Sustainable peace requires all of us to come together and ensure that modern United Nations peace operations are truly multidimensional and integrated. In order to achieve sustainable peace, as Ms. Robinson noted, security, sustainable development and human rights are key.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“I will not devote any more time, energy or resources to those lies from Russia, and neither should the rest of the Security Council — not while troops still occupy Ukrainian territory and not while Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian civilians and commit war crimes. Instead of letting Russia waste our time, we should focus on the truth and the horrors Russia has inflicted upon the Ukrainian people.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9180 (2022) · source
“An overwhelming number of State parties that spoke at the Geneva meeting considered that the issues raised by Russia were unsubstantiated and had been conclusively addressed. But that was not enough for Russia. Instead, when Russia failed in Geneva, it inappropriately raised the same false claims here, abusing its position and abusing us. And Russia should not be surprised or disappointed by what happened here today. Russia showed zero appreciation for the precedent it has set in invoking article VI of the BWC for the first time in the Convention’s history, and as one can see from the vote today, no one is buying it except China.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9180 (2022) · source
“Despite Russia’s abuse of the process and precisely because we respect the BWC and its provisions, the United States and Ukraine went through Russia’s allegations in Geneva point by point and debunked every single one. Russia knows that our cooperative threat-reduction efforts are not for military purposes. We know that Russia knows this because, for nearly two decades, Russia participated in that very kind of cooperation with us, including on biological threats. The truth is that Russia’s questions are insincere, and Russia is uninterested in our answer. Russia said that this is a milestone, and it is. It is a milestone for Russia’s deception and lies, and the world sees it.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9180 (2022) · source
“The United States voted against draft resolution S/2022/821 because it is based on disinformation, dishonesty, bad faith and a total lack of respect for this organ. The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is important. It addresses the grave threat posed by biological weapons. The United States takes its responsibilities seriously and fully complies with and fulfils its obligations under the BWC. That includes assisting partners around the world to strengthen global health security and reduce the impact of infectious diseases on their societies. We cannot allow such life-saving cooperation to be stigmatized. Russia tried and failed to claim that we had violated the BWC at the article V meeting in Geneva in September. Russia failed to provide any credible evidence to support those false allegations.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9180 (2022) · source
“To that end, we welcome UNHCR’s ambitious new initiative to improve accountability for crisis-affected individuals and communities. It rightly emphasizes the need to bring successful, innovative accountability approaches to scale, especially new digital tools for enhancing community feedback. The United States looks forward to the success of the initiative and learning more about how States can support it. In the meantime, we are committed to the vision of the Global Compact for Migration. We are also committed to helping refugees everywhere, because refugees are the definition of bravery. They are extraordinary and they deserve our unending support.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“The United Nations and its partners cannot meet those needs without continued cross-border access. Venezuelan refugees and migrants also need our continued support. Nearly 6 million Venezuelans have fled to more than a dozen countries in the region. Colombia, which currently hosts more than 2.4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, has approved more than 1.6 million applications for temporary protected status. We commend Colombia and others in the region for doing their part. For our part, we have provided nearly $2.7 billion in assistance for the Venezuelan regional crisis in the past five years, and we will continue to take the issue seriously. While each of those situations around the world is unique, they share common themes. Hunger, conflict and climate are displacing people who are already vulnerable.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“For the desperate plight of the Syrian people, we are grateful to Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt for continuing to provide safe haven to nearly 6 million refugees from Syria. We are alarmed by credible reports that refugees returning to Syria face torture, arbitrary detention and forced disappearance. The truth is that conditions inside Syria are not safe for large-scale refugee returns. We urge the international community to join us in maintaining support for Syrians and the communities that host them. We also urge the Council to put politics aside, as we heard from the High Commissioner, and do the right thing by extending the United Nations cross- border aid mandate in January, when it will expire. Humanitarian needs in Syria are greater today than ever.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“As of August, there are almost 5 million acutely malnourished children, more than 1.4 million of them severely malnourished, in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The recent resumption of violence in northern Ethiopia has exacerbated one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Humanitarians have had to pull back and suspend operations and have reported a severe shortage of cash, fuel and essential relief commodities for the more than 9 million Ethiopians in need. The supply of ready-to-use therapeutic food is completely depleted, leaving the most vulnerable children suffering from the most severe form of malnutrition without that essential lifeline. The United States has provided more than $688 million in support for the northern Ethiopia humanitarian response over the past fiscal year. But needs are extreme, and they are still growing.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“In Somalia, an unprecedented drought has displaced nearly 1 million people this year. Famine is likely unless the international community, including the United Nations system, steps up. The United States acted early to address that crisis, providing more than $850 million this year in assistance to Somalia as part of its efforts to address the Horn of Africa drought. We call on other donors to increase their contributions as well. The United Nations humanitarian agencies family should act now and scale up its response. We do not want to have any regrets about the situation. The drought- affected and conflict-affected communities in Ethiopia and Kenya also face catastrophic food insecurity and impossible choices to cope with scarcity. Parents starve so that their children may eat.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“Through that programme and other legal pathways, the United States has provided refuge for more than 190,000 Ukrainians. A few months ago, I had the privilege of speaking to some of them in Chicago. I met a woman and her teenage son who had fled Kharkiv. They spoke in harrowing detail of hiding in the basement of their apartment during shelling, the struggle to find food and fears for their relatives and their neighbours’ survival. But they also told me that, since their arrival in the United States, they had found hope. They have been welcomed warmly in their new community, and they are grateful to all the friends, contacts and organizations that have helped them settle and begin to heal. Around the world, refugees deserve that same love, attention, care and support.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“We commend our European allies and partners for their generosity in hosting approximately 7 million displaced Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Russian aggression. But I also want to commend Kenya. We have seen the long-term commitment that Kenya has made to hosting refugees. I think the number is close to — if not more than — 500,000 refugees right now in Kenya. I started working on refugee issues in Kenya as a refugee coordinator in 1994, and many of those refugees are still in Kenya today. I therefore once again thank Kenya for being a great host to refugees. Concerning Ukraine, we are supporting Ukrainians at home and abroad. In April, we launched Uniting for Ukraine, a process for Ukrainians and their immediate relatives to seek humanitarian parole in the United States.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“The number of refugees and forcibly displaced people grew dramatically this year, from 90 million to more than 103 million — I repeat, 103 million. The main reason of course is Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia has driven more than 14 million people from their homes, as we heard from the High Commissioner this morning. It has exacerbated the global food security crisis. When we combine that with ongoing conflicts and unprecedented climatic events, it is no wonder farmers and families are fleeing their lands and homes. Russia is weaponizing winter. Its attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure will be life-threatening for the Ukrainian people, especially during the cold winter months. The United States is working to ensure that its humanitarian partners are adequately resourced to help the Government with winterization efforts.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“In that regard, the United States and Ireland are hopeful that members of the Council will support a proposal that we have submitted to create a standardized humanitarian carveout for actors who are under sanction regimes so that entities like the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will benefit. For the United States, its support for the humanitarian work of UNHCR and its partners is unshakeable. The United States continues to proudly be the world’s leading donor to UNHCR, and we call on our fellow Member States to step up and further fund it in this time of desperate need. We especially call on those countries that have a record of creating refugee crises to do more. If you caused it, you should pay for it. Right now, UNHCR truly needs our help. Members heard the appeal from the High Commissioner.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“Let me start by thanking Gabon for its excellent presidency last month. While I thought you had set a record, Mr. President, I understand you did not. But it felt like a record, and we really appreciate the spirit of inclusion that Gabon brought to the Security Council. We know we kept you busy, but you met the challenge. Let me also welcome Ghana’s presidency this month — it starts today with an important topic. I thank United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Grandi for his briefing. I appreciate his focusing on the increasing refugee crises and the needs that he presented to us today.”
2022-11-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9178 (2022) · source
“Both Israelis and Palestinians must remain committed to the idea that all peoples deserve security, justice, dignity and democracy. It is incumbent on both parties to work in good faith towards the vision of two States for two peoples. In that vein, we believe it is critical that Israel and the Palestinian Authority refrain from unilateral actions that undercut that vision. Progress will not be easy. Setting aside decades of grievances takes courage and patience, but it is the only way forward. There is no shortcut to peace.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174 (2022) · source
“That deal secures the interests of both countries and sets the stage for a more stable and prosperous region. The United States applauds the work of Israel and Lebanon to reach that historic deal. The agreement underscores President Biden’s vision for the Middle East: a region that is more secure, integrated and prosperous, achieved through diplomacy and cooperation. The Negev Forum Working Group presents a similar opportunity for countries in the region to set aside their differences and work towards shared security and prosperity. Let me be clear: while those regional peace agreements are not a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace, we believe that the momentum of those opportunities can be leveraged to advance progress towards a negotiated two-State solution.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174 (2022) · source