Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, during the briefing on the Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine (Humanitarian Situation)

Thank you, Mr. President,

I thank USG Fletcher for the updates provided and welcome the participation, in this meeting, of the Permanent Representatives of Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Poland, as well as the European Union.

Mr. President,

We were distressed to receive several reports from the Ukrainian authorities about ballistic missile strikes in Kryvyi Rih last Friday, in which 18 persons reportedly реrished, including 9 children, and 62 others were injured. In their communication to the Security Council, Ukraine also indicated that the missile was equipped with а cluster warhead and struck residential buildings, playgrounds, and other civilian infrastructure.

They further informed that earlier attacks in Kharkiv on 3rd April resulted in five civilian mortalities, and injured more than 30, while on the night of 6th April, ballistic missiles targeted the city of Kyiv, and attack drones struck the surrounding region, again resulting in civilian casualties.

Guyana is deeply alarmed that the calls of the Security Council and the international community, for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and for the parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, continue to go unheeded.

We reiterate that civilians should not be collateral damage in any armed conflict. IHL dictates that all efforts must be made to avoid civilian casualties and that they are not at all targeted.

Mr. President,

Guyana was hopeful that the promising momentum generated at the start of the year would finally bring an end to this war and that the parties would embark on a diplomatic process towards achieving lasting peace. We are therefore deeply concerned that these escalatory actions are taking place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire. We reiterate our call for the parties to the conflict to demonstrate strong political will and engage in good faith toward ending the conflict peacefully and with full respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The scale of the destruction and ensuing humanitarian crisis is immense. Over 42,000 civilians – including children - have been reportedly killed or injured since February 2022; 11 million have been forced to flee their homes, with almost 7 million now living as refugees in other countries, as USG Fletcher reminded and 3.7 million internally displaced. Many others have been abducted, arbitrarily detained, and subjected to conflict-related sexual violence and abuse.

Even after the war ends, we fear that many more will be killed and injured as Ukraine now has one of the highest prevalence of explosive remnants of war and landmines globally.

This war has had, and continues to have, a devastating toll on the lives and livelihoods of civilians. The latest joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment report (RDNA4) puts the cost of direct damage at one hundred and seventy-six billion dollars (US$176 B) by the end of 2024. Moreover, the report estimates that the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine over the next decade will be five hundred and twenty-four Billion (US$524 b) for both the public and private sectors.

Even with such a detailed assessment, the full impact of this war remains incalculable. No assessment can adequately capture the human cost of war. What value can one place on the sanctity of human life? On the trauma and social and psychological impacts that will be carried for generations? Regrettably, these cannot be quantified.

At what point is enough, enough?

Guyana continues to stress that there is no military option that brings lasting peace. We therefore continue to advocate for a diplomatic solution to end this war and insist that the United Nations, and by extension the Security Council, live up to its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and play a more active role in supporting the ongoing peace efforts.

In closing, Mr. President, Guyana reiterates its call for the parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We also call on Member States to scale up support for the humanitarian response in Ukraine and to support the work of the UN and other agencies that are working around the clock to save lives and respond to the needs of those displaced.

We will continue to work with fellow Member States in support of the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace.

I thank you.