Children in South Sudan affected by conflicts (Source: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam backs preventive diplomatic measures and earlywarnings to prevent and solve conflicts in countries in West Africa and theSahel, affirmed Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnam Permanent Missionto the United Nations.
Addressing the UNSecurity Council’s July 9 briefing on the UN Office for West Africa and theSahel (UNOWAS)’s six-month implementation of its tasks, Quy expressed concernover the regional security situation.
He appreciatedanti-terrorism efforts by UN Missions as well as the G5 Sahel, while stressingthe need to protect civilians, particularly women and children.
Speaking at the event,Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNOWAS Head Mohamed IbnChambas said that “recent months have witnessed recurrent complex terroristattacks against the civilian population and security forces”.
He noted that inBurkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, attacks have been accompanied by forcedrecruitment of children and abductions while exacerbating the humanitarianconsequences on the populations of the affected areas.
The COVID-19 pandemicis damaging economic development and poverty reduction achievements gained inrecent years.
UNESCO estimates 119million children and four million teachers in West Africa and Central Africahave been affected due to school closure. Meanwhile, the UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that in 2020, up to 2.4million people in the regions need support and protection./.
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