UN calls for end to Sudan siege after over 460 people were killed at maternity hospital

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 30: UN chief Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to military escalation in Sudan on Thursday after reports that more than 460 people were shot dead in a maternity hospital by paramilitary forces.

Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries which recently seized the city of El-Fasher from Army forces, has vowed the country would be unified by "peace or through war".

The capture of El-Fasher, the last Army holdout in the vast western region of Darfur, comes after more than 18 months of brutal siege, sparking fears of a return to the ethnically targeted atrocities of 20 years ago.

Accusations of mass killings have mounted, with the World Health Organization (WHO) condemning reports that 460 people were killed at the Saudi Maternity Hospital, the last partially functional hospital in El-Fasher.

The WHO said the hospital was on Sunday "attacked for the fourth time in a month, killing one nurse and injuring three other health workers".

Two days later, "six health workers, four doctors, a nurse and a pharmacist, were abducted" and "more than 460 patients and their companions were reportedly shot and killed in the hospital," the organisation said.

Guterres said in a statement he was "gravely concerned by the recent military escalation" in El-Fasher, calling for "an immediate end to the siege & hostilities".

India backs Gaza Peace agreement, calls dialogue and diplomacy key to peace

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 24: India on Thursday welcomed the landmark Gaza Peace Agreement signed earlier this month and praised the diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump, while reiterating its long-standing support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace in the Middle East.

Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, said New Delhi hoped the “positive diplomatic momentum” generated by the Sharm el-Sheikh summit would lead to enduring peace across the region.

“India thanks Russia for convening this Open Debate. We participated in the Gaza Peace Summit on October 13 and welcomed the signing of the landmark Peace Agreement,” Harish said.

“We also place on record our appreciation for the United States, and especially President Donald Trump, for playing an instrumental role in forging the Agreement. India also commends the role of Egypt and Qatar in achieving this end.”

Harish underlined India’s consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy, and not unilateral actions, are the only sustainable routes to peace.

“The landmark initiative of the United States has generated diplomatic momentum towards peace, and all parties must adhere to their obligations,” he said. “India remains firm in its view that dialogue, diplomacy, and the two-state solution are the means to achieve peace.”

He noted that India’s approach to the Palestinian issue has been rooted in its consistent stance since October 2023, when the conflict escalated. “India has condemned terrorism; called for an end to the destruction and suffering of civilians; sought the immediate release of hostages; and stressed the need for unimpeded humanitarian aid into Gaza,” Harish said.

India, he said, continues to back the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, self-determination, sovereignty, and national independence, and sees the two-state solution as the only realistic way forward.

“The short-term gains of recent diplomatic outcomes must pave the way for medium and long-term political commitments,” Harish said, referring to the High-Level Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held at the UN in September.

“Since India’s recognition of the State of Palestine in 1988, we have consistently advocated a sovereign, independent, and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognised borders,” he added.

Highlighting New Delhi’s development partnership with Palestine, Harish said India’s total support to the Palestinian people now exceeds $170 million, including $40 million worth of projects currently under implementation.

He said India has “implemented human-centric projects bilaterally and in partnership with the UN and the Palestinian Authority,” and has supplied 135 metric tons of medicines and relief materials in the past two years.

“Aid is essential for rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he said. “The Palestinian people cannot rebuild their lives without the support of the international community. These initiatives must be coupled with economic frameworks that foster social development, investment, and employment.”

Turning to developments in Syria, Harish said humanitarian challenges must remain a “priority.”

“India’s commitment in this regard is also manifested in its supply of five metric tons of essential medicines to the friendly people of Syria as recently as July 2025,” he said.

Reiterating India’s support for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, he welcomed the normalization of Syria’s ties with Arab neighbours and expressed support for regional efforts toward a long-term solution.

Harish also paid tribute to Acting Force Commander Brigadier General Amitabh Jha, who lost his life in December 2024 while serving with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

“India’s troops in UNDOF remained steadfast even during extreme challenges. We are proud to be the third-largest contributor to this mission,” he said.

Addressing the situation in Lebanon and Yemen, Harish emphasized India’s commitment to UN peacekeeping operations.

“As the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL, India reiterates the importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers. They cannot become casualties of conflicts,” he said.

He expressed hope that Lebanon’s Armed Forces would be ready to assume full responsibility once UNIFIL’s sunset clause becomes operational at the end of 2026.

On Yemen, Harish voiced concern over the worsening humanitarian situation. “Humanitarian assistance must be above politics. It must reach all civilians, irrespective of their affiliations. An immediate cessation of hostilities would catalyse these efforts,” he said, adding that the safety of Indian nationals in Yemen remains a top priority.

Concluding his remarks, Harish said peace in Palestine and the wider region remains central to India’s vision for the Middle East.

“Peace and calm on the Palestinian front have implications for the wider region. It is important for the Agreement to hold and the ceasefire to sustain,” he said.

“It is India’s earnest desire to see a stable and peaceful Middle East,” he added. “All human beings have the right to lead normal lives. Deprivation and indignity cannot be part of daily life, and civilians must not die due to conflict. India stands fully ready to contribute to this endeavour.”

'All Is Not Well': S Jaishankar's Criticism Of UN, Pak Over Terror Response

NEW DELHI, Oct 24: India on Friday cited Pakistan's attempts to protect at the UN Security Council the terror outfit that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack to point out that the global body's work has been "gridlocked" in the absence of urgent reforms.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also criticised those equating victims and perpetrators of terrorism in the name of global strategy, in an apparent reference to the hyphenation of India and Pakistan in the context of the dastardly terror strike.

Jaishankar was speaking at an event that celebrated the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN).

In his remarks, the external affairs minister said "all is not well" with the UN as its debates have become "increasingly polarised" and its working "visibly gridlocked".

"Any meaningful reform is obstructed using the reform process itself," he said adding sustaining the UN even while seeking its re-invention is clearly a major challenge before the world.

"Few examples are more telling about the challenges facing the UN than its response to terrorism. When a sitting Security Council member openly protects the very organisation that claims responsibility for the barbaric terror attack such as at Pahalgam, what does it do to the credibility of multilateralism," Jaishankar asked.

Though Jaishankar didn't directly name Pakistan, it was abundantly clear from his remarks that he was referring to that country.

"Similarly, if victims and perpetrators of terrorism are equated in the name of global strategy, how much more cynical can the world get. When self-proclaimed terrorists are shielded from the sanctioning process, what does it say for the sincerity of those involved," he said.

Pakistan is currently a member of the UN Security Council. It was the chair of the top global body in the month of July.

The Council comprises 15 members, including five permanent members which are China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Ten non-permanent member nations are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. The presidency of the UNSC is held by each of the members in turn for one month.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack.

TRF found mention in a UNSC report in July for its role in the Pahalgam attack.

Pakistan had attempted to remove references to TRF in the UNSC press statement condemning the Pahalgam attack, according to officials.

In his remarks, Jaishankar suggested that the UN has failed to address pressing issues.

"If the maintenance of international peace and security has become lip service, the predicament of development and socio-economic progress is even more serious," he said.

"The slowing down of the SDG Agenda 2030 is a significant metric to measure the distress of the Global South. There are many more, whether it is trade measures, supply chain dependence or political domination," he said.

"Yet, on such a notable anniversary, we cannot abandon hope. However difficult, the commitment to multilateralism must remain strong. However flawed, the United Nations must be supported in this time of crisis," Jaishankar added.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of goals set to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.