BEIJING: China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Tuesday called on countries to resolve disputes through peaceful means and help those in conflicts attain peace and stability without delay, so as to create favorable conditions to protect civilians and ensure food security.
The food crisis worsens the humanitarian situation, further compounding the plight of civilians, Zhang told the UN Security Council (UNSC) in the open debate on the theme of “Ensuring the security and dignity of civilians in conflict: addressing food insecurity and protecting essential services.”
“We call upon conflicting parties to abide by resolutions 2417 and 2573 of the UNSC, effectively implement their obligations under international laws, including humanitarian law, to protect civilians, give priority attention to vulnerable groups, including women and children, and to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian assistance,” Zhang said.
“All countries should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advocate cooperation, and reject confrontation, so as to create a favorable environment for peace,” he said.
He called upon traditional donors to increase their assistance and to provide more emergency humanitarian assistance in terms of food and financing to the countries that are in need of them.
“Assistance should not be regarded as a lever for political gain. There should be no additional conditions attached and no selectivity when it comes to assistance. The humanitarian requirements of all receiving countries should be treated equally,” Zhang stressed.
Noting that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan equally requires attention, the envoy said that the United States has long seized the overseas assets of Afghanistan, which has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the country.
“We urge the United States to heed the strong appeals of the Afghan people and the international community and to return to the Afghan people those assets that are legitimately theirs, so that they can be used to tackle humanitarian challenges, including food shortages within the country,” Zhang said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
