Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Chargé d’Affaires, addressed the UN Security Council during a briefing on refugees, presented by UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. Shea acknowledged that the Security Council has not yet achieved necessary political solutions to end forced displacement amidst increasing conflicts.
Shea reiterated the importance of the UN, particularly the Security Council, in maintaining international peace and security. "It is time for us to bring the UN, and specifically the Security Council, back to its original purpose," Shea stated, emphasizing the shared responsibility among UN Member States to support humanitarian responses to conflicts, a burden the United States has shouldered significantly.
Shea highlighted the worsening conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar over the past year. Particularly concerning was the situation between Israel and Hamas, where the United States supports humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, with precautions against misuse by Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Shea underscored that "Hamas bears sole responsibility for the war they unleashed on October 7, 2023."
Despite ongoing conflicts, Shea noted positive developments in Syria following Assad's departure, expressing hopes for stability in Syria, which could potentially allow Syrian refugees to return home.
Additionally, Shea mentioned efforts toward ending the war in Ukraine, a conflict that would allow displaced Ukrainians to return if resolved with a sustainable settlement.
In conclusion, Shea called on the Security Council to intensify efforts to solve and conclude crises contributing to long-term displacement, aiming for a durable peace that can enable displaced people to safely return home and foster strong regional economies.