SYRIAÌý
The Security Council met this morning on the situation in Syria. Special Envoy, Geir Pederson, briefed Council members by videoconference, and told them the conflict needs a comprehensive political solution, but the solution is not imminent.ÌýÌý
Mr. Pederson underscored that the focus continues on concrete actions that could build some trust and bring into being a real process to implement Security Council resolution 2254. Mr. Pederson noted that he will be travelling to Syria in February to hold meetings with officials there.Ìý
For her part, Ghada Eltahir Mudawi, Officer in Charge, Operations and Advocacy Division in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that as 2023 begins, people in Syria face the worst year yet, highlighting that 15.3 million people – nearly 70 per cent of Syria’s population – need humanitarian assistance.Ìý
ÌýMs. Eltahir Mudawi said that the cholera outbreak continues to spread across the country with suspected cases in all 14 governorates. She called for more donor support and reminded the Council members that the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan has only been 47.2 per cent funded, the lowest funding level ever.Ìý
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SUDANÌý
The Security Council will convene this afternoon on the International Criminal Court (ICC) Sudan. The ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, will be briefing Council members.Ìý
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GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM COORDINATION COMPACTÌýÌý
Speaking at the ninth Ãå±±½ûµØGlobal Counter-terrorism coordination compact, the Secretary-General said terrorism remains a global scourge — an affront to humanity on every level. ÌýHe told the Compact members that their work is more important than ever. Ìý
Turning to the proposed New Agenda for Peace, the Secretary-General said it must focus on a holistic and comprehensive approach to building more peaceful and stable societies in which terror has no home. ÌýÌý
The Secretary-General added that today’s rapidly evolving terrorism threat requires an equally nimble and adaptive response, grounded in data and evidence. We need to place data-driven tools and strategies at the heart of our approach to building peace and security — including counter-terrorism efforts, he said. ÌýÌý
He concluded by renewing his call for the Compact and its working groups to continue building close ties to Member States and other partners to gather, analyze and deploy data for insight, impact and integrity. ÌýÌý
KYRGYZSTANÌý
Hundreds of families displaced by the violence that broke out in the remote Kyrgyz-Tajik border last September are facing the coldest winter to hit the region in over a decade, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).Ìý
IOM, as part of the UN’s Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT) has been active since 19 September, leading the provision of emergency shelter and non-food items.Ìý Stoves, flashlights, power cables and disposable plates were distributed in earlier rounds.  IOM has just completed distribution of kitchen sets, bedding, winter clothes, shoes and other items to over 400 homeless families who were among the tens of thousands that fled from the affected areas.Ìý The aid distribution was funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Government of Germany. Ìý
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HONOUR ROLLÌý
We have two fresh payments to the regular budget, from Palau and Switzerland.Ìý We thank both Member States. The Honour Roll now stands at ten.Ìý
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