Statement by Jennifer MacNaughtan, UK Minister
Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
I will make three points.
First, the United Kingdom is concerned by the impact of the Ebola
outbreak in eastern DRC, which is worsening an already dire
humanitarian situation.
We commend the swift response of the Democratic Republic of
Congo, and we welcome MONUSCO's efforts to ensure that critical
supplies can reach affected areas.
The United Kingdom has committed up to $26 million to support the
Ebola response.
We are working with the DRC, international partners, including
the World Health Organisation, and Africa CDC, and regional
governments, to support a coordinated response and to strengthen
surveillance, containment, and preparedness.
We call on all parties to provide full and unhindered
humanitarian access, in line with international law, to enable
this vital public health response.
Second, the UK welcomes the commitments made by the DRC and by
Rwanda at the Joint Oversight Committee Meeting in London on 24
June.
It is vital that the agreed steps to de-escalate tensions are
taken without delay, in accordance with Security Council
resolution 2773.
We welcome the commitment to support a successful conclusion to
the Doha Process, and we call on all parties to engage
constructively with negotiations on the protocols.
We also urge all parties to support the swift deployment of the
Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism, and to ensure that MONUSCO
has freedom of movement to support ceasefire monitoring and
verification efforts, as well as to fully implement its
mandate.
Finally, the United Kingdom expresses deep concern over the scale
of human rights violations and abuses in eastern DRC, highlighted
in the Secretary-General's latest report.
This includes widespread conflict-related sexual violence and
grave violations against children.
We note with concern increased drone strikes, aerial
bombardments, and heavy artillery shelling in densely populated
areas, undermining the safety of civilians.
The United Kingdom underscores the need for all parties to
respect international humanitarian law and protect civic space.
