Members of Palestinian civil defense search for bodies or survivors as an excavator clears the rubble of destroyed houses following Israeli airstrikes in Al-Wahda Street in the middle of Gaza City, on May 16, 2021. — XINHUA/VNA Photo

NEW YORK — Việt Nam has called on all parties to redouble efforts to combat terrorism in the Shahel region and supported the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to have one, strong voice on the Israel-Palestine issue during a video teleconference (VTC) on May 18.

“Việt Nam is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region, especially in the borders among Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as well as the recent attacks against peacekeepers, defence and security forces,” Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN told the UNSC’s VTC open debate on peace and security in the Sahel region (G5 Sahel).

The event was attended by UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Commander of the G5 Sahel joint force Oumarou Namata, and representatives from G5 Sahel countries.

Quý urged the Sahel countries, United Nations, regional and international organisations to redouble their efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism and prevent inter-communal conflicts.

The Vietnamese ambassador emphasised that “it is crucial for the Sahel region to have a coherent and integrated approach to security, humanitarian issues along with promoting peace, stability, and socio-development challenges in the Sahel.”

He voiced support the initiatives of A3+1 (Niger, Kenya, Tunisia plus St Vincent and The Grenadines) and France on the establishment of the UN supporting office for G5 Sahel to combat terrorism.

The meeting later discussed the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine, during which Ambassador Quý said “Việt Nam joins with other members in expressing our grave concerns about the escalation of tension between Israelis and Palestinians, the rising number of casualties of both sides - especially Palestine - and the massive destruction of objects indispensable to the survival of civilian population.”

Now that the situation is on the brink of all-out war, he called on all international and regional actors, especially the Quartet, to intensify their efforts to avoid the scenario of the recurrence of the catastrophic 2014 war, saying conflicts must be resolved through peaceful means.

The ambassador also has concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the rising violence.

“It is the time to end the cycle of violence, and it is the time for the Security Council to have one strong voice on the issue,” he said, adding that Việt Nam is willing and ready to work with other member countries to reach consensus on the issue. — VNS