News Desk :
Bangladesh includes 140 countries that voted in favour of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine on Thursday.
A total of 38 countries including India abstained while five countries: Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted against the resolution.
The UNGA resolution demanded aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, and criticized Russia for creating a “dire” humanitarian situation after Moscow invaded its neighbor one month ago.
It is the second time the 193-member General Assembly has overwhelmingly isolated Russia over what Moscow calls a “special military operation” that it says aims to destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure, reports Reuters.
General Assembly resolutions are non binding, but they carry political weight. There was a round of applause in the hall after the adoption on Thursday.
Russia’s UN Ambassador VassilyNebenzia described the resolution adopted on Thursday as a “pseudo humanitarian draft” that took a “one-sided view of the situation.” He again accused Western countries of a campaign of “unprecedented pressure” to win votes, a claim that the United States has rejected.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield described the vote on Thursday as an “astounding success,” telling reporters: “There’s really no difference between 141 and 140.”
The resolution demands the protection of civilians, medical personnel, aid workers, journalists, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. It also demands an end to the siege of cities, in particular Mariupol.
“The General Assembly adopted a resolution that calls out Russia’s assault on Ukraine for creating a dire humanitarian situation, pushes for a humanitarian corridor, and demands that fighting stops. In favour: 140 Against: 5 Abstained: 38,” the UN News tweeted.
The resolution deplores the “humanitarian consequences” of Russia’s actions.
In another tweet, the UN News says, “The General Assembly decided not to vote on a draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in #Ukraine proposed by South Africa.”
Bangladesh includes 50 countries that voted in favour the draft resolution while 66 countries voted against it and 35 abstained.
Earlier, Bangladesh had abstained from voting on another resolution against Russia at UNGA on 2 March.
A total of 141 countries supported the resolution while 35 countries including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan abstained from voting. Five countries Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted against the resolution.
