KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 29United Nation's Secretary General António Guterres reiterated his appeal for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of a sustained humanitarian relief at a scale that meets the needs of the people of Gaza. UN Secretary-General Guterres wraps up Nepal visit, departs today UN Secretary-General Guterres starts addressing Federal Parliament meeting Speaking at a press conference in Singha Durbar after talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today, the UN Secretary General offered his best wishes for the safe return of Nepali national Bipin Joshi who has gone missing.

Ten Nepali nationals were killed on October 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise air and ground attack on Israel.We are living in difficult and tense times.

I know that even though the conflict in the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has hit very close to home for the people of Nepal.

I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the 10 Nepalese students killed in the terror attacks by Hamas in Israel on 7 October, and my best wishes for the safe return of Mr Bipin Joshi, who is missing, Guterres added. The UN Secretary General said he and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had a very productive meeting.

"And I repeat my utter condemnation of the appalling attacks perpetrated by Hamas.

There is no justification, ever, for the killing, injuring and abduction of civilians," he added.The situation in Gaza, Guterres said, is growing more desperate by the hour."I regret that instead of a critically needed humanitarian pause supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its military operations.

The number of civilians who have been killed and injured is totally unacceptable.

All parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law," he added.Stating that international humanitarian law emerged from the tragedy and awful experiences of war, he said he had always been consistent in his call for strict compliance of the well-established principles and rule of international humanitarian law."The protection of civilians is paramount.

The laws of war establish clear rules to protect human life and respect humanitarian concerns.Those laws cannot be contorted for the sake of expedience.The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes," he added.Guterres said more than two million people, with nowhere safe to go, were being denied the essentials of life - food, water, shelter and medical care - while being subjected to relentless bombardment.We must join forces to end this nightmare for the people of Gaza, Israel and all those affected around the world, including here in Nepal.Guterres said the warm welcome he received in Nepal was something he would never forget.Guterres said he is here in Kathmandu to strengthen the deep friendship and cooperation between Nepal and the United Nations."Nepal has a long and proud tradition of championing peace and multilateralism.

And the United Nations is hugely grateful to Nepal for your support for multilateral solutions backed up by the enormous contribution you make to peacekeeping missions around the world," the UN Secretary General added.Stating that Nepal's progress over the past twenty years has been astonishing, Guterres said: You have become a republic, established peace, and thrown yourselves behind the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action.The next few years will be decisive, as Nepal prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status.Guterres said as Nepal embarks on the final stages of the peace process with transitional justice, which must help to bring peace to victims, families and communities."The United Nations stands ready to support Nepal to develop a process that meets international standards, the Supreme Court's rulings, and the needs of victims - and to put it into practice," he added.Nepal, he said, is also caught in a blizzard of global crises not of its making: the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation caused by the international economic situation, and the enormous threat posed by climate chaos.

Guterres said developed countries must step up to support sustainable development, and help developing economies, including Nepal to tackle the climate crisis."On this trip, I will visit the Himalayas to see for myself the terrible impact of the climate crisis on the glaciers," he added, "The situation is dire and it is accelerating.

Nepal has lost close to a third of its ice in just over thirty years.And glaciers are melting at record rates.

The impact on communities is devastating and I will meet local people in the Himalayas to hear directly from them about how they are affected.He said he would travel to Pokhara and to Lumbini, to reflect on Lord Buddha's teachings of peace and non-violence, which are more relevant than ever in our deeply troubled world."And I want to explore how the United Nations and Nepal can work together even more to solve problems, boost prospects, and improve international support.

Because Nepal is a friend of the world, and so the world must be a better friend to Nepal.

Working together, we can make that a reality," he added.PM Dahal said he held talks with the UN Secretary General in a very cordial atmosphere and discussed issues of mutual concern as well as current international affairs.

PM Dahal said that he also held talks with UNSG on climate change, its impact on Nepal and transitional justice issues.

The role of international community, particularly that of the UN Secretary General will be important to settle the transitional justice issues in Nepal, the PM added.

Stating that Nepal would graduate from least developed country status in 2026, he said he sought the UN's role in facilitating Nepal's smooth transition from LDC.

He said that UN SG Guterres praised Nepali soldiers' contribution to international peace." We urged the UN Secretary General to give respectable position to our soldiers deployed in different countries both at the field level and in the peace keeping mission's headquarters, the PM added.A version of this article appears in the print on October 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times. .

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