Hanoi (VNA) – The UN Security Council (UNSC) heldan online meeting on August 11 to discuss the situation in Lebanon and recentdevelopments in the Darfur region of Sudan.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubisprovided participants an update on Lebanon after the August 4 explosion inBeirut, along with activities the UN Interim Force in this country (UNIFIL)have carried out to perform its tasks under relevant UNSC resolutions.

UNSC member states expressed their sympathiesfor the Lebanese people on human and property losses, as well as difficulties,caused by the explosion.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’spermanent mission to the UN, offered his condolences to Lebanon, the countrieswhose citizens are victims in the incident, and victims’ families.

He voiced concern about Lebanon facing multiplecrises at the same time and the situation there becoming worse and showingsigns of going out of control.

The diplomat held that the top priority now isto provide relief for civilians, calling on the international community toincrease humanitarian aid for this country.

In the current context, the UNIFIL holds an evenmore essential role in ensuring security and stability in the region andhelping Lebanon to weather these difficult times, Quy said.

Regarding the recent situation in Darfur ofSudan, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita said violenceamong communities has tended to increase in northern and western Darfurrecently, especially in July, jeopardising the recent strides in this region.

UNSC members also shared concern about thesecurity situation in Darfur, particularly the escalating violence among localcommunities. They also recognised the Sudanese Government’s efforts to dealwith this issue and voiced their hope that the Government and armed forces inDarfur will soon reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

Addressing the meeting, Ambassador Quyunderscored the Sudanese Government’s leading role in ensuring security inDarfur and valued its efforts in response to recent violent incidents, callingfor root causes to be resolved.

He also spoke highly of and voiced support forthe UN, the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), theUN – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), regional organisations, andother relevant partners in promoting peace and development in Sudan.

Violence among communities in Darfur has beengrowing over the last three months, claiming at least 178 lives and making over3,000 people homeless./.