This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Solution to free up Russian fertiliser welcomed by UNCTAD chief

A negotiated solution to break the deadlock on the distribution of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian-made fertiliser blocked in European ports has been welcomed by the head of UN trade body UNCTAD.

The development accompanied the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative to free up exports from Ukraine, which had been due to expire on Saturday.

Rebeca Grynspan said that the solution, which involves the UN World Food Programme (WFP), will see a ship loaded with Russian fertiliser leave from the Netherlands for landlocked Malawi via Mozambique next Monday.

More than 11.1 million tonnes of agricultural products have been shipped as part of the agreement, since it was signed on 22nd July, but 300,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer have remained stranded in different European ports.

Ms Grynspan said that the extension of the initiative is very good news for the world and that this latest solution to distribute fertilizer is an important contribution to solving the food insecurity crisis.

UNHCR calls for ban on forced returns of asylum seekers to eastern DR Congo

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reiterated its call for a ban on forced returns to eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected.

Elizabeth Tan, UNHCR’s Director of International Protection, said on Friday that the agency is concerned about a rise in attacks on civilians, including those living in sites for displaced people.

She said that States have a legal and moral responsibility to allow those fleeing ongoing conflict to seek safety, be accorded asylum, if appropriate, and not to forcibly return refugees.

Since the beginning of this year, UNHCR has recorded more than 50,000 violations of civilian rights in DRC, including refugees and internally displaced people.

UN experts alarmed by harassment of climate activists at COP27

Climate activists and civil society have been subjected to intimidation, harassment and surveillance during the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, UN-appointed independent human rights experts said on Friday.

They called for Egypt to “end all acts of harassment and intimidation and ensure the safety and full participation of human rights defenders and civil society at COP27 and beyond.”

Concerns were raised in the run-up to the conference, leading to calls for full and safe participation of civil society actors and human rights defenders without reprisals.

However, the experts say that they are deeply concerned by reported acts of harassment and intimidation by Egyptian officials, which have infringed the rights of Egyptian and non-Egyptian human rights and environmental defenders, including their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, expression and effective participation.

The experts say they are in touch with the Egyptian Government and the organisers of COP27 about their concerns.

Nicki Chadwick, UN News.