This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

UN stands by Ukraine amid rising tensions

UN aid agencies insisted on Tuesday that they will continue to support the people of Eastern Ukraine, following Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Condemning the Russian move, Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement that he considered it a “violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent” with the UN Charter.

From Geneva, the UN humanitarian coordination body, OCHA, said that there had been reported increases in hostilities in areas controlled by the de facto authorities in recent days .

Here’s OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke:

“That is a stark reminder the reality that  children, women, men of Eastern Ukraine have faced for the past eight years. We call on everybody and all parties to protect  civilians and protect civilian infrastructure in this very volatile situation.”

Also on Tuesday, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that it was monitoring the “highly…unpredictable” situation and stood ready to help in case any new humanitarian needs arise.

Fourth tropical cyclone in a month to slam into Madagascar

To Madagascar, where the island nation is bracing for its fourth tropical cyclone in a month, is prompting UN aid appeals for $26 million in fudinng  to help the most vulnerable.

Heavy rains are forecast along the path of the storm; up to 250 millimetres on the flat and 450-500 millimetres at higher altitudes.

Although it is the  typhoon season in the Indian Ocean, it is rare to see four storms hitting the same country in the space of four weeks, said Clare Nullis from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO):

“We had been concerned yesterday that it might actually strengthen to a strong category three or even four, but that didn’t fortunately didn’t happen; but even so the winds are going to be very high, there have been high winds, destructive gusts of between 150 to 200 kilometres an hour, and it’s a big storm, so these winds are going to cover a large radius.”

Arming Myanmar’s junta must stop – independent rights expert

The supply of weapons to Myanmar’s generals by UN Member States must stop, a top UN-appointed independent rights expert said on Tuesday.

In a report to the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews insisted that arms sourced abroad had been “used to attack” civilians.

Alleging that China, Russia and Serbia had supplied the military junta with weapons since generals took power last February, Mr. Andrews urged the Security Council to adopt a resolution to halt the trade.

“Stopping the junta’s atrocity crimes begins with blocking their access to weapons,” Mr. Andrews said in a statement, adding that “the more the world delays, the more innocent people, including children, will die in Myanmar.”

Daniel Johnson, UN News.