Due to the problems associated with the pandemic and conflicts, the terrorist group (ISIS/Da'ish) is intensifying its activities, decentralizing its structure, using new information technology as well as unmanned aerial systems. The main militant groups are concentrated in Iraq and Syria, but terrorists are rampaging everything around the world. UN officials told a joint briefing at the Security Council that ISIS poses a serious global threat.

The Yezidi areas where the Yezidi minority lives, as well as camps for forced refugees and displaced persons, remain under great threat of attack by terrorist gangs from ISIS. To date, there are tens of thousands of Yezidis who have not been returned to their territories.

"ISIS and its affiliates continue to use conflicts, weak governance and inequality to incite, plan and organize terrorist attacks. They are recruiting supporters and attracting resources through the Internet," underscored UN Under-Secretary-General and head of the UN Counterterrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov in presenting the fifteenth Secretary General's report on the issue to UN Security Council members.

Managing millions

In terms of financial resources, it is assumed that Da'ish controls in the amount of 25 million to 50 million US dollars, far less than what the terrorists had three years ago. The group's sources of revenue include extortion, kidnapping for ransom, direct donations and income from trade and investment.

Repatriation of militants and their family members

The UN representative recalled the plight of tens of thousands of people, including women and children, who have a connection with terrorism and are being held in northeastern Syria, where 27,000 children from Iraq suffer in camps and prisons.

Terrorism does not exist in a vacuum

The current Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, Weihong Chen, said at a meeting of the Security Council that the threat posed by ISIS terrorists remains global and evolving.

"Terrorism does not exist in a vacuum. We face a number of overlapping global challenges that could complicate our counterterrorism measures and exacerbate the threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist groups," Weihong Chen said.

He also stressed that despite recent losses, ISIS continues to use conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism for recruitment, as well as for organizing and conducting complex attacks. And the global food crisis may become another catalyst for the growth of terrorism and violent extremism.

Mlêtê Êzidî