HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 20 JULY 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS IRAN FOR IMPLEMENTING NUCLEAR-RELATED COMMITMENTS

• The Secretary-General issued a statement today, one year after the Security Council adopted resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed by the E3+3 and Iran.
• The statement detailed how resolution 2231 heralded a fundamental shift in Iran’s relationship with the Security Council, and provided a defined time schedule for the removal of the Iran nuclear issue from the Council’s agenda.
• The Secretary-General commended Iran for implementing its nuclear-related commitments, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He also commended the steps taken by the European Union and the United States of America in accordance with their sanctions-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• He urged JCPOA participants to uphold their respective commitments and Member States to support the full and effective implementation of this agreement. It is of the utmost importance that the JCPOA works for all its participants, including by delivering tangible benefits to the Iranian people.

AID AGENCIES IN IRAQ APPEAL FOR $284 MILLION TO HELP 1.5 MILLION CIVILIANS IN MOSUL

• Humanitarian partners in Iraq have appealed for $284 million to start preparing for an operation in Mosul, Iraq, which could affect as many as 1.5 million civilians.
• The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said that the impact of the Mosul military campaign on civilians will be devastating. Mass casualties among civilians are likely and families trying to flee are expected to be at extreme risk.
• Although front-line partners are racing to provide support, virtually every camp and reception centre receiving newly displaced families is already at full capacity.
• Families who are displaced require a broad range of assistance. The most immediate needs are for water, food, emergency shelter, and medical assistance.
• At the beginning of 2016, the United Nations appealed for $861 million to help 7.3 million Iraqis who were already in trouble but has only received 40 per cent of the appeal. More funding is needed for the original appeal, as well as an additional $284 million at least 2.5 months before the start of the Mosul operation to prepare.

MIDDLE EAST: U.N. OFFICIAL CONCERNED OVER REPORT OF ANOTHER ARSON ATTACK ON DAWABSHA FAMILY HOME

• The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), Nickolay Mladenov, expressed concern today at reports of yet another arson attack on the home of the Dawabsha family last night in Duma in the occupied West Bank. If confirmed, this despicable act would be the third incident in this particular village in the last year.
• Since the 31 July 2015 terrorist arson attack in which Jewish extremists torched the Dawabsha home, killing three family members and leaving four year-old Ahmed orphaned, indictments have been made, but the perpetrators of this terrible crime have yet to face justice.
• Mr. Mladenov called upon the authorities to move swiftly in bringing the perpetrators of this terrible crime, as well as this latest incident, to justice.
• He also urged Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure that vulnerable Palestinian communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are protected in line with its obligations under international law.

U.N. MISSION CONTINUES TO CALL ON ALL PARTIES IN SOUTH SUDAN TO RESPECT ITS OPERATIONS, STAFF AND ASSETS

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that approximately 1,000 people demonstrated in front of the Mission's Tomping Compound in Juba today.
• The protestors, some of whom initially threw stones at the gate, dispersed after handing a petition to the mission. A peacekeeping Quick Reaction Force and Formed Police Unit personnel were on the ground to control the crowd, and no casualties were reported.
• Yesterday, two national staff members were physically assaulted by youth protestors in Bor, following a speech by the local governor.
• UNMISS condemned the physical attacks against its personnel and property, and calls on all parties to respect the operations of the United Nations, its staff and assets.
• The Mission also reported that restriction of movement continues. The United Nations was informed by the Government today that Flight Safety Assurances for its rotary wing aircrafts would only be granted for flights flight to the Greater Upper Nile and Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions. However, Flight Safety Assurance for an UNMISS helicopter scheduled to fly from Juba to Bor was not approved yesterday.
• UNMISS is concerned by these developments, which are a clear violation of the Status of Forces Agreement signed with the Government, and are preventing the United Nations from implementing its mandate in the country.
• The Mission, meanwhile, reported that it continues to conduct patrols, but with restrictions, in and around it Protection of Civilian sites in Juba as well as in Juba city.

MALI: U.N. CONDEMNS RECENT ATTACK AGAINST MILITARY CAMP IN NAMPALA

• The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) today strongly condemned yesterday’s attack against a military camp and its checkpoints in Nampala. Several members of the Malian armed forces lost their lives and others were wounded.
• During these events, MINUSMA, which does not operate in the area of Nampala, mobilised major aerial reconnaissance and medical resources, in coordination with the Malian authorities.
• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Mali, Mahamet Saleh Annadif, presented his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. He stressed the need for all Malian parties to work together to prevent terrorist organisations from taking advantage of the situation to derail the peace process.

U.N. AND PARTNERS STRESS NEED TO NEUTRALIZE NEGATIVE FORCES IN D.R. CONGO AND REGION

• In a joint communique, the United Nations, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, highlighted efforts to neutralize negative forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region.
• Ministers of Defense from the Great Lakes region met today in Nairobi, Kenya, to review progress and challenges and reinforce the common strategy to cut-off illegal trade activities in the region.
• The Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Said Djinnit, stressed that the protection of civilians from all forms of violence must remain a priority in actions to neutralize armed groups.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME LAUNCHES LARGEST EVER EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF OPERATION IN MALAWI

• The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun a new round of operations in Malawi where as many as 6.5 million people – nearly 40 percent of the population – may require emergency assistance in coming months. This is set to become the largest ever emergency food relief operation in the country’s history.
• The food security crisis in the country is not only due to this year’s unprecedented drought but to the impact of severe flooding and prolonged dry spells last year.
•  Across southern Africa, as many as 18 million people will require emergency assistance in El Niño affected countries between now and next March, with needs peaking in January.

120 MILLION GIRLS WILL EXPERIENCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE GLOBALLY, WARNS U.N. CHILDREN’S AGENCY CONDEMNING RECENT RAPE IN INDIA

• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today that a recent reported gang rape of a young Dalit woman in India by the same five men who had raped her three years ago underlines the heinous culture of impunity that surrounds violence against girls and women. 
• UNICEF says that approximately 120 million girls worldwide – 1 in every 10 – will experience sexual violence. The majority of these girls are violated for the first time between the ages of 15 and 19.
• UNICEF’s Principal Gender Advisor, Anju Malhotra, said that we need action now to end this brutality that has become routine and to give the victims of violence the justice and protection they deserve.

**The guests at the noon briefing were Mr. Janez Potocnik, the Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel (IRP) and former European Union Environment Commissioner; and Mr. Elliot Harris, the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UN Environment Programme New York Office.**