HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, May 1, 2009
INFLUENZA A (H1N1): BAN KI-MOON TO BRIEF GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON MONDAY
An informal meeting of the General Assembly will be held on Monday, 4 May,
at 9 a.m. in Conference Room 3, to hear a briefing by Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon on the outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) and the state of preparedness
of the Organization. He will be joined by the Margaret Chan,
Director-General of WHO (by video conference), Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migro and David Nabarro,
Senior UN System Coordinator for Influenza.
Friday morning, Deputy
Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migro held a town hall meeting to update UN
staff on the outbreak caused by the influenza A (H1N1)
virus.
Joining the Deputy Secretary-General via videoconference was Assistant
Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO),
Keiji Fukuda who gave an overview of the epidemic. He said that, as of this
morning, the number of lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 had risen to 331 – up
from 236 yesterday. Eleven countries are reporting cases – with 156 cases
reported in Mexico, 109 in the US and 34 in Canada, among other countries.
Fukuda said that the virus was capable of creating a pandemic but that we
were not at that point yet. Noting that outside Mexico infections have been
mostly mild, he said that the question now was to see how this was going to
evolve. He also said that the concern was whether the virus would spread in
the southern hemisphere, adding that the impact could be different there.
The Deputy-Secretary-General said that the primary focus was on the safety
and security of staff and assets but that there was also plans for
continuing to provide critical functions wherever the UN is working.
Headquarters offices have developed preparedness and continuity plans, and
have tested them, she added.
She encouraged staff to keep themselves informed through meetings, websites
and the intranet – noting the launch on Monday of a ‘UN Staff Pandemic
Information Portal’ that enables staff to received updated information if
working away from the office.
The World Health Organization held a press
conference, focusing mostly on the development of a vaccine against the
H1N1 virus. WHO said that there was little chance that the current vaccine
used against seasonal influenza would be effective against this particular
virus. It added that it was in discussion with manufacturers to start
producing a vaccine as soon as possible. However, having the first dosage
available for immunization will take four to six months, according to WHO.
WHO also said that it was in discussions to make sure the vaccine was
available to the poorest people in developing countries.
SRI LANKA:
HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED IN CONFLICT ZONE WHERE CIVILIANS REMAIN TRAPPED
Sri Lankan
security forces continue their operations in the northern conflict zone.
Heavy fighting is reported.
The Office of the
Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
says as of today, more than 172,000 people have crossed out of the
conflict zone, mostly in the last 10 days. 170,000 are accommodated at
temporary camps in 38 sites in four districts of the north and east of the
country, while around 2,000 wounded and their caregivers are in hospitals.
There have been
no new arrivals at the Omanthai screening point in the last 48 hours, and
the Government of Sri Lanka informs us that none are in transit.
We believe that
50,000 people remain in the conflict zone
Congestion in the
camps remains one of the most serious concerns, as shelter in the camps
remains inadequate. In Trincomalee, the UN refugee agency has started
setting up tents, while UNICEF has been working on the provision of
sanitation there, while also started building wells.
The UN Refugee
Agency also says a
second team of UNHCR emergency experts is scheduled to arrive today in
Sri Lanka. The team of four includes specialists on community services,
protection and other essential field functions. This follows the earlier
deployment of five UNHCR experts to Sri Lanka’s north in February and March.
While thousands
of displaced people continue to arrive to Vavuniya, Jaffna and Trincomalee,
others are returning to their homes in the first Government organized return
operation in northern Sri Lanka in years. The area to where they are
returning was for a long time the frontline in the fighting between
Government forces and LTTE rebels.
UNHCR says it
welcomes these returns as a positive development. While the number of those
returning to their homes is still small it is an important starting point,
it says. The United Nations hopes that returns to other areas in northern
Sri Lanka will also be possible soon.
In response to a question, the Spokeswoman
acknowledged that Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John
Holmes briefed members of the Security Council on Thursday afternoon on Sri
Lanka, in an informal, interactive session. Given the informal nature of the
discussion, there were no details to provide of that briefing, and she
reiterated the
Secretary-General's deep concern about the
civilians who remain trapped.
EAST JERUSALEM:
NEW UN REPORT URGES ISRAEL TO TACKLE PALESTINIAN HOUSING CRISIS
In
its latest
report regarding the humanitarian situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory, the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) underlines the humanitarian impact of current
building policies and house demolitions in East Jerusalem.
OCHA says that the failure of Israeli occupying
authorities to provide Palestinian residents with adequate planning,
together with the expropriation of about one third of annexed East Jerusalem
lands for the construction of settlements, have resulted in a housing crisis
for the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem.
While about 190,000 Israel settlers currently live
in East Jerusalem, Palestinians face significant obstacles to building and
are confronted with a serious housing shortage. Excessive delays, high fees
and the uncertainty associated with the application process push many
Palestinians to build without permits. According to OCHA’s conservative
estimate, as many as 60,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem are now exposed
to the risk of house demolition.
In its report, OCHA underlines that, as the
occupying power, Israel must ensure that the basic needs of the Palestinian
population of the occupied territory are met. The report recommends that, as
a positive first step, the Israeli authorities freeze pending demolition
orders. It also calls upon the Israeli authorities to undertake planning
that will address the Palestinian housing crisis in East Jerusalem.
GAZA
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IS “REALLY ALARMING”
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry
visited Gaza yesterday to assess the situation there, more than 100 days
after the end of the recent conflict. He was informed of the ongoing and
deepening difficulties facing businesses, families and civic groups in Gaza
as they attempt to recover, rebuild and restore normal life.
Serry said, “The situation is really alarming.” He
warned that it is impossible to fulfill humanitarian needs and begin early recovery without the adequate entry of fuel, cash, and materials
needed for repairs.
“Time is passing and there is no real progress,”
he said. “Tens of thousands of Gazans whose homes were hit in the conflict
now face a sweltering summer in unacceptable circumstances without proper
shelter. It’s simply urgent to begin rebuilding and repairing homes.”
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL’S GAZA MISSION TO CONVENE IN GENEVA
The mission established by the Human Rights Council
for Gaza, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, will convene in Geneva from 4 to
8 May to hold a wide range of discussions. A press encounter is planned towards
the end of the week.
As Judge Goldstone had previously stated, he is hopeful
that the mission will be able to conduct its work freely, based on the positive
signals he has thus far received from the concerned parties.
LEBANON’S POLITICAL & SECURITY CONDITIONS
HAVE IMPROVED;
PEACEKEEPING CHIEF TO VISIT MIDDLE EAST
In his latest
report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559,
concerning Lebanon, the Secretary-General writes that the domestic political
and security situation in the country have continued to improve markedly
over the past six months.
He remains
concerned, however, at occasional security incidents, which highlight the
proliferation of weapons and armed groups that continue to operate in
Lebanon. The Secretary-General writes that he is concerned by security
incidents in and around Palestinian camps. He calls on Hezbollah to cease
any militant activities outside Lebanon and to complete its transformation
into a solely Lebanese political party, consistent with the requirements of
the Taif Agreement.
Regarding the parliamentary elections scheduled
for next month, the Secretary-General says that he is glad that the Lebanese
leaders have committed themselves to free and fair elections devoid of
violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
In response to a question, the Spokeswoman noted
that, starting on Saturday, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations Alain Le Roy would visit the UN peacekeeping missions in the
Middle East: the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),
the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
and the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATES OF
MISSIONS IN WESTERN SAHARA AND SUDAN
With the start of
a new month, Russia has assumed the rotating Presidency of the
Security Council. The new Council President, Russian Ambassador Vitaly
Churkin, intends to brief you in this room on Monday following Council
consultations on the programme of work for the coming month; we expect that
briefing to take place at around 11:30 a.m.
The Security
Council wrapped up its work for April yesterday afternoon by adopting a
Presidential Statement, in which it commended the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot leaders for the political leadership they have shown and
warmly welcomed the progress made so far in the fully-fledged negotiations
and the leaders’ joint statements. The Council strongly urges the leaders to
increase the momentum in negotiations, and it expressed its full support for
the Secretary-General’s good offices mission.
The Council also
extended the mandates of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara,
known as
MINURSO, and of the UN Mission in Sudan, or
UNMIS,
both by one year, until the end of April 2010.
BAN KI-MOON DEPLORES “SHOCKINGLY HIGH” RATE OF PRESS FREEDOM ABUSE
Sunday will be World Press
Freedom Day.
In a message to mark this day, the Secretary-General says that
attacks on journalists remain shockingly high in number and that murder and
detention are only the most blatant ways that journalists are silenced. Often,
he adds, fear leads journalists to censor themselves. He also voices concern
that some Governments are suppressing Internet access and the work of
Internet-based journalists and others using the “new media”.
On World Press Freedom day, the
Secretary-General pays tribute to all those who work in difficult conditions to
ensure that the rest of the world can have access to free and unbiased
information. Let us renew our resolve to protect their freedom and safety, he
says, and let us proclaim again our commitment to free and independent media as
an essential agent of human rights, development and peace.
SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW ENVOY FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN
The Secretary-General has
appointed Ms. Marta Santos Pais of Portugal as his Special Representative on
Violence Against Children at the Assistant Secretary-General level.
This appointment was made
following the recommendation included in the UN Secretary-General’s Study on
Violence Against Children. The UN General Assembly, at its 62nd session,
adopted resolution 62/141 requesting the Secretary-General to appoint for a
period of three years a Special Representative of the Secretary-General on
Violence Against Children.
The Office of the Special
Representative will be based in New York and provided with administrative
support by UNICEF. The position of the SRSG, as well as the Office to support
her, will be funded from voluntary contributions.
Ms. Santos Pais brings to the job
her tremendous passion, her firm commitment to the rights of the child, more
than 25 years experience on human rights issues and engagement in
inter-governmental processes.
She is currently the Director of
the UNICEF Innocenti Research Center, a post she holds since 2001. She joined
UNICEF in 1997 as Director of Evaluation, Policy and Planning and served as
Co-Chair of the UNDG Working Group on Human Rights. From 1991 to 1997, Ms. Santos
Pais was the Rapporteur of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the
Child. During this period, she also served as Vice-Chair of the Coordinating
Committee on Childhood Policies of the Council of Europe. She held a number of advisory
positions on human rights and legal issues in Portugal, authored many studies
and publications and served as Special Advisor to the Machel Study on children
affected by armed conflict and to the UN Study on Violence against Children.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR RESPECT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS & RULE OF LAW IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: In response to a question
on reported deadly attacks by government troops on civilians in the Ndele region
of the Central African Republic, the Spokeswoman said the Secretary-General is
concerned about any developments that could undermine the ongoing peace
consolidation process in the CAR. He views respect for human rights as a
critical element for sustainable peace in the CAR. He, therefore, remains
concerned about reports of alleged human rights violations in the country. As he
has consistently done on several occasions in his reports and meetings with the
authorities of the CAR, he once again calls for the respect of human rights and
the rule of law.
SOUTH AFRICA: U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY TO HELP STEER NATIONAL ANTI-XENOPHOBIA
CAMPAIGN: The UN Refugee Agency
says it has been invited by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to help steer a
two-year strategy to combat xenophobia in South Africa. UNHCR will provide financial and
technical support to the Foundation. It is also consulting with government and
civil society on how to implement the strategy, which will examine the root
causes of last year’s wave of deadly xenophobic violence. It will also seek to
promote peaceful co-existence between South Africans and the foreigners in their
midst. This announcement comes on the
first anniversary of last year’s incidents, which claimed the lives of 62
immigrants and refugees from other African countries, according to government
figures. Some 45,000 foreign nationals also fled their homes during that
period. UNHCR says that the situation has calmed down considerably since then,
but there remain fears of fresh violence as South Africa’s economy continues to
suffer amid a global depression.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Saturday, 2 May
Today, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations Alain Le Roy will begin a visit to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),
the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and the UN Disengagement Observer
Force (UNDOF).
Sunday, 3 May
Today is World Press Freedom Day.
Monday, 4 May
At 9 a.m. today, the Secretary-General and the Deputy
Secretary-General will be joined by Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the
World Health Organization by video conference and David Nabarro, Senior UN
System Coordinator for Influenza, to brief Member-States on the outbreak of the
influenza A (H1N1) and the state of preparedness of the organization at an
informal meeting of the General Assembly.
Starting today and through 15 May, the Commission on
Sustainable Development will hold its 17th session in Conference Room 4. This
policy session will focus on the thematic issues of Africa; agriculture; drought
and desertification; land; and rural development.
The Committee on Information will hold its 31st
session from today 15 May, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.
Today, in Conference Room 1, the Preparatory
Committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons opens its third session which will run
through 15 May.
Today through 15 May, the Human Rights Council’s
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review holds its fifth session in
Geneva.
Today through 22 May, the Committee on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR) holds its 42nd session in Geneva.
The International Law Commission opens its month-long
61st session in Geneva.
Today through 8 May, the UN Standing Advisory
Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, holds its 28th ministerial
meeting in Lireville, Gabon.
At 11.30 a.m. in Room-S226, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin,
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation and President of the Security
Council for May, briefs the press on the Council’s programme of work for the
month.
Tonight, at 6.30 pm in Conference Room 1, there will
be a screening of the documentary “The Strangest Dream.” The film tells the
story of nuclear physicist Joseph Rotblat who was branded a traitor and spy
after walking away from the Manhattan Project. With Bertrand Russell, he went on
to help create the modern peace movement and eventually won the Nobel Peace
Prize. This New York premiere is co-sponsored by the UN Office for Disarmament
Affairs, the Pugwash Conferences and the National Film Board of Canada, and
takes place on the first day of the third session of the Preparatory Committee
for the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Filmmaker Eric Bednarski will be present for
a Q&A session following the screening.
Tuesday, 5 May
At 11 a.m. in Room-S226, the Secretary-General holds
his monthly press conference.
Today, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, visits
Kazakhstan, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
He will be in the country until 14 May.
Wednesday, 6 May
At 11 a.m. in Room-S226, Julia Freedson from
Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, Jo Becker from Human Rights Watch and
Htoo Htoo from the Karen Human Rights Group hold a press conference to launch
Watchlist’s new report on children and armed conflict in Myanmar.
The guest at the noon briefing, Karin Landgren, the
Secretary-General’s Representative in Nepal and Head of the UN Mission in Nepal
(UNMIN), briefs on the situation in that country.
Thursday, 7 May
No major events are scheduled for today.
Friday, 8 May
No major events are scheduled for today.
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