HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARIE OKABE
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON
FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Friday, May 8, 2009
PAKISTAN:
UNITED NATIONS AND HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS ADDRESSING MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
says it has been working to address a situation of massive displacement in
north-west Pakistan following the recent fighting there. The Agency cites
estimates from the provincial government that between 150,000 to 200,000
people have already arrived in safer areas of North West Frontier Province
(NWFP) over the last few days, with another 300,000 already on the move or
about to move.
Those fleeing the latest escalation of hostilities join
another 555,000 previously displaced Pakistanis who had fled their homes in
the tribal areas and NWFP since August 2008.
UNHCR adds that, in the last two days, an increasing
number of families from Swat have gone to one of the camps it has set up for
displaced persons, traveling in rickshaws, cars, small trucks and buses.
Most carry little more than the clothes on their backs.
The World Food Programme
says that, even before these most recent days of conflict, WFP had been
aiming to feed about 600,000 people this month in the affected area. It has
set up seven humanitarian hubs that humanitarian organizations could use for
distributing material.
UNICEF
adds that the majority of those worst affected are children, who have
witnessed violence, experienced displacement and faced interruptions in
education and health services.
SECURITY
COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON RECENT FIGHTING IN EASTERN CHAD
Assistant
Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Dmitry Titov, today briefed the
Security Council on the recent fighting in eastern Chad, in an open
meeting this morning .
Titov said that
the UN Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT)
was able to confirm that the Chadian National Army was conducting air
strikes against a rebel column in eastern Chad, in the area of Goz Beida.
Two days ago,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed increasing concern at the fighting
and called for the respect of the humanitarian character of the operations
of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in eastern Chad.
Titov said that the deteriorating security situation
has prompted humanitarian actors, including three UN agencies and 11 NGOs,
to relocate their non-essential staff as a precautionary measure. He added
that, as of yet, no significant population displacements have been reported
as a result of the fighting.
At 3 p.m., the Security Council scheduled further
consultations in connection with the situation in Chad, the Central African
Republic and the sub-region.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
says that more than half of its consolidated appeal for $385 million for
Chad remains unfunded. Only 41 percent of total required funds were
received, with education and health remaining severely under-funded while
other components of the appeal have received no funds at all.
Tensions remain high in eastern Chad following clashes
between government and rebel troops. OCHA says 57 aid workers have been
relocated to Goz Beida, where UN peacekeepers are deployed to protect
civilians and aid operations. It adds that as volatile as the situation
appears, it has not affected living conditions for the refugees and
internally displaced. It joins other UN agencies in appealing to the warring
parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and
allow aid workers to reach those in greatest need.
DARFUR: ENVOY
CONDEMNS KILLING OF 15TH PEACEKEEPER SINCE JOINT MISSION DEPLOYMENT
The African Union-United Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
reports that one of its peacekeepers was shot and killed last night in
South Darfur during a carjacking incident.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., unidentified gunmen shot
the male military observer as he was opening the gate of his residence in
Nyala, the state capital, to park his vehicle. The peacekeeper was rushed to
a nearby UNAMID medical centre for treatment but died upon arrival.
UNAMID, which has started its own probe into the attack, informed local
officials with Sudanese Government police and national security, who are
also investigating the killing. The military observer’s vehicle was later
found abandoned about seven kilometers away from Nyala.
His name, rank and nationality have not yet been
released pending notification to next of kin. He is the 15th UNAMID
peacekeeper killed as a result of hostile action since UNAMID deployed at
the start of 2008.
The Joint AU-UN Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada,
condemned the killing in the strongest terms, emphasizing that attacks on
peacekeepers constitute war crimes. Adada called on the Sudanese Government
and the parties to the Darfur conflict to do everything possible to bring
the perpetrators of last night’s shooting to justice.
While the overall number of carjackings and thefts of
UNAMID vehicles has declined since last year, such incidents continue across
the region, particularly in South Darfur. A Nigerian peacekeeper was shot
and killed during an ambush of a Mission escort patrol near Nyala on 17
March.
U.N.
HUMANITARIAN CHIEF SPENDS TODAY IN SOUTHERN SUDAN; PLANS TO TRAVEL TO DARFUR
TOMORROW
Under-Secretary General and Emergency Relief
Coordinator John Holmes landed this morning in Juba in Southern Sudan. He
subsequently went to Akobo in Jonglei state, where thousands are taking
shelter after fleeing recent violence.
John Holmes met men, women and children, who discussed
their plight with him. Currently, 24 humanitarian organizations are
responding to these increasing needs in seven of the 10 states of Southern
Sudan. Since January 2009, more than 100,000 people have been displaced in
seven states in Southern Sudan due to the Lord’s Resistance Army and
inter-ethnic clashes.
Holmes also met with Riek Machar, Vice-President of the
Government of Southern Sudan; they discussed humanitarian needs in Southern
Sudan.
On Saturday, he will travel to Darfur to meet with
local leaders and aid workers.
SRI LANKA: AID AGENCIES WORKING TO
ASSIST DISPLACED AS FIGHTING CONTINUES
While fighting remains ongoing in northern Sri Lanka,
another food shipment of 25 metric tons went in to the conflict zone aboard
an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) boat.
According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),
as of yesterday, over 196,000 people had crossed to government controlled
areas, while over 1700 wounded and their caregivers are in hospitals. Of
those who are in camps, some 177,000 are in Vavuniya, where congestion
continues to be a problem. No other IDPs are reported to be in transit, and
the number of civilians remaining in the conflict zone is still estimated at
least 50,000.
Aid agencies continue to work full speed to put in
place assistance for the displaced.
Protection agencies conducted a survey of 100 randomly
selected shelters in Menik Farm in Vavuniya, which showed that 72 percent of
the interviewees were separated from family members in some way while trying
to flee the conflict zone. In addition, 22 percent of the families reported
that an immediate family member had died and some 15 percent of the
households were female headed, according to OCHA.
HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL FACT-FINDING MISSION ON GAZA CONFLICT BEGINS WORK IN GENEVA
The Fact-Finding Mission, which the Human Rights
Council established last month to investigate violations of international
human rights and humanitarian law in the context of the recent conflict in
Gaza,
began its work in Geneva this week.
During their week-long session in Geneva, the four
members of the Mission, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, held initial
meetings with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including
representatives of Member States, the UN, and non-governmental
organizations. The Mission also established terms of reference and a
three-month programme of work.
In the course of its work, the Mission intends to
conduct visits to affected areas of southern Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including Gaza. It has requested Israel’s cooperation
in this regard.
According to Justice Goldstone, the Mission will focus
its investigation not on political considerations, but on an objective and
impartial analysis of compliance of the parties to the conflict with their
obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law --
especially their responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians and
non-combatants.
Justice Goldstone has also said that he believes that
an objective assessment of the issues is in the interests of all parties,
will promote a culture of accountability, and could serve to promote greater
peace and security in the region.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DELIVERS
INFLUENZA ANTIVIRAL DRUGS
On the influenza A (H1N1) virus, the World Health
Organization (WHO)
confirms that the number of lab-confirmed cases has increased to 2,500 –
from 2,099 yesterday. Those cases include 44 deaths. WHO says that 25
countries are now reporting cases. Those countries now include Brazil, which
has reported 4 cases.
Regarding WHO’s influenza alert level, we are still at
phase 5, the agency says.
WHO is working to get more than 2 million doses
of antiviral drugs to 72 countries, primarily in the developing world. So
far this week, the agency has already begun dispatching antivirals to 49
countries. Delivery will take several days to reach each of the
countries. In addition, WHO has sent some 600,000 doses to its six regional
offices.
BAN KI-MOON TO TRAVEL TO BAHRAIN AND
SWITZERLAND NEXT WEEK
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to travel to
Manama, Bahrain and Geneva, Switzerland, starting a week from today.
His two-day visit in Manama will focus on the official
Launch of the 2009 Global Assessment Report on
Disaster Risk Reduction, which will take place on 17-18 May.
The Secretary-General is set to deliver opening remarks
at the launching ceremony, hosted by the Prime Minister of Bahrain.
This is the U.N.’s first global report that identifies
increasing disaster risk factors and recommends 20 actions to reduce such
risks, which will have beneficial effects on broader global security,
stability and sustainability. The main message in the report is that
investing in disaster risk reduction will help reduce poverty, safeguard
development and help to adapt to climate change.
While in Bahrain, the Secretary-General is scheduled to
meet with His Majesty the King, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as
the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister.
After that, the Secretary-General will travel to
Geneva, where he is set to deliver the keynote speech in the Plenary of the
World Health Assembly. He will also participate in a high-level meeting,
convened by the World Health Organization (WHO),
with representatives of some 20 pharmaceutical companies, to ensure that
developing countries will have access to vaccines.
The Secretary-General will also participate in the
launch of the Innovative-8 Group (or I-8 Group) on financing for the
health-related Millennium Development Goals. He will also take part in the
Plenary Session of the Conference on Disarmament also to be held in Geneva.
He is also scheduled to meet with UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is in
Pretoria where she will represent the Secretary-General at the inauguration
ceremony of President-elect Jacob Zuma, tomorrow.
During her visit to South Africa, she will also hold
bilateral meetings with South African and regional leaders from the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) -- focusing on issues related to
regional security, economic development, and progress towards the conclusion
of an agreement at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, later this year.
On Monday, the Deputy-Secretary-General will travel to
Hanoi, Vietnam. She will hold high-level consultations with the Government
of Vietnam on their “Delivering as One” experience. Vietnam is one of the
pilot countries for this UN reform aimed at better coordinating UN
activities at the country level.
The following Thursday, May 14, she will be in Bangkok
to chair the Regional Coordination Mechanism Meeting of the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
OTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNITED NATIONS IS CONCERNED OVER WELL BEING OF CHILDREN
IN HORN OF AFRICA: The combination of chronic food insecurity, conflict and
political instability is threatening the well being and lives of millions of
children in the Horn of Africa. UNICEF
says that over the last few months it has witnessed a steady increase in the
numbers of children suffering from acute malnutrition, which means that more
children are at risk of death and disease. Working closely with humanitarian
partners, it is scaling up its assistance to reach the most vulnerable while
strengthening nutrition surveillance systems, community-based feeding and
improving access to safe water and good sanitation. UNICEF also notes that it
has received less than 10 percent of its projected emergency funding
requirements for the Horn of Africa this year and calls for additional funding.
UNITED NATIONS AND WORLD BANK BUILD “PEACE VILLAGES” IN
BURUNDI: UN agencies and the World Bank are helping build a number of
so-called peace villages in Burundi to house landless former refugees and others
dispossessed Burundians. According to the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 11 of these Rural Integrated Villages, as the peace
villages are formally known, should be completed this year in Burundi’s southern
provinces. This project grew out of a joint reconstruction strategy adopted last
year by the Burundi government, UN agencies and international donors. It seeks
to provide durable solutions for landless returnees and displaced persons as
well as other vulnerable populations.
SOMALI CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, NUTRITION
CAMPAIGNS: Some 750,000 Somali children under the age of five and some
500,000 Somali women of child bearing age are benefiting from a UNICEF public
health campaign. The Child Health Days campaign brings vaccines, vitamin A,
de-worming and diarrhoea prevention kits as well as nutritional screening and
health promotion to people in all accessible parts of Somalia. The World Food
Programme, meanwhile, is expanding its nutrition initiatives in central and
northwest Somalia in a bid to reach 50 percent of local children considered
moderately malnourished.
SPOKESWOMAN CORRECTS DESCRIPTION OF SECRETARY-GENERAL’S
MEETING WITH ISRAELI PRESIDENT: In a response to a question regarding a
story in Yedioth Ahronoth, the Spokeswoman emphasized that the statements
attributed to the Secretary-General by Yedioth Ahronoth in describing his
meeting with the Israeli President on 6th May are inaccurate and completely
misleading. In line with our standard practice, she added, we wish to reaffirm
the readout of the meeting that was issued by us on that day itself.
THE WEEK
AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Saturday, 9
May
The
Deputy Secretary-General will be in Pretoria, South Africa, to represent the
Secretary-General at the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Jacob Zuma.
Sunday, 10 May
From
today until 12 May, the 1st World Social Science Forum, organized by the
International Social Science Council (ISSC) in cooperation with the University
of Bergen and the Stein Rokkan Centre and supported by more than 30 partners
including UNESCO, will meet in Bergen (Norway), with more than 800 participants
from some 40 countries.
Monday, 11 May
The Security Council will hold an open meeting on the
Middle East, under the chairmanship of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
At 12.30 p.m., Mr. Lavrov will brief the press in Room-S226.
Starting today and until Wednesday, the Deputy
Secretary-General is in Hanoi, Vietnam, where she will highlight progress on UN
reform in this “Delivering as One” pilot country.
The Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of
Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of
Illicit Appropriation will hold its 15th session at UNESCO Headquarters, in
Paris, from today to 13 May. The three cases pending before the Committee will
be up for further discussion.: the famous Parthenon Marbles, presently in the
British Museum and claimed by Greece; the Hittite Sphinx of Boğazköy, involving
Turkey and Germany; and the Makonde Mask claimed from Switzerland by Tanzania.
Tuesday, 12 May
Today, at 10 a.m., in the General Assembly Hall, eighteen
members of the Human Rights Council are expected to be elected.
At 6 p.m. an art exhibit by the UN Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) and the International Criminal Court’s
Trust Fund for Victims opens in the Delegates Dining Room. The exhibit
entitled “Welcome to Gulu” will be curated by artist Ross Bleckner, who will be
appointed a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador at the opening.
Wednesday, 13 May
This morning, the Security Council will hold a debate on
Somalia, followed by consultations on Somalia as well as on the 1718 Committee.
The High-Level Segment of the 17th session in
Conference of the Commission on Sustainable Development begins today.
The General Assembly will hold an interactive thematic
dialogue entitled “Taking collective action to end human trafficking” today, at
10 a.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.
In Paris, France, the International Jury of the Félix
Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize will meet today at UNESCO Headquarters and announce
the name of the laureate or laureates. The Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize
honors “people, institutions or organizations that have contributed
significantly to the promotion, research, preservation or maintenance of peace,
mindful of the United Nations Charter and UNESCO’s Constitution.”
Thursday, 14 May
Today and tomorrow, the Deputy Secretary-General will
chair, in Bangkok, Thailand, the annual meeting of the Regional Coordination
Mechanism in Asia and the Pacific – which raise the "Delivering as One" concept
to a regional level.
Starting today and until May 16, the
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain le Roy, will attend
the "UN Conference on Robust Peacekeeping: Exploring the Challenges in Doctrine,
Commitments and Conduct of Operations," at Wilton Park, in the United Kingdom.
The event is organized by the Department of Peacekeeping Operation's (DPKO)
Office of Military Affairs and forms part of DPKO's internal review known as the
"New Horizon" study, which aims to address the new challenges and realities
facing UN peacekeeping.
The Greek Cypriot leader and the Turkish Cypriot leader
will meet today, in Nicosia, under the auspices of the United Nations.
The guest at the noon briefing, Yvo de Boer,
Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), will provide an update on the climate change
negotiations.
Friday, 15 May
Today is the International Day of Families.
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