LEBANON: SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF RAFIQ HARIRI’S ASSASSINATION

• As Lebanon marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack that took the lives of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others, the Secretary-General stands with the people of Lebanon in commemorating the life and achievements of Mr. Hariri and renews his condolences to the families of the victims of this crime.

• The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to the efforts of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to uncover the truth so as to bring those responsible to justice and send a message that impunity will not be tolerated.

• The Secretary-General also calls for the full implementation of all Security Council resolutions pertaining to Lebanon.

 

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON CAMBODIA, THAILAND

• The Security Council is holding consultations on Cambodia/Thailand this morning.

• The Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand spoke to journalists after the meeting finished.

• The Thai Foreign Minister is holding a press conference at UN Headquarters this afternoon.

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT

• The Secretary-General is in Quito, Ecuador, where he met with President Rafael Correa, and the two men spoke to the press afterward.

• The Secretary-General told the President that he has come to show support for Ecuador when it is still recovering from last September’s events. He expressed his trust that with dialogue, Ecuador will continue to strengthen its institutions, advance development and forge solidarity.

• This evening, he will travel to Peru, where he will meet with President Alan Garcia on Tuesday.

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S REPORTS SPOTLIGHT SITUATION OF CHILDREN IN AFGHANISTAN, CHAD

• The Secretary-General’s latest reports on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan and Chad are out as documents.

• On Afghanistan, he says that children have been used by anti-government elements for suicide bombing or for planting explosives.

• Children are also being recruited by the Afghan National Security Forces, despite the official government policy.

• On Chad, the Secretary-General says that the improved security situation in the country’s east has had a positive impact on the protection of children, with a large number of children having been returned or released from armed groups.

• However, he writes, children continued to be targets of sexual and gender-based violence.

 

U.N. HUMANITARIAN ARM WARNS COMING RAINS COULD SET BACK FLOOD RELIEF OPERATIONS IN SRI LANKA

• In Sri Lanka, more of those displaced by recent flooding were able to return to their homes over the weekend, and the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) dropped from nearly 70,000 to under 10,000.

• But the Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says it is concerned that predictions of heavy rains in many areas in the coming week may set back relief operations, as both government and agency capacities are currently extended in meeting the basic needs of flood-affected people.

• In Batticaloa District, the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing emergency food to 192,000 people in 14 Divisions for up to 6 days. The most vulnerable will be included in the Food-For-Work programme which began in February and will continue until May.

• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supplied enough chlorine tablets to meet the needs of approximately 300,000 people.

• As of 11 February, a total of US$ 18.3 million has been received for the flood response, and the $51 million Flash Appeal is now nearly 30 per cent funded.

 

NO ADDITIONAL COST TO U.N. FOR TRANSPORTING SUDANESE OFFICIAL

• Asked about a United Nations flight transporting Governor Haroun, the Spokesperson said that at the request of the Government and when space is available, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) provides seats on its flights to Government officials on official business related to the peace process, without any financial implications to the Government and at no additional operational costs to the mission.

• This means, he added, that as part of the Mission's mandate, the cost of transporting Government officials – whether on a regular or a special flight – is already allocated in the Mission’s budget. Hence, it does not incur any additional operational costs to the mission, said Nesirky.

• The Spokesperson also said that in the case of Governor Haroun, and as mentioned by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Sudan, Haile Menkerios, a regular flight was not available and that therefore UNMIS transported Governor Haroun as part of its mandate to provide good offices to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement parties in their efforts to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations.

• He recalled that at the time there were ongoing clashes in Abyei threatening to escalate to wider war. Nesirky noted that Governor Haroun was instrumental to bring the Missiriya leaders in Southern Kordofan to peace meeting in Abyei to stop further clashes and killings.

 

U.N. MISSION EXAMINING SITUATION FOLLOWING ATTACKS ON CITIZENS IN NORTHERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• In response to a question on attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Spokesperson said that following attacks on civilians on 11 February in the town of Faradje, in the country’s north, the UN Mission there, MONUSCO, in collaboration with the Congolese army and the local administration, had met today with the residents of Faradje and was examining the situation. He said they would recommend measures to enhance the security in the area.

• Nesirky added that the Mission’s and the Congolese army’s deployments in Faradje had been reinforced as soon as 12 February, with troops airlifted from Dungu, more than 100 kilometres from Faradje.