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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESPERSON’S NOON BRIEFING

BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 16 AUGUST 2011 

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET CONCERNED BY PLANNING FOR NEW HOUSING UNITS IN ARIEL AND EAST JERUSALEM

 

• The Quartet (which comprises the United Nations, the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States) said today that it is greatly concerned by Israel's recent announcements to advance planning for new housing units in Ariel and East Jerusalem, and reiterates its position in this regard, in particular its statement of March 12, 2010.  The Quartet reaffirms that unilateral action by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.
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• Jerusalem in particular is one of the core issues that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties, which underscores the urgent need for the parties to resume serious and substantive talks. This comes at a critical juncture with Quartet efforts ongoing to resume negotiations which are the only way to a just and durable solution to the conflict.
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• The Quartet is determined to pursue its efforts. Ultimately, it is up to Israeli and Palestinian leaders to make tough decisions and avoid actions by their governments that undermine the very goals they and we are trying to achieve.
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ETHIOPIA: DEATH RATES AT ALARMING LEVELS IN REFUGEES CAMP, AS SOMALIS CROSS AT NEW ENTRY POINTS

 

• The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says that death rates have reached alarming levels among new arrivals at one of the four refugee camps at the Dollo Ado complex in Ethiopia. Since the Kobe refugee camp opened in June, 10 children under the age of five have died every day, on average.
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• UNHCR says that malnutrition is the leading cause of the high mortality rate but that a suspected measles outbreak is compounding the problem. The agency is urgently working with partners to respond to the emergency and control the suspected measles outbreak. A mass vaccination campaign against measles was completed in Kobe camp on Monday, targeting all children between the ages of six months and 15 years. It will continue in the other camps in the coming days.
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• Elsewhere in Ethiopia, some 17,500 Somalis have crossed into the Gode and Afder areas over the past six weeks, according to a joint field mission led by UNHCR and the Government of Ethiopia. These are new entry points some 250 kilometres northeast of Dollo Ado, which has been the primary destination in Ethiopia for Somalis. New arrivals are staying in makeshift shelters in five different locations.
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• UNHCR and the Government of Ethiopia have decided to immediately provide a one-month food ration to the new arrivals.  The assessment team recommended rushing essential drugs to them and is looking into possibilities for relocating this group to the camps in Dollo Ado.

 

REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS 2,000 PEOPLE HAVE FLED FROM LIBYA AND TUNISIA INTO LAMPEDUSA

 

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that almost 2,000 people had arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa over the weekend from Libya and Tunisia.
   
• From interviews with some of the new arrivals, it was apparent that people were continuing to leave for a variety of reasons.  A group of Sudanese men told UNHCR that they had been rounded up in Tripoli and forced onto a boat.  Others said they had lost jobs in Libya and were hoping for work in Europe.
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• Of the 52,000 people who had arrived in Italy as part of this year’s North Africa outflow, 27,000 had departed from Libya and the rest from Tunisia.  To date 1,500 people have lost their lives attempting to reach Italy’s shores, often because of unseaworthy vessels and an absence of qualified skippers onboard. 

 

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS ON AZERBAIJAN TO GUARANTEE SAFE CONDITIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

 

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is concerned by the August 11 destruction in Baku of the building housing the Institute of Peace and Democracy, as well as of two other important non-governmental organizations in the Azerbaijan capital.
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• Given the worrying reports of forced evictions and destruction of property in Baku, as well as of harassment of human rights defenders, OHCHR is calling on the authorities of Azerbaijan to thoroughly investigate this case and, if necessary, provide adequate compensation and restitution.
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• The Office is also calling on the government of Azerbaijan to guarantee safe working conditions for the Institute for Peace and Democracy, as well as for other human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, in line with the fundamental principles set forth in international agreements.

 

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, SA-1B15
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055
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