HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 24 JUNE 2015

U.N. YEMEN ENVOY STRESSES NEED FOR EXTENDED HUMANITARIAN PAUSE

• The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, briefed the Security Council today on the consultations that took place last week in Geneva with the Yemeni parties.
• Although the Yemenis did not achieve consensus on substantive issues, the Special Envoy had made it clear that he held constructive discussions with both delegations and established areas of common ground.
• Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed has said that the principles he proposed to the parties provide a framework for obtaining a ceasefire and withdrawal of armed forces from contested cities and a path towards a renewed political process.
• He has also asserted that the need for an agreement on an extended humanitarian pause or cease-fire has never been more urgent.
• Analysis from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shows a 400,000 metric tonnes shortfall in cereal imports in the past four months.
• Yemen also faces a 1.8 million metric tonne shortfall in fuel imports for the first three weeks of June. Fuel imports are sufficient to meet only 11 per cent of essential needs of the country.
• Since the escalation of the conflict, the average national price for cooking gas has increased by 153 per cent, the price of diesel has increased by 478 per cent and the price of petrol has increased by 389 per cent, according to humanitarian partners.
• This has had a significant impact on the food insecurity and the delivery of basic services including water, sanitation and healthcare.
• Over 3,000 suspected dengue cases have been reported since March, and these numbers could rise, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite severe restrictions and insecurity, aid agencies have continued to provide assistance since the conflict escalated.
• Overall 4.4 million people have been reached in all governorates. About 3.3 million people received water and sanitation assistance, 880,000 people benefitted from health interventions.

THOUSANDS OF ERITREANS CONTINUE TO FLEE GOVERNMENT REPRESSION, SAYS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

• The Commission of Inquiry for Eritrea today informed the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that, with thousands of Eritreans continuing to flee Government repression, the dire human rights situation in that country can no longer be ignored.
• The three-member Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea issued a report which describes a state that rules through fear and a vast security network that reaches into every level of society.
• The commission called on the Human Rights Council to maintain close scrutiny on violations committed in Eritrea, which it said may constitute crimes against humanity.
• That report was produced by the Commission of Inquiry for Eritrea, which was created by the Human Rights Council.

U.N. DEPUTY CHIEF SAYS MORE FUNDING IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT GLOBAL PEACEBUILDING EFFORTS

• The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, in opening the Annual Peacebuilding Fund Stakeholders Meeting today, noted that the Fund is in pressing need of an increase in support.
• Mr. Eliasson reminded the participants that it would be short-sighted not to invest in conflict prevention and post-conflict programmes.
• He said that it would be tragic and ironic if, “just as the Peacebuilding Fund is finding its feet and role, the rug is pulled out from underneath it.” 
• He suggested considering devoting a small amount of assessed contributions for peacebuilding purposes, as an additional way to capitalize the Fund. 

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. MISSION LAUNCHES MILITARY OPERATION TO RESTORE SECURITY ON ROAD TO CAPITAL

• The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) launched a military operation aimed at restoring freedom of movement and security on the main road of the Nana -Mambéré Prefecture which supplies the capital city of Bangui.
• The peacekeepers recently dismantled a camp of a rebel group perpetrating numerous acts of terror, robberies and hostage-taking in the sector between Baboua and Zokoumbo.
• In the abandoned camp, they seized weapons, ammunition, ID cards of different countries, as well as drugs.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT SENTENCING OF HEAD OF BAHRAIN’S LARGEST OPPOSITION SOCIETY

• In response to a question on Bahrain, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General is concerned that Sheikh Ali Salman, Secretary General of the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, Bahrain’s largest opposition society, was sentenced to four years in prison on 16 June. 
• He urged the Bahraini authorities to enable Sheikh Ali Salman to exercise his right to appeal and to guarantee a fair trial. He also called on the Bahraini authorities to act in accordance with their obligation to ensure the protection of freedom of expression and assembly. 
• The Secretary-General firmly believes that the best way to reduce tensions and ensure peace, stability and prosperity for all Bahrainis is through a genuine and all-inclusive political dialogue between the Government and the opposition.