HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 15 JULY 2015

U.N. RELIEF CHIEF VOICES DEEP CONCERN OVER ‘CATASTROPHIC’ HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN YEMEN

• Stephen O’Brien, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, said today that he is even more deeply concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen. Millions of women, children and men are facing terrifying violence, extreme hunger and little medical assistance as the fighting, shelling and bombing by all parties show no sign of abating.
• Mr. O’Brien said that it is extremely disappointing that the humanitarian pause did not take hold over the weekend. He called again on all parties to the conflict to agree an immediate and unconditional humanitarian pause across the country.
• Mr. O’Brien urges the parties to abide by their obligations under international law to protect civilians and facilitate rapid, safe and predictable access for humanitarian organizations to reach all people who need assistance, wherever they are in Yemen.
• Despite the continued fighting, the UN’s humanitarian colleagues and their partners on the ground have been able to distribute some vital aid for the families in desperate need. However, it is not nearly enough and we need access and funds to rapidly scale up critical humanitarian supplies and services, said the Emergency Relief Coordinator.
• He added that a political solution to this conflict is what the people of Yemen need and that he hopes that the international community will do all it can for the Yemeni families who are counting on this.
• The hostilities in Aden have escalated dramatically recently. The humanitarian situation in that city is of great concern, with the water supply in the Khormaksar neighbourhood badly damaged and hospitals across the city receiving casualties. Many houses have also been damaged and residents need emergency shelter. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been able to enter the city with food for over 100,000 displaced people, but is struggling to reach people in need due to insecurity.
• A statement issued today by the humanitarian community in Yemen, including the UN, says that Yemenis continue to suffer immensely as violence escalates unabated. This week has seen some of the deadliest days recorded since the conflict escalated in March. Although more than 4.4 million people have received humanitarian aid since March, 21 million people require humanitarian assistance – a staggering 80 per cent of the Yemeni population. To scale up, the humanitarian community urgently requires funding. Yemen’s humanitarian appeal has received only 15 per cent of the requested $1.6 billion, which are the funds needed only until the end of 2015.

SECRETARY-GENERAL: SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME AT DEVELOPMENT FINANCING SUMMIT CRUCIAL FOR POST-2015 ERA

• The Secretary-General is on his way back to New York from Addis Ababa, where he had attended the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. 
• Before his departure, he told reporters that the Conference has the potential to shape the international cooperation for years to come. He emphasized that a successful outcome is crucial for building trust and momentum towards the adoption of an ambitious post-2015 development agenda in New York in September and a universal agreement on climate change in Paris in December of this year.
• The Secretary-General said that Member States are in the final stages of their negotiations, with an agreement in sight. He said that he was encouraged by the strong momentum and ownership among all partners.
• He urged the negotiators to keep in mind, as they finish their work, the goal of a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development that should leave no one behind. 

U.N. LIBYA ENVOY URGES ALL PARTIES TO CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT IN DIALOGUE PROCESS

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya and head of the UN mission, Bernardino León, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Libya this morning.
• Stressing that Libya is now at a critical stage, Mr. León urged all parties in Libya to continue to engage constructively in the dialogue process. He added that spoilers should be held accountable, as they bear the responsibility of hindering the political agreement.
• On 11 July, in Morocco, a number of Libyan parties initialled a political agreement – bringing the country one step closer to ending the conflict and paving the way for further talks. A peaceful transition will only succeed in Libya through a significant and coordinated effort in supporting a future Government of National Accord, said Mr. León.
• He added that sufficient security in Tripoli and throughout the country must be achieved to ensure that key functions of the public administration can resume.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST RECENT DEADLY ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN

• Yesterday evening, in a statement on Afghanistan, the Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms the recent attacks in the country that killed and injured more than 100 civilians, including women and children.
• The Secretary-General expressed his solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and called for the persons responsible for these attacks to be brought to justice.

UKRAINE: PEOPLE CONTINUING TO FLEE HOMES, U.N. REPORTS

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that according to the Government of Ukraine and the UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR), the number of people fleeing their homes continue to rise, with close to 1.4 million people now internally displaced, and some 922,000 people, having fled to neighbouring countries.
• Aid organizations have been concerned about the freedom of movement for civilians in the past two weeks in eastern Ukraine. Long lines of people are reported at checkpoints for crossing to non-government controlled areas.
• According to humanitarian partners, people are lining for up to 48 hours at these checkpoints. Humanitarian partners are also concerned about the potential impact of regulations put in place last month by the authorities which prevent commercial flows of food and medicine to non-government controlled areas.

ON FIRST-EVER YOUTH SKILLS DAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES STEPPED UP INVESTMENT IN DEVELOPING YOUNG PEOPLE’S SKILLS

• Today marks the first-ever commemoration of World Youth Skills Day.
• In his message for the day, the Secretary-General called for investing politically and financially in developing the skills of young people so they can help build a more just and sustainable future for all.
• He stressed that while overall more young people have greater educational opportunities than in the past, there are still some 75 million adolescents who are out of school, denied the quality education they deserve and are unable to acquire the skills they need.