HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2015

RECENT ATTACKS SHOW MOUNTING THREAT POSED BY DA’ESH, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL

• This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the Security Council open debate on security, development and the root causes of conflicts.
• He began by offering his condolences to the Government and people of France, following the atrocious terrorist attack last Friday.
• The Secretary-General said in the aftermath of other terrorist bombings in recent days in Beirut and Baghdad, and the apparent bombing of a Russian airplane, the world is seeing the continuing peril of terrorism and the mounting threat from Da’esh. No grievance or cause can justify such acts, he added.
• Turning to the recent G20 Summit in Turkey, the Secretary-General said he was encouraged by the shared resolve to combine security-based counter-terrorism measures with preventive steps. He also welcomed the consensus to uphold the rule of law, and to avoid being ruled by fear and inflaming tensions further still.
• He expressed concern over reprisals or further discrimination against Muslims, especially Muslim refugees and migrants, adding that this would only exacerbate the alienation on which terrorists feed.
• The Secretary-General stressed the need for greater focus on prevention and human rights as well as to strengthen coherence among all actors.
• The Secretary-General will sign a condolences book this afternoon at the French Mission.

CAMBODIA: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY STEPPED UP TENSIONS BETWEEN RULING PARTY, OPPOSITION

• In a statement, the Secretary-General said that he is following with concern the increasing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition in Cambodia.  The arrest warrant issued against opposition leader Sam Rainsy on 13 November and earlier incidents against opposition parliamentarians and leaders are worrisome developments.
• The Secretary-General urges the Cambodian People's Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party to resume their cooperation and dialogue and encourages all political players to refrain from violence, intimidation and harassment. A non-threatening environment of democratic dialogue is essential for political stability and a peaceful society.

NEW U.N. LIBYA ENVOY TAKES UP POST

• Martin Kobler started his position today as the new the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya.
• Stressing the need for dialogue and unity, Mr. Kobler said that he is determined to work together with all Libyans to achieve the peace that the Libyan people desperately need and truly deserve.
  He said that the tireless efforts exerted by the Libyan parties over the past year have come a long way in bridging differences, adding that continuity of the dialogue process and building on what has been achieved to date is the way forward.
• Mr. Kobler is now in Tunis and is expected to listen to the members of the political dialogue and the proposed Presidency Council as well as various other Libyan partners to address and finalise the remaining outstanding issues, in the coming days.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. MISSION LAUNCHES OPERATION TO PROTECT CIVILIANS IN CAPITAL

• The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) launched an operation yesterday in Bangui as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure security in the capital, restore freedom of movement and protect civilians.
• The Mission reports that during the operation a grenade was launched by unidentified individuals towards the Mission’s peacekeepers who were removing barricades in the Fatima neighborhood in the 6th district. The attack resulted in four Formed Police Unit officers being wounded and six suspected anti-Balaka fighters killed.
• The operation will continue over the next few days and is supported by Sangaris and members of the country’s national gendarmerie.
• The Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic, Aurélien A. Agbénonci, has strongly condemned repeated attacks on sites for internally displaced people.
• Following recent inter-communal violence, including attacks last week in Batangafo, Bambari and Bangui, he said it was urgent that international laws and conventions are respected and that all parties to the conflict take immediate action and responsibility to respect the humanitarian space and secure the rights of the civilian population.
• Our humanitarian colleagues say that the increasing insecurity makes the work of humanitarian actors even more challenging. However, humanitarian workers are committed to stay and deliver.

U.N. RELIEF CHIEF TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL OF ‘RELENTLESS’ PACE OF DISPLACEMENT IN SYRIA

• Stephen O’Brien, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, yesterday briefed the Security Council on Syria, and he said that the pace of displacement there remains relentless.
• In Aleppo, at least 50,000 people are confirmed to have been displaced since early October following an escalation of the fighting between non-State armed opposition groups and the Government of Syria.
• Meanwhile, Da’esh attacks in eastern rural Homs in late October have led to the displacement of an estimated 25,000 people. Further displacement is expected to continue at a similar rate unless there is a reduction in violence.

IN WAKE OF PARIS ATTACKS, REFUGEES MUST NOT BE TURNED INTO SCAPEGOATS, U.N. AGENCY WARNS

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today expressed its shock and horror at the recent Paris attacks and the killing of so many people, but also stressed that refugees must not be turned into scapegoats and become the secondary victims of the tragic events.
• The High Commissioner, António Guterres, has conveyed his solidarity with the Government and people of France, as he also did with the Government of Lebanon following the recent deadly attacks in Beirut.
• UNHCR said that the overwhelming majority of those coming to Europe are fleeing persecution or the life-threatening effects of conflict and are unable to reach safety in Europe by alternative avenues.
• UNHCR voiced concern about reactions by some States to end the programs being put in place, backtracking from commitments such as relocation made to manage the refugee crisis, or proposing the erection of more barriers.
• It said that it is deeply disturbed by language that demonizes refugees as a group. This is dangerous as it will contribute to xenophobia and fear.
• UNHCR stressed that the security of our societies and ensuring the integrity of asylum in Europe are objectives that are not incompatible. These are central to maintaining European core values and protecting the right to seek asylum.

CLIMATE CHANGE PACT COULD PROTECT HEALTH OF FUTURE GENERATIONS – WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

• The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement today that the Paris climate change conference offers the world an important opportunity to not only reach a strong international climate agreement but to also protect the health of current and future generations.
• WHO said it considers the Paris agreement to be a significant public health treaty – one that has the potential to save lives worldwide.
• In 2012, WHO estimated that 7 million people died from air pollution-related diseases, making it the world’s largest single environmental health risk. It is predicted that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year from malaria, diarrhoea, heat stress and under-nutrition.