Noon briefing of 11 January 2016

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 11 JANUARY 2016

AHEAD OF SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTHQUAKE, SECRETARY-GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS, CALLS FOR UNITED FUTURE FOR HAITI

• In a statement, the Secretary-General says that: “Tomorrow, the United Nations family will mark the sixth anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti and pay tribute to the more than 200,000 victims, including 102 United Nations personnel, who perished in this tragic event. United and in solidarity with all Haitians who have lost loved ones to this catastrophe, we honour the memory of our colleagues.
• The path to recovery and long-term development is not an easy one. Many Haitians continue to face multiple challenges, including displacement, food insecurity and lack of access to clean water and sanitation. Haiti remains in need of international support and I therefore call on the international community to stand with Haiti as it moves forward to rebuild.
• While we honour the victims, the commemoration of this tragedy must be a source of renewed inspiration and a call to unite behind a vision for a stable, democratic and prosperous future for Haiti. Let me reaffirm the continued commitment of the United Nations to support the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their aspirations.”

SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS 70^TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

• Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General marked the 70^th anniversary of the first meeting of the General Assembly.
• On 10 January 1946, the General Assembly met for the first time when representatives from the then 51 Member States came together in Westminster Central Hall in London.
• Speaking to the 193 Member States today, the Secretary-General called the General Assembly a “Parliament for all people.” He said that although the resolutions adopted by the Assembly may not all be acted on right away, they stand as our common position on the most pressing issues of our times.
• He added that the resolutions tell the story of our resolve and reflect our conviction that the countries of the world coming together can do far more collectively than they can do alone.

U.N. RELIEF WING CONFIRMS AID CONVOY REACHES SYRIA’S MADAYA, URGES ACCESS TO ALL PEOPLE IN BESIEGED AREAS

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirms that the first trucks in the humanitarian convoy have reached the town of Madaya in Syria and that are offloading supplies. The inter-agency convoy was carrying life-saving items, including health, nutrition and food supplies, blankets, shelter materials, and soap for the people in desperate need of aid in the town.
• At the same time, trucks left Damascus for Kafraya and Foah, two other towns where there was desperate need.
• Humanitarian Coordinator Yacoub el Hillo said today that it has taken long and patient negotiation with many parties to facilitate this convoy. He noted that while there is much focus on Madaya and that the situation there requires an immediate response, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners are equally concerned about the 4.5 million people living in besieged and hard-to-reach area across Syria. We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate sustained and unimpeded access to all people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria.
• On the political track, the Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, concluded his present round of regional consultations on Sunday with meetings in Tehran, where he met with the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister. Mr. de Mistura updated his interlocutors on preparations for the forthcoming Geneva Talks. Like he had done when he visited Saudi Arabia on 5 January, he asked and obtained the assurance of his interlocutors that current tensions in the region would not affect the engagement of their government in supporting the Vienna process and facilitating the holding of the Geneva Talks.
• On Saturday, Mr. de Mistura also had a useful meeting in Damascus with the Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem.
• The Special Envoy is now going to debrief the Secretary-General and seek his guidance on the beginning of the Talks. He looks forward to the International Syria Support Group and the Security Council continuing to provide serious and consistent engagement in order to ensure the beginning, on 25 January, of a genuine political discussion aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis.

YEMEN: SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTACK ON MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERES HOSPITAL

• In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General condemned the attack from an as-yet unknown source on a hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Sa’ada province, in Yemen, which killed at least four people and injured many others. This is the latest in a series of attacks on health facilities, following those in 2015 on the MSF-supported Haydan Medical Hospital in Sa’ada and a mobile health clinic in Taiz.
• The Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the increasingly limited access to essential health care services for all Yemenis. He emphasizes that hospitals and medical personnel are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law and that any intentional attack against civilians and civilian infrastructure is considered a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The full statement is online.
• On the political track for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Secretary General’s Special Envoy, is continuing consultations with the parties with the aim of convening a second round of UN-sponsored negotiations on the Yemen crisis. In his meetings, he is seeking to gain agreement on the agenda and date of the forthcoming talks, as well as on the substance for the future negotiations.
  The Special Envoy was previously in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, and he is currently in Yemen, holding consultations to finalize plans for the talks. Advancing the prospects for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and securing improvements to the humanitarian situation are crucial to that effort.

FIRE DESTROYS CAMP FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN SOUTH SUDAN’S MALAKAL, U.N. MISSION REPORTS

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that a fire broke out on Sunday in the protection-of-civilians site in Malakal in Upper Nile State.

• The fire destroyed the shelters of about 1,000 camp residents. A baby also reportedly died in the incident, and eight people suffered minor injuries, mostly associated with smoke inhalation. The fire was eventually controlled. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.
• Also in Malakal, the Mission reports that on Saturday three Sudan People9;s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers and three civilians reportedly died when a hand grenade accidentally detonated in a pickup truck carrying SPLA soldiers and civilians in the vicinity of the Mission’s protection of civilians’ site. Twelve wounded were taken to the UN Mission’s Level II clinic and MSF hospital for treatment. A UN Mine Action staff member who was detained by authorities at the scene for allegedly taking photographs has been released.
• The UN Mission in South Sudan is protecting some 48,000 displaced persons in Malakal alone and 194,000 across South Sudan.

AFRICAN UNION-U.N. MISSION CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN WEST DARFUR

• The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) says it is concerned about the continued tension in El Geneina town and around Mouli village, 15 kilometers south of El Geneina, West Darfur.
• The Mission adds that tensions developed after an unidentified armed group attacked Mouli village on 9 January, displacing a large number of inhabitants to El Geneina. The affected civilians then demonstrated in front of the Wali’s office in El Geneina on 10 January, leading to the closure of schools and commercial businesses in the town.
• The Mission has been receiving reports of continuous unrest and sporadic firing across El Geneina and in Mouli with an undetermined number of casualties.
• UNAMID calls on the government authorities to exert the utmost efforts to contain the situation and investigate the incidents.
• The Mission emphasises the importance of restraint by all parties and stands ready to assist the state authorities as well as the Darfuri people in their efforts to peacefully resolve the situation.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF CONCLUDES NEPAL VISIT, URGES POLITICAL LEADERS TO OVERCOME DIFFERENCES THROUGH DIALOGUE

• Over the weekend, Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, has wrapped up his two-day visit to Nepal.
• While in the country, he met with the President, the Prime Minister and other political leaders, as well as with members of civil society.
• On behalf of the Secretary-General, Mr. Feltman ‎conveyed the United Nations’ appreciation for Nepal9;s unwavering commitment and contribution to the work of the United Nations in its 60 years of membership, citing in particular Nepal9;s role in UN Peacekeeping operations and in representing the concerns of land-locked developing countries. In turn, Mr Feltman assured Nepal of the UN’s unwavering partnership in ‎its recovery following the devastating earthquakes of 2015 as well as in addressing broader humanitarian and development needs.
• ‎Mr Feltman expressed deep concern about current developments that are adversely affecting Nepal’s humanitarian situation, economic performance and reconstruction efforts. Commending Nepalis on their resolve to address these issues with a spirit of flexibility and compromise, Mr. Feltman encouraged political leaders to overcome urgently current differences on constitutional arrangements through inclusive dialogue and parliamentary process. He also underscored the importance of rebuilding trust amongst different groups, including through agreement on the modalities of the process to delineate internal borders. Mr. Feltman expressed the sincere hope and conviction that an understanding on these immediate matters will‎ allow Nepalis to meet their aspirations of economic development, accountability and the full implementation of constitutional provisions. The UN fully supports this Nepali process.