HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ, DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

FRIDAY, 04 MARCH 2016

 

U.N. AND PARTNERS WELCOME FINAL RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

  • In a joint statement issued today, the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States, the European Union and the International Organization of La Francophonie welcomed the final results of the second round of the presidential elections in the Central African Republic announced by the Transitional Constitutional Court on 1 March 2016 which were conducted peacefully with the active participation of the Central African people.
  • They congratulated the President-elect, Mr. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, and express their support for his determination to further the efforts to promote dialogue and national reconciliation.
  • The UN, the AU, the ECCAS, the EU and the IOF also paid tribute to Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and to the Central African people, who have demonstrated their commitment to efforts to find durable solutions in support of peace, reconciliation, and economic and social development in the Central African Republic.
  • They welcomed the essential role played by the Transitional Authority in support of a return to peace. They reiterated their commitment to continue efforts to support the completion of the transition, including through the holding of the second round of legislative elections. The organizations recall that the people of the Central African Republic have high expectations that the completion of the transition will bring real change.
  • They underlined that the new authorities of the Central African Republic have an important opportunity and a responsibility to ensure further progress toward peace and security, justice and reconciliation, and social cohesion, as well as reconstruction and development. The international community will continue to lend its support to the efforts of the new Central African Republic authorities through a responsible partnership.

MAURITANIA: SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES VOLATILE SECURITY SITUATION IN SAHEL REGION

  • In Nouakchott today, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with the Mauritanian President, Mohamed Abdel Aziz. Immediately afterwards, the Secretary-General spoke the press, saying that he was in the region to discuss the situation in Western Sahara and that later in the week, he would be visiting the UN Mission (MINURSO) and speaking with Saharawi refugees.
  • The Secretary-General noted that he and the President had also discussed their shared concern about the volatile security situation in the Sahel.
  • While addressing security issues, the Secretary-General added, countries should also focus on the root causes of instability: poverty, unemployment, weak governance, social exclusion, discrimination and impunity for human rights violations.  And the Secretary-General encouraged the President to use civil society as a partner, stressing that it can be useful in protecting human right.
  • Later, the Secretary-General held separate meetings with the Mauritanian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. He joined the country’s Health Minister on a visit to Nouakchott’s oncology centre, the only medical service of its kind in Mauritania – which offers free cancer treatment to its patients.
  • The Secretary-General also visited Nouakchott’s Mother-Child Hospital. Speaking to reporters after that visit, the Secretary-General said he was moved and impressed by the dedication of the staff. He pledged the UN country team’s continued support to Mauritania’s effort tackle the health challenges facing women and girls.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO TRAVEL TO GERMANY

  • On Monday 7 March, the Secretary-General will travel to Germany, where he will receive the German Media Award in Baden-Baden.
  • The following day, 8 March, he will go to Berlin where he will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. While in Berlin, he will also meet with the President of the Parliament, Norbert Lammert, and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Norbert Roettgen.
  • Then, in Bonn, the Secretary-General will take part in a special event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Offices in that city. That will be alongside Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany.
  • The Secretary-General will return to New York on Wednesday, 9 March.

OVER 3,000 CIVILIANS KILLED IN A YEAR IN YEMEN

  • The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that civilian casualties continue to mount in Yemen, with at least 168 civilians being killed and 193 injured in February alone, around two-thirds of them by Coalition airstrikes.
  • In all, since 26 March 2015, the Human Rights Office has documented a total of 3,081 civilians killed and 5,733 injured.
  • Fighting and indiscriminate shelling by Members of the Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis and allied army units loyal to former president Saleh resulted in an additional 49 civilian casualties during February, mostly in Taizz, Ibb and Al Jawf.
  • There have also been worrying allegations, which the Human Rights Office is still working to verify, that Coalition forces dropped cluster bombs on a mountainous area to the south of the Amran cement factory, where a military unit loyal to the Houthis appears to have been the target.

OVER QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FLED BURUNDI TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

  • The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that the number of people who have fled Burundi and sought shelter in neighbouring states has passed the 250,000 mark. It added that the average rate of new arrivals per week has been more than 1,000 in Tanzania, 500 in Uganda, 230 in Rwanda and 200 in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • The Agency also said that although there has been a slight lull in violence recently, refugees arriving in the host countries continue to report human rights violations in Burundi and difficulty in leaving the country.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT TACKLING REFUGEE/ MIGRANT CRISIS IN EUROPE

  • Ahead of a meeting of heads of state of government of the European Union (EU) with Turkey on Monday 7 March in Brussels, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has today issued recommendations aimed at helping States solve the refugee situation in Europe.
  • High Commissioner Filippo Grandi has proposed a plan to EU Member States to manage and stabilize the refugee situation.
  • The plan includes six key points, intended as broad guidance. It includes implementing fully the so-called “hot spot” approach and relocation of asylum seekers out of Greece and Italy, stepping up support to Greece to handle the humanitarian emergency, including for refugee status determination, relocation, and return or readmission.
  • It also called to make available safer and more legal ways for refugees to travel to Europe under managed programmes and to develop Europe-wide systems of responsibility for asylum-seekers.
  • UNHCR said that the situation is quickly deteriorating with around 30,000 people now in Greece, about a third of whom are in Idomeni just near the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
  • The Agency is supporting the Greek Government’s efforts by deploying staff, helping coordinate the response and providing emergency shelter, technical support and information to refugees and migrants. 

U.N. AND GOVERNMENT OF FIJI LAUNCH FLASH APPEAL TO HELP COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY TROPICAL CYCYLONE

  • The UN and the Government of Fiji today launched a humanitarian flash appeal requesting US$38.6 million to provide critical emergency relief to 350,000 people affected by the devastating tropical cyclone Winston which hit the island nation last month – killing more than 40 people. An estimated 54,000 displaced people remain sheltered in 960 evacuation centres.
  • The Flash Appeal has received immediate funding of $8 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund or CERF. Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien says that the appeal will enable partners to kick-start the delivery of immediate, life-saving response to communities devastated by the cyclone.

HONDURAS: U.N. RIGHTS OFFICE CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION OF INDIGENOUS RIGHTS LEADER

  • The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the assassination yesterday of the well-known indigenous rights defender, Berta Cáceres, in Honduras.
  • Ms. Cáceres was the coordinator the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras and the winner of the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize, notably for the key role she played in the struggle against a controversial dam project.  
  • The Human Rights Office welcomes the announcement that the police have already started an investigation. However, it is also disturbed by the fact Ms. Cáceres was assassinated despite the fact that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had asked the Honduran authorities to provide her with special protection, given the numerous threats she had received.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • In response to a question on the humanitarian aid convoys in Syria, the Spokesman said that the planned inter-agency convoy to Kafr Batna sub-district in East Ghouta departed at 2 p.m. local time. The convoy aims to deliver food and nutrition assistance to 20,000 people in the sub-district.
  • In response to a question on recent incidents at the protection of civilian site in Malakal, South Sudan, the Spokesman said that the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) is carrying out an initial investigation into the violence that erupted at the Malakal protection of civilians site earlier this month, including looking at its own response to the events that unfolded. A UN Headquarters-led investigation will follow.

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