HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 8 AUGUST 2016

ATTACK ON QUETTA HOSPITAL “PARTICULARLY APPALLING”: U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL

• The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist bombing today at the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Balochistan province of Pakistan. The targeting of mourners at a civilian hospital makes the attack particularly appalling.
• The Secretary-General urges the Government to do its utmost to ensure safety of the population and bring to justice the perpetrators of today’s attack. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. He expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of Pakistan.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETING WITH ARGENTINE LEADERSHIP

• The Secretary-General is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he delivered the key note address at the Argentine Council of Foreign Relations earlier today.  In his discussion, the Secretary-General outlined some of the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly changing world and Argentina’s key contributions.
• With its historic transition into a solid democracy, the Secretary-General told the audience that Argentina sends a clear message to the world that a society can only flourish by respecting human rights, cultural and religious diversity, democratic processes and justice.
• Over the past hour, the Secretary-General has met with President Mauricio Macri at the Casa Rosada. Following their bilateral meeting, President Macri awarded him the Gran Cruz of the Order of the Libertador General José de San Martín, Argentina’s highest civilian honour.
• Later today, the Secretary-General intends to lay a wreath at the Monument to General San Martín and the Armies of Independence, accompanied by Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Susana Malcorra.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS    FATAL ATTACK ON U.N IN MALI

• The Secretary-General condemned the improvised explosive device attack yesterday against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), south of Aguelhok, in Kidal region, that claimed the life of one peacekeeper and injured four others. It follows a similar attack on 5 August that injured one peacekeeper in the vicinity of Kidal city.
• The Secretary-General underscores that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and calls for the perpetrators of this attack to be brought to justice.
• He reiterates that attacks against MINUSMA will not weaken the determination of the Mission to fully implement its mandate in support of the efforts of the Malian Government, the parties to the peace agreement and the people of Mali to achieve lasting peace and stability. The full statement is online.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END OF FIGHTING IN SOUTH SUDAN

• In a statement  issued yesterday, the Secretary-General commended the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) for their decisive action and welcomes the Government of South Sudan's acceptance of a regional protection force.
•  The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the continued fighting in the country and calls for an immediate end to the hostilities. He is outraged by the continued reports of serious human rights violations and abuses, including widespread sexual violence against women and young girls, committed by armed men in uniform.
•  He calls on all parties to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and demands that they take immediate steps to hold accountable those responsible for these despicable crimes.

U.N. MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN REPORTS CONTINUING FIGHTING; CALLS FOR RECOMMITMENT TO CEASEFIRE

• Also on South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) is extremely concerned by the continuing fighting and calls on all parties to recommit themselves to the ceasefire agreed to last month.
• The Mission reports that over the weekend SPLA in Opposition fired heavy weapons towards SPLA positions in Nassir in the Upper Nile area. The Mission is concerned by the proximity of the SPLA in Opposition's defensive positions to the Mission's base in Nassir, which endangers UN personnel and assets.
• UNMISS also reports that the situation in and around Leer in Unity remains tense.

U.N. POPULATION FUND ‘CONCERNED’ WITH REPORTED INCREASE IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN SOUTH SUDAN

• The United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA),  said today that it is concerned about the reported increase in sexual violence in South Sudan and called for stronger support for women and girls to protect their safety, health and rights.   Women and girls face increased risk of sexual violence during conflicts, including being attacked while they seek firewood and food, and also have at times resorted to desperate measures, such as survival sex, to feed themselves and their families.

U.N. COMMITTEE ON TORTURE ‘CONCERNED’ WITH REPORTED REPRISALS IN BURUNDI

• The UN Committee against Torture today expressed grave concern about reported reprisals against four Burundian lawyers who had provided information to the Committee for a special review of Burundi.
• The Committee has sent a letter to the Burundian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, seeking urgent reassurances that no member of Burundian civil society would be subject to reprisals for cooperating with the Committee.

YEMEN PEACE TALKS ENTERING ‘NEW PHASE”: SPECIAL ENVOY

• The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, announced on Saturday that the Yemen peace talks are entering a new phase, during which the focus will be on working with each side separately to crystalize precise technical details.
• He said that the talks in Kuwait were ending but that the Yemen peace talks would continue. The structure and mechanism will change during the coming weeks to give the parties space to consult with their leaderships.
• The Special Envoy also referred to the preparation for another round of direct talks, at a time and place to be announced.

U.N. TO HELP WITH CLEAN WATER IN SULAIMANIYAH

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today reports that it has signed an agreement with the Governorate of Sulaimaniyah in Iraq to rehabilitate the main water network for Sulaimaniyah City.
• The network provides drinking water for more than one million residents, refugees, and displaced persons there.
• Work on the project, which is supported by Japan, will begin immediately, the agency said.