HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 28 MARCH 2018
 
U.N. CHIEF LAUNCHES ACTION FOR PEACEKEEPING INITIATIVE

• The Secretary-General briefed the Security Council this morning during the High-Level Debate on Collective Action to Improve UN Peacekeeping Operations. He said that at its best, UN peacekeeping is a remarkable enterprise of multilateralism and international solidarity, but that it faces serious challenges.
• He stressed that peace operations cannot succeed if they are deployed instead of a political solution, rather than in support of one. And he added that UN peacekeeping missions now operate in far more dangerous, complex and high-risk environments. UN peacekeepers are often under-equipped, under-prepared and unready for the dangerous environments in which they now operate, he said. The Secretary-General warned that we are damaging the instrument of peacekeeping, and multilateralism itself, in creating unrealistic expectations.
• He therefore stressed the need to focus our efforts in three areas: refocus peacekeeping with realistic expectations; make missions stronger and safer; and mobilize greater support for political solutions and for well-structured, well-equipped, well-trained forces. While the UN has set change in motion, action by the Secretariat alone is not enough to meet the challenges we face, he added. Our chances of success increase dramatically when we work together with Member States and share burdens, risks and responsibilities. This is why he is launching a new initiative, ‘Action for Peacekeeping’, aimed at mobilizing all partners and stakeholders to support UN peacekeeping.

• The Deputy Secretary-General was in Nouakchott today. Speaking at the Strategic Consultative Meeting on the Sahel, she said the Sahel is a litmus test of the ongoing UN reforms, which aim to better avert and address complex and multidimensional crises such as the one in the region.
• She said that if we are to put an end to violence, conflict and terrorism in the region, we must address their root causes, including the lack of access to basic rights, services and economic opportunities, socio-economic exclusion, marginalization, discrimination, and corruption.
• This requires support to the Governments of the Sahel countries to strengthen their capacities to absorb international aid, deliver basic services to all, and secure their territories and borders.
• Ms. Mohammed stressed that one of the main challenges in the Sahel is the multiplicity of actors and initiatives in the region, often not pulling in the same direction. This cannot continue, and the UN System has developed a UN support plan that will trigger investment in the Sahel and contribute to mobilizing the necessary resources for the 10 countries of the region.
• Military and security focused responses have time and again proven their limits and we all know that sustaining peace cannot be achieved without sustainable development, she said.

• A note was sent to correspondents following the Secretary-General meeting yesterday with Prince Mohamad Bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• In it, the Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for delivering on the generous pledge it made with the United Arab Emirates in January to provide $930 million to the 2018 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan. The Secretary-General said he hoped other donors will follow their example to make generous contributions towards the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan at the Yemen High-Level Pledging Event in Geneva on 3 April.
• The Secretary-General and the Crown Prince discussed the need for the parties to the conflict to work towards a negotiated political settlement through inclusive intra-Yemeni dialogue. The Secretary-General stressed that ending the conflict is the only way to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, congratulated Iraqi political parties and blocks for signing the Electoral Charter of Honour on Wednesday in Baghdad. He said that an effective Charter of Honour is essential to conducting the elections in a free, fair, impartial, transparent and credible manner.
• Mr. Kubiš call upon all signatories, the media, and all stakeholders involved in the electoral process to abide by the provisions of the Charter. UNAMI, as an impartial partner, stands ready to support this process.
• The Special Representative confirmed that any political party or entity which did not sign the Charter during Wednesday’s event was most welcome to do so in coming days.

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that since 9 March, more than 80,000 people have fled Eastern Ghouta in Syria, more than 52,000 of whom are sheltered in nine collective shelters in rural Damascus where they are provided with emergency supplies and health assistance.
• Yesterday, 100 buses with 6,768 people, including 45 medical cases, arrived in Al-Madiq Castle town in northern rural Hama. Another 52 buses left Arbin town in the evening with 3,241 people, including 11 medical cases, arriving in northwestern Syria today.  
• The United Nations emphasizes that any evacuation of civilians must be safe, voluntary, and to a place of their choosing. It is imperative that all those who are displaced through local agreements have the right of return as soon as the situation allows.
• We also remain deeply concerned for tens of thousands of civilians affected by fighting in northwestern Syria.  Since the military offensive began in January, an estimated 183,570 men, women and children have been displaced to Tal Refaat and surrounding villages, while between 50,000 to 70,000 are estimated to remain in Afrin town.

• UNICEF said that their Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham travelled to Indonesia this week to meet children who have experienced classroom violence and bullying.
• 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund is newly supporting UNICEF programmes in Indonesia, El Salvador, Nepal and Uganda, tackling bullying, violence, child marriage and missed education.
• Since 2015, it has helped to vaccinate 400,000 children against polio in Djibouti, give 15,000 children access to clean drinking water in Burkina Faso and protect 14,500 children from violence and abuse in Cambodia.

• The Honour Roll welcomed its 70th Member State, with Bosnia and Herzegovina having paid its regular budget dues in full.