HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 20 AUGUST 2018
 
‘GUIDING FORCE FOR GOOD’ KOFI ANNAN MOURNED BY ANTONIO GUTERRES

• The Secretary-General issued a statement on the passing of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
• “Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good. It is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.
• Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor. I was deeply honoured by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership. He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom — and I know I was not alone.
• He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world. In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all of us.
• My heartfelt condolences to Nane Annan, their beloved family, and all who mourn the loss of this proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.”
• In a tweet, the Deputy Secretary-General said Kofi Annan was an “African and global icon who lived a life deeply committed to serving humanity.
• He did it with dignity and gave hope to the voiceless, she added – calling him “her friend, her hero, her inspiration”.
• The current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will lay a wreath in honor of Mr. Annan at a ceremony Wednesday morning near the meditation room in the visitor’s lobby in the General Assembly building. 
• Mr. Guterres, who is expected to be accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Ghana, will deliver remarks.
• Delegates, staff and the media will be invited and details will be shared shortly.
• A book of condolences will be in place there from this afternoon until the end of the week.
• The United Nations flag has been at half-mast since yesterday and will continue through Tuesday. 

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, as the Government of Syria has regained most of the southwest in the country in recent weeks, thousands of displaced families returned to their areas of origin in Dara’a and Qunaitra Governorates.
• As of 16 August, the number of displaced people has dropped to around 57,000 people in the area, but the need for humanitarian assistance and protection services continues to be high.
• According to our partners on the ground, people’s mobility is sometimes hindered by lack of documentation, ongoing security processes for some people, or simply by unaffordable transport costs.
• The United Nations and its partners continue to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and services across the southwest to tens of thousands of people in need. However, more sustained access and necessary government approvals for quality access and service deliveries are required.

• Today, the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed the announcement by the Afghan Government of a conditional ceasefire for tomorrow’s observance of Eid and calls on the parties to the conflict to seize this opportunity to put an end to violence.
• “It is important to seize all opportunities for a negotiated end to the conflict so that all Afghans can enjoy the life of peace they so desperately want and need,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.
• The Mission also reiterated its readiness to play any role requested by the parties to the conflict to achieve a negotiated peace.

• The Secretary-General’s report to the General Assembly on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population is out as a document.
• In the report, the Secretary-General said that, after more than 50 years of Israeli military occupation, Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in the Gaza Strip remain particularly vulnerable to violence, intimidation, loss of property and income, and various violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
• He says that the United Nations will continue to employ means to protect Palestinian civilians under these challenging circumstances.
• The Secretary-General said that it is crucial that ongoing United Nations efforts to ensure Palestinians’ protection, safety and well-being be maintained and strengthened, particularly in the light of the current financial shortfalls faced by humanitarian and development agencies on the ground, in particular the UN Relief and Works Agency. He urged all Member States to step up their financial contributions and political support for these efforts.

• The Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jamie McGoldrick, today called on donors to immediately providing funding for emergency fuel to prevent emergency services in the Gaza Strip from shutting down immediately.
• Mr. McGoldrick said that we have run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days.
• Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service providers will be forced to suspend or heavily reduce operations from early next month with potentially grave consequences.
• To ensure that a minimum level of essential services can continue through the end of the year, $4.5 million is required.

• The UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) reports that Mali’s constitutional court today confirmed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s re-election in this month’s run-off election.
• The international community remains committed to supporting all Malian citizens in their collaborative efforts to advance democracy, governance and security. 
• MINUSMA will continue to work with the people and government of Mali toward sustained peace and enduring security throughout Mali. 

• Yesterday, 19 August, was World Humanitarian Day.
• In a message, the Secretary-General called on global leaders to do everything in their power to protect people caught up in conflict.
• Civilians in conflict zones continue to be killed and maimed, deliberately or in indiscriminate attacks, he said. 
• Last year, the United Nations recorded the deaths or injuries of more than 26,000 civilians in attacks in just six countries:  Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen.
• The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the humanitarian workers who help those affected by humanitarian crisis. Since 2003, over 4,000 aid workers have been killed, injured, detained or kidnapped.  That is an average of 300 a year.

• Tomorrow is the first International Day of Remembrance of, and Tribute to, the Victims of Terrorism.
• In his message, the Secretary-General said the Day is a reminder to stop and listen to the victims and survivors of terrorism, to raise up their voices and recognize the impact terrorism has on their lives.
• Caring for victims and survivors and amplifying their voices helps to challenge the narrative of hatred and division that terrorism aims to spread, adds the Secretary-General.