HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2019

Secretary-General at COP25
At the UN Climate Conference in Madrid, the Secretary-General today spoke about the need for a just transition that leaves no one behind. He stressed that “the path of climate action is about people’s jobs, health, education, opportunities, and their future.” He added that governments need to take into account that, as they move from the grey economy to the green, the jobs and livelihoods of many people will be affected.
The Secretary-General emphasized that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past, when great transitions have left people, communities and entire nations falling by the wayside. “We must ensure the transition to a low-carbon future is fair and inclusive,” he said.
The Secretary-General also addressed workers in traditional energy industries, telling them: “Those of us leading on climate action are not adversaries. We want the same thing as you: decent jobs in a cleaner, healthier world."  Those remarks have been sent to you.
Earlier today, he took questions from social media users in a Facebook Live event and urged regular citizens to tell their governments to act now and vote accordingly.
The Secretary-General will continue to meet with ministers at the COP before the Conference wraps up tomorrow night.
 
Secretary-General in Geneva
After he concludes his participation in COP 25 in Madrid, the Secretary-General will travel next week to Geneva.
On Tuesday, the Secretary-General will speak at the opening of the Global Refugee Forum, which is being co-hosted by UNHCR and Switzerland.  The Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi also intend to talk to the press following the opening ceremony.
 
Bougainville
Yesterday we issued the following statement on the Bougainville referendum. The Secretary-General welcomes the successful holding of the referendum on the political future of Bougainville and congratulates the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville, as well as all voters, for their dedication and peaceful conduct of the process.
This historic referendum marks an important step forward in the ongoing implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. The Secretary-General encourages the parties to continue to commit to the provisions of the Agreement and to ensure the post-referendum consultation process is inclusive and constructive.
The United Nations has been present in Bougainville since 1998 and will continue to support the implementation of the Peace Agreement at the request of the parties. 
 
Niger
The Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has condemned yesterday’s attack perpetrated against a military camp located in Inates, close to the border with Mali. It is reported that 71 soldiers were killed and others injured in the attack in Niger.
The Special Representative extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Niger, and wishes a prompt recovery to the wounded.
He also called for the perpetrators of this crime to be swiftly brought to justice.
 
Mali
In Mali, escalating violence and insecurity have sparked an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and 3.9 million people are now in need of assistance and protection, an increase of 700,000 since the beginning of the year.
The number of internally displaced people has increased from around 80,000 to nearly 200,000 in one year. More than half of the them are children and women.
A recent food security report shows that 650,000 people face food insecurity, compared to 185,000 at the same time last year. The number of food insecure people is projected to nearly double to 1.2 million by June 2020.
These figures are the highest recorded level over the last five years. Seventy percent of affected people live in conflict regions of Mopti, Timbuktu and Gao.
The UN and humanitarian partners have assisted about 900,000 people with food assistance in 2019.
In 2020, the Humanitarian Response Plan seeks $US365.6 million to assist nearly 3 million people.
 
South Sudan
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations today launched the Humanitarian Response Plan 2020 for South Sudan, requesting US$1.5 billion to assist 5.6 million people.
Humanitarian needs remain high despite a relative stable period since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement last year. Some 7.5 million people still need assistance or protection and 3.7 million are displaced inside or outside of the country. Women and children continue to be the worst affected.
With improved access across South Sudan, the United Nations and hundreds of non-governmental humanitarian organizations will work with authorities and affected communities to re-build lives and livelihoods.
 
Somalia
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have helped 5,087 Somali refugees return home from Yemen since 2017.
The voluntary returns are part of UNHCR’s Assisted Spontaneous Return (ASR) programme to which IOM is a partner.
Yemen hosts the world’s second largest Somali refugee population, around 250,000 refugees. It is a long-standing refugee host nation and the only country in the Arabian Peninsula which is signatory to the Refugee Convention and its protocol.
 
Syria
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the people of Syria are facing yet another cold and difficult winter. Millions of displaced women, children and men are living without power and heating. Tens of thousands of families are in inadequate or temporary shelters, including in displacement camps.
Over the past week, heavy rains have caused flooding in sites and camps for internally displaced persons across north-west and north-east Syria, including at least 16 camps in Idleb Governorate, and in the Al Hol camp in Al-Hasakeh Governorate. Hundreds of tents have reportedly been destroyed.
In addition, prices of basic goods have been rising sharply across Syria, and fuel shortages are reported in some areas.
With over 80 percent of Syrians already living below the poverty line, impoverished families will be further stretched to purchase essential items in the winter months ahead.
The UN estimates that nearly three million people are in need of assistance this winter. An additional $25 million is needed to meet the expected life-saving needs during the colder months across the country.
 
Afghanistan
Today, Kanni Wignaraja, the UN assistant secretary-general and UNDP regional director for Asia and the Pacific, concluded her visit to Afghanistan.
Ms. Wignaraja was in the country to follow up on the safety and security of UNDP staff and operations after recent attacks and the tragic loss of a colleague on 24 November.
Ms. Wignaraja met with UNAMA and UNDP leadership and staff, and engaged with government and partners to discuss the well-being and safety of the team, as well as the strategic direction of UNDP’s assistance to the government and people of Afghanistan, going forward. Though deeply saddened by the tragic events and emphasizing the need to take all necessary safety measures to protect staff, she reiterated UNDP’s strong commitment to Afghanistan’s sustainable development priorities and pledged to pursue the development work with national and international partners for the benefit of all people in Afghanistan.
 
United Nations Network on Migration
The UN Network on Migration commemorates the 1st anniversary of the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and celebrates the world’s 272 million migrants and their important contributions to countries of origin and destination.
In the run-up to International Migrants Day on 18 December, the UN Network on Migration gathered earlier today in Geneva to review its progress and seek ways to improve migration for the benefit of all.
The Network reaffirmed its commitment to support partners in upholding the guiding principles of the Global Compact, in promoting international cooperation for the development and implementation of principled and effective national migration policies.
 
International Universal Health Coverage Day
Today is International Universal Health Coverage Day.
This observance aims to raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners.
In a message, the Secretary-General, recalled that last September world leaders endorsed an ambitious political declaration on universal health coverage, reaffirming that health is a human right. He called on leaders to keep the promise and ensure health for all is a reality for everyone, everywhere.
A person’s health coverage should never depend on their wealth or where they may live, he added. The full message is available online.
 
International Day of Neutrality
Today is also International Day of Neutrality.
Recognizing national policies of neutrality are aimed at promoting the use of preventive diplomacy, which is a core function of the United Nations and occupies a central place among the functions of the Secretary-General, the General Assembly decided to declare 12 December the International Day of Neutrality, and called for marking the day by holding events aimed at enhancing public awareness of the value of neutrality in international relations.
 
Financial contributions
We have some more good news regarding the regular budget. Thanks to payments from Djibouti and Oman, the number of paid-up Member States has reached 142.