HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 13 JANUARY 2021
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s attacks near Bangui by unidentified armed combatants on Central African national defense and security forces, as well as UN peacekeepers. A UN peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed and another injured in today’s attack.
The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased peacekeeper, as well as to the people and Government of Rwanda. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
The Secretary-General recalls that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime. He calls on the Central African authorities to take all the necessary measures to ensure accountability for these heinous attacks.
The Secretary-General remains very concerned over continued destabilization efforts by armed groups in the Central African Republic, and calls on all parties to stop violence and engage in meaningful dialogue. He commends the continued engagement of the UN peacekeepers in their efforts to protect civilians and preserve national stability.
The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the UN, working closely with national, regional and international partners, to support the cause of peace in the Central African Republic.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC UPDATE
Following this morning’s attack, the UN Mission says that the overall situation remains under control, although tensions are continuing.
UN peacekeepers have reinforced their posture in Bangui and in areas surrounding the capital, in coordination with Central African defense and security forces, as well as other security partners. This is to prevent further infiltrations towards the capital of armed groups aiming to destabilize national institutions.
The security of UN personnel and premises have also been reinforced.
MALI
Another sad and tragic note from the peacekeeping department: Following an attack today against a UN convoy in Timbuktu, Mali, the Peacekeeping Mission reports that one peacekeeper has died and seven others were injured.
The UN Mission has secured the area, provided casualty evacuation and launched an investigation into the incident.
More details on that incident in Mali will be shared when available.
SECURITY COUNCIL
Mali was the subject at the Security Council this morning and Council members heard from Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country. He reiterated that the transition period represents a real opportunity for the country to break out of the vicious circle of political crises followed by coups d'état.
He noted that despite a lack of consensus throughout the process that led to the designation of members of the Government and the National transitional council, we should welcome the fact that all transitional bodies are operational today.
Mr. Annadif told Council members that the success of the transition depends on the successful completion of reforms, leading to inclusive and credible elections. He warned that the process will only be viable if it is the product of the will of the Malian political actors.
As Special Representative for Mali for nearly five years, he concluded with his hope that this window of opportunity will not be a missed opportunity.
UGANDA
As Ugandans prepare to take part in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place on January 14, the Secretary-General calls on all national stakeholders to ensure that the polls are conducted in an inclusive, transparent and peaceful manner. He is concerned about reports of violence and tensions in parts of Uganda ahead of these polls and calls on all political actors and their supporters to refrain from the use of hate speech, intimidation and violence. Any electoral disputes should be resolved through legal and peaceful means.
The Secretary-General further calls on the Ugandan authorities, particularly the security forces, to show restraint during this period and to act according to established human rights principles.
The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support the country’s efforts to promote sustainable development and build a prosperous future.
ETHIOPIA
In Ethiopia, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is deeply concerned about the plight of hundreds of thousands of people who have still not received assistance in Tigray more than two and a half months since the conflict began in that region.
The UN continues to receive alarming reports of civilians being injured and killed in rural areas of Tigray, as well as of violations against civilians, including gender-based violence. It remains challenging to verify these reports.
Aid workers have been able to deliver assistance in some areas, mainly in cities, where access has been granted by the authorities. However, the number of people reached is extremely low compared to the 2.3 million people we estimate are in need of life-saving assistance.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stresses that the situation is particularly critical for newly displaced people and refugees, especially those who were living in the Hitsats and Shimelba camps, which remain inaccessible.
Humanitarians also warn that the closure of banks in most parts of rural Tigray before the fighting started have left most of the 270,000 direct beneficiaries of the Government’s Safety Net Programme without assistance. These are extremely vulnerable people who rely on monthly cash transfers to meet their basic needs.
Humanitarian assistance continues to be constrained by the lack of full, and safe, unhindered access to Tigray caused by both insecurity and bureaucratic delays.
The UN and its humanitarian partners in Ethiopia urgently call on all parties to allow the immediate safe passage of humanitarian personnel and their supplies to the Tigray Region to be able to reach all people who desperately need assistance.
MALAWI
The Secretary-General has learned with great sadness of the untimely passing of the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Sidik Mia, as well as the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Lingson Belekanyama.
The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to the families of the Ministers, all Malawians who have died due to complications related to COVID-19, President Lazarus Chakwera, the Government and the people of Malawi.
The UN team, which is led by the Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres Macho, continues helping with national and local efforts to tackle the pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other partners have installed an oxygen plant to generate more than one million liters of oxygen per day to support COVID-19 case management in one of the country’s main hospitals.
The UN team is also working to improve access to clean water and sanitation, as well as working to save lives and livelihoods, reaching 1.7 million people through cash transfers.
The UN continues to help with communications campaigns to prevent the spread of the virus, through door-to-door efforts, mobile vans, community drama sessions and social media efforts. Through the Spotlight Initiative, the UN is also tackling gender violence and is concerned by an increase in girl pregnancies and child marriages.
DEATH PENALTY
In response to questions about the reports of the execution by lethal injection in the United States of Lisa Montgomery, the Spokesman said that as we have said many times, the Secretary-General stands categorically against the imposition of the death penalty.
He urges all Member States that have not yet done so to embark on a moratorium on capital punishment and the progressive abolition of the death penalty.
LABOUR
In a new report, the International Labour Organization (ILO) says that those working from home need better protection.
In low- and middle-income countries for instance, ILO says that almost all home-based workers, that’s 90 per cent of them, work informally.
They are usually worse off than those who work outside the home, even in higher-skilled professions. Homeworkers earn an average of 13 per cent less in the UK; 22 per cent less in the US; 25 per cent less in South Africa and about 50 per cent less in Argentina, India and Mexico.
Homeworkers also face greater safety and health risks and have less access to training than non-home-based workers. This can affect their career prospects.
As working from home is likely to take on greater importance in the years to come, ILO calls on Governments to work in cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations to ensure that homeworkers move from invisibility to decent work.
LABOUR
The number of outbreaks of “Peste des petits ruminants” – which is known in English as sheep and goat plague - fell by two-thirds in recent years. This, they say, shows the commitment of the international community to combat this highly contagious animal disease and raises hopes of meeting the goal of global eradication by 2030.
The decrease in outbreaks of the disease is attributed to the impact of vaccination campaigns in more than 50 countries. In just 12 of these countries, over 300 million goats and sheep were vaccinated between 2015 and 2018.
Shortage of vaccines, livestock movement, and mostly logistical challenges in carrying out vaccinations continue to remain the main obstacles to eradication.
HONOUR ROLL
Ukraine has become the first Member State to pay its dues in full for 2021.
Thank you to our friends in Kyiv for this full payment.
