HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 24 JANUARY 2018
 
AFGHANISTAN: U.N. CHIEF APPALLED BY ATTACK ON OFFICES OF HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION

  • The Secretary-General is appalled and deeply saddened by the attack on the offices of the international NGO Save the Children in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, which killed two people and wounded dozens, including children, according to initial reports. He expresses his deep sympathy to the families of the victims.
  • Humanitarian organizations provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable men, women and children in Afghanistan. Aid workers, and their premises and assets, should never be a target.
  • The Secretary-General reiterates that all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan are obliged under international law to protect humanitarian workers and civilians.

 

SOMALI GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS BUT STILL FACES DAUNTING CHALLENGES – U.N. OFFICIAL
  • This morning, the Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, briefed Security Council members on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the country. He said that since the peaceful transition of power almost one year ago, the new government has been through a steep learning curve and has embraced reforms to bring job creation and conflict resolution. However, it still faces daunting challenges. The risk of famine still looms, and some 6.2 million people still need humanitarian assistance.
  • On the security front, Mr. Keating said that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been fundamental and has allowed space for political progress, but warned that the Mission cannot stay in the country indefinitely, and this will require the Government, the UN and other partners to help strengthen the Somali security sector.

 

U.N. CHIEF ANNOUNCES COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO ADVANCE RECONCILIATION IN MALI
  • Yesterday, the Secretary-General announced his decision to establish the International Commission of Inquiry envisioned by the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. He appointed Ms. Lena Sundh (Sweden), Mr. Vinod Boolell (Mauritius) and Mr. Simon Munzu (Cameroon) to serve as Commissioners and selected Ms. Sundh as Chair.
  • Established at the request of the signatory parties to the Agreement, the Commission of Inquiry will advance national reconciliation and support the Malian authorities’ efforts in the fight against impunity.
  • The Commissioners, who will serve in their personal capacities, will investigate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in Mali since January 2012 and submit a report to the Secretary-General within one year.

 

U.N. CALLS FOR $515.6 MILLION FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
  • The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs today launched the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for the Central African Republic. $515.6 million are needed for 2.5 million Central Africans who will need humanitarian assistance this year.
  • Due to violence perpetrated by armed groups, more than one in four Central Africans is either internally displaced or a refugee. In one year, the number of internally displaced persons has increased by more than 70 per cent.
  • Despite a relatively bleak humanitarian situation, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Najat Rochdi, called upon the international community to remain confident and optimistic for the end of the crisis in the CAR. She said that the resilience of Central Africans, the commitment of the international community and that of humanitarian workers are key catalysts to implement the Humanitarian Response Plan simultaneously with the National Plan for Recovery and Peace Consolidation.

 

IRAQ: U.N. REITERATES SUPPORT FOR UPCOMING NATIONAL ELECTIONS
  • Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča has completed a three-day visit to Iraq, during which he met Iraqi leaders and other interlocutors in Baghdad and toured liberated Mosul. He praised Iraqis for triumphing over Da’esh terrorists and urged them to seize the opportunity of peace and press ahead with efforts toward building a prosperous future for their country.
  • In Baghdad, Mr. Jenča discussed the scheduled parliamentary elections and encouraged the Iraqi authorities to create a safe and conducive environment to ensure credible elections. He welcomed that the national elections would take place in accordance with the constitutional timeline, on 12 May 2018. He confirmed the continued strong commitment of the United Nations to support the Independent High Electoral Commission’s work to enhance the inclusiveness, transparency and acceptability of the elections.
  • During his visit, Mr. Jenča discussed the prospects for a genuine national reconciliation process, and explored opportunities for ensuring the full inclusion of all ethnic and religious groups.

 

MIGRANTS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY OUTWEIGH COSTS – U.N. REPORT
  • The International Labour Organization (ILO) released a joint report with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which says that the perception that migrants cost more than what they contribute is widespread but does not rely on empirical evidence.
  • The report examined the impact of migrants in countries like Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa and Thailand, among others, and found that migrants in most of the studied countries display higher labour force participation and employment rates than native-born workers. However, the quality of jobs immigrants take remains a concern as they often do not have decent working conditions.

 

INVESTING IN MIGRATION DATA WOULD BE WORTH OVER $35 BILLION – U.N. MIGRATION AGENCY
  • The UN Migration Agency (IOM) today released a report that says that investing in better migration data could be worth over $35 billion dollars.
  • The report shows how migration data can bring huge economic, social and humanitarian benefits. It provides detailed calculations of these benefits, across a range of different policy areas, in both developed and developing countries. For example, many migrants to the European Union have skills that do not match their jobs. Using data to reduce over-qualification would increase the income of migrants in the EU by $7.4 billion dollars, the report calculates.

 

HIGHEST NUMBER OF U.N. STAFF CASUALTIES RECORDED IN 2017
  • At least 71 United Nations and associated personnel — 53 peacekeepers and 18 civilians, including two police personnel and 15 contractors — were killed in malicious attacks in the line of duty during 2017. That’s according to the Standing Committee for the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service of the United Nations Staff Union.
  • The casualties in 2017 are the highest number ever recorded by the committee. In the past five years, at least 310 United Nations personnel have died in deliberate attacks.

 

CORRECTION: REPORT ON UNDERREPORTED HUMANITARIAN CRISES NOT RELEASED BY UN REFUGEE AGENCY
  • The report on the top 10 most underreported humanitarian crises in 2017 which was mentioned on Monday was released by one of our partners, CARE, and not by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as initially stated.

 

CLARIFICATION ON U.N. ACTIVITIES IN SYRIA’S AFRIN DISTRICT
  • The spokesman clarified that on 20 January, the UN placed its cross-border shipments from Turkey temporarily on hold because of the security situation. The border crossings remain open.
  • The spokesman added that the information that has been put out about the situation in Afrin is obtained from the best reports that are received from local sources – including reports on the humanitarian situation provided by local partners. The UN does not have staff in Afrin.
  • This is consistent with how the Organization reports on areas across Syria, where the conflict limits its ability to collect first-hand information.

 

U.N. TO HOST BRIEFING FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST
  • Tomorrow, in Conference Room 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Department of Public Information will host a briefing for NGOs entitled “Diversity and Lessons to be Learned for Human Understanding” in observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. NGO experts working to promote Holocaust education and diversity will explain how we can learn from the past to prevent genocide in the future.

 

NORWAY PAYS BUDGET DUES IN FULL
  • Norway has paid its dues in full for this year. This brings to total on the Honour Roll to 14.