HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2021
AFRICA DIALOGUE
Speaking at the Public Policy Forum of this year’s Africa Dialogue Series, on the theme of “Cultural identity and ownership”, the Secretary-General said it is a call for using the continent’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage as a catalyst for Africa’s growth and transformation.
With spreading hatred and intolerance around the world, we must not only defend diversity but invest in it, he added.
But, for that to be possible, the Secretary-General called for solidarity with the African continent to recover from the pandemic. He renewed his appeal for vaccine equity, saying it is unacceptable that vaccines are not yet fully available on the African continent.
Mr. Guterres went on to reiterate the importance for Africa to receive the financial support needed to protect its citizens and to be able to relaunch the continent’s economies.
MYANMAR
In Myanmar, the UN Country Team continues to call upon the military to ensure the protection of civilians as widespread and systematic breaches of human rights continue, including extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention, torture and ill treatment, as well as enforced disappearance.
UN colleagues on the ground say that, over the past 115 days, at least 824 civilians, many of them women and children, have been killed since the military seized control, while thousands more have been injured.
At the same time, 4,301 people remain in detention, including politicians, authors, human rights defenders, teachers, healthcare workers, civil servants, journalists, monks, celebrities and just ordinary citizens.
SYRIA
The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, briefed the Security Council this morning by videoconference. He said that elections being held today in Syria are not part of the political process called for by Security Council resolution 2254. The UN is not involved in the election and has no mandate to be involved, he added.
He said that the broad contours of a political solution to the conflict are well understood by key stakeholders, yet none is willing to take the first step. If we continue like this, he warned, Syria will become another protracted conflict, lasting generations.
Despite the many catastrophes Syria faces, the Special Envoy added, it is relatively calmer on the ground than in previous years. And there is a shared sense that no one can dictate the conflict’s final outcome.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, also briefed the Council, saying that the UN has not been able to deliver aid to Rukban since September 2019, nor have we been able to conduct any assessments. He noted that the Security Council authorization for UN cross-border assistance into the north-west expires in just over six weeks. A failure to extend it would immediately end direct cross-border deliveries by the UN.
YEMEN
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, today concluded a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with senior Saudi and Yemeni officials.
During his visit, Mr. Griffiths met the Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense (Prince Khalid bin Salman), the Yemeni Vice President (Ali Mohsen Saleh), the Yemeni Prime Minister (Maeen Abdulmalik), the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen (Mohamed Al Jaber) and the US Special Envoy for Yemen (Tim Lenderking), among other diplomats.
In his meetings, Mr. Griffiths discussed the critical situation in Ma’rib and stressed that the battle for Ma’rib must stop to allow diplomatic peace efforts a chance to yield positive results. He further expressed his hope that the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement will continue to progress and emphasized the importance of protecting against further fragmentation in Yemen. He said that Yemenis deserve a better life than perpetual war.
SUDAN
The Secretary-General welcomes the start of the peace talks today between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North Abdelaziz al Hilu faction, being mediated by South Sudan in Juba. The United Nations Integrated Mission forSudan (UNITAMS) is represented at the talks by Special Representative Volker Perthes.
The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of the representation and participation of women at all levels of the peace process.
The Secretary-General urges all stakeholders to demonstrate good-will and determination to achieve a comprehensive peace in the interest of Sudan and the Sudanese people.
Speaking at the opening of the peace talks, Mr. Perthes said the convening of these talks offers a historic opportunity to reach a settlement to the conflict that has divided Sudan for much too long, a conflict that has inflicted unbearable harm on too many people.
MALI
In Mali, the Peacekeeping mission on the ground continues to work closely with the delegation from ECOWAS, which is currently in Bamako.
The Special Representative and head of the Peacekeeping mission, El-Ghassim Wane, took part in the meetings that the ECOWAS delegation was having.
The Mission continues to support the efforts of ECOWAS and calls on all actors concerned to cooperate fully with a view to a rapid resumption of the normal course of the transition, within the framework provided by the Charter. It is crucial that this crisis be resolved urgently as it constitutes an additional challenge that would negatively affect the implementation of the Peace Agreement.
For his part, the Secretary-General continues to follow the situation in Mali with concern and continues to be engaged. Yesterday, he had phone calls with Moussa Faki, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, as well as the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his capacity as the chair of the ECOWAS Heads of government and State Authority.
The Security Council is scheduled to hold closed consultations on Mali this afternoon at 3 o’clock.
LIBYA
Ján Kubiš, the Special Envoy for Libya, welcomed Libyan delegates to a two-day virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). He called upon those gathered to make progress towards ensuring the wish of the Libyan people is respected and met – including for elections that are to be held on December 24th.
Once again, he told delegates, all eyes are on Libya and are on you with great expectation that your meeting will produce what is required to respond to this overwhelming aspiration of the people.
MIGRANTS/CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA
A report released today by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says that evidence shows that the lack of human rights protection in the central Mediterranean Sea for migrants is not a tragic anomaly. The report says that this is rather a consequence of concrete policy decisions and practices by the Libyan authorities, the EU Member States and other actors that have combined to create an environment where the dignity and human rights of migrants are at risk.
The report notes that despite a significant drop in the overall number of migrants arriving in Europe by the central Mediterranean route in recent years, hundreds of people continue to die – at least 632 according to UN numbers, perished in 2021 so far.
DRC – MOUNT NYIRAGONGO
An update on the UN’s work to assist people impacted by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, David McLachlan-Karr, reiterated the UN’s commitment to support the Congolese Government to respond to the disaster.
According to our humanitarian colleagues, there are now 31 reported deaths and approximately 20,000 people have been made homeless by the volcanic eruption. While the lava has stopped flowing, earth tremors are ongoing, creating additional concerns for the population.
Priority needs include shelter, water and sanitation, health, protection and food. Restoring electricity and water services are also priorities. A toll-free number has been set up to help with the reunification of families. UNICEF said that more than 150 children were separated from their families and more than 170 are feared to be missing.
As we mentioned earlier this week, the road linking Goma to Rutshuru has been cut off by the lava flow. Repairing this section of the road will be a priority as is it the main supply route into Goma.
SOUTH ASIA/CYCLONE
From South Asia, which is being impacted currently by Tropical Cyclone Yaas, the UN has activated cyclone preparedness measures and prepositioned stocks of food and other items in Bangladesh.
The cyclone has not impacted Cox’s Bazar, but the UN is closely monitoring the situation due to the possibility of storm surges and embankment collapse in border areas.
The Cyclone reached the Indian state of Odisha yesterday, with millions of people being evacuated by the Government ahead of the storm. UN agencies and our partners in India stand ready to support the response efforts if state authorities request it.
UN humanitarian colleagues in Nepal say the country could also experience heavy rainfall with floods and landslides over the coming hours.
As you know, India, Bangladesh and Nepal are all grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN is concerned that the lack of social distancing in emergency shelters and the temporary suspension of vaccination campaigns could complicate already complicated efforts.
COVID-19/INDONESIA
In Indonesia, the UN Country Team, led by Resident Coordinator Valerie Julliand, is supporting the national vaccination campaign which aims to reach 181 million people by March of next year.
To date, Indonesia has received more than 6.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX.
UNDP, with the Ministry of Health developed, an application to monitor, in real time, cold chain logistics and storage temperatures via a smart mobile phone. WHO has helped to vaccinate millions of people so far.
For its part, UNICEF has also developed a system to answer parents’ questions about children’s nutrition, with COVID-19 limiting access to medical centres. UNICEF is also working with the Ministry of Education and Culture on returning to school safely.
VESAK DAY
Today is Vesak Day. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General sent his warmest greetings to Buddhists all over the world, when we honor the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha.
The Secretary-General said that all of us, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, can find inspiration in the Buddha’s message of honesty, compassion and respect for all living things. He added that as we face the lasting impact of the pandemic, it is clearer ever more that humility and deep empathy are essential to our wellbeing and the planet.
UN CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
In response to a question on the process through which the UN selects the new head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, better known as UNCTAD, the Spokesman said that, according to the General Assembly resolution 1995 (XIX) of 1964, the Secretary-General of UNCTAD shall be appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and confirmed by the General Assembly.
In accordance with past practices, the UN is informing regional groups of the Secretary-General’s intentions and there will be more information when the Secretary-General sends a letter to the General Assembly.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Erez crossing remains open for international humanitarian staff, but still not open for Palestinian travelers, including humanitarian personnel and medical referrals.
The Kerem Shalom crossing is open and humanitarian goods are going in today.
And the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza is also open.
VIRTUAL BRIEFINGS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, at 9:00 am, virtually, Lynn Hastings, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory will launch the flash appeal on Gaza.
A11.45 a.m. Thursday, there will be a briefing by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of Peacekeeping Operations. He will mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. The theme for this year’s observance is “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security.”
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Togo has paid its 2021 budget dues in full, bringing to total number of Member States who have paid their dues in full to103.
