HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 29 MARCH 2019

 
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Later today, the Secretary-General will depart for Tunis, where he will attend the 30th League of Arab States Summit and make an address on Sunday.  While in the Tunisian capital, the Secretary-General will meet with President Beji Caid Essebsi and senior members of the Tunisian Government. He will also meet university students to discuss the critical role of young people in national and international conversations and policies, and the UN’s efforts to ensure that their voices are heard, and their views are translated into action. The Secretary-General will also inaugurate the new UN House in Tunis, la Maison Bleue, and hold a meeting with women leaders and civil society representatives. 
The Secretary-General’s main priority for this visit will be the situation in Libya. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Secretary-General will attend a Quartet meeting on Libya, which brings together the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union and the European Union. He will be joined by his Special Representative for Libya, Ghassam Salame.
On Monday, the Secretary-General will travel to Cairo, where he will hold discussions with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who also serves as Chair of the African Union.  In Cairo, the Secretary-General will visit the Al Azhar Mosque and meet the Grand Imam to express his solidarity and underscore the need to fight the scourge of Islamophobia, as well as all forms of hatred and bigotry.
The Secretary-General will move on to Jordan, where he will speak at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa at the Dead Sea. He will meet with His Majesty the King of Jordan and senior Government officials. The Secretary General’s visit to Jordan comes after the London Conference 2019 that took place this past February, which marked the start of a new partnership approach between Jordan and the international community in pursuit of Jordan’s sustainable growth and self-reliance, in light of the pressures on the country.
While in Jordan, the Secretary-General will visit the Baqa’a Camp, run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), where he will meet with students from an all-girls UNRWA-run school, students from the UNRWA Central Student Parliament and women’s representatives. At the Baqa’a Camp, the Secretary-General will highlight the importance of continuing to fund the vital services UNRWA provides to millions of Palestine refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
 
PEACEKEEPING
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the ministerial meeting on peacekeeping – taking place here at Headquarters,
He said that the UN’s peacekeeping operations have helped countries from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Timor Leste and Cambodia move from conflict to peace. They protect hundreds of thousands of civilians, support political solutions to conflict and help preserve ceasefires.
The Secretary-General said that making these missions stronger and safer is one of the key elements of his Action for Peacekeeping initiative, together with refocusing peacekeeping with more realistic expectations, and mobilizing greater support for political solutions.
He urged Member States consider contributing high-value and critical capabilities such as armored personnel carriers – which are needed in Mali—or helicopters for medical and casualty evacuations from remote areas which are needed in the Central African Republic and in other countries.
Beyond better equipment and readiness, the Secretary-General also said that we must increase local engagement. Women peacekeepers and civilian staff are essential to improve these efforts, he added.
And this afternoon, the Secretary-General will speak at the Security Council on Mali. He is expected to call on all parties to strengthen efforts to address the root causes of instability and insecurity in the country.
 
CYCLONE IDAI
In addition to the update you just got on Mozambique, we have more updates on the other countries affected by Cyclone Idai. Our humanitarian colleagues report that in Zimbabwe, about 270,000 people have been affected, with at least 181 deaths recorded, 175 people injured and 330 others missing. The death toll is expected to rise as previously cut-off areas become accessible.
There has been severe destruction of property and infrastructure, and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. The devastation caused by Cyclone Idai adds to existing humanitarian needs in Zimbabwe, with communities throughout the country already impacted by a drought and an economic crisis. An updated Flash Appeal, including new needs, is expected in the coming days. 
The cumulative impact on food security will be significant. The maize crop harvest, which will begin in May, will be 60 percent of the average production, with a further risk of deterioration in food security.
In Malawi, the Government reports that close to 870,000 people have been affected by the cyclone, with 59 deaths and 672 people injured, according to the Government. Nearly 87,000 people are estimated to be displaced.
Needs assessments are underway to determine the total number of people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
The Governments of Malawi and Zimbabwe are leading the humanitarian responses in their respective countries, alongside local and international humanitarian partners.
 
GAZA
On the eve of the one-year mark to the start of the “Great March of Return” demonstrations in the Gaza Strip, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jamie McGoldrick, calls on all parties to avoid further deterioration.
Mr. McGoldrick said that in the past year, there has been a staggering loss of life and injury in the Gaza Strip. Between 30 March 2018 and 22 March 2019, 195 Palestinians, including some 40 children, have been killed by Israeli security forces in demonstrations, mainly during the weekly protests near the perimeter fence.
Mr. McGoldrick said that the priority now is to save lives and everyone needs to take action accordingly. He said that Israeli security forces must ensure that their responses are in line with their international legal obligations, using non-violent means to the greatest extent possible. He added that Hamas authorities must prevent acts of violence that compromise the peaceful nature of the demonstrations and everyone must ensure that children are not put in harm’s way.
And the Secretary-General is also very worried about the situation in Gaza.  He hopes that violence will be avoided and that no more victims will be added to this tragic story.
 
PETER SUTHERLAND
In a video message to an event in Dublin, Ireland, the Secretary-General today paid tribute to Peter Sutherland, who served as Special Representative for International Migration for more than a decade.
The Secretary-General said that Mr. Sutherland’s unique and ardent voice contributed to the efforts – which succeeded after his passing – to adopt a landmark Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
 
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
I would like to read into the record a senior personnel appointment that was announced electronically yesterday. The Secretary-General has appointed George Conway of Canada as Acting Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, or UNSOM, where he will also serve as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
We put out the full announcement yesterday.
 
HONOUR ROLL
And at last, we can report three fresh contributions to the UN’s coffers. We are delighted that the Czech Republic, France and Guyana have paid their dues in full. Thanks go to all three. The Honour Roll now has 77 members.