HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2017
SECRETARY-GENERAL ARRIVES IN TURKEY AHEAD OF VISITS TO EGYPT, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- The Secretary-General arrived today in Istanbul, where he met with Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım of Turkey.
- Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will meet with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip
- Erdoğan. The Secretary-General will fly to Saudi Arabia.
- On Sunday, the Secretary-General is expected to meet with King Salman. In Riyadh, the Secretary-General also expects to meet with the Crown Prince and Deputy Crown Prince, as well as senior officials.
- The Secretary-General will travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, late Sunday evening.
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF ‘EXTREMELY WORRIED’ OVER TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IN YEMENI PORT CITY OF AL MOKHA
- The High Commissioner for Human Rights is extremely worried by reports that suggest the targeting of civilians over the past two weeks in the southwestern port of Al Mokha in Taizz Governorate in Yemen. The intense fighting has made it impossible for UN Human Rights Office field monitors to access the area and to verify the number of civilian casualties, but credible reports indicate that civilians were caught in an intolerable situation between warring parties giving them opposing instructions.
- The High Commissioner said that there are real fears that the situation will repeat itself in the port of Hudaydah, to the north of Al Mokha, where air strikes are already intensifying. The already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the country could spiral further downwards if Hudaydah port is seriously damaged.
- The High Commissioner reminded the parties of their obligation under international humanitarian law to take constant care to spare the civilian population. Any intentional, direct attack against civilians or civilian objects is considered a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has mobilized assessment teams across displacement sites in Hudaydah, Ibb and the district of Maqbanah in Taizz, where recently-displaced people are being hosted and began deliveries of emergency assistance, including basic relief items and emergency shelter.
- Today, three UN agencies – the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization and UNICEF – said that the number of food insecure people in Yemen has risen by three million in seven months, with an estimated 17.1 million people now struggling to feed themselves.
U.N. MISSION ‘ENCOURAGED’ BY WILL OF TOP AFGHAN OFFICIALS TO HOLD TIMELY, TRANSPARENT PARLIAMENTARY POLLS
- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says that it is encouraged by the strong political will of President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and other political leaders to hold timely, credible and transparent parliamentary elections.
- UNAMA said it supports the Government’s efforts to build consensus and create an inclusive process, and emphasized the need for electoral management bodies to build trust and support across the entire political spectrum.
- The head of the Mission, Tadamichi Yamamoto said, “The momentum towards holding credible elections is now taking clear form. The UN is looking to do all it can to support electoral reform and elections seen as fair by the Afghan people.”
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES NEW SOMALI PRESIDENT ON ELECTIONS, URGES SWIFT FORMATION OF INCLUSIVE CABINET
- In a statement issued last night, the Secretary-General congratulated Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” on his election as Federal President of Somalia. In the statement, the Secretary-General commended AMISOM and the Somali security forces for ensuring a secure environment during the poll.
- The Secretary-General expressed his hope that President Farmajo will move expeditiously to form an inclusive Cabinet and said that the new Government and federal member states should together tackle urgent national priorities; including finalising the constitution and establishing effective national security forces.
- He also stressed that the current humanitarian situation in the country created by the drought and the imperative of averting a famine should be at the top of the agenda.
- This afternoon, the Security Council held an open meeting on the situation in Somalia.
SOUTH SUDAN: U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY SOUNDS ALARM AT HIGH RATES OF DISPLACEMENT
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says it is extremely alarmed at the ongoing pace of displacement in South Sudan, where more than 1.5 million people have been forced to leave the country since conflict erupted in December 2013. An additional 2.1 million people are displaced inside South Sudan.
- UNHCR is appealing to all parties for an urgent peaceful resolution of the crisis, without which thousands continue to arrive in South Sudan’s neighbouring countries every day. South Sudan is now Africa’s largest refugee crisis and the world’s third after Syria and Afghanistan – with less attention and chronic levels of underfunding. More than 60 per cent of the refugees are children.
D.R. CONGO: U.N., PARTNERS CALL FOR NEARLY $750 MILLION TO HELP 6.7 MILLION PEOPLE
- The humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Congolese authorities today launched an appeal for US$748 million to assist 6.7 million people in 2017.
- This represents the first year of a new three-year action plan in the DRC, where civilians are affected by one of the world’s most acute and protracted humanitarian crises.
- The 2017 appeal targets over 2.1 million internally displaced people (IDPs), 500,000 children less than 5 years old suffering from acute malnutrition, and hundreds of thousands threatened by diseases and epidemics.
- With worsening levels of conflict over the past year, humanitarian actors project that the needs are likely to increase even further in the coming months.
U.N.-BACKED APPEAL FOR NEARLY $300 MILLION LAUNCHED TO HELP 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN NORTH, CENTRAL MALI
- Yesterday, humanitarian partners launched a Humanitarian Response Plan in Mali, with $293 million needed to provide assistance to 1.4 million people. The plan focuses on regions affected by conflict in northern and central parts of the country.
- The Humanitarian Coordinator for Mali, Mbarange Gasarabwe, said that the prevailing insecurity in certain areas continues to limit people’s access to basic services. Despite the progress made since the start of the crisis, women, men and children remain vulnerable, she said. Without support, they will not be able to meet their basic needs and recover.
U.N. READY TO SUPPORT KENYA AFTER IT DECLARES DROUGHT A NATIONAL DISASTER
- The Government of Kenya has declared the current drought affecting more than 23 counties a national disaster.
- A preliminary assessment indicates that the number of food insecure across Kenya has doubled from 1.3 million in August 2016 to 2.7 million -- with a rainfall deficit of up to 75 per cent in north-western and coastal areas.
- The United Nations stands ready to support the Government in its assistance to affected communities.
U.N. SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THOSE BEHIND ROCKET FIRING AT ISRAEL, STRESSES NEED FOR TWO-STATE SOLUTION
- In response to questions about violence that has affected Israeli civilians, the Deputy Spokesperson said that we unequivocally condemn those who inspired, implemented and celebrated the launching of several rockets by IS militants from the Sinai at Israel on Wednesday, 8 February. We welcome the continuing efforts by the security forces of Egypt to prevent parts of the Sinai from being used as a basis of violent extremism.
- We are deeply concerned by the shooting and stabbing attack by a Palestinian assailant that wounded six Israeli civilians yesterday in Petah Tikva. There can be no justification for terrorism nor for the glorification of those who commit such acts. Only the realization of a two-state solution can sustainably put an end to violence and bring peace and security to the peoples of Palestine and Israel.
SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES STRONG SUPPORT FOR WORK OF GUATEMALA IMPUNITY PANEL AND ITS COMMISSIONER
- In response to questions on Commissioner Ivan Velásquez, who was appointed in 2013 to head the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), the Secretary-General is not aware of any request to remove Mr. Velásquez. At the president’s request, the Secretary-General agreed to an early extension of CICIG’s mandate until September 2019 in recognition of the Commissioner’s excellent work.
- The Secretary-General strongly supports CICIG and Commissioner Velásquez, who has shown great commitment to his work and the fight against impunity in Guatemala. He is widely recognized for his professionalism as well as for his personal dedication to justice and human rights. The Secretary-General is confident that, under Mr. Velásquez´ leadership, CICIG will continue to fulfill its mandate and contribute to strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala.
U.N.: 33 MEMBER STATES HAVE PAID DUES IN FULL
- The Bahamas, Kyrgyzstan and Mali have made full payments to the regular budget. The total number of countries having made payments now stands at 33.