HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 10 JULY 2017
 
UKRAINE: SECRETARY-GENERAL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS PLIGHT OF DISPLACED PEOPLE

• The Secretary-General is on his way back to New York.
• Yesterday, he held separate meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine. He also had a discussion with people who had been displaced by the conflict in the country.  Speaking to the press with President Poroshenko, the Secretary-General highlighted his strong emotional ties to the Ukrainian people.  He said that he deeply felt the suffering of those who have been displaced and stressed his commitment to address their plight.
• On Saturday, he wrapped up his participation at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. In the morning, he attended an event to promote women's entrepreneurship hosted by the White House and the World Bank, followed by a G20 working session on partnership with Africa, migration and health.  The Secretary-General also met with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and took part in a working lunch on digitalization and women's empowerment.

• In a statement issued earlier, the Secretary-General said that the recovery of Mosul is a significant step in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. 
• The Secretary-General pays tribute to the people and Government of Iraq for their courage, determination and perseverance. He also expresses his sincere condolences for the loss of lives and wishes speedy recovery to those injured.
• The United Nations will stand by the Government of Iraq in the tasks ahead of creating the necessary conditions for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced communities, restoring the rule of law in freed up areas, preventing a return to violence and fostering accountability for all violations committed.
• The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, adds that while there may be an end to military conflict in Mosul, there is still no end in sight to the humanitarian crisis. UNHCR will continue to play a key role in assisting displaced Iraqis for as long as it is necessary.
• Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced; many have lost relatives, their homes, and have been injured. It is likely that many thousands of people may have to remain in displacement for months to come.
• Humanitarian workers report that, of the 54 residential neighbourhoods in western Mosul, 15 are heavily damaged and at least 23 are moderately damaged.  Humanitarians are also concerned for civilians who are trapped in the areas where fighting is likely to occur, including Tel Afar, Hawija and western Anbar.

• The latest round of talks among the Syrian parties began today in Geneva.  Speaking to the press, Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, noted that we are witnessing a phase of simplification of one of the most complex conflicts of our time. 
• He highlighted a pragmatic approach to institutional engineering and the need for incremental progress.
• In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the Governments of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Russian Federation and the United States of America of a de-escalation zone and arrangements to support a ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian assistance in southwest Syria.
• This is a significant step towards reducing violence and increasing humanitarian access across Syria, in line with the pursuit of the goal of a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire, as endorsed by multiple Security Council resolutions.
• Notwithstanding this positive development, the Secretary-General urges all countries to preserve the right for all Syrians to seek asylum and enjoy refugee protection until conditions are conducive for return in safety and dignity.
• As the United Nations reconvenes the intra-Syrian talks on a political settlement based on Security Council resolution 2254, the Secretary-General urges all parties to redouble efforts for a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that peacekeepers on Saturday prevented the abduction of internally displaced people by two armed individuals wearing uniforms of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) outside the protection of civilians site in Bentiu in Unity State. A Mongolian Quick Reaction Force was deployed to the scene when the UN Mission first noticed the soldiers harassing the civilians. The peacekeepers fired warning shots over the heads of the soldiers who were also behaving aggressively towards the peacekeepers, including firing at them. The soldiers fled in the bush. No casualties were reported.
• The UN Mission has reported the incident to the SPLA leadership in the region, who assured the Mission that they will investigate the issue.

• The Security Council today adopted a resolution to establish a political mission in Colombia, called the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, for an initial period of 12 months, headed by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General.  That Mission will begin its activities on 26 September of this year.
• According to the resolution, the Verification Mission shall verify implementation by the Government of Colombia and FARC-EP of different parts of the Final Agreement, including the process of political, economic and social reincorporation of the FARC-EP; the implementation of personal and collective security guarantees; and comprehensive programmes on security and protection measures for communities and organisations in the territories.

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Somalia, Michael Keating, welcomed the opening of the second session of the Somali Parliament.
• He congratulated the Speaker and the parliamentarians and stressed that they can make significant progress by passing key legislation including the electoral law, legislation enabling a constitutional review and revenue generating laws.
• Mr. Keating added that real sovereignty for Somalia depends upon the country reducing its dependency upon others, and its ability to raise revenues and shape its own agenda.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the unprecedented cholera outbreak in Yemen has surged passed 300,000 suspected cases with over 1,700 associated deaths in just 75 days, since 27 April.
• Cholera is present in 92 per cent of Yemen’s districts, in all governorates except Socotra Island.  Children under the age of 15 account for 40 per cent and 25 per cent of suspected cases and fatalities respectively. People over 60 years old represent 30 per cent of fatalities.

• In Afghanistan, the World Food Programme (WFP) said it will be able to provide food assistance to more than 577,000 people in need thanks to a $20 million dollar contribution by the United States.
• The money will be spent to buy local wheat flour, salt, yellow peas and cooking oil, among other supplies, and will benefit internally displaced people, people affected by natural disasters and people who struggle to feed their families at certain times of the year.
• Among those who will receive assistance are nearly 50,000 malnourished children under five and more than 12,000 pregnant women and new mothers.

• UNHCR, UNICEF, and the International Rescue Committee, today issued a Roadmap for action to improve the situation of refugee and migrant children arriving and staying in Europe without their parents or care givers.
• The Roadmap highlights the need to identify children, register them through child-friendly procedures, and build a relationship of trust with them as early as possible. It also provides recommendations based on consultations with psychologists, social workers, lawyers, guardians, and children themselves.