HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 10 MARCH 2017
U.N. ENVOY STRESSES NEED FOR PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN TO SECURITY COUNCIL
- The Security Council met for its regular debate on Afghanistan this morning, during which the Council renewed the mandate for the UN Mission there (UNAMA).
- The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, highlighted the challenging security environment that persisted in the country, which in 2016 resulted in UNAMA recording the highest number of civilian casualties in a single year. That deteriorating security situation had also led to the highest-ever level of internal displacement in 2016.
- “An endless conflict and violence is simply not acceptable. We all need to make peace our new and absolute imperative,” Mr. Yamamoto stressed.
AID WORKERS ABLE TO ACCESS IRAQ’S WESTERN MOSUL – U.N.
- Humanitarian workers in Iraq were able to again access to western Mosul yesterday, providing emergency packages of food rations, water, and essential hygiene supplies to almost 4,000 people in two south-western neighbourhoods.
- Humanitarians continue to conduct access missions in newly retaken areas where security permits, in order to establish conditions and plan further aid distributions to the extremely vulnerable people in these areas.
STEPPED UP CLASHES IN WESTERN, CENTRAL YEMEN FORCING TENS OF THOUSANDS FROM THEIR HOMES – U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that intensified hostilities across western and central Yemen continue to force tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, with many now struggling to cope in abysmal conditions. More than 62,000 people have been reported to be displaced within the last six weeks.
- On Yemen’s western coast, recent fighting in Taizz governorate has left more than 48,400 people displaced. The majority have fled within Taizz or to neighbouring Hudaydah.
- Most of those displaced are in dire need of assistance and have found shelter in communal and public spaces, including schools and health facilities, while others are living in unfinished buildings or even out in the open.
- UNHCR, together with partners, has quickly responded to the needs of the newly-displaced people from Taizz, including through the provision of shelter and relief items for those that arriving in districts of Hudaydah and Ibb.
NEARLY 340,000 PEOPLE IN FAMINE-STRICKEN PARTS OF SOUTH SUDAN RECEIVE FOOD AID
- The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that more than 338,000 people in South Sudan’s Leer, Mayendit, Koch and Panyijiar have received humanitarian assistance since localized famine was declared in Leer and Mayendit.
- In Mayendit county, life-saving activities, including cholera response, remain disrupted as aid workers were forced to relocate on 26 February after being advised to leave by local authorities due to clashes.
- Cholera cases have now been confirmed in Malakal town, bringing the number of counties affected to 14 in the longest and widest outbreak of the disease in South Sudan since it became independent in 2011. Response efforts are ongoing. 5,574 cholera cases, including 137 deaths, have been recorded since the initial case was reported in June 2016.
MADAGASCAR: U.N., PARTNERS ASSESS DAMAGE IN WAKE OF CYCLONE
- The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that in Madagascar, Cyclone Enawo has left the country, conditions are conducive for assessments to take place. The category 4 cyclone has flooded towns and cities; destroyed houses, schools and infrastructure, including hospitals; and has displaced thousands of people.
- Teams deployed to the field have started to undertake assessments and results are beginning to come in. Many areas remain inaccessible. The UN Resident Coordinator, the Government and partners have been flying over affected areas to assess the extent of damage. Up to 760,000 people in nine regions could be directly affected by the strongest cyclone to strike the country in 13 years.
VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO FORCE PEOPLE TO FLEE THEIR HOMES IN COLOMBIA, U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY REPORTS
- Violence continues to uproot thousands of people in Colombia, despite a peace agreement signed last November between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
- Fighting for territorial control in the Colombian Pacific Coast region among irregular armed groups has displaced more than 3,500 people since the beginning of 2017.
- While recognizing the Government’s efforts to consolidate peace and ensure that the rights of victims are addressed, UNHCR says that is deeply concerned at the increasing levels of internal displacement affecting several communities and reiterated the need to ensure that the civilian population has access to protection and assistance.
COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS TO KICK OFF 60TH SESSION NEXT WEEK
- Monday sees the start of the 60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria.
- Participants include Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, who is Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the Rule of Law for Southeast Asia; Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director; and Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
- More than 100 side events will be held over five days on topics ranging from treatment and care of people with drug use disorders, understanding the challenges of the Mekong, combatting terrorism and its financing, heroin routes into Europe, and health responses to new psychoactive substances, among many others.
ECUADOR BECOMES 58TH MEMBER STATE TO PAY U.N. DUES IN FULL
- Ecuador has made its payment to the regular budget, becoming the 58th Member State to pay in full.
