HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 2017
 
SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST LAUNCH OF BALLISTIC MISSILE BY D.P.R. KOREA

  • In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the launch of another ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 12 February.
  • He said this action is a further troubling violation of Security Council resolutions. The DPRK leadership must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization.
  • The Secretary-General appeals to the international community to continue to address this situation in a united manner.
IN DUBAI, SECRETARY-GENERAL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO DRIVE UNITED NATIONS REFORM
  • Earlier today, the Secretary-General spoke to the World Government Summit in Dubai.  In his remarks to the plenary, he focused on the lack of trust in today’s world and said that the need to improve governance is essential.  He said that if you look at the UN, for instance, there is a clear lack of confidence in the Security Council today and a clear perception that the Security Council no longer corresponds to the logic of today’s world in relation to what the world was after the Second World War, when the Security Council was built. The Secretary-General said that there is a need for deep reforms in global institutions and he added that he is committed to driving reform of the UN as head of the Secretariat.
  • On the sidelines of the meeting in Dubai, the Secretary-General met with the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
  • The Secretary-General then flew to Abu Dhabi, where he will stay overnight. He also met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces.
  • Over the weekend, the Secretary-General was in Saudi Arabia, where he visited the Coalition Air Force’s Joint Operations Centre yesterday and was briefed on the coalition’s air operations in Yemen. Later in the day the Secretary-General met separately with King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
  • The Secretary-General was then hosted for a working lunch by Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. In a joint press conference afterward, the Secretary-General was asked about the Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and he said that he believes that the Special Envoy is doing impartial work in a very professional way and has the Secretary-General’s full support.
TRANSNATIONAL NATURE OF TERRORISM CALLS FOR COORDINATED RESPONSE: SECRETARY-GENERAL
  • The Security Council is holding an open debate toady on the protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.
  • Speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General, his Chef de Cabinet, Maria Luiza Viotti, said that the threat posed by terrorist organizations is becoming increasingly complex, making critical infrastructure – such as energy facilities and water supply – especially vulnerable.
  • She stressed that the transnational nature of terrorism requires a coordinated response of all states and actors of the international community.
  • Also speaking at the debate were top officials from INTERPOL and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
  • Following this meeting, there will be consultations on non-proliferation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
U.N. MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC INTERVENES TO PROTECT CIVILIANS AROUND BAMBARI
  • The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said over the weekend that it intervened in the area of Bambari in the framework of its protection of civilians mandate. On 11 January, members of the coalition led by the Front Populaire pour la Renaissance de Centrafrique (FPRC) were approaching Bambari, increasing the threat of violent clashes in the town. The UN mission had no other choice but to stop the advance of the group and the threat it posed and a helicopter from the UN mission intervened.
  • The mission reports today that UN peacekeepers established a temporary operating base at Tagbara bridge to prevent further movement of the FPRC coalition towards Bambari. Peacekeepers, including special forces, were also deployed to reinforce their presence in the town of Ippy.
  • The UN mission reiterates its call to both the Mouvement pour l’Unité et la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC) and the FPRC coalition to immediately cease hostilities and to resolve this dispute through dialogue.  
U.N. MISSION IN D.R. CONGO VOICES CONCERN OVER CONFLICT IN KASAI PROVINCES
  • The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) expressed its concern about the persistent conflict in the Kasaï provinces.
  • Violent acts committed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia include the recruitment and use of child soldiers and targeting symbols and institutions of State authority.
  • The mission is also concerned by the disproportionate use of force by the Congolese Army in its response to the situation.
  • It has reinforced its civilian and uniformed personnel presence in the area, and has also deployed one of its Mobile Monitoring Response Team to help prevent, investigate and document human rights violations.
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL VISITING SOMALIA
  • The UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Andrew Gilmour is currently in Somalia for his first visit to the country since his appointment.
  • Since his arrival on 11 February, Mr. Gilmour has held several high-level meetings with senior state officials, civil society, AMISOM, and UN entities present on the ground.
  • The main objective of his visit was to assess the human rights situation and explore ways to further integrate human rights into both security operations and political processes.
HUMANITARIANS SEEKING $1.6 BILLION TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN SOUTH SUDAN AMID UNPRECEDENTED NEEDS
  • Humanitarian organizations are appealing for US$1.6 billion to provide life-saving assistance and protection to 5.8 million people across South Sudan in 2017.
  • The Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Eugene Owusu, said that the humanitarian situation in the country has deteriorated dramatically due to the devastating combination of conflict, economic decline and climatic shocks. He said that in 2017, there will be unprecedented needs, in an unprecedented number of locations, and that these needs will increase during the upcoming lean season.
  • Mr. Owusu stressed it is imperative that this appeal is funded early and fully, so that the aid workers deployed across South Sudan can respond robustly and rapidly.
U.N. MISSION VOICES CONCERN OVER ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN AFGHANISTAN’S HELMAND PROVINCE
  • The UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed its grave concern at the recent escalation of violence in Helmand province, which has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 25 civilians, mostly women and children.
  • In a statement, UNAMA said that the people of Helmand have suffered greatly due to the armed conflict in Afghanistan, with nearly 900 civilians killed or injured during 2016. That figure was the highest in the country in 2016 outside of Kabul.
  • UNAMA reiterated the need for all parties to strictly adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to take all feasible measures to protect civilians.
SYRIA: INTER-AGENCY HUMANITARIAN CONVOY REACHES AR RASTAN AREA
  • On 12 February, an inter-agency humanitarian convoy delivered food, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and other emergency items to Syria’s Ar Rastan area in northern rural Homs for 107,500 people in need.  Some health, non-food items, nutrition and water and sanitation supplies were removed during the loading process.
  • The UN continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access - including for all health and medical-related items - to the 4.7 million people in hard-to-reach locations across the country, including more than 640,000 in besieged locations.
  • We also remain deeply concerned for the situation of civilians impacted by anti-Da’esh operations in and around Al Bab. It is estimated that around 30,000 civilians have fled Al Bab city and its surroundings since late December.
  • The UN and partners are providing assistance to those who are displaced, including through setting up reception and transit centres to receive and provide basic assistance to those in need.
  • Up to 10,000 civilians remain in Al Bab city, facing increasingly difficult conditions under Da’esh control, including severe movement restrictions.
U.N. MISSION IN IRAQ SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTACKS IN BAGHDAD AND BASRA
  • The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) condemned the rocket attack on Saturday evening on Baghdad’s Green Zone.  At a time when the fight against Da’esh terrorism remains a priority, this sort of action only serves the interests and objectives of the terrorists.
  • UNAMI also condemned the attack that took place early Sunday morning against the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) Governorate Electoral Office in Basra, in which unknown gunmen fired gunshots at the facility. The use of force and any threats of violence against the Electoral Commission and its staff are not acceptable and should not be allowed to happen.
DJIBOUTI PAYS U.N. BUDGET DUES IN FULL
  • Djibouti has paid its regular budget dues in full, becoming the 34th UN Member State to have done so in 2017.