HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 3 APRIL 2017
 
SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST BOMBING IN RUSSIA’S ST. PETERSBURG

  • The Secretary-General condemns today’s bombing in the St. Petersburg metro. He extends his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of the Russian Federation.
  • Those responsible for this appalling act must be held accountable.
SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SPEAK AT SYRIA CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS
  • The Secretary-General will leave New York tonight for Brussels, where he will participate in the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, which the United Nations is co-hosting.
  • He will speak on Wednesday at the opening session of that conference. The Secretary-General will call for support for the political process, and for renewed efforts to provide sufficient humanitarian aid and access to all those in need inside Syria, and aid for refugees and host communities in neighbouring countries.
  • The Secretary-General will return to New York late Wednesday.
SECRETARY-GENERAL OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO COLOMBIAN PEOPLE AFTER LANDSLIDES LEAVE 250 PEOPLE DEAD
  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the landslides over the weekend in the city of Mocoa in Colombia’s Putamayo province have left more than 250 people dead, many of them children, with many more missing or injured.
  • Search-and-rescue efforts led by the Government continue, and the United Nations commends Colombia for its efforts to ensure that immediate humanitarian needs are being met.
  • The UN and the humanitarian country team are working closely with Colombian authorities and stand ready to offer assistance.
  • The Secretary-General conveyed his condolences to the people and Government of Colombia in a conversation yesterday with Colombia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, and he plans to speak with President Juan Manuel Santos later today.
NEW HEAD OF U.N. PEACEKEEPING TAKES OFFICE
  • The new Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, took office today.
  • Earlier this morning, he visited the UN memorial site at the General Assembly building where he paid tribute to the sacrifices of the UN peacekeepers who lost their lives in the service of peace.  
IRAQ: U.N., PARTNERS WORKING ROUND-THE-CLOCK TO SUPPORT PEOPLE DISPLACED FROM MOSUL
  • Humanitarian partners have continued to work around the clock in order to keep pace with the rising displacement from western Mosul in Iraq. Despite the daily arrival of thousands of newly displaced people at camps and emergency sites, space is currently available to receive almost 23,000 people, while further expansion and construction work is underway.
  • In addition to providing shelter, humanitarian partners continue to assist displaced families, families on the move and vulnerable people who remain in newly retaken areas, wherever access allows.
  • Some 800,000 people have received ‘rapid-response’ emergency packages with food rations, water, and basic hygiene supplies, since the start of the Mosul crisis. Trauma stabilisation points receiving trauma casualties from western Mosul have treated more than 6,000 people.
  • Meanwhile, yesterday, more than 5,000 people were recorded as displaced from western Mosul. Almost 236,000 people have been displaced from west Mosul since the start of the military operation on the western neighbourhoods in late February.
U.N. ENVOY TO WORK WITH TURKISH CYPRIOT AND GREEK CYPRIOT LEADERS TO RESUME TALKS
  • Yesterday evening, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akıncı, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, held an open and constructive exchange about the challenges experienced over the last months.
  • The two leaders reconfirmed their joint commitment to finding a solution in the best interest of all Cypriots, taking into account the concerns of both communities. They also exchanged ideas about the way ahead.
  • The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide, will continue to be in touch with the leaders to lay the groundwork to resume the negotiations as soon as possible.
SOUTH AFRICAN APPOINTED HEAD OF AFRICAN-UNION – UNITED NATIONS OPERATION IN DARFUR
  • The Secretary-General and the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki announced today their appointment of Jeremiah Nyamane Kingsley Mamabolo of South Africa as Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
  • Mr. Mamabolo has been serving UNAMID as Acting Joint Special Representative since the departure of Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria on 4 January 2017.
  • Mr. Mamabolo brings to the position first-hand experience in dealing with the situation in Darfur, as well as expertise from his distinguished career in the diplomatic service. Since 2016, he served UNAMID as Deputy Joint Special Representative for Pillar I, overseeing political, human rights, and legal aspects of the Mission’s activities.  He served as Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations (2013-2016), during which he also acted as Chair of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China.
ALBANIA PAYS FULL U.N. DUES
  • Albania has paid its regular budget dues in full, bringing the total number of Member States that have done so to 72.