Noon briefing of 27 April 2011

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS SYRIA TODAY; SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST DEMONSTRATORS

• This afternoon at 3:00, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, will brief the members of the Security Council on the situation in Syria, in closed consultations. The Secretary-General said Tuesday that he would have Mr. Pascoe provide more detail about the latest developments in Syria as the Security Council considers its response.
  

• The Secretary-General also spoke to the Security Council on Tuesday, and said afterward that he utterly condemned the continuing violence against peaceful demonstrators, most particularly the use of tanks and live fire that have killed and injured hundreds of people.
  

• He emphasized that Syrian authorities have an obligation to protect civilians and respect international human rights. That includes the right to free expression and peaceful assembly. And he once more called for an independent, transparent and effective investigation.
  

• This Friday, the Human Rights Council has scheduled a special session to consider the situation in Syria.

MANDATES ARE EXTENDED FOR SUDAN, WESTERN SAHARA PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS

• This morning, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolutions extending the mandates of two UN peacekeeping missions.
  

• The Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) until 9 July of this year.
  

• The Council extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by one year, until the end of April next year. The Council also welcomed the parties’ commitment to the process of holding small, informal talks in preparation for a fifth round of negotiations.

THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS IN COTE D’IVOIRE FACE ENORMOUS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

• In Côte d’Ivoire, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that thousands of people face enormous humanitarian needs. Their vulnerability is aggravated by a lingering lack of security in certain places, as well as by the difficulty in obtaining access to essential health, education and sanitation services.
  

• The United Nations has deployed an evaluation and coordination team (UNDAC) to Abidjan and the western part of the country since 19 April, to identify the needs of the most vulnerable people.
  

• In the western part of the country, the team’s findings confirmed the existence of persistent humanitarian needs in the areas of shelter, food security, health care, water and sanitation, access to education and protection.
  

• In Abidjan, the assessment revealed the need to assist the Government in the areas of civilian protection, health, education and public hygiene.

U.N. TEAM ARRIVES IN LIBYA TO ASSESS HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS

• A three-person team looking at human rights in Libya arrived in the country today. The team is led by Profosser Cherif Bassiouni, and also includes Asma Khader and Philippe Kirsch. The team was sent by the Human Rights Council and is to present its findings to the Human Rights Council in June.
  

• Asked about support for the rebels in Libya, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations was focusing on obtaining an immediate cease-fire and trying to expand humanitarian access in the country.

SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS CALLED FOR RESPECT OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN BAHRAIN

• Asked about Bahrain, the Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General raised the matter in the Security Council on Tuesday. He added that the UN Country Team in Bahrain is interacting with the authorities there and keeping the Secretary-General fully informed.
  

• He added that the Secretary-General has expressed a consistent and principled message calling for the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms and encouraging dialogue on genuine political, economic and social reform.
  

• Nesirky said that the Secretary-General has called on the Bahraini authorities to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid excessive use of force.
  

• The Secretary-General firmly believes that security and stability can only be achieved through dialogue and a political process that meets the aspirations of all Bahraini people.

MISSION IN DARFUR LAUNCHES WATER DISTRIBUTION PROJECT

• The UN/African Union Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari, has launched a large-scale project to assist and protect thousands of formerly displaced people on their return to Darfur. The UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) will manage the effort to distribute high-capacity rolling water containers, among other items, to eight returnee villages.
  

• Mr. Gambari officially launched the project in Kuma Garadayat, in North Darfur, which is home to 3,000 returnees. He noted that one of the major sources of conflict in Darfur is access to water.

W.H.O. SAYS NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES ARE LEADING KILLER

• The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched the first global status report on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It shows that noncommunicable diseases are the leading killer today and are on the increase.
  

• In 2008, 36.1 million people died from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes. Nearly 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
  

• "The rise of chronic noncommunicable diseases presents an enormous challenge," says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. "For some countries, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as an impending disaster; a disaster for health, for society, and most of all for national economies."
  

• But WHO says that millions of deaths can be prevented by stronger implementation of measures that exist today. These include policies that promote government-wide action against NCDs: stronger anti-tobacco controls and promoting healthier diets, physical activity, and reducing the harmful use of alcohol; along with improving people's access to essential health care.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNITED NATIONS TO REVIEW ITS ACTIONS DURING SRI LANKA CONFLICT: Asked whether the United Nations did not accurately count fatalities during the last stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the Spokesperson said that the United Nations would review its actions during the final stages of the conflict. He noted that, for security reasons, UN staff had to be withdrawn from parts of Sri Lanka during that period and were unable to make assessments as a result.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION LOOKING AT HAITI ELECTION RESULTS Asked about election results in Haiti, the Spokesperson noted concerns about some results, adding that Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Commission was looking into the matter.

HEAD OF U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME SPEAKS TO PRIVATE SECTOR, YOUTH IN INDONESIA: During her visit to Indonesia, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark, today addressed the Business for Environment Forum, which aims to boost private sector solutions and services for a clean economy. Helen Clark also took part of a Youth Dialogue with Indonesian students to discuss the young generation’s role in environmental sustainability.