HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2015

EGYPT: SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RELEASE OF DETAINED JOURNALIST, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH

  • In a statement, the Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the Egyptian authorities to release the detained journalist Peter Greste. The Secretary-General notes that there are other journalists still detained in Egypt and hopes that their cases will also be resolved shortly.
  • The Secretary-General again underscores the importance of safeguarding freedom of speech and association in Egypt. He strongly believes that pluralism is the key for achieving long-term stability, including the guarantee that all peaceful voices are heard and represented.
  • The Secretary-General reiterates his continuing commitment to supporting the Egyptian people's struggle for stability, democracy, and prosperity.

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO DRIVE PEOPLE-CENTRED, PLANET-SENSITIVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

  • This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. Speaking to young people from around the world, the Secretary-General urged them to help the international community drive sustainable development that is people-centred and planet-sensitive, fight injustice and inequality, and become an active global citizen.
  • The Secretary-General called on all young people to denounce injustice, and reach hands across cultures and communities. He also called on them to continue to use their voices to defend our only planet Earth.
  • The Secretary-General also launched a digital and social engagement campaign called #YouthNow to mark the 20th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth. The campaign celebrates the achievements made so far and advocates for more action, leading up to the post-2015 development agenda.

SOUTH SUDAN: AID WORKERS ABLE TO REACH PREVIOUSLY CUT-OFF AREAS IN NORTHERN JONGLEI BY AIR

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that rapid response teams in South Sudan are now able to access areas by air service areas in northern Jonglei State that had been cut off from normal supply lines since the conflict started.
  • The teams have started providing humanitarian assistance to the estimated 73,500 internally displaced in the area.
  • OCHA also says that an additional 48,000 people in host communities are reported to need food, water, healthcare and household items.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME CONTRACTORS SAFELY RETURNED TO SOUTH SUDAN

  • The six Bulgarian crew members of a helicopter contracted by the World Food Programme (WFP), who were forced to land by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLM-N) in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, were handed over safely to WFP in South Sudan today.
  • WFP worked together with authorities both in Sudan and South Sudan to locate and recover the crew when contact was lost with the helicopter, last Monday, a week ago.
  • The Executive Director of WFP, Ertharin Cousin, said that she was greatly relieved that the crew members were back and unhurt.

SINCE START OF 2015, 36,000 PEOPLE UPROOTED BY CLASHES IN DARFUR – U.N. RELIEF WING

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that aid agencies have confirmed that 36,000 people have been displaced by fighting between Government forces and armed movements in Darfur since January. This reflects an increase of about 16,000 newly verified displaced over the past week.
  • OCHA also says that the actual number may be higher as aid organizations are unable to access parts of Darfur's Jebel Marra region due to access constraints and fighting in the area.
  • Most of the latest arrivals have come to ZamZam and Shagra camps, near El Fasher. Aid organizations continue to provide basic assistance in these locations.
  • This latest wave of displacement is part of a broader deterioration of the humanitarian situation across much of Darfur.
  • The UN continues to call on all parties to conflict in Darfur to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and to ensure safe, timely and unhindered access to humanitarian organizations.

SECRETARY-GENERAL: ‘BARBARIC’ MURDER OF JAPANESE JOURNALIST UNDERSCORES VIOLENCE IN IRAQ, SYRIA

  • The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric murder of Kenji Goto. His death underscores the violence that so many have been subjected to in Iraq and Syria.
  • Once again, the Secretary-General calls for the unconditional release of all hostages held by Daesh and others.
  • The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to Mr. Goto’s family, as well as to the people and government of Japan.

U.N. SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO FIND POLITICAL SOLUTION TO SYRIAN CRISIS

  • In response to questions about the Syria talks that took place in Moscow last week, the Spokesman said that we are supportive of any attempt to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis, including, most recently, the talks in Moscow.
  • The talks were attended by a representative of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, and we remain in close contact with our Russian colleagues as their important efforts continue.

NEARLY 1,400 IRAQIS KILLED IN JANUARY, U.N. MISSION REPORTS

  • According to casualty figures released yesterday by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 1,375 Iraqis were killed and another 2,240 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in January.
  • The number of civilians killed was 790 and the number of civilians injured, 1,469.  Baghdad was the worst impacted Governorate, with 1,014 civilian casualties.

2014 HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD – WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

  • The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported today that 2014 was the hottest year on record and is part of a continuing trend of warmer years.
  • Average global air temperatures over land and sea surface in 2014 were 0.57 °C above the long-term average of 14.00°C for the period 1961-1990, which is used as a reference period.
  • WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud says that 14 of the 15 hottest years have all been this century. He said that we can expect global warming to continue, given the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the increasing heat content of the oceans.

U.N. CIVIL AVIATION BODY’S HIGH LEVEL SAFETY CONFERENCE KICKS OFF IN CANADA

  • The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has begun its Second High-level Safety Conference in Montreal, Canada.
  • Directors General of Civil Aviation and strategic decision-makers are gathered for three days to formulate recommendations for progress of key aviation safety activities.
  • In particular, the Conference will discuss emerging safety issues, including the one relating to global tracking of aircraft and risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones.

CANADA, IRELAND BRING TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBER STATES HAVING PAID DUES TO 25

  • Canada and Ireland are the latest Member States to pay their dues in full to the regular budget, bringing to 25 the number of Member States which have paid their regular budget assessments in full.

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