Noon briefing of 24 March 2015

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 24 MARCH 2015

HEAD OF U.N. DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS STEPS DOWN

• In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General said that Angela Kane has informed him of her intention to step down as High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
• The Secretary-General expressed his tremendous gratitude for her outstanding service and successful advocacy of disarmament and non-proliferation issues with Member States, civil society and the public.
• Through greatly increased participation in international meetings and seminars either as a representative of the Secretary-General or on her own behalf, Ms. Kane has made a crucial contribution to the collective endeavour of the UN and its Member States, as well as the civil society, to advance both the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda and the cause of ridding the world of the scourge of chemical weapons.
• Following Ms. Kane’s departure, the Secretary-General has designated Mr. Kim Won-soo as Acting High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.
• The Secretary-General conveyed his appreciation to the work done by Ms. Kane in implementing his five point action plan, which was launched in 2008 to revitalize the international disarmament agenda.
• While much has been done, a lot remains to be achieved. The Secretary-General expects Mr. Kim to follow through on it.

SECRETARY-GENERAL PAYS RESPECTS TO LATE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF SINGAPORE

• The Secretary-General spoke over the phone today to the Prime Minister of Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, expressing his condolences for the recent passing of his father, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
• The Secretary-General also visited the Permanent Mission of Singapore yesterday to sign the condolences book and pay his respects.
• He described the late Prime Minister as a legendary and remarkable leader who has transformed once a small fishing port of Singapore to a vibrant and dynamic country.

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS BHUTAN’S POLITICAL AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS

• In his meeting today with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Lyonchoen Tshering Tobgay, the Secretary-General commended the country’s achievements in democratic transition and sustainable development.
• He also expressed his appreciation for Bhutan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed Bhutan-UN cooperation in advancing the global agenda, including sustainable development, climate change and conservation, and the need for appropriate and timely financing in all these areas.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR END TO TUBERCULOSIS ON WORLD TB DAY

• In his message for World Tuberculosis Day, the Secretary-general said that we are within sight of one of the great global health victories, having the opportunity not just to reverse the spread of tuberculosis but, by 2035, to end this epidemic.
• However, he warned that victory is not guaranteed with an estimated 9 million people still ill with tuberculosis in 2013, and 1.5 million dead.
• The Secretary-General therefore urged governments, communities and health workers around the world to intensify their efforts in line with the strategy established by the World Health Assembly in 2014.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON SUDAN, SOUTH SUDAN AND U.N. MISSION IN GOLAN

• The Security Council held consultations this morning on Sudan and South Sudan, as well as on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan.
• This afternoon, the Council has scheduled meetings on non-proliferation as well as on Sudan and South Sudan.

U.N. ENVOY IN LIBYA PRESENTS PLAN TO EXPEDITE TALKS

• Following discussions with Libyan parties over the last few months, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino Leon, visited Tobruk and Tripoli to present some ideas to expedite the talks.
• The proposed ideas include formation of a unity Government headed by a president and a presidential council composed of independent personalities not belonging to any party or affiliated with any group.
• The ideas are guided by key principles, including the respect for elections and its results, respect for the legitimacy and for the state institutions, human rights and the building of a state based on the rule of law.
• The mission continues to stress that an end to conflict is in the hands of the Libyans themselves, and that the ideas are expected to provide a basis for a solution to the country’s political crisis.
• Next week, Mr. Leon is expected to return to Skhirat, Morocco, where the Libyan political dialogue session is taking place, to help expedite the talks.

U.N. ENVOY FOR YEMEN RETURNS TO SANA’A TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS

• The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Yemen, Jamal Benomar, returned to Sana9;a yesterday after a visit to Riyadh and Doha in the context of ongoing consultations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
• The Special Adviser resumed negotiations yesterday with all 12 political parties, including the Houthis, and is expected to meet with them again today.
• Mr. Benomar renews his calls for all sides to cease immediately all hostilities, to exercise maximum restraint, to de-escalate and to avoid further provocation. He reiterates that peaceful dialogue is the only way forward.

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES VISITS NIGERIAN REFUGEES IN CAMEROON

• The High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), António Guterres, is on a two-day visit to Cameroon, a country that is hosting refugees from two of today’s major displacement crises in Africa: Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
• More than 74,000 Nigerian refugees have crossed into the Far North region of Cameroon according to the authorities, including some 25,000 who escaped clashes in north-eastern Nigeria in the month of February alone. In addition to the refugees from Nigeria, Cameroon is also hosting more than 244,000 refugees from the Central African Republic.
• The High Commissioner will discuss both humanitarian crises with President Paul Biya and also discuss the support that is needed to improve the living conditions for the refugees, internally displaced people and the host communities in Cameroon.
• Due to insecurity in the Far North region, UNHCR has been moving refugees from the border areas to Minawao refugee camp. Mr. Guterres will visit Minawao on Wednesday to hear the refugees’ testimonies first hand and see the conditions in the camp, which is now home to nearly 33,000 Nigerian refugees. The relocation exercise is continuing.
• The High Commissioner will also meet with some of the estimated 96,000 Cameroonians who have been internally displaced by the regular incursions by insurgents into the country.

AID AGENCIES SEEK NEARLY $30 MILLION FOR CYCLONE PAM RELIEF EFFORTS IN VANUATU

• The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Joe Natuman, and the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Country, Osnat Lubrani, launched an appeal today for nearly $30 million to cover the needs of the 166,000 people affected by tropical cyclone Pam.
• The funds will ensure that those in need can receive assistance until mid-June of this year. The support will be in the areas of water, food, shelter and health care, as well as protecting the vulnerable and helping children return to school.
• Tropical cyclone Pam caused widespread damage across the archipelago of Vanuatu, destroying infrastructure, homes and livelihoods in a country where more than 70 per cent of the population relies on subsistence agriculture.
• Although valuable Government and community preparedness activities minimized the loss of life, there are still critical needs. Some 75,000 people need shelter and 110,000 people do not have access to safe drinking water.
• As part of the new appeal, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling for nearly $5 million to help the 82,000 children who are in need of humanitarian assistance. That is two thirds of all children in Vanuatu.
• UNICEF is focusing on ensuring that children in Vanuatu, as well as neighbouring Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Kiribati, have access to clean water, sanitation and health services.

U.N. ADOPTS NEW AGREEMENT ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

• The Third UNs World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) wrapped up in Sendai, Japan, last week.
• The Conference adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which replaces the Hyogo Framework.
• The new document identifies four priorities for enhancing disaster resilience: understanding risk; strengthening disaster risk governance; investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience; and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to build back better in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
• The Conference also adopted the Sendai Declaration, in which States stressed their determination to enhance efforts to strengthen disaster risk reduction to reduce disaster losses of lives and assets worldwide.