HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2015

SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUNCHES LAST MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS REPORT, AHEAD OF ADOPTION OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

• The Secretary-General spoke at the launch of the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Gap Task Force Report earlier today.
• The report assesses achievements and shortcomings across five areas: official development assistance; market access and trade; debt sustainability; access to essential medicines; and access to new technologies.
• This is the last such report, as Member States are moving towards adopting and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The Secretary-General noted that despite gains towards a number of targets, major gaps remain in reducing vulnerabilities for developing countries.
• He said that the transition from the MDGs to the Sustainable Development Goals presents an opportunity to unlock resources for investments in education, health, equitable growth and sustainable production and consumption.

PEACE DAY: SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON ALL TO LAY DOWN ARMS AND OBSERVE 24-HOUR CEASEFIRE

• In a statement issued yesterday, ahead of International Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on 21 September, Secretary-General called on all partners to lend their voices to urge people to lay down of arms, and to work non-stop in the days to come to bring about a 24-hour cease fire on that day.
• If, for one day, we can live in a world without aggression and hostility, we can imagine how much more is possible, added the Secretary-General.
• On Monday at 9 a.m., the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Japan will join UN Messengers of Peace Jane Goodall and Michael Douglas as well as Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock at the Peace Bell Ceremony in the Japanese Garden.
• The ceremony will be followed by the Student Videoconference at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room 4.

SRI LANKA: SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES U.N. REPORT PROMOTING RECONCILIATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General welcomed the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
• He hopes that its important recommendations will help support the efforts of the people and the Government of Sri Lanka to carve a durable path toward long-lasting peace and stability and respect for human rights, through a genuine and credible process of accountability and reconciliation that meets international standards.
• The victims of all communities, their families and the Sri Lankan nation itself demand no less than a full and proper reckoning.
• The Secretary-General is also encouraged by the response of, and commitment expressed by, the Government of Sri Lanka and the opposition to consult widely with all stakeholders and take meaningful action to address these issues.
• Recognizing the courageous strides being made by the country, he urges the Government to continue building on this positive momentum and the international community to support Sri Lanka in this regard.
• In the process, the Secretary-General hopes that Sri Lanka’s efforts will ensure that it will fully secure a peaceful, prosperous future among the family of nations.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS CHAOS AND CONFUSION IS RESULTING IN LACK OF COHERENT AND UNITED REPONSE TO REFUGEE CRISIS

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today said that the recent dramatic situation on the Hungarian border and mayhem on the Serbian border with Croatia demonstrate the chaos and confusion resulting from the lack of a coherent and united response to Europe’s refugee situation.
• More than 440,000 refugees and migrants have arrived via the Mediterranean so far this year, with nearly 3,000 people having died. Some 4,000 people are arriving on the Greek islands daily.
• The Refugee Agency said that the crisis is growing and being pushed from one country to another without a solution. The suffering and risks for thousands of refugees and migrants are increasing as uncertainty and a lack of information fuels desperation, raises the likelihood of further incidents, and stokes hostility towards people who have fled persecution and conflict and are in need of help.
• it stressed that this environment is fertile ground for people-smugglers and others seeking to prey on this vulnerable population.
• The Agency said that the European Parliament’s decision yesterday to back plans for the relocation of an additional 120,000 people to all countries of the European Union deserves applause.
• It added that it recognizes that Europe is struggling to deal with this situation, and commends the countries and their citizens that have shown willingness to resettle refugees and respond positively to a situation which although challenging is manageable, provided that Europe is united in contributing to an effective response.

U.N. ENVOY FOR LIBYA WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON TRANSITIONAL PHASE

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, welcomed the agreement among the House of Representatives delegation to address the country’s new transitional phase.
• Speaking to the press today in Morocco, where the UN-facilitated talks have been taking place, Mr. Leon said that the agreement is a strong message that all parties involved in the dialogue process can solve their differences politically.
• Moving forward, the Special Representative said that he expects the General National Congress to return to Morocco today so that the parties can resume the final stage of the dialogue to reach an inclusive agreement by the 20^th of September.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO JORDAN TO VISIT SYRIAN REFUGEES

• Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien is expected to travel to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 19 to 21 September 2015.
• Mr. O’Brien is scheduled to meet with Jordanian Government officials, UN agencies and humanitarian partner organizations, and meet Syrian refugees and the communities hosting them in Jordan.
• During his visit, Mr. O'Brien is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister of Jordan, Abdullah Ensour, and other high-level Government officials in Amman to discuss ways of strengthening the aid operations of the UN and humanitarian partners, and how to support the host communities in Jordan.
• Mr. O’Brien is also scheduled to visit the Al-Zaatari refugee camp to meet Syrian refugees and local residents affected by the crisis, and visit a refugee support project funded by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

SOUTH SUDAN: NUMBER OF FATALITIES FOLLOWING EXPLOSION OF TANK IN MARIDI CONTINUES TO RISE, WARNS U.N. MISSION

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that the number of fatalities in Maridi, in Western Equatoria Province, has now risen to close to 200 and are expected to rise, following the explosion of a fuel tank on Wednesday.
• The Mission has been assisting by providing four helicopters to medically evacuate some 80 casualties to Juba. The Mission also helped with ground transportation of the injured to Juba Teaching Hospital. While evacuations took place, the Mission dispatched a medical team on the ground to Maridi for the day.
• The humanitarian response was conducted under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with humanitarian actors.  
• A UN patrol in Mundri has also reported heavy gunfire between Mundri West and Gullu town in Western Equatoria State yesterday. A few hours later, the Mission also observed heavy gunfire exchanges between unknown armed elements and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

NIGER: HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO MORE FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CRISIS

• The Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer, wrapped up a five-day visit to Niger today and welcomed humanitarian efforts in support of national authorities. He also called for the international community to take a greater share of the humanitarian burden in the country.
• During his visit, Mr. Lanzer travelled to the south-eastern region of Diffa, where he met with families who had fled Boko Haram at the Assaga displacement site. He also visited Agadez, which is a major transit hub for migrants in West Africa.
• Niger hosts 220,000 people displaced by conflict in Nigeria, Libya and Mali. In addition, thousands of migrants transit through the country each year.
• The US$376 million aid appeal for Niger is severely under-funded, with only 40 per cent of the funds received so far.

U.N. CHILDREN’S FUND REPORTS INCREASE IN BOKO HARAM ATTACKS IN NIGERIA

• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that a sharp increase in attacks by Boko Haram has uprooted 500,000 children, half a million children, over the past five months. This brings the total number of children on the run in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring countries to 1.4 million.
• In northern Nigeria alone, 1.2 million children – over half of them under 5 – have been forced to flee their homes. An additional 265,000 children have been uprooted in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
• Together with governments and partners in all four impacted countries, UNICEF has scaled up its operations.
• Over 315,000 children have been vaccinated against measles. More than 200,000 people have received access to safe water. Some 65,000 displaced and refugee children have had access to education and are able to continue learning thanks to the delivery of school materials.
• UNICEF added that with more refugees and not enough resources, its ability to deliver lifesaving assistance on the ground is now seriously compromised.

BURKINA FASO: SECRETARY-GENERAL REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT POLITICAL SITUATION

• The Secretary-General continues to follow the situation in Burkina Faso very closely and with great concern. He welcomed the release of Transitional President Michel Kafando and reiterated his demand that all detained Burkinabé officials be immediately freed.
• The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin who arrived in Ouagadougou today on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, remains in Ouagadougou and continues to work closely with ECOWAS, the African Union and other international partners to support and safeguard the transition in Burkina Faso.

U.N. DELEGATE PARTCIPATES IN PEACE TALKS ON COLOMBIA

• A delegate of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Jean Arnault, and the delegate of the UNASUR Pro Tempore Presidency (PTP) (Uruguay), Dr. José Bayardi, travelled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in a meeting of the peace talks between the Government of Colombia and the FARC on the end of the conflict, especially focusing on a monitoring and verification system.