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

MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2015

 

CONCERNED BY SITUATION OF REFUGEES, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES EUROPEAN NATIONS TO ABIDE BY INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS

• In a statement, the Secretary-General says that he is extremely concerned about the deteriorating situation facing refugees and migrants arriving across Europe. He recalls that many are fleeing persecution, conflict and human rights abuses and have endured arduous journeys in order to reach safety.
• He calls on all European States to ensure that they abide by their international obligations, including the right to seek asylum, and the prohibition of refoulement. All persons must be received with dignity and their human rights must be respected. The Secretary-General has followed with increasing concern the closing of some borders in Europe, as well as the lack of proper reception facilities as well as the increased use of detention and criminalization of irregular migrants and asylum seekers.
• The Secretary-General has called on European leaders to express his concerns, and to encourage them to ensure the proper treatment of refugees and migrants. As EU Ministers gather on Tuesday, and as an emergency EU Summit is scheduled for Wednesday, the Secretary-General appeals to all EU leaders to show leadership and compassion. He calls on them to forge a common approach which is in line with their international obligations and honors the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter.
• The Secretary-General looks forward to receiving the European Union leaders at the 70th United Nations General Assembly. He has invited Member States to a special meeting on 30 September to discuss the challenges of increased movements of migrants and refugees in the world.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY HELPING SURVIVORS OF DEADLY BOAT INCIDENTS BETWEEN TURKEY, GREECE

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is helping survivors of two separate incidents over the weekend involving boats carrying refugees and migrants between Turkey and Greece that left some 40 people dead or missing.
• UNHCR and its partners in Greece are providing ongoing support for the survivors and families, including medical and psychological care, accommodation, legal assistance, food and water.
• In all, Europe has seen more than 442,400 arrivals by sea so far this year – 82 percent of those arrivals from the world's top 10 refugee-producing countries, led by Syria. Nearly 3,000 people have died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean this year.

IN JORDAN, U.N. RELIEF CHIEF STRESSES DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF SYRIA CRISIS ON NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

• At the end of his first official visit to Jordan, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, said that a disproportionate burden of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria has fallen on the neighbouring countries, including Jordan. Syria’s neighbours are reaching the point where the rest of the world urgently must share more of the responsibility in responding to the humanitarian needs caused by the crisis.
• The needs generated by the Syria crisis are outpacing the generous funding received so far. For 2015, the humanitarian community has appealed for $7.4 billion, but only 38 per cent of the essential funding has been received so far. 

MARKING INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES REDOUBLED EFFORTS TO REALIZE VISION OF U.N. CHARTER

• Today is the International Day of Peace. The Secretary-General this morning rang the peace bell.
• Speaking to UN Messengers of Peace Jane Goodall and Michael Douglas, as well as Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock and staff members gathered at the garden, the Secretary-General said that by ringing the Peace Bell today, we are expressing our resolve to continue until we realize the vision of the UN Charter - to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
• Following that, the Secretary-General participated in a student event where he stressed the role of young people in building peace. He encouraged young to raise their voices and denounce injustice.
• During the event, the Secretary-General took part in his very first SnapChat.
• The Secretary-General also participated in a tea ceremony with UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Dr. Genshitsu Sen.

BURKINA FASO: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS, URGES SECURITY FORCES TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS

• The Secretary-General continues to follow with great concern the situation in Burkina Faso and strongly condemns reports of violence against civilians, which has resulted in an unconfirmed number of deaths and injuries. 
• The Secretary-General firmly reiterates his call on the Burkinabe defence and security forces, especially the Regiment de Securite Presidentielle, otherwise known as the Presidential Guard, to exercise restraint and ensure respect for the human rights and security of all Burkinabe citizens. He also calls on all other national stakeholders to refrain from the use of violence.
• He is following closely the ongoing regional mediation efforts towards the resolution of the crisis. In relation to that, I know he spoke to the President of Senegal over the weekend.
• The Secretary-General also reiterates his demand for the swift resumption of the country's political transition in accordance with Burkina Faso's Constitution and Transitional Charter. Those responsible for the coup d'etat and its consequences must be held accountable.
• The Secretary-General's Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, continues to coordinate with ECOWAS, the African Union and other international partners to support and safeguard the transition in Burkina Faso.
• Mr. Chambas is currently in Abuja, Nigeria, ahead of the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit which is scheduled to take place tomorrow and obviously focus on the situation in Burkina.
• On Saturday, Mr. Chambas met President Michel Kafando at his residence, as well as the Chairman of the ECOWAS, President Sall, and President Boni of Benin as well as the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo.
• Mr. Chambas reiterated the strong condemnation by the UN of the coup and the international community’s support to help find a quick solution to the crisis.

SOUTH SUDAN: DOZENS OF CHILDREN DIE OF MALNOURISHMENT – U.N.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that thirty-four children under 5 years of age died from malnutrition in the civil protection site in South Sudan’s Bentiu, Unity State, in the first week of September.
• It adds that water and sanitation organizations are stepping up activities to address malnutrition and child mortality.
• OCHA says that malnutrition remains a major concern across South Sudan, with about a quarter of a million children severely malnourished.
• Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) recently launched a joint nutrition scale-up plan, which will see the agencies and their partners assist over two million people – children, pregnant women and new mothers – for the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition until May of next year.
• Following the recent fighting in central Unity State, the UN is housing 112,000 people in our protection of civilians’ camp in Bentiu.

U.N. ENVOY ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT DEEMS YEMEN SITUATION ‘BEYOND TRAGIC’

• Leila Zerrougui, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, has called the situation in Yemen “beyond tragic”. She said that the scale of killing and maiming of children has increased dramatically in 2015.
• In a press release that was yesterday, she said that more than 400 children were killed and more than 600 injured in Yemen between 26 March and August. She said that this is already more than triple the number of children killed and maimed during the whole of 2014.
• Ms. Zerrougui said she was appalled by the high level of child casualties, which indicates a failure by the parties to the conflict to distinguish between civilian and military objects, and to take precautionary measures to avoid and minimize civilian casualties.
• In a briefing to a Security Council working group last Friday, Ms. Zerrougui said that 73 percent of child deaths and injuries during the second quarter of 2015 were attributed to air strikes by the coalition. She added that 18 percent of child deaths, and 17 percent of child injuries, were attributed to the Houthis during the same period.
• Meanwhile, on the political track, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy is in Muscat today to take part in the political discussions and meeting with the Houthi-General People’s Congress delegation, which arrived from Yemen.

SENIOR U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL BEGINS UKRAINE VISIT

• The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Simonovic, kicked off a six-day visit today to Ukraine, where he will be visiting both Kyiv and parts of the east.
• This is Mr. Simonovic’s first to the country since December 2014. It is an opportunity to assess the human rights situation in Ukraine ahead of the Human Rights Council's interactive dialogue on 29 September.

CHOLERA CASES IN IRAQ EXPECTED TO RISE – WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

• The World Health Organization (WHO) says that in Iraq over the weekend the number of cholera cases are expected to increase in coming days and that Iraq’s health authorities are working with WHO and other health partners to manage this situation.
• In lab tests, 38 people have now tested positive for cholera.

FOUR BILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE LACK INTERNET ACCESS, NEW U.N.-BACKED REPORT FINDS

• A new UN-backed report has found that broadband Internet is failing to reach those who could benefit most, with 4 billion people – that is nearly 60 per cent of the world’s population – still offline and unable to take advantage of the enormous economic and social benefits the Internet has to offer.
• Internet access is reaching near-saturation in the world’s rich nations but not advancing enough to benefit billions of people in the developing world.

NEPAL: SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES LEADERS TO ACT IN NATIONAL INTEREST, STRESSES NEED FOR NON-VIOLENCE

• In response to a question on Nepal, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General acknowledges the adoption of the new Constitution in Nepal, noting that the Constitution is a living document, he urges all political leaders to act in the broad national interest and with continued flexibility and inclusivity.
• He remains concerned about the recent violence and stresses the importance of dialogue and non-violence as well as respect for peaceful protest and freedom of assembly.
• A peaceful and democratic Nepal is what the people of Nepal seek and deserve.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM BOMB ATTACKS IN NORTHEAST NIGERIA

• In response to a question on attacks in Maiduguri, in north-east Nigeria, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General deplores the multiple bomb attacks at a mosque and nearby areas yesterday evening Maiduguri, capital of Borno State. These were conducted by suspected Boko Haram elements that reportedly led to the killing of at least 50 civilians and injured scores of others. The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims to whom he wishes a speedy recovery.
• The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the continuing brutal attacks against civilians, including children. He is also deeply concerned about the increasing number of those displaced, including some 500,000 children over the past five months, with serious humanitarian consequences.
• The Secretary-General reiterates the UN’s support to the Nigerian government in its fight against terrorism, which should be grounded on international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ROCKET ATTACKS ON ISRAEL FROM GAZA

• In a statement issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General condemned the recent rocket attacks by extremist Palestinian militants on Israel from Gaza.
• Such indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas risk a dangerous escalation and must stop. The people of southern Israel and Gaza have suffered enough from such violence.

ERITREA BECOMES 125^TH MEMBER STATE TO PAY U.N. DUES IN FULL

• Eritrea has paid its budget dues in full, bringing to 125 the number of Member States who have done so.

 

***The guest at the noon briefing today was the new UN Global Compact Executive Director, Lise Kingo. She spoke to journalists about the upcoming UN Private Sector Forum and other business-related events taking place during the General Assembly plenary.