Noon briefing of 24 February 2016

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

WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES GREAT LAKES REGION TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES AND INVESTMENTS

• In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretary-General addressed the opening session of the Great Lakes Private Sector Investment Conference this morning.
• In his remarks, he said that for the region to reach its great potential, solving security issues will not be enough. Root causes need to addressed, on the basis of good governance and the rule of law.
• The Secretary-General urged the Governments of the region to create an environment that ensures that business operations and investments are responsible and sustainable, and he asked development partners to build and enhance the productive capacities of Great Lakes states.
• The Secretary-General also had a series of meetings with DRC officials, including President Joseph Kabila, representatives of the majority and the political opposition, and members of civil society. Tomorrow, he will fly to South Sudan to meet with President Salva Kiir and visit a protection of civilians’ site in Juba.

U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ON FRONTLINES OF HUMAN NEED, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AT 50^TH ANNIVERSAY EVENT

• In a video message to the ministerial meeting marking the 50^th Anniversary of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) today, the Secretary-General said that in the last half a century UNDP has been on the frontlines of human need and aspiration.
• The Secretary-General added that with its global presence and programmatic reach, UNDP has helped to combat poverty and to rebuild countries affected by crisis.
• As we speak, more than 80 ministers from across the world are meeting today in the General Assembly Hall to chart a course for the future of global development and share their visions on making the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda a reality.
• The Administrator of UNDP, Helen Clark, who also spoke at the meeting, said that the conclusions and recommendations emerging from the discussions will help guide UNDP’s work for years to come.

U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CALLS ANNOUNCEMENT OF CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES “A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT”

• The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, told the Security Council today that the announcement of a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, scheduled to come into effect this weekend, is a welcome development and a long-awaited signal of hope to the Syrian people.
• He echoed the Secretary-General’s call for the parties to abide by the terms of the agreement to bring about an immediate reduction in violence as a first step towards a more durable ceasefire and to create the conditions necessary for an increased humanitarian aid.
• Mr. O’Brien noted recent aid efforts, in which 62 trucks reached 40,000 beneficiaries in Madaya, three trucks reached 1,000 beneficiaries in Zabadani and 18 trucks reaching 20,000 beneficiaries in Foah and Kefraya.
• The convoys have proceeded without any major security incident, although there have been delays in delivery as parties disagree over the terms of the agreement. Overall he said, the United Nations and its partners have reached 110,000 people in besieged areas, and have approval to reach a further 230,000 people, including through the airdrops in Deir Ezzour.
• Earlier this morning, he said, a World Food Programme (WFP) plane dropped the first cargo of 21 tonnes of items into Deir Ezzour. We have received initial reports from the Syrian Arab Red Cross team on the ground that pallets have landed in the target area as planned.

OVER 100 PEOPLE KILLED DURING RECENT BOMBING IN DAMASCUS, U.N. RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES WARNS

• The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported today that that among the roughly 120 people who were killed during the Sunday bombing attack in Damascus, 31 were Palestine refugees, including a twelve-year-old UNRWA student, who was killed along with her mother; the thirteen-year-old son of an UNRWA teacher; and an UNRWA staff member who was killed with her six-month old son, her sister and her brother-in-law. The mother of an UNRWA teacher was also killed. The Agency has offered its sympathies to the families of all the victims.

LIBYA: U.N. WELCOMES ENDORSEMENT OF NEW GOVERNMENT BY MAJORITY MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Martin Kobler, today welcomed the statement signed by the majority members of the House of Representatives in which they approved the Government of National Accord (GNA) proposed by the Presidency Council.
• Mr. Kobler stressed that this development demonstrates the strong determination of the people of Libya and the overwhelming support by the majority within the House for the proposed GNA. Mr. Kobler called on them to take immediate steps to formalise this endorsement.

SOUTH SUDAN: U.N. MISSION WORKS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO DEESCALATE SITUATION IN PIBOR

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today reported that fighting between Murle factions has been ongoing in Pibor town, including in the vicinity of compound of the non-governmental organization, Catholic Relief Services. Fighting around Pibor also continues along the Gumuruk Road area.
• The Mission is engaging with political actors at a number of levels, both on the ground and in Juba, to help deescalate the situation.
• Peacekeepers are protecting an estimated 1,100 civilians who have sought protection near the Mission9;s base over the last 48 hours. The Mission also continues to assist with the facilitation of humanitarian assistance in the area.

HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR CONCERNED OVER NEW DISPLACEMENT IN NORTH DARFUR

• The Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Marta Ruedas, said today she was concerned about the plight of over 85,000 newly displaced civilians in North Darfur State after the recent escalation in conflict in the Jebel Marra area.
• On Monday, Ms. Rueda visited Tawilla, west of El Fasher, where over 22,000 people, mostly women and children, have gathered in recent weeks next to an existing camp for displaced people. She said that civilians continue to bear the brunt of conflict and that their protection is the UN’s paramount concern.
• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the United Nations, international and national organizations, and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society are delivering assistance but the massive influx of new arrivals is straining an already logistically complex humanitarian operation.
• Yesterday, 23 February, an 11-truck aid convoy left El Fasher for Sortony, in North Darfur. That is where the influx has been greatest – with over 63,000 newly displaced people.
• The United Nations urges all parties to the conflict to allow access to displaced people in Central Darfur, and calls for immediate, safe and unfettered access to all people in need, wherever they may be located.

U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES VISITS LESVOS, EXPRESSES CONCERN AT REPORTS OF BALKAN BORDER CLOSURES

• The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi was on his first official visit to the island of Lesvos yesterday. During the visit, he said that he was very worried about the increasing closures of the European borders along the Balkans route and the increased burden put on Greece, which is already shouldering a big responsibility managing these people. Grandi visited the port and the registration centres for refugees and migrants in Levsos.
• He said he was impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of the Greek coast guard in rescuing refugees. He also said he was pleased by the progress in processing the flow of refugees and migrants coming to Lesvos.
• Last year more than 500,000 refugees first touched European soil on Lesvos and so far this year more than 50,000 more have come to the island.

HEAD OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION VISITS ZIKA-AFFECTED AREAS IN BRAZIL

• The World Health Organization (WHO) said that its Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, today arrived in the northeast of the Brazil to visit the area most affected by neurological disorders suspected of being linked to the Zika virus, including microcephaly in babies.
• Dr. Chan visited a hospital and clinical research centre in Recife where a significant number of pregnant women who contracted the Zika virus during pregnancy have delivered babies with microcephaly.
• Dr. Carissa Etienne, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is also taking part in the visit - which will help contribute to an ongoing assessment of the Zika virus situation and response. Drs. Chan and Etienne will speak to the press at 5 p.m. in Brasilia today.
• PAHO reported that a group of its experts are working in Colombia this week to support the country9;s efforts to respond to the outbreak of Zika virus. Colombian health authorities report that nearly 37,000 people have been affected, including 6,300 pregnant women.

FIJI: OVER 30 PEOPLE DEAD IN AFTERMATH OF TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the authorities in Fiji have confirmed that 36 people have died and at least two people remain missing in Fiji, in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston. Some 35,000 people are currently sheltering in 424 evacuation centres.
• Moreover, an estimated 97 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and 100 per cent of crops are reported destroyed in the worst affected areas.
• Aid has begun arriving for cyclone affected communities, especially in the outer islands in the east, including Koro. Following a request from the Government, OCHA is deploying a UN Disaster and Coordination team (UNDAC) to support emergency response.