HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 17 APRIL 2023
SUDAN
The Secretary-General today made an appeal to the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis. He condemned the outbreak of the fighting, saying the situation has already led to horrendous loss of life, including many civilians, and he warned that any further escalation could be devastating for the country and the region.
The Secretary-General also condemned the deaths and injuries of civilians and humanitarian workers and the targeting and looting of premises. He reminded all parties of the need to respect international law, including ensuring the safety and security of all United Nations and associated personnel and humanitarian aid workers.
The Secretary-General urged all those with influence over the situation to use it in the cause of peace; to support efforts to end the violence, restore order, and return to the path of transition.
Over the weekend, he spoke to both Sudanese leaders, and he also spoke with the head of the African Union, and the Arab League, as well as President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt.
SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN PAUSE
Today, the Trilateral Mechanism - which is comprised of the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the UN - reiterated the importance of having a humanitarian pause, urging the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to adhere to it today including ensuring that this decision is well communicated throughout their ranks.
The Trilateral Mechanism said the pause would provide an opportunity to allow civilians trapped in conflict zones to access assistance and critical supplies, receive medical assistance or to safely get out. Only the SAF and RSF have the power to ensure that the pause is maintained and can guarantee the protection of civilians, according to the statement from the Trilateral Mechanism.
SUDAN/HUMANITARIAN
The UN has been forced to temporarily halt much of our programming due to the fighting. Ten UN agencies and more than 80 NGOs have been running more than 250 programmes in the country.
The UN currently has no access into or out of Sudan. Crossfire at Khartoum airport also reportedly damaged a UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) plane – which could seriously impact the UN's ability to access remote parts of Sudan where needs are highest.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said he is horrified by the deaths of humanitarian workers, including three World Food Programme (WFP) staff members. He is also disturbed by reports of large-scale looting of aid and damage to humanitarian facilities.
The hostilities will only hamper our humanitarian response efforts – at a time when needs are at an all-time high in Sudan.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today noted that nearly one third of the population, or almost 16 million people – were in need of humanitarian aid at the start of this year, with some 3.7 million people displaced within the country. It is crucial that the fighting stops so that we can resume efforts to help those in need.
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the 2023 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development. He said that the world is in a multidimensional crisis that is turbocharging inequalities, with a devastating impact on the poorest and most vulnerable. He stressed that we have no time to lose and reiterated that the SDF Stimulus plan, which asks G20 countries to scale up affordable long-term financing for all countries in need, by at least $500 billion per year.
The Secretary-General added that in the longer term, we will not solve challenges by relying on the financial system that helped to cause them and underscored that we need an economic system that is coherent and coordinated and reflects today’s global economic realities.
PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES
This morning, the Secretary-General also spoke at the opening of the 22nd session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. This year’s Forum focuses on the intersection of human and planetary health, the climate crisis, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. He said that Indigenous Peoples live on the frontlines of the climate emergency but also hold many of the solutions to the climate crisis and are the guardians of the world’s biodiversity.
The Secretary-General said that the UN stands with indigenous peoples and added that the Organization is committed to keep promoting their rights in policies and programming at all levels – and amplifying all their voices.
YEMEN
Earlier today, Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy for Yemen, briefed Security Council members about the developments in the country. He said that the truce has continued to deliver beyond its expiration six months ago, and the parties are engaging on the next steps.
The briefing comes a day after the completion of the conflict-related prisoner exchange of hundreds of conflict-related detainees, as agreed in Switzerland in March under the auspices of the United Nations. Grundberg said the parties agreed to make further progress regarding this matter, and to undertake joint visits to each other’s detention facilities, including in Marib and Sana’a.
Yemen is experiencing the longest period of relative calm, he said, but warned that the tide could still turn unless the parties take bolder steps toward peace.
Also, Ms. Ghada Eltahir Mudawi, Deputy Director, Operations and Advocacy Division, at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the Council members on the humanitarian situation in the country.
MALI
You will recall that last week an escort convoy of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) hit an improvised explosive device near Douentza, as it was traveling towards the meeting point with a logistics convoy from the Mission coming from Timbuktu. The two peacekeepers from Togo - injured in the incident - were evacuated to Timbuktu where they received medical assistance. They are now recovering. After the incident, the Mission also deployed a search and detect team to clear the area, before the convoy resumed movement. It has now safely arrived yesterday to the Mission’s base in Douentza.
HAITI
The new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, arrived in Port-au-Prince over the weekend, yesterday.
She is scheduled to meet this afternoon with Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Ms. Salvador will also hear later this week from Haitian actors, including from civil society and women’s organizations, before briefing the Security Council on 26 April.
She looks forward to engaging with all sectors of Haitian society in supporting peace, stability and democracy in the country. She also told me that she also looks forward to engage with you and will likely be here in person at the end of the month and we will likely do a stakeout.
PERU
In Peru the UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Igor Garafulic, is supporting authorities to tackle the impact of heavy rains in the northern part of the country.
The UN team has deployed experts to the three most impacted regions to strengthen humanitarian networks, assess damage and needs. The UN team has also distributed hundreds of kits to meet basic needs such as food, health, hygiene, and water. The World Food Programme (WFP) has supported more than 2,000 families through its cash transfer initiative and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been providing treatment for acute malnutrition. Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have been supporting camp management and coordination.
NOON BRIEFING GUESTS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the noon briefing guests will brief on the report by the High-Level Board on Effective Multilateralism. Co-chairs of the Board, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, and Stefan Löfven, former Prime Minister of Sweden, will discuss the report.
