Noon briefing of 25 September 2015

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2015

*There was no noon briefing on Friday due to competing events. Here are highlights of events throughout the UN system:

SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON’S REMARKS TO PRESS

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made the following remarks to reporters following the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals today:
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Mr. President [of the General Assembly] for joining this.
This is a momentous day.
Earlier this morning, His Holiness Pope Francis addressed UN staff and the General Assembly.
The Pope spoke movingly of our common humanity.
He emphasized our moral duty to provide for the poor and care for the planet.
Today, United Nations Member States have risen to this challenge by adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This is not an agenda for someone else. It is a promise by world leaders to everyone, everywhere.
Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals will now guide us on a safer, more prosperous and equitable path.
These goals are a blueprint for a better future – a to-do list for people and planet.
The goals emerged from the most inclusive process in United Nations history. 193 countries. Thousands of non-governmental organizations and the private sector. If we combine all the numbers it will be around 8.5 million people or organizations who have been surveyed on what kind of a world and what kind of a future they wanted to have. And they got the message. And these ideas have been reflected in the Sustainable Development Agenda. Millions of young people.
Now we must use the goals to transform the world.
We will do that through partnership and through commitment.
We must leave no-one behind.
We are the first generation that can end extreme poverty, inequality and injustice.
And we can be the last generation threatened by climate change.
Thus, we are the last generation who can act to deal with this climate change phenomenon.
Today, United Nations Member States have committed to a visionary agenda for a life of dignity and prosperity for all on a healthy planet.
Let us work together over the next 15 years to make their vision a reality for all people in all countries.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES POPE FRANCIS TO UNITED NATIONS

The Secretary-General welcomed Pope Francis to the United Nations this morning, and the Pope spoke at the General Assembly and also addressed UN staff.
In his remarks introducing Pope Francis at the General Assembly, the Secretary-General noted that never before in the UN’s 70-year history has the United Nations welcomed a Pope for the opening of the General Assembly. And never in Papal history has the Head of the Catholic Church addressed such an array of world leaders. He thanked Pope Francis for making history.
The Secretary-General added that “the recent Papal Encyclical – Laudato Si -- defined climate change as a principal challenge facing humanity, and a moral issue. This message is critical as we approach the pivotal climate change conference in Paris in December.”
In a meeting with Pope Francis, the Secretary-General thanked him for his leadership on climate and the fight against poverty and congratulated him on his speech to the US Congress.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES EUROPEAN COUNCIL’S DECISION TO FUND U.N. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO SYRIAN CRISIS

In a statement, the Secretary-General welcomed the decision of the European Council to inject much needed funds, worth some 1 billion euros, into the UN humanitarian response in countries dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis, including Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. He also welcomed the decision to relocate an additional 120,000 people within the European Union from Greece and Italy over the next two years.
While this is a step in the right direction, he stressed that efforts are still required to assist those in need of protection. Greater efforts are also needed to resolve the crises and conflicts that cause people to flee, including in Syria. Only peace and safety will allow refugees to return to their homes and communities.
The Secretary-General calls on European leaders to do more to ensure dignified and humane reception and claim processing of the thousands of men, women and children seeking protection in Europe. He recalls that refugees, asylum seekers and migrants have inalienable rights that must be respected, including the right to claim asylum, and that States must abide by their international obligations, especially the principle of non-refoulement.
The Secretary-General welcomes the EU’s efforts to fight trafficking and smuggling of refugees and migrants, and calls on the EU to consider increasing legal and safe pathways into Europe for them, so that they are not left in the hands of criminal networks and embark on perilous journeys.
The Secretary-General emphasizes our common humanity and reminds everyone of their shared responsibility. He stresses that Europe and countries beyond must make available many more relocation places to provide the many refugees who are in camps or living under temporary arrangements with a viable long term solution, when safe return is not possible.
Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency said today that while more than 4 million Syrian refugees are in countries neighbouring Syria, recent months have seen an increase in the number of Syrians seeking refuge further afield – there have been almost 429,000 asylum applications by Syrians in Europe since 2011.
UNICEF is appealing for $14 million to assist refugee and migrant children in Europe, following an 80 per cent increase in the number of children on the move into the continent – many escaping conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.N. RELIEF CHIEF CALLS FOR REVERSAL OF DECISION TO ORDER AID AGENCIES OUT OF EASTERN UKRAINE’S LUHANSK

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, yesterday expressed his alarm at news that the de facto authorities in eastern Ukraine have ordered UN agencies in Luhansk to end operations and to leave the area by today.
This follows the de facto authorities’ rejection of applications by UN agencies and all international NGOs working in Luhansk to work in the area.
Mr. O’Brien said that he is also extremely concerned by the situation regarding accreditation and registration of international NGOs in Donetsk. A decision by the de facto authorities in Donetsk on the UN’s future operations remains on hold, and all UN agency operations have been suspended.
He said that the de facto authorities in Luhansk and Donetsk have an obligation to allow and facilitate unimpeded and rapid humanitarian access. Their continued failure in this regard constitutes a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Mr. O’Brien also noted that the suspension of almost all humanitarian programmes in Luhansk and Donetsk since mid-July is putting lives at risk and preventing the most vulnerable, including children, women and the elderly, from accessing basic services.
He called on the de facto authorities in both Luhansk and Donetsk to ensure the immediate resumption of UN and international NGO activities, as well as on everyone with influence over the de facto authorities to use that influence to ensure the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid by UN agencies and international NGOs, and to win a commitment by the authorities to end interference in the provision of lifesaving assistance.
For its part, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that it deeply regrets this decision, which it says comes at a critical time as harsher winter weather is about to hit the region.
The Agency said it hopes that it can be reviewed and that our work can resume as soon as possible, in cooperation with all parties concerned.
On Friday, humanitarian agencies noted that channels of discussion with the de facto authorities in Luhansk seem to be open again. However, they are seeking clarification as to their ability to return to Luhansk with no restrictions.

U.N. ENVOY FOR LIBYA APPEALS TO ALL PARTIES TO RELEASE DETAINEES

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, appealed on Eid ul-Adha to all parties in Libya to release those who are still detained outside the framework of the law so that they can return to their families and participate in the celebrations.
As well as contributing to the respect of human rights and build confidence among Libyans, such releases would be in line with the text and spirit of the political agreement to which the Libyan parties are giving final consideration to. Mr. León looks forward to all Libyan parties showing fairness and magnanimity towards those they hold in captivity.

DEPARTMENT OF FIELD SUPPORT SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH GERMAN GOVERNMENT

Today, the Department of Field Support (DFS) signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German Government. Under the MoU, German agencies such as the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) undertake to rapidly deploy civilian engineering capacities, upon specific request from the United Nations, to assist in the start-up and surge phases of UN peacekeeping missions.
This partnership agreement signifies the commencement of DFS9;s Member State Civilian Enabling Capability Initiative.

UP TO 10 MILLION PEOPLE IN IRAQ WILL REQUIRE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Up to 10 million people in Iraq - including vulnerable people in areas currently controlled by ISIS - will require some form of humanitarian assistance by the end of 2015, Dominik Bartsch, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, told a press briefing in Geneva this morning.
Since January 2014, 3.2 million people in Iraq have fled their homes in multiple waves of internal displacement and already now, as estimated 8.6 million need humanitarian support.
The crisis has accelerated since last year, cholera has broken out, basic services are not functioning, and food rations and water supplies have been decreased in part due to lack of donor support. The Humanitarian Response Plan requesting some $500 million is only 40 per cent funded.