Noon briefing of 1 November 2016

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
TUESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL RECEIVES REPORT OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO VIOLENCE IN JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

• The Secretary-General has received Major General (retired) Patrick Cammaert's report on the Independent Special Investigation into the violence in Juba in July 2016 and the actions of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), including its response to acts of sexual violence in and around the Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites at UN House and the attack on the Terrain camp.
• The Special Investigation found that UNMISS did not respond effectively to the violence due to an overall lack of leadership, preparedness and integration among the various components of the mission. The Special Investigation also found that command and control arrangements were inadequate, while peacekeepers maintained a risk-averse posture. These factors contributed to the failure of UNMISS to respond to the attack by Government soldiers on the Terrain camp on 11 July and protect civilians under threat. The Special Investigation was unable to verify allegations that peacekeepers failed to respond to acts of sexual violence committed directly in front of them on 17 and 18 July.
• The Special Investigation found that UNMISS faced an extremely challenging set of circumstances and was caught in the crossfire of an active and particularly violent conflict. During the three days of fighting, according to some conservative estimates, at least 73 people were killed, including more than 20 internally displaced persons in the PoC sites. Two peacekeepers were killed and several more were injured. One hundred and eighty-two buildings in the UN House compound were struck by bullets, mortars and rocket propelled grenades.
• The Secretary-General is deeply distressed by these findings. He reiterates his outrage over the acts of violence committed in Juba in July and the continuing betrayal of the people of South Sudan by too many of its leaders. The Secretary-General recognises that UNMISS has saved hundreds of thousands of lives over the past three years, including in its PoC sites, and commends the Mission's personnel for their dedication. He is, nonetheless, alarmed by the serious shortcomings identified by the Special Investigation, which were evident in the mission's failure to fully implement its mandate to protect civilians and UN staff during the fighting.
• The Secretary-General has studied the recommendations made by the Special Investigation and intends to implement them. The Secretary-General will ensure that the necessary steps are taken to enable UNMISS to protect civilians more effectively, including through greater accountability of the mission's civilian and uniformed leadership.
• The Secretary-General has transmitted the Executive Summary of General Cammaert's report to members of the Security Council, which was also released publicly today.

• The United Nations strongly condemns an attack on the building where UN offices and staff are based in west Aleppo city. The UN presence in the building is long established and well known. On 30 October, the top floors of the building were damaged by a tank shell. Ali Al-Za’tari, the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, said that it is appalling that the building that houses the UN offices was directly targeted. He strongly condemned the increased violence in all of Aleppo, east and west, which has resulted in the death and injury of scores of civilians, including children.
• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted reports over the weekend of intensified shelling by armed opposition groups of civilian-populated areas in Government-controlled western Aleppo. More than 30 civilians, including at least 10 children, were reportedly killed and dozens injured as a result of the attacks on 29 and 30 October on western Aleppo. Such high numbers of civilian casualties suggest that armed opposition groups are failing to adhere to the fundamental prohibition under international humanitarian law on the launching of indiscriminate attacks, and the principles of precaution and proportionality.

• The Deputy Secretary-General arrived in Bangui, Central African Republic, today for a two-day visit.
• He is expected to meet with President Touadéra, to address the National Assembly, to visit the Internally Displaced Persons’ camp of Mpoko, to meet religious and community leaders and to be briefed on the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration process.

• With fighting now ongoing inside Mosul city, the humanitarian community repeats its call for adherence to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians.
• Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien said that he was deeply concerned for the safety of civilians in Mosul as fighting reaches the city. He renewed his call on all parties to place the protection of civilians at the centre of all military action, and adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. Civilians who want to leave the conflict zone must be allowed to do so and access protection and assistance in safer areas.
• More than 17,900 people are so far recorded as internally displaced since 17 October due to the ongoing Mosul operations. A significant increase is anticipated in the coming days, as a result of the fighting reaching Mosul neighbourhoods and opening routes for civilians to escape, as well as continued hostilities in the surrounding areas.
• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Office also has further reports of mass killings by Da’esh. On Saturday, 40 former Iraqi Security Force soldiers were killed and their bodies thrown in the Tigris River. They were reportedly among the civilians who had been abducted earlier from al-Shura sub-district of Mosul and from villages surrounding Hamam al-Alil.

• The Security Council has sent a letter to the Secretary-General giving the green light to the UN Mission in Colombia to verify the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the country. This was following a request from the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP).
• The UN Mission will roll out functions previously approved by the Council, except those related to the laying down of arms, which will be postponed until the successful conclusion of the political dialogue and the adoption of a new Final Agreement.
• The head of the UN Mission, Jean Arnault, welcomed the Council's support, stressing that it is a boost to Colombia’s peace process.

• United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Izumi Nakamitsu of Japan as Special Adviser on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, which was held on 19 September 2016.
• For the next three months, Ms. Nakamitsu will undertake these duties on a part-time basis in addition to and separate from her current responsibilities as Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator for Crisis Response at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• The Special Adviser will support the follow up to the 19 September Summit and coordinate the engagement of United Nations entities, in particular on the implementation of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, and support Member States in fulfilling their commitments in this regard.
• Ms. Nakamitsu has many years of distinguished service within and outside the United Nations system, including in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and with UNHCR.
• Ms. Nakamitsu succeeds Ms. Karen AbuZayd of the United States, who completed her assignment on 31 October 2016.

• Viet Nam has become the 134th UN Member State to pay its regular budget dues in full.