HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
THURSDAY, 30 JULY 2014
U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL WRAPS UP TRIP TO COSTA RICA; CALLS AGAIN FOR HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IN GAZA
- The Secretary-General met with the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica in San José last night and spoke to the press afterward.
- Speaking about the situation in Gaza, he repeated his urgent call for an unconditional and extendable humanitarian ceasefire and said that, in the name of our common humanity, the fighting must stop now.
- The Secretary-General also demanded that all parties immediately respect United Nations premises. He said that United Nations shelters must be safe zones not combat zones.
SECURITY COUNCIL: U.N. OFFICIALS REPORT INCREASING CIVILIAN DEATHS AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN GAZA
- Valerie Amos, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Pierre Krahenbühl, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), briefed the Security Council this morning on the latest developments in Gaza.
- Ms. Amos said that after 24 days of conflict, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed – some 80 percent of them civilians – and more than 6,000 injured. Three Israeli civilians have been killed and dozens injured.
- She said that more than 240,000 people have sought shelter in United Nations facilities, but added that many of those have come under attack, including the school that was hit yesterday, in which 19 people were killed. Seven United Nations staff have also been killed.
- Ms. Amos said that United Nations personnel and premises must remain inviolable. She added that 24 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed and voiced concern about the possible contamination of water and sanitation systems.
- UNRWA’s Pierre Krahenbühl briefed the Council by video teleconference from Gaza City and said that he has seen extensive damage since he arrived in Gaza yesterday. Regarding the attack on the school in Jebalia yesterday, he said that UNRWA was in dialogue with Israel and expected Israel to conduct a transparent investigation into the matter.
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Document symbol: NoonBriefing_310714
Document Type: Briefing, Highlights of the Noon Briefing
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Secretary-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Armed conflict, Casualties, Ceasefire, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Humanitarian relief, Incursions, Internally displaced persons, Population, Protection, Shelter
Publication Date: 31/07/2014
Document Type: Briefing, Highlights of the Noon Briefing
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Secretary-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Armed conflict, Casualties, Ceasefire, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Humanitarian relief, Incursions, Internally displaced persons, Population, Protection, Shelter
Publication Date: 31/07/2014