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Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General
The Secretary-General today condemned the attacks on 20 June in Badakhshan province and Kabul city, Afghanistan. In the Kishem district of Badakhshan province, an improvised explosive device (IED) in a market area killed and injured dozens of civilians, including children. In Kabul, a suicide attack in a crowded area killed and injured a number of Nepalese contractors, including diplomatic security guards, as well as Afghan civilians. Meanwhile, another IED attack injured several civilians, including a provincial council member.
Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, briefed the General Assembly by video teleconference this morning about developments in the political process, and he said that political talks cannot proceed while Syrians are starving. He added that in recent days, there has been progress on the humanitarian front but noted Government attacks on the towns that received aid. Mr. de Mistura said that there have been violations of the cessation of hostilities, although he added that the level of fighting remains below where it was when the cessation went into effect earlier this year.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Special Envoy for Yemen, briefed the Security Council this morning from Kuwait, where he continues to hold talks with the Yemeni parties. He said that the talks have been characterized by a positive spirit at times, and also by a certain apprehension. Progress has been made in some cases and further efforts are still needed in others.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is deeply concerned about continuing allegations of serious human rights violations and abuses against civilians fleeing Fallujah by armed groups operating in support of Iraqi security forces. Among other things, the Office has received shocking footage showing the body of a man being dragged at speed by a military truck while a man wearing a military uniform hits his disfigured and bloodied head.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today expressed concern at an intensified crackdown in Bahrain on the freedoms of expression and association and the right to a nationality. The Office urges the Bahraini authorities to seek to de-escalate the situation – instead of taking such damaging steps in quick succession with a serious risk of escalating the situation.
On his message for the International Day of Yoga, the Secretary-General urged everyone to commit to unity with fellow human beings, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, age, gender identity or sexual orientation.
The Secretary-General today urged Member States to take steps to ensure that non-state entities do not acquire weapons of mass destruction. He spoke at a meeting of a committee that is reviewing Security Council Resolution 1540 which requires states to prevent the proliferation of WMDs.
The Secretary-General Monday issued a statement on Mali, marking the first anniversary of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation. The Secretary-General noted with satisfaction the decision to appoint a Representative to follow-up on the Agreement.The Secretary-General trusts that the signatories will ensure the swift and full implementation of the agreement, bearing in mind the many challenges that lie ahead.
The UN mission in the Central African Republic reported a series of violent incidents on 20 June. At least six people were reportedly killed and one peacekeeper was injured during a UN operation aimed at extracting Central African and UN policemen from a police station in the PK5 area of Bangui.The police station was surrounded by an alleged armed "self-defence group". During the course of the operation, shots were fired at the UN forces which returned fire. Three people were arrested. The Mission has launched an investigation into the incident.
The World Health Organization WHO today released its advice for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, geared towards national health authorities and health worker.
On Friday, 24 June, the Secretary-General will be in Nice, France, where he will attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to support private sector efforts to raise awareness and action for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
