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Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General
The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist bombing today at the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Balochistan province of Pakistan. The targeting of mourners at a civilian hospital makes the attack particularly appalling.
The Secretary-General is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he delivered the key note address at the Argentine Council of Foreign Relations earlier today. In his discussion, the Secretary-General outlined some of the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly changing world and Argentina’s key contributions.
The Secretary-General condemned the improvised explosive device attack yesterday against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), south of Aguelhok, in Kidal region, that claimed the life of one peacekeeper and injured four others. It follows a similar attack on 5 August that injured one peacekeeper in the vicinity of Kidal city.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General commended the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) for their decisive action and welcomes the Government of South Sudan's acceptance of a regional protection force.
Also on South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) is extremely concerned by the continuing fighting and calls on all parties to recommit themselves to the ceasefire agreed to last month.
The United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA), said today that it is concerned about the reported increase in sexual violence in South Sudan and called for stronger support for women and girls to protect their safety, health and rights. Women and girls face increased risk of sexual violence during conflicts, including being attacked while they seek firewood and food, and also have at times resorted to desperate measures, such as survival sex, to feed themselves and their families.
The UN Committee against Torture today expressed grave concern about reported reprisals against four Burundian lawyers who had provided information to the Committee for a special review of Burundi.
The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, announced on Saturday that the Yemen peace talks are entering a new phase, during which the focus will be on working with each side separately to crystalize precise technical details.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today reports that it has signed an agreement with the Governorate of Sulaimaniyah in Iraq to rehabilitate the main water network for Sulaimaniyah City.
