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Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General
In phone calls to the leaders of the Colombian peace process today, the Secretary General congratulated President Juan Manuel Santos for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and commended Commander Timoleon Jiménez on his flexibility and his reiterated commitment to peace. The Secretary-General encouraged the two leaders to maintain the course of the peace process in spite of the recent outcome of the referendum.
Most importantly, the Secretary-General noted that the Nobel Prize sends a timely message to the victims of the conflict who were put at the centre of the Havana peace talks.
The Secretary-General spoke today about the need for international solidarity and generosity to help the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew and the importance of accountability in Yemen following this weekend’s bombing of a group gathered for a funeral.
The Secretary-General said that at least 1.4 million people need assistance, adding that the United Nations has today launched a $120 million flash appeal for Haiti, covering the UN system’s needs for the next three months.
On Yemen, he said that Saturday’s funeral bombing was another heartless attack on civilians and an outrageous violation of international humanitarian law. He emphasised that there must be accountability for the appalling conduct of this entire war and he supported the call by the High Commissioner for Human Rights for an international independent body to carry out comprehensive investigations of alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The Secretary-General was in Iceland over the weekend for the Assembly of the Arctic Circle. He noted that this Assembly happened at a momentous time, with the Paris Agreement on climate change now ready to enter into force and the agreement by the members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on a new global market-based measure to curb CO2 emissions from international aviation. He stressed that the Arctic is ground zero for climate change and that we must now turn words into deeds, including through the financial resources necessary to help developing countries in reducing their emissions and adapting to inevitable climate impacts.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Hervé Ladsous, briefed the Security Council today on the Central African Republic. He noted that recent events demonstrate that the situation in the country remains fragile, and that spoilers are still active. Despite the important progress made so far, he said the country’s institutions must endeavour to advance national reconciliation, undertake key reforms in the security sector and extend State authority.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said today it is extremely concerned by the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Yei, Central Equatoria, where it continues to be denied access. The UN Mission has received deeply disturbing reports of horrific violence perpetrated against innocent and vulnerable civilians, including women and infants. The Mission is also concerned at the unfolding humanitarian crisis, with a population unable to move freely, tend to their farms, or feed themselves, due to various restrictions on their movement. Meanwhile, humanitarian partners are unable to freely access the area and provide assistance.
Fighting between armed groups and Government forces in Kunduz city, Afghanistan has continued for an eighth straight day, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). People are in need of shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene, and medical support. Meanwhile, inside Kunduz, the humanitarian situation continues to be of concern – water and electricity have been cut off for over a week and food supplies are scarce.
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, condemned yesterday’s terror attack by a Palestinian perpetrator in occupied East Jerusalem which killed two Israelis and injured six others. His thoughts are with the families and friends of all victims and he hoped for a full and speedy recovery of the wounded.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, is in Bangkok, where tomorrow he will attend a meeting on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific. From Thailand, he will to travel to Myanmar, his first visit to the country since he assumed his position.
Marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Secretary-General reiterated in a message today that it is a cruel and inhumane practice with no place in the 21st century.
