Press Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

• Categories: Media / Press Conferences
• Video Length: 00:17:58
• Production Date: 4 January 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: FARHAN HAQ
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA; UNITED NATIONS MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - MINUSCA
• Subject Topical: DEATH; INTERNATIONAL DAYS
• Geographic Subject: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC; ETHIOPIA; LIBYA; NIGER; PAKISTAN; YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 2596003
• Parent Id: 2596003

Description

In a statement issued earlier today, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the terrorist attack and killing of at least 11 coal miners in the Balochistan province of Pakistan yesterday.

In Niger, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that as of yesterday, an estimated 1,000 people have been displaced following attacks on two villages in the country’s Tillaberi region.

Yesterday, the Secretary-General said that he was deeply saddened at the passing of Sir Brian Urquhart, the legendary long-time United Nations official.

The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Stephanie Williams, announced over the weekend the establishment of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum’s Advisory Committee.

Turning to Yemen, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that according to initial reports, three civilians were killed and at least four others were wounded when artillery shells fell in the vicinity of a wedding hall in Al Hawak District in Al Hudaydah City on 1 January.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) strongly condemns the attacks launched over the weekend by armed groups against the towns of Damara (Ombella-M'Poko Prefecture) and Bangassou (Mbomou).

In Ethiopia, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that although humanitarian access into some areas of Tigray has slightly improved, it remains critically challenged by insecurity and bureaucratic constraints throughout the region.

Today, three new UN Resident Coordinators were announced - in Liberia, Montenegro and Niger. Niels Scott of the United Kingdom will be the new Resident Coordinator in Liberia. Peter Lundgren of Sweden is taking up his Resident Coordinator function in Montenegro, and Louise Aubin of Canada will be serving in Niger.

Today is World Braille Day, which raises awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people.

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