Sudan, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the…

I have the following statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Sudan.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the looting of the main compound of the World Food Programme in Khartoum over the weekend.

Also on Sudan, we and our partners are working to expand humanitarian operations. This includes efforts to move supplies into and around the country, as we respond to rapidly growing needs. 

As you know, the Secretary-General is in Spain, where tomorrow, he will receive the Carlos V European Award, granted by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation.

This morning, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, briefed the Security Council on the elimination of the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan released a report on corporal punishment and the death penalty today, saying that 274 men, 58 women and two boys have been flogged in public in the last six months in that country.

Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said today that he was deeply disturbed by the 7 May demolition by Israeli authorities of a European Union-funded Palestinian primary school for the children of Jubbet adh Dhib village, east of Bethlehem, in Area C of the occupied West Bank, directly affecting the education of at least 40 children.

The World Food Programme informs us that the severe funding shortfalls it is facing in Palestine has forced the agency to make painful decisions to stretch its limited resources and ensure it continues to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, heavy flooding has impacted several villages in Kalehe territory, in South Kivu province since Thursday. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that at least 400 people lost their lives, and several others are missing. 

In Mali, the UN Mission there said that, over the weekend, one of its convoys hit an explosive device close to Douentza city in the central part of the country. Seven peacekeepers from Togo were wounded and are receiving medical care. 

Our peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic reports that this morning it deployed peacekeepers to the town of Mboki in response to an attack by suspected self-proclaimed self-defense group “Azande Ani Kpi Gbe”. 

Our colleagues in the Development Coordination Office tell us that Ms. Patricia Portela de Souza of Brazil is taking up her new post as Resident Coordinator in Cabo Verde today, following her appointment by the Secretary-General and confirmation from the host Government. 

And I have another appointment for you which is that today, the Secretary-General is appointing Hervé Lecoq of France as Deputy Head of Mission and Director of Political and Civil Affairs at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. 

I just want to flag that the UN Forum on Forests kicks off its 18th session today. It will run until Friday and will focus on the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030, and will include announcements of voluntary national contributions, enhanced cooperation, and means of implementation.

Today and tomorrow are the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War.