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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
MYANMAR: AID REACHING CYCLONE VICTIMS FALLS
FAR BELOW REQUIREMENTS ON THE GROUND
This morning, 24 tons of shelter supplies from
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which were
airlifted from Dubai, reached
Myanmar’s main city of Yangon. The supplies included plastic sheets,
blankets and kitchen sets from UNHCR’s regional stockpile. UNHCR staff
are at the Yangon airport to claim the items for immediate dispatch to
areas affected by the cyclone.
The agency’s second flight, shared with
UNICEF, is scheduled to arrive in Yangon tomorrow.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has to date
dispatched 426 tons of food to the affected areas since the cyclone
struck and distributed enough food to reach nearly 74,000 people. The
first ration consisted of high-energy biscuits and rice.
WFP is exploring how best to deliver food aid
by boat as well, with the possibility of using a floating warehouse
serviced by a flotilla of smaller boats ferrying in and out of parts of
the delta which are inaccessible by land.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has
delivered supplies to many non-governmental organizations. WHO has also
received and distributed additional emergency health kits and diarrhea
disease kits.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Health has given WHO a
list of essential supplies and medicines that need to be replenished
urgently and the agency will work with the Ministry to establish a
revolving stock of drugs to ensure the continuing availability of
essential medicines and supplies.
The Myanmar Government and humanitarian
partners are reaching an increasing number of affected people but the
levels of aid getting in to the country remain far below what is
required to meet the needs on the ground.
Food, shelter, medical supplies and water are
all critical needs.
Detailed assessments are ongoing, but the
agencies’ focus has been on distribution of shelter materials.
Asked whether Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is
concerned about reports that only a small portion of the aid is
reaching cyclone victims, the Spokeswoman noted that the
Secretary-General had expressed his concerns to the press in comments
on Monday. Although the United Nations does not have specific data
about the percentage of aid that has reached victims, she said, it is
clear that the amount they have received so far has been small,
compared to the needs of the population.
That situation, Montas said, has improved over
the past day, with more aid being delivered, but the distribution of
relief is still not proceeding as quickly as the United Nations would
like. She said, in response to a question, that the delivery of aid is
still too slow.
Asked about visas going to UN staff, the
Spokeswoman noted that by noon on Monday, 34 people had received visas.
She added, in response to a further question on whether some
nationalities were being excluded, that it was clear that “certain
nationalities have been privileged.”
Asked whether Member States would receive
further briefings, such as the one delivered last Friday by
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, Montas
said that Member States would receive updates on Myanmar, upon
requests.
Asked whether the Secretary-General has spoken with Senior General Than Shwe, the Spokeswoman said that he was unable to reach the Senior General. The Secretary-General, she said, had spoken about Myanmar with a number of officials in neighboring countries, including the President of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Singapore on Monday. He also spoke to the Foreign Minister of China on Monday morning.
CHINA: UNITED NATIONS STANDS READY TO HELP QUAKE SURVIVORS
According to a statement
yesterday, the Secretary-General said he was deeply saddened by the
loss of life and destruction of property suffered by the people of
Sichuan Province in yesterday’s devastating earthquake.
He extends his deepest condolences to the
families of those who have been killed or injured in the earthquake. He
adds that the UN stands ready to support the Government of China in its
efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs caused by the disaster.
The Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has already issued a Disaster, Assessment
and Coordination Team alert, so that it can respond immediately if
China requests additional assistance.
OCHA also informed the Chinese authorities
that the United Nations has emergency environmental expert teams at the
ready, if so requested. This comes amid reports that two chemical
factories were damaged by the quake.
Asked whether the United Nations would provide
aid to China, the Spokeswoman noted that, although China has accepted
the UN offer of help, the United Nations is waiting for specific
requests from the Chinese Government. Meanwhile, the effort is being
made in China to save the maximum number of lives.
Asked whether the United Nations was concerned about a lack of specific requests from China, Montas said it was not, noting that there have been no reports, as in Myanmar, that aid is not reaching survivors or that a slow response is endangering lives.
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED FOR FOOD TASK FORCE
The Secretary-General chaired the first
meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis
yesterday. The Task force brings together heads of many of the UN’s
specialized agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the
International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and relevant parts of the
Secretariat.
The Task Force’s primary goal is to formulate
a unified, comprehensive response to the global food price
challenge. This will include food aid, social protection
initiatives, and agricultural boosts. The Task Force will present
the elements of such a strategy at the high-level conference on world
food security in Rome in early June.
For updates on the Task Force’s activities, there is now a new website. It was launched today. On the site, there are lists of task force participants, forthcoming events, and key documents and statements made on behalf of the Task Force. It also offers news and useful links on the food security crisis issue. The website address is www.un.org/issues/food/taskforce.
ZIMBABWE: U.N. TEAM CONCERNED BY SITUATION ON GROUND, CALLS ON LEADERS TO RENOUNCE POLITICAL VIOLENCE
The top UN official in Zimbabwe says the UN
country team has been receiving an increasing number of reports and
requests for humanitarian assistance to people that have been affected
by violence, purportedly instituted by some elements of the security
forces, youth militias, war veterans and gangs of supporters of both
the ZANU-PF and the MDC.
The office of the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Agustino Zacarias, says these incidences of
violence are occurring in the communal, farming and urban areas and
there are indications that the level of violence is escalating in all
these areas and could reach crisis levels. The UN country team has been
presented with some evidence in support of these reports.
The UN team on the ground is deeply concerned
about the number of internally displaced people that have fled their
homes for fear of reprisals by party activists, without food, shelter
and other basic social services. This state of affairs will lead to
unprecedented humanitarian needs in the country, the press release
says.
The UN country team has brought this
information to the attention of the Government of Zimbabwe and
continues to engage the Government to seek solutions to the unfolding
humanitarian situation and encourages all concerned to ensure that
people in need are properly assisted.
The team urges the Government to set up a
central clearing house which will be a safe and secure environment were
victims can report cases of politically motivated violence without fear
of retribution.
Further, it urges all political leaders across
the political divide to unequivocally renounce politically motivated
violence to restrain their supporters from engaging in such activities,
and also encourages all law enforcement agencies to discharge their
constitutional mandate in a non-partisan and professional manner.
Asked whether the United Nations will appoint an envoy to Zimbabwe, and whether it is concerned about planned runoff elections, the Spokeswoman noted that the Secretary-General continues to monitor the situation and is in contact with leaders in the region.
EFFECTIVE SECURITY SECTOR NECESSARY FOR PEACE & DEVELOPMENT
The Security Council will meet at 3 p.m. today
to read a Presidential Statement on Sudan.
The Security
Council yesterday afternoon discussed ways to reform countries’
security sectors – their armies and police forces – and the
Secretary-General
told the Council in an open meeting that a common framework and a
coherent system-wide approach to deal with those matters is needed.
He noted the UN’s long experience in security
sector reform, from El Salvador in the past to Sierra Leone in recent
years.
He stressed that, first and foremost, the UN
should engage in security sector reform at the request of national
Governments, or in response to Security Council mandates and General
Assembly resolutions.
Beyond that, the Secretary-General said,
Member States are the primary providers of security, and national
ownership is the cornerstone of our approach.
The Security Council later issued a Presidential Statement in which it recognized that the establishment of an effective, professional and accountable security sector was one of the necessary elements for laying the foundations for peace and sustainable development.
SUDAN:
BAN KI-MOON IS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED
THAT PARTIES STILL RESORTING TO VIOLENCE
The Secretary-General’s latest monthly report
to the Security Council on the deployment of the African Union-United
Nations Hybrid Operation (UNAMID) is
out of the racks today. The Security Council is expected to take up the
report tomorrow morning.
In the report, the Secretary-General expresses
his deep disappointment that the parties continue to resort to violence.
He says the ongoing military activities of the
rebel groups and reprisal actions of the Government and its allied
militia are costing civilian lives, limiting humanitarian operations,
severely constraining efforts to move towards a negotiated settlement
and, in addition, presenting a fundamental challenge to UNAMID, which
is not a peacekeeping force designed to deploy or function in a war
zone.
Owing to the violence in Darfur, the Mission’s
freedom of movement was restricted in violation of the status-of-forces
agreement.
Voicing his extreme concern about the security
situation in the Chad-Sudan border area, the Secretary-General also
calls on the government of Sudan and Chad to implement the Dakar
Agreement without delay and restore security and order in the border
area.
Saying that UNAMID cannot be a substitute for political engagement, he says he is working with the Chairperson of the African Union to appoint a joint chief mediator as soon as possible to be based full-time in Sudan. He urges Member States to look at what guarantees or incentives they can provide to the parties to stop the fighting and give them the confidence to join the peace talks.
U.N.
ENVOY WELCOMES MEASURES TO IMPROVE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION FOR PALESTINIANS
The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process, Robert Serry, has welcomed today’s announcement by
Quartet Representative Tony Blair of an initial package of measures to
improve the social and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian
territory.
Serry welcomed in particular the package’s
focus on improving movement and access and opening up trade routes. He
added that he hoped this would mark the beginning of improved mobility,
economic growth, security and confidence.
According to Blair’s announcement, among other things, Israel has agreed to remove some checkpoints across the West Bank. It has also approved thousands of entry permits to Israel for Palestinian workers. Both sides have also agreed to facilitate access to and from Bethlehem, which should have positive effects for both the Palestinian and Israeli tourism sectors.
BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS KILLING OF U.N. TEACHER IN GAZA
In response to questions, the Spokesperson
said that the Secretary-General condemns the killing of a mother of six
and UNRWA schoolteacher in an IDF operation at her home last
Thursday.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
has called for an impartial investigation into the incident in a letter
sent to the Israeli authorities, and the Secretary-General fully
supports this call.
He extends his condolences to the family and
children of Wafa Shaker El-Daghma, and to her UNRWA colleagues who
carry out such important work in the service of Palestine refugees.
The Secretary-General also reiterates his call upon Israel to exercise maximum care and restraint, and reminds the IDF of its responsibilities to protect civilians under international humanitarian law during its military operations.
SECRETARY-GENERAL DEPLORES ROCKET FIRE AIMED AT ISRAEL
Responding to questions, the Spokesperson said
that the Secretary-General condemns the continuing Palestinian rocket
fire from Gaza aimed at Israeli civilian targets, which killed two
civilians in southern Israel on Saturday and yesterday.
The Secretary-General reiterates his
condemnation of all such acts of terrorism and calls on Hamas and other
Palestinian militant groups to immediately halt the firing of rockets
and similar attacks.
He also reiterates his strong support for the Egyptian efforts to reach a truce, which would also encompass the re-opening of crossings to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
LEBANON FRIENDS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE STOP TO FIGHTING
Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General
took part in a conference call with the Foreign Ministers and
Representatives of twelve key Middle Eastern and other countries, known
as the Friends of
Lebanon, as well as with the Secretaries-General of the Arab League
and of the Council of the European Union. They discussed the ongoing
crisis in Lebanon.
In a statement afterwards, the Friends of
Lebanon welcomed the Arab League Initiative, and its intention to
dispatch a delegation to Lebanon to lead a return to dialogue.
The group said that it remains deeply concerned by the situation in
Lebanon, which threatens the stability of the country and the
region. It called for the immediate cessation of fighting, the
withdrawal of gunmen from the streets, the unblocking of roads and the
reopening of Beirut International Airport.
Asked whether there would be a further meeting of the Friends of Lebanon, the Spokeswoman said she was unaware of any in the immediate future. She noted that yesterday’s teleconference had been initiated by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
ENTRY INTO FORCE OF DISABILITIES TREATY HERALDS A NEW DAWN
Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General spoke at a
special event to commemorate the entry into force of the UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
and its Optional Protocol.
He said the entry into force heralds a new
dawn in the fight for the well-being of people with disabilities -- a
struggle rooted in the fundamental principle of universal human rights.
At the same time, he stressed that, as our journey to create the Convention concludes, an even more challenging path stretches ahead. Now we must take concrete steps to transform the vision of the Convention into real victories on the ground. We must address the glaring inequalities experienced by persons with disabilities. And we must counter discrimination and prejudice.
BAN KI-MOON TO SPEAK AT HARVARD
The Secretary-General will make a one-day trip
to Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 23 May to deliver a speech on nuclear
disarmament at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University.
This event is co-sponsored by the Institute of Politics and Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. It is open to the public, and any media interested in participating should contact the Kennedy School’s Communications Office.
SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES TWO SENIOR APPOINTMENTS
The Secretary-General has appointed Angela
Kane of Germany as Under-Secretary-General for Management, and Alicia
Bárcena Ibarra of Mexico as Executive Secretary of the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
Ms. Kane will replace Ms. Bárcena
Ibarra, who, in turn, will succeed Mr. Jose Luis Machinea of Argentina.
Ms. Kane is currently serving as Assistant
Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs, and immediately
prior to that she served as Assistant Secretary-General for General
Assembly and Conference Management.
Ms. Bárcena has been serving as
Under-Secretary-General for Management since January last year and,
prior to that, as the Chef de Cabinet to former Secretary-General Kofi
Annan.
Asked how the replacement for Bárcena was chosen, the Spokeswoman said that there had been several candidates, and the final decision was made by the Secretary-General. Angela Kane will start her job as head of the Department of Management on 1 July.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
REPATRIATION FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES TO RESUME: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says that it will resume the assisted voluntary repatriation of Afghans from the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar tomorrow. The repatriation process had been suspended because of security conditions in the Afghan province of Nangarhar over the weekend.
U.N. OFFICIAL BREAKS GROUND ON RE-EDUCATION CENTER FOR IVORIAN EX-COMBATANTS: Georg Charpentier, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator for Côte d'Ivoire, yesterday presided over a ceremony marking the end of the disarmament and reinsertion programme for a first group of 192 former combatants. At that event, Charpentier also formally broke ground for a building expected to serve as a reeducation center for ex-combatants. The 192 ex-combatants are former rebels from the Forces Nouvelles and include 12 young women. The group joined the disarmament in March.
TIMOR-LESTE MATTER BEING LOOKED INTO: Asked about concerns that someone linked to crimes was given a UN contract in Timor-Leste, the Spokeswoman said that matter is being investigated. She later added that the person in question is not UN staff, but was on a special service contract for UNDP.
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