Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

 

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Vannina Maestracci, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Welcome to the noon briefing.  Bonjour.

**Gaza

You will have seen the statement we issued last night, in which the Secretary-General welcomed the efforts that led to the ceasefire that began today, at 8 a.m. local time, and called on the parties to abide by it.

The Secretary-General urges the parties to commence, as soon as possible, talks in Cairo on a durable ceasefire and the underlying issues.  Such talks are the only way to sustainably stop the violence, which has cost far too many lives, and to change the untenable and tragic status quo in Gaza.  The United Nations stands ready to lend its full support to these efforts.

Eddie’s not here, but yesterday she’d asked about phone calls the Secretary-General made and I know some other of you have been asking.  I can confirm that, since last Friday, the Secretary-General has spoken, sometimes more than once, with the Prime Minister of Israel, the President of Palestine, the Secretary of State of the United States, the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

**Security Council

Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator for the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)-UN Joint Mission, briefed the Security Council by video teleconference on that Mission’s continuing work, in closed consultations this morning.  She reported to the Council on the work that has been taking place to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons, which, as you know, have now been completely taken out of the country.

**Syria

Also on Syria, the World Food Programme (WFP) says that it has made significant progress over the last few weeks in reaching more people affected by the violence in Syria, due to improved access through cross-line and cross-border food deliveries.  In July, WFP food assistance reached a total of 3.7 million people in Syria, up from 3.4 million people reached in June.  More than 300,000 people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas received food from the agency through cross-line convoys in July, which is double the number of people reached using cross-line convoys in June.  Security challenges continue to hinder the World Food Programme’s ability to deliver food, however, and the organisation aims to reach 4.25 million people but is short of that goal by half a million people.

**South Sudan

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned the killing of at least five South Sudanese employees of humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) earlier today by the so-called Mabanese Defence Forces, in and around Bunj, Maban County, in Upper Nile State.

UNMISS dispatched a unit of peacekeepers in four armoured personnel carriers from its base in the Upper Nile State town of Melut, earlier this afternoon, to protect United Nations and humanitarian personnel, as well as civilians who have taken refuge in United Nations facilities.  The killings today come on the heels of the murder of a Norwegian People’s Aid employee in Bunj also yesterday morning by members of the same self-defence militia.  The Mission calls upon local, state and national authorities to bring to justice the individuals responsible for these murders as soon as possible to halt the ongoing descent into lawlessness in Maban County.

And the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, said that Maban County, where some 127,000, I can’t do numbers in English anymore, 127,000 refugees from Sudan are living, has… seen an increase in violence and harassment of civilians and aid workers, jeopardizing the lives of tens of thousands of men, women and children who count on aid organizations for their survival.

**Iraq

On Iraq, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that many displaced families desperately need food, water, shelter and health care services.  Many of them have fled to the Dohuk Governorate in the Kurdistan region and an estimated 500 Yazidi families may have crossed into Syria.

The UN Children’s fund (UNICEF), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN population fund (UNFPA) and their partners have distributed food rations, water, tents and hygiene kits to displaced families in the Dohuk Governorate.  UN agencies are working with local authorities to conduct further assessments and facilitate the provision of more assistance.

And also on Iraq, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that an estimated 40 minority children have died as a consequence of the violence, displacement and dehydration in north-west Iraq.  The children, mostly from the Yazidi community, were displaced by the recent violence in Ninewa’s Sinjar city, which is now under the control of the Islamic State.

**Libya

At the briefing today in Geneva, the UN refugee agency expressed deep concern for the safety of refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya as the violence in the country continues to escalate.  Almost 37,000 people have been registered with the UNHCR in Tripoli and Benghazi, with many living in areas heavily damaged by fighting and unable to leave to safer areas due to ongoing clashes.

In Tripoli alone, more than 150 people from Eritrea, Somalia and other countries have called the UNHCR protection hotline seeking help with medicines or a safer place to stay.  UNHCR continues to work with its partners to deliver assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in Libya.  It has urged the Libyan authorities to relax exit visa restrictions to allow people to leave and has also asked the Governments of Egypt and Tunisia to keep their borders open to those fleeing the violence and seeking international protection.  More information is available online.

**Ukraine

In Geneva, the UN refugee agency said today that it estimates that more than 117,000 people are displaced within Ukraine, where the situation in the east continues to worsen.  In the past seven days alone, more than 6,200 people have been forced from their homes, while as of 1 August, some 168,000 people have crossed into Russia.  The Agency is calling on the Ukrainian Government to set up a central registration system for internally displaced people.  It says that the current lack of a systematic and uniform system hampers relief efforts, and this is especially important as authorities prepare for the coming winter.  And more information is available on UNHCR’s website.

**Thailand

The Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today said that it is very concerned over the methods of arrest and detention of politicians, activists, academics and journalists following the military takeover in Thailand in May.  More than 700 people have been summoned and arrested.  Most of them have been released within a week, but an unverified number of people have been detained for longer without access to lawyers and to their families.  The Office voiced particular concern over the case of Kritsuda Khunasen, a student activist who supported the deposed Government, who claims to have been blindfolded and beaten.  There is more information also on this available online.

**Ebola

We have an update on Ebola from the World Health Organization.  As of 1 August, the number of cases stands at 1,603, including 887 deaths, in four countries; those countries are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.  That’s a total of 163 new cases and 61 deaths in two days.  Human and financial resource mobilization continues to be sought from WHO’s partners, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.  The Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Plan in West Africa launched last Friday in Guinea is estimated at 100 million dollars, with a funding gap of around 71 million to date.  WHO has also announced it was convening a meeting of its emergency committee over the next two days.

**Press Conference

Following this briefing, at 12:30 p.m., the Director of the Human Development Report at UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), Khalid Malik, will be here to brief you on the 2014 Human Development Report.

So, that will be right after this briefing.  And I will take a few questions.

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you.  Do you have any update on the situation in Lebanon in Arsal?   

Associate Spokesperson:  Not from the statement, in addition to the statement.  And also you saw the Security Council statement that was issued, press statement that was issued yesterday.  I don’t have a particular update for you on that. Yes, Masood, please.

Question:  Do you know whether the Secretary-General is anytime soon going to hold an international conference on what has happened in Gaza.  Because there are calls from all sides for the United Nations to hold such a conference [inaudible] whole host of issues, including whether or not human shields were used by the Palestinians for protection and whether or not, how much money is now needed by Gaza to recoup itself, and so forth.  There’s a whole host of issues.  Is the Secretary-General getting ready to hold such a conference?

Associate Spokesperson:  Well, as you know, the Secretary-General, as I just mentioned at the beginning of the briefing, when I listed the number of phone calls he’s been doing — two of them just this morning with the Prime Minister of Israel and the United States Secretary of State.  He’s very engaged in the situation.  Right now, we are looking closely at the ceasefire and are welcoming the fact that it seems to be holding, so far — that’s, I think, almost 11 hours, which is obviously good news.  And we hope that will provide the calm that’s needed for all delegations to come to Cairo and have a more durable ceasefire.  So, that’s one thing.  I haven’t heard specifically of an international conference.  If I hear anything, Masood, I will definitely let you know.  On the specific human rights violation, I do want to remind you of the resolution that was adopted by the Human Rights Council, I think, 10 days ago — 23 July if I’m not mistaken — which established a Commission of Inquiry on all human rights violations.

Question:  So what you’re saying is, if that, if at all, such a conference will be announced later and not right now.  Can you say it is being considered?

Associate Spokesperson:  Personally, I don’t know.  It’s possible it’s being considered.  I don’t have that information.  I will look into it, okay?  That’s the best I can do, but I can assure you that Gaza is very high on our list of priorities, of course.  Matthew?

Question:  Sure, I wanted to ask about…

Associate Spokesperson:  Matthew, I said OIOS (Office of Internal Oversight Services) yesterday and I meant Ethics Office.  I misspoke.  I’m very sorry.

Question:  Yeah, and you said I should keep asking if the Secretary-General has taken any gifts, so I’m asking today.

Associate Spokesperson:  Not that I know of.

Question:  Okay, I wanted to ask about… Nigeria and peacekeeping.  Amnesty International has released not only a report, but a pretty grisly video showing Nigerian soldiers engaged in extrajudicial execution of suspected Boko Haram members.  Since Nigeria is a major troop contributing country and I know there have been various questions in here about DPKO’s response to reports that have come out this summer about them using death squads from Bangladesh and un-vetted soldiers from other countries, including Nigeria.  I wanted to know what is the response of the UN to this video and how it relates to the recruitment of not specifically Nigerians, but also the Bangladeshi question of how peacekeepers are in-turn sent to other countries by DPKO?

Associate Spokesperson:  Yeah, I think you’re doing a link here — there is nothing in Amnesty International that says that those specific people that are in the videos are going to be peacekeepers or were peacekeepers.  I just want to be clear; you’re asking a more general question.  You know that there is a vetting procedure for every peacekeeper, and you know DPKO works closely with all troop-contributing countries to make sure that the people that come into our peacekeeping missions hold up to international standards when it comes to human rights. 

Question:  Was there a response to the Asian Human Rights Centre did a very detailed report about Bangladesh where they did link human rights violations…

Associate Spokesperson:  Yes, and I remember you asking.  I’ll see what I can… I’ll ask again.  Thanks.  Yes, Masood.

Question:  On this Afghanistan

Associate Spokesperson:  I’m sorry?

Question:  On Afghanistan, does the United Nations representative there has any update on the situation which has created following the killing of two-star American General by, I think, basically, an Afghan solider or something?

Associate Spokesperson:  Yes.  We saw those reports and we’re obviously, the Mission, UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) is following the situation very closely there.  We haven’t had anything from them just yet, and if we do, we’ll certainly share that with you.  Anything else?  It’s a Masood-Matthew briefing.

Question:  Just to break it up — I just wanted to following up, yesterday you mentioned Mr. Djinnit and you would give us an update.

Associate Spokesperson:  No, I don’t have an answer for you and I’ll try to get for your colleague, who asked, right?

Question:  Yesterday, yes, and I just thought to follow-up on it.

Associate Spokesperson:  Okay, thank you.  Masood, we actually got a UNAMA statement on the death… So, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, expresses its sincere condolences to the families and colleagues of international troops killed in an incident near Kabul today.  According to initial reports, a number of International Security Assistance Force troops were shot dead or wounded by an attacker in an Afghan army uniform at a military academy, with an Afghan Commander also reportedly wounded.  International forces continue to perform a critical role in Afghanistan’s security and are providing critical training for the country’s future and stability, said the Secretary-Generals’ Special Representative for Afghanistan and the Head of the Mission, Jan Kubiš.  He also said that the death of these servicemen is a tragedy.  My deepest condolence and sympathies go out to the families and friends of the victims of today’s attack, be it international or Afghan.  So, that’s what I have for you and we can share it with you afterwards in the office.  Anything else?

Question:  Yeah, I wanted to ask about the Secretary-General’s “five year rule” that he announced, among other times, in January 2012 where he said senior UN officials would serve for five years and then either move to another post or leave.  I saw during all this, and he’s obviously been working very hard, but Mr. Serry said openly, I’ve been in my post six years.  And I understand he may be leaving soon, but it gives rise to the question is — what is the status of the “five year rule”?  Does it remain in force?  When is it waived?  And there are a number of people who that have been in more than five years.  Is there some formal waiver process?  Does the Secretary-General still stand behind it?  Does it apply to posts like…?

Associate Spokesperson:  I don’t think… There’s not a formal waiver process.  And you have to understand that sometimes when people have certain roles, we can’t replace them instantly.  It goes through a process, it can take time.  So, there’s a lot of different, I think, explanations.  Also, just the reality on the ground — it might not be the appropriate moment for a certain person to leave in a certain situation.  You know, it’s more something — you have to look at the special circumstances of each situation and I think that’s the way it’s been done so far.

Question:  Sure, but since this rule was announced, can you office make a list of the officials, senior, at the ASG level and over, that have been in their post more than five years?  I mean, I have a list and…

Associate Spokesperson:  Well, if you have a list, why are you asking us to make a list?  Why don’t you just give us your list?

Question:  …because when it was announced, these caveats weren’t given.  This is the only caveat.  These are the ones that apply to the list.  So, anyone that has gone more than five years, it’s that they’re irreplaceable, essentially.  Or they’re engaged in something…

Associate Spokesperson:  I’ll check what I can get you on that, okay?  Anyone else, or we’re good?  Have a great afternoon.

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For information media • not an official record