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 Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon; sorry for the delay.  And I do want to welcome the World Press Institute fellows who are joining us today.  Pleasure to have you and I’ll be talking to you guys a little bit later on.

Ebola

I want to start off on just a note regarding Ebola:  The Secretary-General has made a series of calls today and over the weekend to key countries and organizations, urging more support for countries affected by the disease.  He spoke to UK [Prime Minister] David Cameron, French President François Hollande, Cuban President Raul Castro, as well as the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.  And the Secretary-General also spoke to the International President of Médecins sans Frontières, Joanne Liu, thanking the organization for its hard work and discussing how the international community can further support its efforts in West Africa.

In his call to the world leaders, the Secretary-General welcomed their support and underscored the urgent need to increase it, including for more medical teams, transportation and funding to help communities affected by the epidemic.

Responsibility to Protect

This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the interactive General Assembly discussion on the responsibility to protect, saying that the commitment is being severely tested today.

He said that the world faces a series of conflicts that feature acts that shock the global conscience — from the horror unfolding in Iraq and Syria, to persistent violence against civilian populations in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ukraine, northern Nigeria, Pakistan, Gaza and elsewhere.

The Secretary-General said it is no longer tenable to turn a blind eye to such situations.  Our responsibility to prevent and protect is collective and urgent.

The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, also spoke and said that Member States and the United Nations must now turn growing support for the responsibility to protect into more systematic implementation when confronted with early evidence or risk factors of atrocities and crimes.  Those statements are available online.

Syria

The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, as well as the Deputy Envoy, Ramzy Ezzedine Ramzy, who have assumed their functions in the beginning of September, will travel to Damascus for consultations with Syrian officials starting Tuesday.

Following this initial visit to Syria, they will then embark on a first round of visits to countries in the region to be continued with visits to other capitals.  And also they will be here during the General Assembly high-level debate and they will continue their travels after the General Assembly debate.

Iraq

Moving on to Iraq, UN agencies in that country continue to reach millions of people despite the ongoing insecurity.  Since January 2014, up to 1.8 million people have been displaced, and nearly half of them are children.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) continues to support more than 300,000 displaced people in Iraq’s 19 governorates since January.  And UNICEF has also reached nearly half a million people with water and sanitation support.  The World Health Organization had provided medicines and medical supplies to nearly a million people.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has reached nearly 900,000 people with food aid and is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to address longer-term food insecurity.  

More than 45 cargo flights have arrived recently in Erbil, carrying 6,700 metric tons of food, water, tents, mattresses and other hygiene kits.  And more information is available online.

Human Rights

As you would have seen earlier today in Geneva, the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, opened the Human Rights Council’s twenty-seventh session.

He said his first address to the Council took place at a time when conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa regions, in particular, are escalating dramatically.

The High Commissioner said that, from a human rights perspective, the immediate and urgent priority of the international community should be to halt the increasingly conjoined conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

And Zeid also paid tribute to his predecessor, Navi Pillay, calling her one of the greatest senior officials the UN has ever had.  He pledged to continue along the same path as her by being as firm, yet always fair, critical of States when necessary and full of praise when they deserve it.

Ukraine

Moving on to the Ukraine, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović said today that with the intensification of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, the number of people killed has risen dramatically.

Addressing a special session on Ukraine of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, he said that during his recent mission to the country, he raised the need to abide by international human rights principles and international humanitarian law with representatives of both sides.

Mr. Šimonović also stressed that a military solution alone cannot solve the problems in eastern Ukraine.  He added that the price of escalation of hostilities is being paid by all Ukrainians, regardless of their ethnicity or political affiliation.

Also addressing the OSCE was the head of the Department of Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman.  And he spoke on the partnership between the UN and the OSCE.  And copies of all of those remarks are available online or in my office.

Security Council

And back here, the Security Council is currently holding an open debate on children and armed conflict today.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the issue, Leila Zerrougui, told the Council that although progress has been made to better protect children, new crises are rapidly overshadowing those gains.

Also addressing the Council today was Forest Whitaker, UNESCO’s [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, as well as Hervé Ladsous, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.  

South Sudan

And I just wanted to bring you up to date on South Sudan and on the ongoing efforts to upgrade the protection of civilian sites:

In Malakal, preparation for a new area within the displacement site is 98 per cent complete, with drainage, road works, sanitation and water structures completed.  Some 13,000 (out of 17,000) displaced people have been relocated to the new area, although heavy rains have slowed movement significantly.

And in Bor, the levelling and compacting of land is in progress but further security materials, including fencing, are needed before relocation can begin.  As of 27 August, there were some 4,000 people at the site.

In Bentiu, large parts of the site are still flooded and living conditions are dire.  One drainage channel has been excavated and another is in progress.  Emergency communal shelters have been constructed to accommodate the worst flood-affected households.  And as of 1 September, 47,000 displaced people were sheltering at the Bentiu site.  

And in Mingkaman, relocation exercise began in July and some 18,000 displaced people have moved to new sites to ease overcrowding.

And lastly, in Juba, 8,000 people have moved from Tomping site to the UN House site.  Some 6,795 people remain and the plan is to relocate everyone to the new site at UN House.

Gaza

Also an update on Gaza from our humanitarian colleagues:  more than 90 per cent of health facilities in Gaza are now operational, although some with limited services due to damage.

As of 3 September, three hospitals (out of 32) remain closed and another three are providing only limited services.  The World Health Organization says that challenges remain due to long-standing shortages of electricity, essential medicines and medical supplies.

Burundi

There was a question asked on Burundi, last week, I think.

What I can tell you is that UN Office in Burundi (BNUB) is following the case that was asked about and urges the Government to ensure that due process is followed and that the international human rights standards to which Burundi is bound are respected.

Press Conference

And tomorrow at 5:30, a briefing in this very room by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Hector Timerman, and the President of the G-77 and Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the UN, Sacha Llorentty Solíz.  They will discuss the Question of the Sovereign Debt Restructuring Process and the need for a Legal Framework.

Questions and Answers

Spokesman:  Sylviane?

Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  Is there any reaction on the beheading of two soldiers, Lebanese soldiers, by ISIS?

Spokesman: I think there was, if I’m not mistaken, a statement from the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, and the Secretary-General would obviously join in the condemnation of such horrendous acts that we have seen, whether it’s the beheading of the soldiers, the beheading of the journalists.  I think this folds into the denunciations you’ve heard from here on the horrific crimes being committed by these groups in Iraq and Syria.

Question: On Staffan de Mistura, can you be more specific on the countries that he will be visiting in October?

Spokesman: No.  I will tell you that we will announce these visits as they come.  Obviously, his first stop is Damascus, and he will also do a round of regional consultations and consultations beyond the region.  But we will announce them as they roll in.  Nizar and then Stefano?

Question: Today, Ms. Zerrougui mentioned that one of the vulnerable schools was used by the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] as a headquarters during the resent crisis or the war in Gaza.  Can you confirm that and which — so which area was it, which area in Gaza?

Spokesman: You said she said it in the Security Council? 

Question: Yes. 

Spokesman: I have no reason to doubt her if she said it in the Security Council and we will see if we can get you more information from UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees].  Nick?

Question: Stéphane, if you will forgive my parochialism, and I want to ask about Scottish independence.  Is there any contingency planning for the possibility there may be a yes vote in the referendum, and I wonder how easy it is for a new country to join the UN?

Spokesman: I don’t have anything specific on the referendum and we are obviously watching it.  And as for how a country, any country, wants to join the UN, it’s fairly laid out in the Charter and the procedure is the same for every country who would want to join the UN.  Stefano?

Question: Yes, two things, one on de Mistura.  Is it possible that he is going to meet also some representative of this ISIS or ISIL, or whatever you call it?  I mean, on this tour, do you think he will raise the possibility?  And then another question on this speech that the Secretary-General did on the responsibilities to protect:  We see he has included, of course, also Gaza.  And the failure of States to protect their own population.  Which one was not protecting, failed to protect their civilian population in Gaza, Hamas or Israel?  I mean…

Spokesman: Israel and the Palestinian Authority have a responsibility to protect those civilians.  On your first question I think the answer is “no”.  Nizar — sorry, Masood, I’m sorry, this is why I should be wearing these, right?

Question: Stéphane, yeah, on the situation, the flood situation that I think you talked a little bit, on India and Pakistan.

Spokesman: Sorry, on the what?  The flood?

Question: The floods, yes, in India and Pakistan, which displaced so many hundreds of people.  Have the UN agencies come up with an assessment as to how many people have been affected?

Spokesman: I’m not aware that they have.  Obviously, our colleagues at OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] are working closely with the Pakistani Government.  I’ve not… I’m not aware of any official request for assistance, but that was as of Friday.  And I’m sure, as we speak, my OCHA colleagues are watching and will correct me if I’m wrong.  But obviously, we stand by, the UN stands by to help Pakistan and impacted people as they come.  Okay.  Abdelhamid?

Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  I read that report that the building material is prevented from entering Gaza so far.  The Rafah crossing is also closed and the situation is going from bad to worse in Gaza.  My question is about the special envoy, special coordinator, please, in the Middle East, Mr. Robert Serry, we have not heard from him for some time; what is he doing now in terms of implementation of the ceasefire agreement?

Spokesman: We are obviously in touch with the parties to see how the UN system can help operationalize one of the critical parts of the ceasefire, which is the increase in flow of aid and humanitarian assistance.  As soon as I have an update I will share that with you.  Matthew and then we will move.

Question: Sure.  I want to ask you about this letter by the Philippines to the Secretary-General that has been read out in the legislature there, and it strongly opposes revisiting the accountability of the UN peacekeeping mission leaders for decisions made during crisis operations, a reference to Mr. [Iqbal] Singh Singha, and what some have said was a request that they surrender and surrender their weapons.  Has the letter been received?  Is the Secretary-General going to meet with the Philippines?  And what is the response to kind of mounting criticism from both Philippines and Fiji?

Spokesman: Okay, obviously, I think, as Mr. Ladsous said so clearly, he refuted the accusation that they have been asked to hand over their weapons and I have nothing to add to that.  There will be an after-action review conducted, as there always is.  Currently the situation is obviously not solved.  And our focus continues on the… on trying to secure the freedom of our Fijian colleagues.

Question:  Will that after-action report be public?

Spokesman: If I have more on that, I will share it with you.  Yes, sir?  And then we will go to Evelyn.

Question: On the same issue, is the negotiation, is told with the kidnappers or…

Spokesman: I’m not going to characterize the status of what is going on right now.

Question: So we don’t know where we are?

Spokesman: I think you will have to bear with me and understand that I don’t want to characterize the situation currently.

Question: My other question is on the special envoy to Syria.  Is he going to meet with President [Bashar al] Assad?  I know that previous, the former one…

Spokesman: Once these meetings are confirmed, I will give them to you.  Evelyn and then we will move to Ukraine, if that is what you want to ask about, ma’am.

Question: Right.  Human Rights Watch today has a study on Somalia, detailing quite a bit of rape and sexual abuse by the African Union Mission (AMISOM) soldiers.  Since the UN is there though not in the military, is there anything being done, or is this — or are they aware of this?  Lots of it are poor women who need food and get a gang rape for a piece of bread. 

Spokesman: No.  I mean, we have seen the report, which is troubling and I think raises grave concerns.  We’ve seen it.  We’ve also… we welcome the steps that have been taken by AMISOM to investigate these allegations.  And we, of course, stand ready to assist and to ensure that respect for human rights is upheld.  And I think we are also looking forward to both AMISOM and the Somali authorities conducting a rigorous and prompt investigation into allegations made and taking necessary actions as required.  The UN and AMISOM have been working closely to tackle this issue with support for pre-deployment training on human rights, humanitarian law, and refugee issues for all AMISOM troops.  But I think to give you or to repeat our reaction, I think the report itself is troubling and deeply concerning to us.

Question: Can I ask one follow-up on that?

Spokesman:  Yes, you may.

Question: The report says, advises the UN to strictly adhere to the Secretary-General’s Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, because they actually provide support to these AMISOM units.  And since the report describes in some detail the Burundi contingency of AMISOM gang-raping a woman who came for medicine, what I wonder is:  Does the policy now call into question continued support with gasoline and other physical support to this particular unit that is named in the report as engaged in rape?

Spokesman: As I said, we understand that and AMISOM has taken steps on this.  We are working with AMISOM and look forward to their investigation; but these are not UN peacekeeping troops.  And I think we have to see what the investigation says.  Yes, right there in the back?   And then Oleg?  Please go ahead, ma’am.

Question: Thank you.  Just to follow-up on the question on the floods in Jammu and Kashmir.  Is the mission there also in talks to authorities, assisting them with the evacuation?  And also does the UN have any comment on the announcement by Al-Qaeda to establish a branch in the Indian subcontinent?

Spokesman: You know, we obviously are in touch, I’m sure our country office in Delhi is in touch with the Indian authorities to see how best we can help.  I’m not aware we received any official request to help.  We have all seen the reports by Al-Qaeda, which I think reinforces the need for global strategies to fight the issue of terrorism.  Oleg?

Question: Thanks, Stéphane.  On the note you sent out on Staffan de Mistura trip, there was a mention of the UN general debate, in the General Assembly.  Does that mean that he is going to come back to New York to take part in it?

Spokesman:  Yeah, he will be here during the general debate.

Question: Is there going to be any specific meeting or event?

Spokesman: As I said, we are pretty close to sharing with you our schedule, the schedule we have of high-level kind of side events, country-specific events.  And as soon as we are ready, we will share it with you.  And we have already — we’ve asked Mr. de Mistura if he could at least have an interaction with you here during the debate, maybe not the first two days but at some point.  Yes?

Question: And the traditional question on Ukraine, I’m sure. 

Spokesman: Thank you.

Question: I may be mistaken, but I didn’t hear, overhear any plans to renew the mandate of the human rights mission on Ukraine.  It was supposed to end in August, so was it extended, or not?

Spokesman: I think it is and has been extended, yeah.  I will double check.  You are asking me a very valid question.  Yes.  [He later confirmed that the mission was extended until 15 December 2014.  Discussions are ongoing about an extension beyond that date.]

Question: Thank you, Stéphane.  My question on the Security Council is Forest Whitaker is appearing to speak at the Security Council today and MALU [Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit] was not notified and therefore could not notify any of the correspondents.  Is there a way to create…

Spokesman: I think that would be up to… MALU basically gets the information they can from either the Security Council presidency or from agencies who bring people to the Council.  It’s an oversight.  I don’t know if the Council presidency didn’t notify them or if UNESCO didn’t notify them; but obviously, I wish you all had been notified.  I wish I had known, for one.  Yes?

Question: Yeah, on Yemen, the police yesterday cracked down on the protesters at the airport highway and they killed one, injuring more than 40.  How do you view the situation there, and do you have any statements regarding this attack by the police there?

Spokesman: No.  I’m waiting for an update from the Office of the Special Representative for Yemen; but, obviously, we would hope that people’s peaceful right to protest is protected and respected.

Question: What about using live ammunition?

Spokesman: I think that answers my first question.  Sylviane and then we will go around and then Mr. Roth in the back, yes?

Question:  Do you know if Mr. Plumbly will be coming to New York during this high-level meeting?

Spokesman: I don’t know.  But I can find out. Okay, Masood and Hamid?

Question: Yes, the question on Gaza.  The crossings have been strangled by the Israelis and I don’t know what is happening on the Egyptian side.  But that is suffocating the Gaza economy and I’m pretty sure that you guys know about it.  But has anything been done by the Secretary-General to ask more vigorously to the Israelis to open this?

Spokesman: I think, as we’ve been reporting from here, is the updates as we get them from our humanitarian colleagues, whether it’s on the issue of housing and whether it’s on the issue of the health centers.  The note I read out today showed an improvement in the health centers.  But if I get anything else, I will get it to you.

Question: What about the Egyptians?

Spokesman: Obviously, I think we have said before, we look for both the Israelis and the Egyptians to help with the improved flow of humanitarian aid through both crossings.  Abdelhamid and then Richard?

Question: On Saturday, the Security Council issued a statement welcoming the release of two Algerian diplomats who were abducted by a group of terrorists in Northern Mali.  The statement also says that countries should not submit to blackmail and pay ransom.  Is the UN involved in any way with the release of those two diplomats?

Spokesman: Not that I’m aware of.  Mr. Roth?

Question: I apologize if these have been asked and answered.  Have you pinned down the date of the Secretary-General’s news conference?  Is it the 17^th or 18^th?

Spokesman: You know, yes and yes.  But my short-term memory problems since I confused Masood and Nizar — it’s either the 17^th or the 18^th.  You are right.

Question: I thought that was answered on Friday.

Spokesman: It is set.  It is just not set in my brain right now.

Question: On the other one, is there anyone in the UN, or is there any group thinking, plotting, planning, considering this issue of Ebola and the traveling diplomats here?  As there seems to be quarantines, shutdowns, curfew, Sierra Leone, there seem to be more restrictive nature.  And any thoughts as the GA approaches, is there any plan?

Spokesman: It’s an issue that obviously is being discussed here.  It’s an issue that also involves the host country authorities in terms of the control of the… what procedures need to be put in place at the airports.  But it’s also the responsibility of countries where people come from to ensure that proper screening is in place on departure.  Stefano, then Matthew and then we will call it a day?

Question: Yes.  A few days ago I asked if you knew about Somalia, about a couple of days ago, the journalists, and not more than a couple of weeks ago, it was the 15^th of August, the radio station was attacked by Government forces and then 19 journalists were arrested and apparently three are still in the hands of the Government.  You told me that you didn’t have that information about it, but do you know anything about this, this incident?

Spokesman:  No.  I’m ashamed to say we don’t know but I will find out.  But don’t wait four weeks to ask a follow-up question.  No, no.  I know it.

Question: It was just a few days ago. 

Spokesman: I know, but I will get you an answer.  Matthew?

Question: Sure.

Spokesman: Okay, this is how efficient we are [holds uppaper], the 16^th of September, the Secretary-General’s press conference, at 11:00 a.m., most likely.  Matthew?

Question: Okay.  I want to ask about Ebola and also South Sudan.  On Ebola, can you confirm that UNAMID, the UN and African Union Mission in Darfur has ordered troops from Nigeria and to Sierra Leone… Can you confirm that UNAMID, the UN and African Union Mission, has ordered troops from Nigeria and Sierra Leone either not to return to their countries on holiday in return because according to UNAMID, the UN-African Union Mission, they might bring Ebola, and also there is another statement saying that they would earlier, prior to this ban on traveling home for holiday, that UNAMID had ordered medical screening as with… as they left and as they came back from, to Nigeria and Sierra Leone, both making trips to the UN?

Spokesman: The report in the Sudan Tribune is incorrect.

Question: Okay, which part of it?

Spokesman: About the UN telling troops not to leave.  What we are always looking for in any peacekeeping mission is an orderly rotation of troops to ensure that any mission is able to perform in the best possible manner.  On the screening issue, I don’t know and I can ask.

Question: Also in South Sudan I wanted to ask you about, again, the helicopter that was shot down, killing the pilots or the crew.  The… some transcripts have emerged of a conversation between Peter Gadet, the rebel, and UNMISS [United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan] personnel in which it seems to indicate that the Peter Gadet forces said we will shoot at my helicopter flying to Bentiu that day and they thought that the UN was transporting SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] fighters.  One, did such a conversation take place?  And two, who is responsible for shooting down the helicopter, given these statements?

Spokesman: That investigation is still ongoing.  I have not seen those transcripts.  And if you want to show me the source, I’m happy to look in it.  Masood and Linda and then we will stop?

Question: Yes, sir.  One question:  When will this dormant, I mean, United Nations Quartet be activated, because now that the so-called hostilities have ended in Gaza…

Spokesman: I don’t… just because we haven’t heard publically, public statements from the Quartet, I would not qualify it as dormant.  There may be some meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly.  Linda, you have the last word, or last question, not the last word.

Question: Stéphane, turning back to Ukraine, is there an overall assessment of the severity of humanitarian conditions there?  And also the role that the United Nations is playing or planning to play?

Spokesman: No.  I’m not aware of any… you know, I think we need to let the situation calm down a little bit more until we, in terms of the UN, are able to do a humanitarian assessment, if we are asked.  And we are obviously in touch with the Ukrainian authorities and other countries involved in this issue to see how the UN can best support the implementation of the ceasefire.  Thank you very much.

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