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.

**Ebola

Starting with a couple of updates on Ebola — according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the total number of cases in the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is now 7,178, with 3,338 reported deaths.  The upward epidemic trend continues in Sierra Leone and most probably also in Liberia.  By contrast, the situation in Guinea appears to be more stable, though it must be emphasized that, in the context of an Ebola outbreak, a stable pattern of transmission is still of a very grave concern, and could change quickly.

In Liberia today, the Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), Anthony Banbury, talked to the press to present the Mission’s priorities.  He also visited Lofa’s county treatment centre and met with senior Government officials, civil society, NGOs [non-governmental organizations], the UN Country Team and the peacekeeping Mission to gather their needs.  On the funding front, we would like to welcome Australia’s announcement of an additional contribution of $10 million to the international response.  The Special Envoy on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro, said it was exactly the kind of quick and effective response the UN is asking of Member States, given the complexity and scale of the crisis.  This will bring Australia’s total contribution to the Ebola response to $18 million, in addition to the more than $40 million provided to the World Health Organization over the past year to support global health services… activities, rather.  We would like to encourage other countries to also intensify their support to the international response.

And finally, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Humanitarian Coordinator Moustapha Soumaré has allocated $2.5 million to fight the Ebola outbreak in Equateur Province; $1.8 million will go to the World Food Programme (WFP) to buy food and also to run the Humanitarian Air Services, and UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] will also receive for health, water, hygiene, and sanitation projects.  As of yesterday, 1 October, 43 people had died out of 70 Ebola cases in Boende district, some 600 kilometres north of the capital Kinshasa.

** Iraq

Turning to Iraq, the ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham] group and associates have committed a staggering array of gross human rights abuses and acts of violence of an increasingly sectarian nature during a recent nine-week period, as well as a number of violations committed by Iraqi security forces and others in their efforts to combat ISIL.  That’s according to a report, produced jointly by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), covering the period from 6 July to 10 September.  The acts by ISIL include attacks directly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, executions and other targeted killings of civilians, abductions, rape and forced recruitment of children, among others.  Nickolay Mladenov, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, called the report terrifying, and said that Iraqi leaders must act in unity to restore control over areas that have been taken over by ISIL and implement inclusive social, political and economic reforms.  Meanwhile, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that many of the group’s acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.  And if you are interested, the full report is online.

** Syria

And just to remind you, we issued two Syria-related statements yesterday afternoon.  In one, the Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in Homs, which reportedly killed 39 people, including 30 schoolchildren between the ages of six and nine. He regards this as an act of the utmost depravity.  In a separate statement on the closure of the Joint OPCW-UN Mission on 30 September, the Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude to the Special Coordinator, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, as well as all the staff members from both the UN and the OPCW [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons], who have worked under difficult and often dangerous conditions to complete the elimination of the declared chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic. 

** Libya

Moving on to Libya, the Security Council just issued a press statement welcoming the UN-facilitated meeting between members of the Libya’s House of Representatives in Ghadames on 29 September as an important step towards a peaceful resolution of the current political stalemate in Libya.  Council members expressed their strong support for efforts to address differences between the parties through peaceful dialogue.  And they welcomed the agreement for the UN to facilitate another meeting following the Eid al-Adha holiday.  Also, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Bernardino León, yesterday called the Libyan House of Representatives’ commitment to political dialogue an encouraging sign.

**South Sudan

And from South Sudan, out colleagues in [the United Nations] Mission [in South Sudan] (UNMISS) report that, yesterday, around a dozen armed soldiers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) moved to the perimeter of the Bentiu camp in Unity State.  More than 47,000 uprooted people are being protected at that site.  The soldiers were asked not to enter the camp and did not get inside, but their presence resulted in panic among those sheltering at the site.  Some of them ran to the parts of the compound reserved for Mission staff.  No weapons were fired and the situation returned to normal several hours later.  UNMISS reminds all parties of the inviolability of UN premises and reaffirms its resolve to defend its protection of civilian sites and personnel.  The Mission is also working with community leaders.

** Sudan

And from Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that more than 96,000 South Sudanese refugees have sought refuge in Sudan since last December.  UNHCR says that there has been an upsurge in this number in late September, when 3,500 people crossed into Sudan’s White Nile State following renewed fighting in Renk in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State.  The refugee agency welcomes the decision by the government of White Nile State to open a new site for refugees, but says that additional camps will likely be needed.

** Mediterranean

And also from UNHCR, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the disaster off the coast of the Italy, off the island of Lampedusa, in which hundreds of African migrants died, the UN refugee agency today said that irregular crossings of the Mediterranean are becoming more deadly.  The agency noted that there has been an alarming increase in the numbers of people perishing while attempting to make the journey to Europe in the third quarter of this year.  Between July and September, 90,000 people have crossed to Europe, and at least 2,200 have died making the journey.  This is compared to 75,000 people crossing and 800 deaths in the entire first half of this year.  In light of the dangers, UNHCR is reiterating its call for Europe to commit more resources to carry out rescues in the Mediterranean and to step up efforts to provide legal alternatives to dangerous voyages.

**Secretary-General’s Travels

The Secretary-General, meanwhile, is wrapping up his visit to Geneva, where he visited a number of UN offices today and yesterday.  He will be back at UN Headquarters tomorrow morning.  Earlier today, he visited the UN Economic Commission for Europe and he met with the new Executive Secretary, Christian Friis Bach.  He was sworn in; and Erol, in response to a question I think you had asked, he was sworn in for a term of two years.  He also visited the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein.  He talked to the staff at both bodies about the work they will be doing under their new leadership.

** Madagascar

A note from our colleagues at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which is warning today that a gap in funding is threatening progress to halt a locust plague in Madagascar.  By April 2014, the locusts had spread towards the country’s largest rice crop areas in the northwest and threatened the livelihoods of 13 million people.

**Secretary-General Appointment

An appointment today — the Secretary-General has appointed Jens [Anders] Toyberg-Frandzen of Denmark as Assistant Secretary-General ad interim for Political Affairs.  Mr. Toyberg-Frandzen will succeed Oscar Fernandez-Taranco of Argentina, who will take up his new appointment as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support on 1 November.  The Secretary-General is very grateful to Mr. Fernandez-Taranco for his dedication and commitment to the Organization during his term as Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.  A search for a permanent Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs is ongoing.  As some of you may know, Mr. Toyberg-Frandzen most recently served as United Nations Resident Coordinator and head of the UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] office ad interim in Ukraine.  And we have more information on this appointment in my office.

**International Day of Non-Violence

Today is the International Day of Non-Violence.  And in his message to commemorate the birth and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, the Secretary-General calls on everyone to counter the forces of intolerance, advance global citizenship and forge human solidarity.  Earlier today, speaking on the Secretary-General’s behalf at an event commemorating the Day, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said that all too often the response to violence is more violence when, in fact, reconciliation and dialogue is needed. And the messages are all available online and in my office. 

**United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

A couple of updates — I have been asked on a regular basis about the status of UNDOF.  As of yesterday, the total strength of the UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan was more than 900 peacekeepers from five countries:   Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal and the Netherlands.  UNDOF headquarters functions are being carried out at Camp Ziouani and in Damascus on an interim basis.  UNDOF peacekeepers are currently manning a number of strategic positions in the area of separation and along the Alpha line.  UNDOF continues to monitor the ceasefire line, report and liaise with the parties to the Disengagement Agreement.  UNDOF operations are also being supported by the Observer Group Golan military observers, who have continued to man UN observation posts, including several temporary posts, along the ceasefire line and in its vicinity on the Alpha side.

**Questions from Wednesday

Yesterday, I was asked about the status of the agreement to bring construction materials into Gaza.  The Office of UN Special Coordinator Robert Serry says that the mechanism to deal with construction material in Gaza has not yet been implemented, but that his office is working with the parties on a quick implementation.  Also, I was asked about how many people are still sheltering in UN facilities in Gaza, and that number is 54,646 in 18 buildings belonging to UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East].

**Press Conferences

At 12:30 p.m., Ambassador María Cristina Perceval of Argentina, the President of the Security Council for this month, will be here to discuss the Council’s programme of work for the month.  And tomorrow, at 10 a.m., Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations will be here to brief on the situation in Ukraine.  At 11 a.m., there will be a press conference by the Permanent Mission of Monaco to raise awareness about the forthcoming Culinary Week organized by the Principality of Monaco from 7 to 10 October in the Delegates’ Dining Room.  And at noon, John Ging, the [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] Operations Director and Haoliang Xu, Assistant Administrator and Director for the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at UNDP, will be my guests to brief you on their recent trip to Myanmar.

Mr. Abbadi?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  Speaking about violence, some bombs were exploded this morning in Libya and a number of people have been killed.  Does the Secretary‑General have a reaction to that?

Spokesman:  I have not seen those reports.  Obviously, the situation in Libya remains very tense.  We have condemned and we will continue the condemnation of acts of violence, and I think it underscores the need for a renewed political dialogue amongst the parties.  Mr. Klein?

Question:  Thanks for the updates on both UNDOF and also the mechanism for importing construction materials into Gaza.  On UNDOF, if I remember correctly, I believe the troops’ ceiling that was approved was approximately 1,200 troops.  And so, I'm wondering whether that gap is any plans… there's any plans to fill that gap between the 900 you mentioned and the 1,200…

Spokesman:  I think it's something our colleagues in [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations] are looking at.  Obviously, the draw-down about the Filipinos lowered the number.  And I think we're also looking at effectively where we're able to patrol, but that's something our colleagues in [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations] are looking at.

Question:  And the second update relating to Gaza:  does Mr. Serry provide — or can you see if you can obtain from him — some sort of a timeline on when they expect implementation to begin?  Were there any hurdles to it?  And I know part of the agreement for the mechanism was to have the UN provide monitors to search the materials coming in, to make sure it's just a civilian use.  What is being done in terms of recruiting monitors?  Where are they going to come from and so forth?

Spokesman:  Valid questions, as they always are from you, Mr. Klein.  On the timeline, obviously, I think giving you a hard timeline on the implementation is not something that's easy.  Mr. Serry is working on it.  I think as soon as the implementation is finished and we can start, we'll announce it.  I'll see if I can get any more information from him.  And I will check for you on the monitors.  Mr. Lee?

Question:  I wanted to ask about Central African Republic.  There are a number of published reports of “French troops in Bambari killing somewhere between 5 to 7 people”.  And I wanted to know, one, now that it's a UN Mission there (MINUSCA), what is the… one, can the Mission, I would assume, be able to confirm this fighting?  What's the relationship between the Sangaris force and the UN Mission, and are they convinced… are they going to look into when forces are killed, such as was done under MISCA [African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic], now that the UN is in there?  What's their role into looking in these killings?

Spokesman:  I will check with the Mission.  I think what remains of the Sangaris forces are there to support the work of the Mission in terms of bringing stability back to the country, but I'll see if the Mission has anything to say on that particular incident.

Question:  They say it happened in Bambari.  I guess my question is given the UN force is larger than the French force, are they patrolling alone?  Were they together?

Spokesman:  I will get an update for you.  Yes, ma'am?

Question:  I was wondering if you could comment on the situation in Donetsk Airport, what's going on between the two forces, Ukrainians and the rebels?  Also, do you think this could threaten the peace treaty or we can say, like, temporary ceasefire that was achieved by parties?  Thanks.

Spokesman:  I don’t have any comment, I haven't seen reports of what's going on at the airport, but we have seen renewed fightings in different pockets in eastern Ukraine, notably the targeting of a school.  And I think, as we said yesterday, the Secretary‑General urges everyone to commit themselves… recommit themselves to a political dialogue and return to… and adhere to the commitments signed in the Minsk agreement.  Sherwin?

Question:  Steph, a question on Ebola.  Do you have a sense yet of the sort of overall donations and what's come in?  And the UN appeal for $1 billion, we see $10 million from Australia, donations from a number of countries.  What's the overall picture looking like?  And in addition to that, MSF, Medicins Sans Frontières, has rejected in a sense the money from Australia, calling for more medics.  What's the UN sense, what is needed right now, money or people?

Spokesman:  Both.  Both.  I mean, you need money to bring in people, different organizations have different needs.  That's why we very much welcome the Australian donation and all the other donations that are coming in.  In terms of exact numbers, you know, from your mouth to God's ears, we're trying to crunch those numbers.  I’ve been asking my colleagues to give us an overall financial picture.  I really hope to get that to you, because I think it's important that we're able to give a global picture of the money that's come in and what's still needed.  Yes, ma'am?

Question:  What is the status of the…?

Spokesman:  Can you use your microphone, please?  Or Matthew’s?

Question:  What is the status of the investigation into the mass grave discovered near Donetsk which was described by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as a war crime?

Spokesman:  My understanding is there will be some mention of that in the report that is coming out tomorrow out of Geneva, which is the regular human rights monitoring report.  Evelyn?

Question:  Thank you, Steph.  Is there any update of how many clinics there are in Liberia for Ebola?  I mean, I know you can't get an aspirin or be treated for malaria anymore, but what was shocking was the man in Dallas tried to get his relative who had, who was sick, to an Ebola clinic and there was no space in Monrovia.  Is there any update on the number of clinics or has anybody done that that we can find?

Spokesman:  There are clearly not enough health-care centres with the capacity to deal with the Ebola patients in these… in this country.  And I think, as you rightfully noted and as we've mentioned here, it's also having a knock‑on effect on health care for other diseases, like malaria and like more common diseases.  I think part of Mr. Banbury's tour is also to ensure that… to access exactly what the situation is and where the UN and the international community could be more helpful.  But, we'll try to get you some numbers for you.  [The Spokesman later directed the correspondent to WHO’s updated website, which provides numbers for health-care facilities and for Ebola cases.]  Mr. Lee?

Question:  Sure.  I want to ask you about Ebola and something on peacekeeping.  I just wanted to know, now that UNMEER is up and working, is it the UN's understanding that it will be reporting to the Security Council?  Will it be submitting periodic reports to the Security Council?  To whom does it report?

Spokesman:  It reports to the Secretary‑General.  The Mission reports directly to the Secretary‑General.  As you know, it is… it was done in a way that's different from a peacekeeping mission.  It was not mandated by… this is what the Secretary‑General decided to do and to do quickly.  We sought the approval of both the General Assembly and the Security Council, which we received.  I… clearly, there will be a mechanism through which Member States are kept appraised of what… on a regular basis to what the Mission is doing and the Mission that they are funding, but I will try to get you the details of that mechanism.  Thank you.  Sir?

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  As a follow‑up to Carla's question:  There was, as you know, a letter from [Ambassador Vitaly I.] Churkin to Secretary‑General, concerning these mass graves discovered in Donetsk.  What was your understanding, what was the goal of this letter?  What did the Russian Ambassador want from the UN?

Spokesman:  I think you would have to ask the drafter of the letter as to what he thinks the goal of the letter is.  The letter, in itself, is being studied, but the Secretary‑General, I think as you will recall, has always called for a full and transparent international investigation into what has happened in Ukraine.  So, I think, right now, the letter is being looked at.  Yes, Michelle?

Question:  Thanks, Steph.  Given the attention that's currently being paid to the travel taken by the patient in Dallas to get to the United States and the effects… the effect it is having on the stock market for airlines and whatnot, could you maybe just tell us again the United Nations' stance on transport to and from these affected countries?

Spokesman:  Sure.  I think the stand is clear and unchanged, that the United Nations feels that air travel to and from the impacted countries should continue.  It is very important not to isolate these countries.  It makes the situation… the economic, social and political situation worse to isolate these countries.  Same thing with closing of the borders.  And it's also clear that, not only the United Nations, but NGOs and others, need to get people in and out of these areas.  What is important is that we continue with screening at the point of departure, at borders, and that the right policies be put in place, not only at the point of departure, the point of arrival, to ensure that there's proper screening.  Yes, sir?

Question:  Does the Secretary‑General believe that the terrorists will return to countries after perpetrating crimes in Syria and Iraq should be brought to justice by international tribunals or other kinds of tribunals?

Spokesman:  That's an issue that their home States have to look at in terms of what the activities of individuals are.  Obviously, if they were involved in criminal activity in perpetrating crimes against humanity, then the people should be brought to justice.

Correspondent:  Suppose those Governments connived with them, like, for example, some of those officers — Bahraini officers — who appeared on video and were boasting about committing crimes in Syria are not considered by their Government as terrorists.  But, as Nabeel Rajab, who is a human rights activist, just for publishing the names of those was put in jail last night.

Spokesman:  You know, I think my first… my answer to your first question, I think, covers your second question.

Question:  How about Mr. Rajab's arrest?

Spokesman:  I don't have anything on his case, but I will look into it.  Mr. Abbadi, then Mr. Lee?

Question:  As he indicated in the International Day of Non-Violence, the Secretary‑General said that there is no greater tool than education to enhance human dignity, promote a culture of nonviolence and build lasting peace.  This is precisely what UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] does.  Why doesn’t the Secretary‑General mention the role of UNESCO in this instance?

Spokesman:  I think the Secretary‑General is a strong supporter of the role of UNESCO.  He was making very general and broad remarks on this very important day of nonviolence; and it is not just the role of a UN agency to do this, but it is the role of national Governments and all of us to support this.  Matthew and then we'll… and then we'll stop after Evelyn.  Go ahead.

Question:  Sure.  I wanted to ask you two things on peacekeeping.  The one is the Irish Defence Minister, Simon Coveney, has said that the UN owes Ireland€9.1 million and his quote is:  "I think that the UN needs to get its act together and pay the money that is owed for this important service."  This has to do with UNDOF and Golan.  Is it true?  Is the UN payment overdue?

Spokesman:  I don't know if it's true or not true.  But, what I do know is that these things are usually discussed between the Permanent Mission and [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations].  And I'm sure that if there is an issue, the Permanent Mission of Ireland has taken it up with [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations].  I would also add in that same vein, I think you had asked me about the Ugandan helicopters.  There are discussions going on between the Government of Uganda and [the Department of Peacekeeping Operations] to work out details of the payment and issues, because I think people have different opinions.

Question:  And the other one has to do with South Sudan.  There were two dead bodies found just outside the UN… UNMISS protection site in Bentiu.  And the Government is saying these were people killed inside the base by supporters of the… what they call the rebels.  So, I wanted to know, and I think there's an UNMISS spokesman quoted saying they are looking into it.  But, what is the UN's story on what happened in the camp…?

Spokesman:  If you're going to quote a UN spokesman to me, I will hide behind that quote and I'm sure, if they’re looking into it…

Correspondent:  It's so many times something the UN says we're going to look into something and we never hear anything.  So, I want to know on this one…

Spokesman:  I will look into it.  Evelyn?

Question:  Yes.  I didn't understand the question about the mass graves in Ukraine, if there are such mass graves.  Is some international…?

Spokesman:  The question or the answer?

Question:  No, the answer.  Some international body looking into this or…?

Spokesman:  No, I think what I said… what I should have said more clearly is I expect this to be touched upon in the report that we will see tomorrow.  Oleg?

Question:  Stéphane, thank you again.  On Ebola, yesterday you said that one of the UN Mission in [ Liberia] (UNMIL) staffers has died from Ebola.  Can you confirm that it was actually symptoms?

Spokesman:  No, I don't have… I don't have an update on the post-mortem, but we very much… we very much probably… we think that it is… let's me just say, simpler, I don't have anything to add to what I said yesterday.

Question:  Another question on this.  Is there any risk that he contact some other colleagues?  Was there any current [inaudible] imposed?

Spokesman:  I'm sure the Mission on ground has taken the necessary precautions.

Question:  Follow‑up?

Spokesman:  Why not?

Question:  Stéphane, can you tell us, do you any figures, how many, not hypothetical, but if you have exact numbers or so, UN staffers are actually in danger or probably affected by this Ebola?

Spokesman:  I don't understand… in danger in what way?

Question:  That they are in the places where there could already be affected or… do you have any numbers or figures?

Spokesman:  We could add up the number of UN staff that we have in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.  They are in countries that are impacted, obviously.  The UN will continue to stand and deliver in those countries.  I think, as the Secretary‑General said, there were a few posts open for the Mission… the emergency Mission in response to Ebola.  We got 4,000 applications.  This is what the UN… this is what we do.  Thank you all.  And I will leave you with the President of the Security Council.

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