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.
All right, good afternoon.
A couple of statements to start off with.
**South Sudan
We are announcing today the appointment by the Secretary-General of Major General Patrick Cammaert (retired) of The Netherlands to lead an independent Special Investigation into the violence in Juba, in South Sudan, that took place in July of this year, and the response by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The investigation will review reports of incidents of attacks on civilians and cases of sexual violence that occurred within or in the vicinity of the UN House Protection of Civilians sites in Juba. It will also determine the actions of the UN Mission and whether the Mission responded appropriately to prevent these incidents and protect civilians within its resources and capabilities at the time.
In addition, the investigation will review the circumstances surrounding the attack on the Terrain Hotel and assess the Mission’s response.
The Special Investigation team will undertake a field visit to Juba to interview the relevant interlocutors. A final report will be presented to the Secretary-General within one month, and the findings of which will be made public.
As you know, Major General Cammaert recently led a Headquarters Board of Inquiry on the circumstances of the clashes that occurred in the Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan, on February of this year. And as you will know, he is also a veteran of The Netherlands Royal Marine Corps, as well as the UN, including as being Force Commander in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), and Military Advisor to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), and General Officer Commanding the Eastern Division of the UN Peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).
**Democratic Republic of Congo
Speaking of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I have a statement on the situation in that country.
The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular the political dialogue process. He takes note of today’s meeting of the preparatory committee to the national dialogue convened by the Facilitator of the African Union, Edem Kodjo.
The Secretary-General recalls that in resolution 2277 the Security Council underlined the importance of a credible and inclusive political dialogue to ensure peaceful, credible, inclusive, transparent and timely presidential and legislative elections, in line with the Constitution.
The Secretary-General once again calls on all political stakeholders in the country to engage in an inclusive political dialogue in good faith to overcome the impasse of the electoral process. He notes that there is no alternative to a credible political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and further urges all actors to refrain from any action that could increase tensions or lead to violence.
Those statements are available online and the statement on the Congo is also available in French.
**Non-proliferation
The Secretary General this morning addressed a Security Council meeting on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
He said the challenges to the disarmament and non-proliferation architecture are growing.
The global strategic context is more fluid and dangerous than ever, he said in his remarks.
Singling out biological threats, the Secretary-General said that in the wake of the serious outbreaks of Ebola, MERS and Yellow Fever, he is extremely concerned that the international community is not adequately prepared to prevent or respond to biological attacks.
He called on all States to focus on what he called one overriding truth: the only way to prevent the human, environmental and existential destruction these weapons can cause, is by eradicating them once and for all.
The Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Kim Won-soo, told the council that the international community needs to think hard about what to do in case of a chemical or biological attack.
In such event, he said, the international community will need to turn to the UN.
Full text of both remarks are available online.
**Syria
And regarding the situation around Homs, our humanitarian colleagues inform us today that an inter-agency humanitarian convoy is delivering today humanitarian assistance to 35,000 people in Al Waer.
The convoy includes food, health, nutrition and non-food items. This is the first such inter-agency convoy to deliver life-saving assistance this month to any besieged or hard-to reach area in Syria. A second convoy is planned for later this week.
Regarding the situation in the north-eastern city of Hasakeh, the UN is extremely concerned, as some 40,000 people are understood to have been displaced from the city towards suburban neighbourhoods and nearby villages.
In addition, [over] 25,000 people have been displaced from Hasakeh to cities and villages north of the city since 18 August, following clashes between the Government and Kurdish forces.
Given the scale and pace of displacement, not all needs can be met yet and the UN urges all parties, and those with influence over them, to facilitate permanent and unhindered access by all humanitarian personnel to people in need.
**Iraq
In Iraq, the UN Refugee Agency said today that displacement may be about to dramatically worsen with the focus of military action turning towards Mosul. Mosul as you know is Iraq’s second largest city, and the humanitarian impact of a military offensive there can be expected to be enormous. UNHCR warned that it could result in displacement on a scale not seen globally in many years. Up to 1.2 million people could be affected.
Contingency plans have been drawn up to provide shelter assistance for up to 120,000 people fleeing Mosul and surrounding areas. And across the region, a series of camps are in the process of being expanded or established while other shelter options are being prepared. Altogether, UNHCR is looking to set up camps in up to six locations across north-eastern Iraq, although progress depends on both the availability of land and funding, of course.
More information online.
**Central America
And UNICEF published a report today saying that despite UN and government efforts, thousands of children from Central America continue to be at risk of being kidnapped, trafficked, raped, or killed as they make their way to the United States.
The agency said in the first six months of 2016, almost 26,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the US border with Mexico. Thousands more never made it to the border.
UNICEF says that many of those were kidnapped, trafficked, murdered, or fell victim to harsh environment along the way.
The report says the agency is working to address the causes of migration by supporting efforts of Governments to improve the lives of children in their countries of origin.
**Nigeria
And WFP today warned that the number of people in need of food assistance in north-east Nigeria has risen to 4.5 million, nearly twice as many as in March. A worsening economy could see this figure rise by a further million as early as next month. WFP is scaling up its response, aiming to reach some 700,000 people with food and cash assistance in the coming months. However, the agency still requires US$52 million to continue providing life-saving assistance until the end of the year in north-east Nigeria.
And WHO is also upping its emergency response to the humanitarian crisis in the same area. More than half of the health facilities in Borno State, the area most severely impacted, are not functioning. Estimated mortality rates in some areas are four times higher than emergency thresholds. WHO and its partners are scaling up life-saving health services to urgently reduce the rates of death and disease in an extremely challenging working environment.
**Human Rights
A couple of notes from our colleagues at the Office [of] the High Commissioner for Human rights: they said that the High Commissioner was deeply dismayed at the execution on Sunday of 36 people in Iraq in relation to the 2014 Camp Speicher massacre, in which Da’esh killed as many as 1,700 people.
We also have a note in which the Human Rights Agency deplored the reported death in custody in Gambia of a member of the opposition, the United Democratic Party, last Saturday.
According to reports, Ebrima Solo Kurumah, a member of the United Democratic Party, passed away after he was taken to hospital for a surgical operation.
He had allegedly been denied medical help on several occasions while detained.
And lastly, the High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked Mauritania to review the sentencing of 23 people to prison terms of up to 15 years for their alleged role in a riot in June.
The sentences include 13 members of an NGO that campaigns against slavery.
The High Commissioner cited allegations that some of those found guilty were not present at the anti-slavery protests that took place in June.
**Questions and Answers
Khalas.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Tomorrow, there should be a meeting in Damascus between the representatives of Russian Reconciliation Centre officials and UN office chief in Damascus, and they are supposed to make the rules and options of aid delivery to Aleppo. So do you have an understanding… will they announce after the meeting the date when the operation will start?
Spokesman: I’m not aware of that particular meeting, but I know our colleagues are working on operational plans for the humanitarian pause in consultation with the two co‑chair, the US and the Russian Federation, and… who are themselves reaching out to the various Syrian parties over which they have an influence. So, obviously, discussions are being had.
I think, as Mr. O’Brien said yesterday, the Council contingency plans are in… are in place. We’re obviously waiting for the proof in the pudding, which is is the pause taking hold on the ground.
Mr. Lee.
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you about South Sudan. I mean, I… it’s… it’s… when you mentioned that Mr. Cammaert had previously done the Malakal one, I wanted to know, has that resulted in any accountability?
And, also, I noticed… I went back. He was… he did the study of Gaza in 2015. He was sent to Sri Lanka in 2009. So I just… I guess… I mean, I want to know, overall, is the goal of this exercise to find… particularly given the Terrain events but also rapes outside the gate, to actually hold someone accountable or to write a Malakal‑style study…?
Spokesman: You know, I think the Malakal report was fairly… was fairly clear. I think it’s important that we be able to assess, not only the facts on the ground, but the role of the mission, how the mission responded, how the various contingents responded. And from that, obviously, if there are further steps to be taken, they will be taken.
Question: Right, but I guess I’m asking as an example, in the Malakal case, have any steps yet been taken?
Spokesman: Well, I think, you know, obviously, we have seen how various contingents responded, and we hope that also what we’ve learned from Malakal will be able to better prepare us for similar situations that may happen in the future.
Question: Relatedly…
Spokesman: Okay. I’ll come back to you.
Edie.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. The Sudanese Government announced today that Riek Machar received… is receiving medical treatment there, that he was taken there. Did the UN play any role in getting Riek Machar to Sudan? Because the Congolese authorities seem to say that they… they played no role.
Spokesman: I have no information on Mr. Machar’s whereabouts. As you know, he was handed over to the Congolese authorities, and I’ve not received any further information since… since then.
Mr. Abbadi, I see a pen rise.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. For [inaudible] appeal the Secretary‑General sometime ago to the parties to the Middle East conflict to contact and link with the members of the Quartet, is there any development?
Spokesman: I have nothing… I have nothing to report on that. Obviously, I think the discussions continue to be had, but we will wait also for this next periodic briefing to the Security Council, and hopefully, that will show us some progress.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. You talked about Hasakeh and how 40,000 or more have fled the city, and it’s… basically right now, there are reports of dozens of civilian death in that city. And this whole crisis started with Syrian Government’s bombing the city, which has been stable for years, and opening a new front in this already complicated and disastrous civil war.
Other than reporting the figures and what happened, why… why we haven’t heard much condemnation from United Nations, from other members of international community? It’s… there has been silence about Hasakeh from the past five days.
Spokesman: I think… first of all, I think I’ve just now, I flagged and expressed our concern over the violence and the impact it’s having on civilians. Second, I think if you look… if you read Mr. O’Brien’s statement from yesterday, I think it is a pretty clear and blanket condemnation of all the violence that we have seen. I think the foc… whether… when you are a civilian, when you’re receiving barrel bombs or other projectiles or bullets, the point is that you’re suffering regardless of who’s doing the shooting. And I think the… Mr. O’Brien’s plea yesterday was again to put the Syrian people and the suffering of the Syrian people at the forefront of the deliberations and to remind the international community and the members of the Security Council of their own responsibilities to bring the fighting to a halt and the fact that this continued fighting has… has really blocked us from humanitarian deliveries.
I mean, just now we’re able to announce the first convoy to one of the hard… the besieged and hard‑to‑reach areas, the first one since August. But it’s not even a drop in the bucket. And that’s why we’re really focusing on the immediate step on a humanitarian pause so we can start again to deliver humanitarian aid. As Mr. O’Brien said, we’re… it’s not even… we’re not even at a standstill. We’ve been in reverse for the last month.
Question: Just follow‑up on that. I heard Mr. O’Brien’s report, but it seems to be that the… when it comes to that part of Syria, when it comes to the Kurds and their sensitivity, political sensitive topic, there is a silence about it. And what… and what I’m seeing there right now, especially the forces that are fighting ISIS that our international community that are very concerned about, with U.S. special forces, they almost bombed the U.S. special forces right there and cost a very great…
[inaudible]
Spokesman: I think we are… there are so many places throughout Syria where people are suffering. Just because, you know, not every place was listed in Mr. O’Brien’s statement doesn’t mean we’re not as concerned and we don’t condemn the violence.
We’ve asked for a complete and full halt to the violence wherever it is taking place in the country. And our concern is… for the people of Syria is broad and is deep and is a concern for every citizen of Syria.
Mr. Lee.
Question: Moving on, do you have a comment… does the UN have any comment in Libya on the Tobruk House of Representatives voting the no confidence in what’s described as the UN‑backed Government?
Spokesman: No, I think it’s up for the Libyans to comment first. I have nothing to add from here.
Question: I wanted to ask you about this Burundian Lieutenant Colonel Mr. Mayuyu. I’d asked a couple of times here and was told he’s not on any roster, and now Radio Publique Africaine in Burundi has reported that he was deployed and has been repatriated. So what is the… what are the facts? And if he was there, why was it said from this podium that he wasn’t there?
Spokesman: I hope to have something on that a bit later today or tomorrow.
Question: So when… but how is… I mean, how can the… the… the mission not be able to say… he’s a commanding officer…
Spokesman: As I said, I’m trying to harvest facts.
Question: Okay. And I wanted to ask you about… I know… I’d seen in your… in your… your curtain raiser for this this mission of slavery. Maybe that meant the Mauritania announcement, but today is the day of remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition.
So I wanted to know, in the audit of the Ng Lap Seng/John Ashe case, there’s a paragraph on the failure to do due diligence on the… the… essentially the… the… the ceremony of the Ark of Return outside. And I’ve asked before, but I wanted to ask now after all this time, how much money did Ng Lap Seng, still on trial for bribery, commit at that event? And what repercussions, what accountability, on that event and on the audit generally, have taken place…?
Spokesman: I think… we’ve asked this question… you’ve asked this question before. The audit and its recommendations were taken up seriously by all the Departments named. As for the… for the ceremony, I think you’d have to ask the organisers.
Question: But… so what’s the status of the recommendation that had to do with due diligence…
Spokesman: They’re all being… they’re all being fulfilled.
Question: Stéph, back to South Sudan, given that there are already preliminary findings into what happened at Terrain and the violence outside some of the camps, does the Secretary‑General, based on those preliminary findings that, in fact, have now led to the special investigation, does he still have full confidence in his SRSG?
Spokesman: Yes, he does, completely.
Mr. Abbadi.
Question: Thanks.
Spokesman: And then Dulcie.
Question: The Secretary‑General has been travelling extensively abroad in the course of last few weeks and last few months. Does he still contemplate going abroad during the remainder of his term?
Spokesman: Yes, there will be a number of trips planned, notably to attend summit meetings and international meetings that are on the calendar, and we will announce them all in due course.
Dulcie.
Question: Have you announced when the JIM report is due? It was supposed to come out on the 15th.
Spokesman: It will likely go to the Security Council this week.
Question: What day?
Spokesman: As soon as I have a date to share with you, I shall do so.
Question: And… and WFP…
Spokesman: As the… sorry, go ahead.
Question: WFP is planning to try to deliver more food in Maiduguri even though the WFP people were shot at last month or in June?
Spokesman: There’s a… from the… the convoy I just mentioned today or?
Question: No. There was an attack on them, at least a month ago.
Spokesman: I have… as soon as I have an update from them, I will share it with you.
Matthew and then…
Question: Sure. The reason I’m asking about this NGO and the audit is I asked…
Spokesman: You know it’s also live on the web.
Question: I understand. But I have to be ready…
Spokesman: Of course.
Question: … to…
[inaudible]
Spokesman: And I want people to see that I am the lazy Spokesman that you say I am.
Question: All right. All right. All right. All right. I did email about Mayuyu…
Spokesman: I’m lazy. That’s what I can tell you.
Question: All right. What I want to ask you is, because the audit concerned NGOs and how the UN deals with them, I’d asked Farhan about a prospective October 2nd… there’s a flyer. It is here. It says there’s a fundraiser by an NGO inside the UN. So I asked him what the rules are. And I want to ask you. It seems like it’s the kind of thing the UN should be able to say. What are the rules on an outside body charging entry to the General Assembly?
Spokesman: I’d have to… let me see the flyer.
Question: Because Mr. Vijay Nambiar was attending one of these…
Spokesman: Let me see what the flyer is, and I can figure out what the event is.
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. Since… if my calculations are correct, if this South Sudan report is coming out in, you said, one month?
Spokesman: Uh‑hmm.
Question: That should put us to the high‑level week of UNGA. Do you think if the SG is planning any type of side event with the TCCs to maybe discuss this or discuss the issues that have come up over the past year?
Spokesman: I think… once… obviously, as of all these issues, the TCCs will be briefed on the findings of the report, because, obviously, it will implicate the Troop Contributing Countries.
Thank you.