The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, condemned the flagrant disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law that has led to tremendous suffering for civilians in Aleppo Governorate in Syria. She warned that international humanitarian law prohibits attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that the tension in Ukraine has displaced an estimated 10,000 civilians, and that number continues to rise. An assessment mission has been completed and UNHCR is working with local authorities and other partners to assist.
The Deputy Secretary-General spoke with the President of Mali to express his concern at the recent violence which included the killing of eight civilians in Kidal. The Deputy Secretary-General appealed for calm and stressed the need to de-escalate tensions.
The human rights situation in eastern Ukraine is deteriorating alarmingly, according to a new UN report released today. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on those with influence on the armed groups to do their utmost to rein in people who seem bent on tearing the country apart.
Said Djinnit, sent to Nigeria as a High-Level Representative, concluded his four-day visit, where he reiterated the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of the abduction last month of innocent girls in Chibok. The United Nations has begun preparations of an initiative that includes immediate support to the affected families, the population and the girls after their release.
The Secretary-General is in Sweden today for the Global Forum on Migration and Development. At the opening ceremony, he said more than 1 in 30 people on earth is a migrant. He said he remained seriously concerned about the crises unfolding in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, adding that the loss of life is unacceptable.
Said Djinnit, the Secretary-General’s high-level representative tasked to discuss the fate of the abducted girls, met with UN officials and members of the diplomatic community yesterday upon his arrival in Abuja. Discussions focused on ways in which the United Nations can support efforts to safely return the girls to their families and facilitate their reintegration.
The UN Mission in South Sudan reports incidents of fighting between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and opposition forces over the weekend. The UN Mission condemns the fighting and asks the parties to implement the commitments that they have signed into action on the ground.
The Secretary-General has asked his Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, to travel to Abuja as his high-level representative to Nigeria. Mr. Djinnit will offer the help of the United Nations in supporting authorities’ efforts to safely return the kidnapped girls to their families.
The Security Council adopted a resolution deciding to create “the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage”, to be awarded to military, police, civilian United Nations personnel and associated personnel who demonstrate exceptional courage, in the face of extreme danger, while fulfilling their missions or functions, in the service of humanity and the United Nations.