The Special Envoy for Syria met today with delegations from Syrian armed opposition groups. He briefed the delegates on the outcomes reached by the International Syria Support Group, including the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel political process pursuant to the 2012 Geneva Communiqué.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Our colleagues in South Sudan say the situation there continues to deteriorate. Humanitarian agencies report that an estimated 7.5 million people are now food insecure and an unprecedented malaria outbreak is affecting nearly all the states. Over 2.3 million have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began.
The Secretary-General condemns the deadly terrorist attack at the Radisson hotel in Bamako, Mali. He expresses his full support to the Government in their fight against terrorist and extremist groups.
On World Toilet Day, UNICEF, USAIDS and the World Health Organization issued a new report that brings together for the first time research and case studies showing the link between sanitation and malnutrition. Some 2.4 billion people globally do not have toilets and roughly one in eight still defecates in the open.
The Secretary-General called the French President to offer his condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris. He commended France’s active role in mobilizing the world community to counter that grave threat and stressed the need to treat refugees and migrants with compassion and respect.
Addressing the Security Council today at its open debate on security, development and the root causes of conflicts, the Secretary-General stressed the need for a greater focus on prevention, human rights and strengthening coherence among all actors.
During a press conference at the G20 Summit in Turkey, the Secretary-General reiterated his profound condolences to the people of France and stressed the need for a robust response to terrorism, within the rule of law and with respect for human rights so as not to “fan the fire we are trying to put out”.
The Secretary-General condemned yesterday’s deadly terrorist attack in Beirut. He is saddened at the reported high numbers of casualties. He reiterates the need for all parties to work to preserve Lebanon’s stability and security.
Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, in a joint statement with the African Union Chairperson, expressed alarm at the widening divisions in Burundi and the threat of many more lives lost and a deep regional crisis. They pledged to work closely and to mobilize all means to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.
The Secretary-General, meeting with Saudi King Salman, urged cooperation with the special envoys on Syria and Yemen. He expressed hope that the next Vienna meeting on Syria would devise a clear set of next steps and on Yemen, that extreme care would be taken not to harm civilians and that talks would take place this month.