Noon Briefings

The Secretary-General notes that Saudi Arabia, at the Yemeni Government’s request, has begun military operations in Yemen, and is aware of reports that other States are supporting those operations.  He notes that despite escalation, negotiations remain the only option to ultimately resolve the Yemeni crisis.

The Secretary-General spoke at the open debate in the Security Council this morning on children and armed conflict and said that the world’s children are increasingly under threat in theatres of war.  He emphasized that the children of the world should be students, not soldiers.

The Secretary-General said that Angela Kane has informed him of her intention to step down as High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.  He expressed his gratitude for her outstanding service and advocacy of disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

In an emergency Security Council session yesterday afternoon, Jamal Benomar, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Yemen, said by videoconference that he was working with all sides to resolve the current standoff in the country and avert civil war.  The Council issued a statement supporting the legitimacy of President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi.

The Secretary-General called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on his recent electoral victory.  Urging Israel’s release of tax revenue owed to the Palestinian Authority, he also reiterated that the two-State solution was the only way forward.

The Da’esh group may have committed all three of the most serious international crimes — war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, according to a report issued today by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack against the Bardo Museum in Tunisia’s capital as a deplorable act, extending condolences to the victims’ families and expressing solidarity with the Tunisian people and authorities.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Security Council this morning on Darfur.  He said that over the past year the security and humanitarian situation had deteriorated significantly and there was no tangible progress towards resolving the conflict.

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks on two churches in Pakistan, extending condolences and calling on the Government to swiftly bring perpetrators to justice.

The senior officials of the United Nations humanitarian system expressed their horror, outrage and frustration today as the crisis in Syria enters its fifth year.  They restated their commitment to help people in need and urged world leaders to set aside their differences and use their influence to bring about meaningful change in that country.