The Secretary-General this morning congratulated Petro Poroschenko, the President-elect of Ukraine for having received a strong mandate from the people. He said he was encouraged by Mr. Poroschenko’s commitment to de-escalation and dialogue, which will be critical within Ukraine, as well as with its neighbours.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
UNICEF said that, without urgent funding, it will have to suspend essential life-saving health services for 3 million people in Somalia within one month. UNICEF provides 70 per cent of health services in the country, including drugs, vaccinations and training for health workers.
The Secretary-General condemns the mortar attack on an electoral rally in southern Syria that reportedly killed at least 21 people today. He deeply regrets the inability of the international community to unite in stopping this conflict, and in finding ways to hold accountable perpetrators of atrocities such as today's attack.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative today called on the anti-balaka militia to lay down their arms and on the ex-Séléka to stand ready to enter the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. He said that the support that the international community is trying to mobilize for the country will be in vain if the parties do not act responsibly for the long-term stability of the country.
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.
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.