After visiting camps for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey today, the Secretary-General said he was shocked and humbled by the refugees’ stories. With the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan only 50 per cent financed, he pleaded for more funds, saying the people he met “...are our family; let us stand by them”.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General is saddened by the loss of life and serious damage to homes and infrastructure in the Philippines as a result of Typhoon Bopha (known locally as Typhoon Pablo), the second devastating storm to hit Mindanao in a year. He extends his sincere condolences to those who have lost family members and who have been otherwise affected by this disaster.
Briefing the Security Council on Mali, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said a first step in the multidimensional international response to the “horrendous crisis” must focus on supporting Malian authorities in conducting an inclusive national dialogue towards restoring constitutional order.
The Secretary-General addressed the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha today. He told the gathered leaders and delegations that we should be under no illusion that climate change is a crisis that threatens us all — our economies, our security and our future well-being.
The Secretary-General arrived in Doha today, to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Tomorrow he will address the opening of the high-level part of the Conference and then he will give a press conference with the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Christiana Figueres.
The General Assembly resolution on the question of Palestine was adopted yesterday by 138 votes in favour to 9 against, with 41 abstentions. The Secretary-General said the vote underscores the need to resume meaningful negotiations, urging the parties to renew their commitment to a negotiated peace.
The Secretary-General spoke at an event this morning marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and he said that Israelis and Palestinians must break out of a zero-sum mentality. Noting the vote taking place this afternoon in the General Assembly on Non-Member Observer State status, he said the question is a matter for United Nations Member States to decide.
Under Secretary-General Hervé Ladsous and Chef de Cabinet Susana Malcorra briefed the Security Council today on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country’s peacekeeping mission had reported some signs that the M23 was preparing to withdraw from Goma, but there was no major movement as of yet.
Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, just back from the region, briefed Security Council members today on his visits to Gaza and Rishon Letzion, and informed them that Egypt and the parties had, after last week’s devastating violence and the ceasefire, commenced with intensive talks.
Today in Vienna, the Secretary-General will attend the inauguration ceremony for the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, where he will welcome its commitment to promoting a global respect for all world religions.