Leaders of United Nations agencies, representatives of affected Governments, and major donors today called for an urgent scale-up of assistance to address rising levels of hunger and malnutrition caused by the combined effect of drought, high food prices, displacement and conflict affecting the Sahel region of West Africa.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the KPMG Summit on the Business Perspective for Sustainable Growth, saying that we need corporate sustainability to be in the DNA of business culture and operations. At Rio+20 later this year in Brazil, business and investors have a true opportunity to show leadership.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, addressed the General Assembly on Syria this morning, saying that the number of dead and injured continues to rise every day. Tens of thousands, including children, have been arrested, with more than 18,000 reportedly still arbitrarily held in detention.
The Secretary-General is concerned by the lack of progress in the negotiations on post-independence issues and the possibility of further escalation of tensions following unilateral decisions taken by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan over their oil dispute. He says the moment has come for the necessary compromises.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, has reiterated her call to the Syria authorities to stop the killing and maiming of children, noting that over the past months, the number of child victims in Syria has climbed into the hundreds and the rate is increasing.
The Secretary-General welcomed the inauguration of the Darfur Regional Authority today. He congratulated the Government and the Liberation and Justice Movement on the important step forward, and reiterated the commitment of the United Nations system to support their efforts to bring peace to Darfur.
The Secretary-General has learned of the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives and the appointment of former Vice-President Mohammed Waheed Hassan as the new President of the country. He expresses his strong hope that this handover of power will lead to the peaceful resolution of the political crisis that has polarized the country
The Secretary-General is appalled by the escalating violence in Syria, particularly at the mounting death toll and continued onslaught on the city of Homs. Such violence is totally unacceptable before humanity. The lack of agreement in the Security Council gives no license to the Syrian authorities to step up attacks on the Syrian population. No Government can commit such acts against its people without its legitimacy being eroded.
Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos today welcomed the news that famine conditions are no longer present in Somalia, according to analysis released by FAO, but adds that progress made is fragile and continued and generous support from the international community was needed, or these gains could be reversed.
The Secretary-General is on the last day of his trip to the Middle East. This morning, he was in Gaza, where he visited a school and housing project, both run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).