The Secretary-General, having just learned of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's decision to step down, said he respects what must have been a difficult decision, taken in the wider interests of the Egyptian people. At this historic moment, he reiterates his call for a transparent, orderly and peaceful transition.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s suicide bombing that killed and injured numerous people at an army recruitment centre in Mardan, Pakistan. He is appalled by the reported use of a minor to commit this terrorist act.
The Secretary-General today addressed the General Assembly's informal thematic debate on disaster risk reduction, saying that last year, more than a quarter of a million people were killed by disasters. He stressed that lives can be saved by advance planning and by building schools, homes, hospitals, communities and cities to withstand hazards.
UNHCR is bringing in more assistance to Côte d’Ivoire as the number of internally displaced persons continues to grow in the west of the country. A cargo plane from Belgium will carry 2,450 tents which will provide shelter for up to 12,000 people, and a road convoy is bringing thousands of blankets, mats, mosquito nets and kitchen sets.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of repeated armed clashes between 4 and 6 February 2011 between Cambodia and Thailand around their common border area, which has reportedly claimed a number of lives and led to the displacement of civilians and destruction of property.
Urging an end to recent violence in Egypt, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, at a press conference in Geneva today called for a transparent and impartial investigation into whether this violence was planned, and if so, by whom. She added that all journalists and human rights defenders who were arrested for practising their professions must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the announcement today of the final results of the first round of presidential and legislative elections in Haiti. He added that it was of paramount importance for Haiti to have a new democratically elected Government to tackle the pressing issues of recovery, reconstruction and the fight against cholera.
Speaking to reporters in London today just after meeting with senior British officials, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon again urged restraint by all sides in Egypt. He added that, at this juncture, it is important to ensure that an orderly and peaceful transition takes place and he urged all parties to engage in dialogue without delay.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has urged Egyptian authorities to ensure that the police and other security forces scrupulously avoid excessive use of force as the popular movement in that country continues. She adds that people must not be arbitrarily detained simply for protesting or for expressing their political opinions.
A cargo plane chartered by the United Nations refugee agency landed yesterday in the Liberian capital of Monrovia, carrying 83 tons of aid for tens of thousands of refugees who have fled post-election tensions in Côte d'Ivoire. The supplies, including blankets and plastic mats, will be transported to eastern Liberia, where more than 31,000 Ivorians have been sheltering.