United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has repeatedly called for a halt to Israel’s settlement construction, has condemned its announcement that it is building 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
This morning, a memorial ceremony was held for the 101 United Nations staff members who lost their lives in the Haiti earthquake, and the Secretary-General spoke at that ceremony.
Ad Melkert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, congratulated the more than 12 million Iraqis who turned out for the country's parliamentary elections -- a turnout of 62.3 per cent, higher than many had expected, marking the historic character of election day.
The Secretary-General has arrived in Santiago, on a visit to Chile to show solidarity with the Chilean people as they deal with the destruction caused by the earthquake on 27 February. He said on arrival that the United Nations stands ready to help provide any assistance that the Chilean Government requests, immediate and long term.
The Secretary-General will be travelling to Chile this evening. He wants to express solidarity and sympathy with the people and Government of Chile following the earthquake on 27 February. He will also assess the humanitarian assistance effort and the scale of the disaster for himself. He is expected to meet on Friday with President Bachelet and President-elect Piñera, as well as senior Government officials in charge of national disaster and emergency humanitarian assistance.
The Secretary-General today addressed the Commission on the Status of Women high-level event marking International Women’s Day. He said that as a son and husband, a father and grandfather to girls, and as United Nations Secretary-General, it is his duty to fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment, which are fundamental to the very identity of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General spoke with President Michelle Bachelet of Chile last night. He again expressed his condolences and reiterated that the United Nations is ready to help and would do its utmost to make the items requested by the Chilean Government available as swiftly as possible.
The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to those who lost family and friends in Chile's earthquake and has been in touch with the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), based in Santiago, for an assessment of the earthquake and information on UN staff.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attacks that took place in Kabul this morning, which caused the death and injury of many Afghan and foreign residents and for which the Taliban claimed responsibility. This deliberate targeting of civilians demonstrates once again a senseless disregard for human life on the part of the perpetrators.
The United States television show American Idol last week travelled to Haiti with the UN Foundation to raise further awareness of the country’s post-earthquake needs. Footage of the trip will be on the show that airs tonight and viewers will be asked to support the efforts in Haiti by donating funds online and via text messaging. Proceeds will go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation to help the UN Foundation's work.