The Secretary-General opened in Geneva the High-Level Meeting on Global Responsibility Sharing for the Syrian Refugees, stressing the need for an exponential increase in solidarity. If properly managed, resettling refugees is a win-win for everyone, he said, calling on all States to step up efforts.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General’s task force to review the functioning of the Office of the President of the General Assembly issued a report today resulting from charges made against the world body’s former president and others. Recommendations include greater transparency on staffing and outside contributions.
During the Security Council’s open debate on the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution in Africa, United Nations high-level officials say experience shows that actively engaging them and civil society in early diplomatic initiatives improves the chances of helping to prevent and resolve conflicts.
The Secretary-General says the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia’s ruling today of former Serbian President Radovan Karadžić, who has been convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity, sends a strong signal that all those in positions of responsibility will be held to account.
Thirteen trucks of badly needed emergency relief items from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reached south-western Yemen, marking the first time a UNHCR convoy made it all the way from Aden to Tiazz governorate. Distribution is starting this week for 500 displaced people, returnees and local families.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the terrorist bombings today in Brussels. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, and expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of Belgium.
The Secretary-General addressed the Security Council today on the Great Lakes region, saying that the last several years had seen progress in stabilizing the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Nonetheless, he said, major peace and security challenges persist and require our continued attention.
The World Health Organization has dispatched a team of specialists to the southern prefecture of Nzérékoré in Guinea after two new cases of Ebola were detected and confirmed in a rural village. The new infections were confirmed the same day that WHO declared the end of the last flare-up of the virus in Sierra Leone.
The Secretary-General condemns the double suicide attacks on 16 March in Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, by suspected Boko Haram elements, which left 20 people dead and many injured. He reiterates the United Nations support to Nigeria’s Government to fight terrorism.
The Secretary-General congratulates U Htin Kyaw for being elected the first civilian President of Myanmar in more than five decades as a significant achievement towards advancing the democratic reforms begun by the outgoing Government.