The Secretary-General condemned the horrific murder of journalist James Foley, stating that the abominable crime underscored the campaign of terror that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant continue to wage against the people of Iraq and Syria.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
To mark World Humanitarian Day, the Secretary-General participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Headquarters to honour aid workers killed in the line of duty and delivered remarks at a high-level event in the Economic and Social Council. New figures published by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs show that 2013 set a new record for violence against aid groups.
Marking the remaining 500 days to the Millennium Development Goals’ conclusion, the Secretary-General met with Malala Yousafzai and 500 other young people in the Trusteeship Council where he highlighted the progress made over the past 15 years, including global poverty cut in half and more mothers surviving child birth.
The acting United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq continued assessment today of the humanitarian emergency and response in Dahuk Governorate, meeting with displaced people in Zakhow, the majority of whom are from Sinjar. Zakhow is currently hosting least 100,000 displaced people.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Nickolay Mladenov, said that the United Nations “level-three emergency” declaration for Iraq – the Organization’s highest global humanitarian priority - will facilitate mobilization of additional resources to the humanitarian needs of communities affected by forced displacement.
Responding to atrocious reports of Yazidi, Christian, Turkomen and Shabak women, girls and boys being abducted, detained and raped by the “Islamic State”, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq and the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict condemned such barbaric acts and called for regional and international efforts to help release of those detained.
Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov welcomed President Masoum’s decision to accept Parliament’s nomination of Haider al-Abbadi as Prime Minister-designate. He also urged political leaders to work within the Constitution’s framework, and for the Iraqi Security Forces to refrain from actions that might interfere with the democratic transfer of political authority.
The Secretary-General voiced deep disappointment that Israeli-Palestinian parties had been unable to agree to an extension of the humanitarian ceasefire. He urged them to “find a way back” to that ceasefire. Renewed hostilities resulted in the killing of a Palestinian boy and the wounding of several Israelis.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said that the scale of needs is unprecedented in the Gaza Strip. He said that teams are on the ground assessing needs and providing relief and emphasized the need for a sustained halt to the violence.
Briefing the Security Council today on South Sudan, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations said that the country was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and a protracted internal conflict. He stressed that the parties needed to reach an agreement without delay on how to end it and embark on the path of reconciliation.