The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says a ceasefire in the northern Amran Governorate is reportedly holding. Humanitarian organizations are concerned about the new displacement of as many as 20,000 people in Amran, due to recent heavy fighting between Government forces and armed rebels.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the first case of polio in Somalia this year was confirmed on 4 June in the north-central region of Mudug. A polio response team from Nairobi is expected to assess the case. The polio vaccination campaign of 2013, which targeted 4 million people, was hailed as an example of providing health services in otherwise inaccessible areas.
The Secretary-General has asked his Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, to represent him at the inauguration of President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, which will take place this Saturday in Kyiv. While in Kyiv, Mr. Feltman is also expected to hold meetings with senior Government officials and others in the spirit of the Secretary-General’s good offices.
The Secretary-General welcomes the 2 June announcement of the formation of a Palestinian Government of national consensus headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. He notes renewed assurances by President Mahmoud Abbas that the Government will continue to abide by the commitments of recognition of Israel, non-violence and adherence to previous agreements.
The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq has reported that at least 79 Iraqis have been killed — mostly civilians — and an estimated 1,400 people have been injured in May alone due to acts of terrorism and violence. The Special Representative for Iraq urged political leaders to work swiftly to form an inclusive Government.
The Secretary-General, speaking at the closing plenary session of the Global Summit in Support of the “Every woman, every child” initiative, said that improving the health and well-being of women and children is an issue close to his heart. He said that 289,000 women die each year while giving life, while an estimated 18,000 children die each day, mostly from preventable causes.
The Secretary-General condemns the attacks in the Central African Republic, including yesterday’s at a Church in Bangui in which the priest and others were abducted. That followed violence in the capital earlier this week during which three Muslim youths were brutally killed by suspected anti-balaka elements.
The Secretary-General this morning congratulated Petro Poroschenko, the President-elect of Ukraine for having received a strong mandate from the people. He said he was encouraged by Mr. Poroschenko’s commitment to de-escalation and dialogue, which will be critical within Ukraine, as well as with its neighbours.
UNICEF said that, without urgent funding, it will have to suspend essential life-saving health services for 3 million people in Somalia within one month. UNICEF provides 70 per cent of health services in the country, including drugs, vaccinations and training for health workers.
The Secretary-General condemns the mortar attack on an electoral rally in southern Syria that reportedly killed at least 21 people today. He deeply regrets the inability of the international community to unite in stopping this conflict, and in finding ways to hold accountable perpetrators of atrocities such as today's attack.