The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, James Rawley, expressed concern over the Israeli authorities’ demolition of 30 Palestinian-owned structures in the Jordan Valley yesterday, resulting in the displacement of 41 people, including 24 children. He said the demolitions must be brought to an immediate halt.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Human Rights Day this year marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General said that promoting human rights is one of the core purposes of the United Nations and the key to success is the political will of Member States.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that, one month after Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, humanitarian needs remain enormous, with nearly 15 million people affected, including some 4 million people displaced and more than 1 million homes destroyed or damaged. The UN and its partners are focusing on reaching the most vulnerable.
Speaking at the Summit for Peace and Security in Africa, the Secretary-General said that the recent violence in the Central African Republic is another reminder that we must act now. He also said that the world mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela, whose profound legacy will continue to guide the United Nations.
The Secretary-General strongly condemned the terrorist attacks against Yemen’s Ministry of Defence, calling on all stakeholders to cooperate with the investigation into the matter. He stressed that the only path to a stable, prosperous and democratic country was through the ongoing peaceful and all-inclusive National Dialogue Conference.
This afternoon, Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the Joint Mission of the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, will update Security Council members on the Mission’s work in Syria. Afterwards, Ms. Kaag intends to speak to reporters at the Security Council stakeout.
In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo today, the UN Mission there launched its unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles. Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said it was the first time that the United Nations deployed such an advanced technological tool in peacekeeping operations.
The Secretary-General has been closely following events in Ukraine. He appeals to all parties to act with restraint, avoid any further violence and to uphold the democratic principles of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He encourages dialogue in pursuit of agreement on the country’s path forward.
As we enter the third week of the emergency response to Typhoon Haiyan, the World Food Programme is extending its reach to those in need. In the past two weeks, the World Food Programme has dispatched more than 4,000 tons of rice and more than 100 tons of high energy biscuits for distribution by partners.
The Secretary-General announced this morning that the Geneva Conference on Syria will take place on Wednesday, 22 January. He said all parties must begin now to take steps to help it succeed, including the cessation of violence, humanitarian access, the release of tetainees and the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.