Noon Briefings

The Secretary-General arrived in Singapore from Malaysia just a couple of hours ago. Earlier in the day, he visited Kuala Lumpur's Institute of Respiratory Medicine to meet tuberculosis patients and help highlight Saturday's World Tuberculosis Day and this year's campaign to stop TB in our lifetime. He also delivered a speech at the Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations

This morning the Security Council welcomed the appointment of the United Nations-League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy, and expressed its full support for the efforts of the Envoy to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system.

Asked today about developments in Syria, the Secretary-General called the issue his top priority. He said it was the international community’s moral and political responsibility to tackle the crisis. We have no time to waste, no time to lose; just one minute, one hour, delay will mean the death of more people, he said.

The Secretary-General arrived in Jakarta today at the start of his trip to Asia. Tomorrow, he will hold talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and deliver a speech on peacekeeping at the Indonesia Peace and Security Centre.

This morning, the United Nations-League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, briefed the Security Council on his mission to Syria in closed session. Mr. Annan also briefed reporters in Geneva, which is available on the United Nations website as a webcast.

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, has issued a statement saying that, as intense fighting continues in Syria, and people are caught up in the violence, it is increasingly vital that humanitarian organizations have unhindered access to identify urgent needs and provide emergency care and basic supplies.

The World Food Programme estimates food insecurity in Yemen has reached alarming levels, with almost 5 million people unable to produce or buy the food they need. The Programme has increased its assistance to feed 3.6 million people in the wake of spikes in food prices and displacements of people fleeing conflict.

The United Nations-League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, told media in Ankara this morning that he was expecting to hear from the Syrian authorities today about the concrete proposals he had left with them to consider. He reiterated his main message: the killing and the violence must stop.

This morning at the Security Council meeting on changes in the Middle East, the Secretary-General noted that people across the region — women and youth in the vanguard — continue to call for freedom, human rights, dignity, opportunity, accountable Government and an end to corruption.

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, upon leaving Syria, asked the Syrian Government to consider, with the utmost urgency, a proposal submitted to it to allow unhindered access to evacuate the wounded and deliver desperately needed supplies.