At the opening session of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, in Busan, Republic of Korea, the Secretary-General said cutting aid would not balance budgets, but it would hurt the most vulnerable. He urged new and emerging donors to contribute more and recipients to set clear priorities and strategies.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
In his message for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Secretary-General said the need to resolve the conflict has taken on greater urgency with the historic transformations in the region. Such a solution must end the occupation that began in 1967, and meet legitimate security concerns.
The Secretary-General is travelling to Busan, Republic of Korea, to participate in the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness. The Forum is an important element in the discussions around the emerging aid architecture leading up to 2015, the deadline year for the Millennium Development Goals.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom, travelling in West Africa, called on people to stand in solidarity with the survivors of such violence, who have lived through unspeakable horrors.
The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of the formation of the new Libyan Interim Government, and extends his congratulations to Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib and members of his Cabinet. He wishes the new Interim Government every success in addressing the numerous challenges facing Libya in this transitional period.
This morning, the Secretary-General participated in the launch of a new campaign called “Rio+20: The Future We Want”. He stressed the importance of sustainable development in addressing the numerous challenges the world faces. He also addressed the Peacebuilding Fund’s high-level stakeholders meeting.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the violence in Egypt during the last few days, particularly in Cairo. He deplores the loss of life and the many injuries, and calls on the transitional authorities to guarantee the protection of human rights and civil liberties for all Egyptians, including the right to peaceful protest.
The Secretary-General is in Bali today, where he addressed the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business and Investment Summit, urging private sector leaders to support global efforts to improve women's and children's health.
Citing the situations in Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, Yemen and Syria, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos says there has been an alarming escalation in several crises in recent weeks, affecting millions and reducing access of humanitarian actors.
In Bangkok today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Prime Minister that the United Nations stands ready to do everything possible to help Thailand respond to and recover from the heavy floods. Mr. Ban saw first-hand the impact of the floods by helicopter and met with people who were evacuated from inundated areas.