As Haiti braces for Tropical Storm Tomas, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the United Nations and its partners continue to send supplies to key areas across the country, while ensuring that measures are taken to enable a response in Port-au-Prince and other cities.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Today, on the first day of his visit to Beijing, the Secretary-General met with Chinese President Hu Jintao. They discussed a wide range of topics, including climate change, the Millennium Development Goals, the Korean peninsula and Africa.
The Secretary-General spoke at the UN-ASEAN Summit in Hanoi today, and said that the relationship between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is growing stronger. He highlighted the work that the two bodies can do together on moving forward with the Millennium Development Goals, human rights, peace and security issues and humanitarian assistance.
The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction of property in Indonesia as a result of the eruption of Mount Merapi and the tsunami that affected the Mentawai Islands. He extends his deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed, injured or made homeless by these still unfolding tragedies.
The Secretary-General and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met in Phnom Penh this morning for a detailed exchange of views on a broad range of subjects covering bilateral, regional and international issues.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has just arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. At the start of his Asia trip earlier today, he met with Prime Minister Abhisit of Thailand in Bangkok. The Prime Minister briefed him on the national reconciliation efforts in Thailand. The Secretary-General said many of the issues that led to the recent violence and loss of life could best be resolved through committed and genuine national dialogue, and he encouraged the Prime Minister to continue with these efforts.
Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, briefed the Security Council this morning on the work of the two UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan. He told Council members that, three months before the referenda, Sudan is entering a crucial period, and he expressed his grave concern about the human rights situation of South Sudanese living in the North.
The Secretary-General spoke to the Security Council today and discussed his recent report updating the work of the United Nations to support the African Union in peacekeeping. The Secretary-General said that African Union peacekeeping operations should receive the same support as all United Nations peacekeepers, including reimbursement.
The Secretary-General addressed the Security Council’s formal meeting on Somalia this morning, and told the Council that the situation in Somalia remains fragile, but there remain glimmers of hope.
The Secretary-General met with Catherine Ashton, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union. They discussed the importance of the cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union on a broad range of areas, including the Middle East and Lebanon, the situation in Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan and Kosovo.