The failure of the parties to the Syrian conflict to uphold the basic tenets of international humanitarian and human rights law had propelled the Syrian people to levels of tragedy and despair that could barely have been imagined five years ago, Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the Security Council this morning.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the tenth annual Zero Emissions Conference, in Oslo today:

Israel continued to strangulate the development aspirations of Palestinian people through myriad systematic campaigns to extract and exploit natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Golan, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) was told today.

Recognizing the potential of sport as a valuable tool in the achievement of peace and development, the General Assembly today adopted a resolution reaffirming its use to promote dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It was ironic that the weapons that propelled and sustained conflict, causing a series of regional arms races in volatile parts of the world where non-State actors wreaked havoc on civilian populations, came from areas that enjoyed peace and stability, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as it embarked on its thematic debate on conventional weapons.

Amid the widespread use of sanctions and counter-terrorism legislation, more transparency and human rights impact assessments were needed when imposing unilateral coercive measures, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today, continuing its consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Sixth Committee (Legal) today approved, without a vote, requests for observer status in the General Assembly for the International Civil Defence Organization, which promoted the development of governmental bodies and mechanisms to respond to natural and man-made disasters, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, comprised of 20 countries, which focused on fisheries management and gender equality.

A powerful earthquake struck Badakshan Province in Afghanistan today, also affecting a large area of Pakistan.  Early indications are that the impact of the initial shock may be relatively light, but in Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority says that 148 people were killed and 815 injured.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

On 26 October 2015, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities removed the name below from the Al-Qaida Sanctions List after concluding its consideration of the delisting requests for this name submitted through the Office of the Ombudsperson established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1904 (2009), and after considering the Comprehensive Report of the Ombudsperson on this delisting request.