The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports significant displacement in the Nafusa Mountains of Libya, which has seen intense fighting between Government forces and opposition groups and 64,000 displaced Libyans since mid-March. The World Food Programme has delivered, through partners, some 546 metric tons of food for more than 100,000 people in the mountains.

The Secretary-General has welcomed the signing yesterday in Addis Ababa of the Framework Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, or SPLM-North. He commends both parties for the political will they have demonstrated in reaching the agreement and urges them to use the momentum created to conclude a cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan.

With malnutrition rates in Somalia approaching emergency proportions, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the East African country today sounded the alarm about the effects of the deadly confluence of events driven by prolonged drought and skyrocketing global food and commodity prices.

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing yesterday in Addis Ababa of the agreement between the Governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan on border security and the joint political and security mechanism. He urges them to conclude and implement, as a matter of priority, a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Ahead of tonight’s Gala Dinner to honour recipients of its 2011 Awards at New York Headquarters, the Spanish non-governmental organization Women Together said today that this year’s event was intended to highlight the work of exceptional individuals in different fields, countries and situations.

A joint UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed that rape, pillaging and cruel and degrading treatment were committed in Nyakiele, in South Kivu province, between 11 and 13 June 2011, by troops led by a former Mayi Mayi commander, who reportedly deserted from an integration camp of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

With the independence of South Sudan due in a matter of days, the Security Council would be paying particular attention to the world’s newest country, as well as larger regional issues and dynamics, Peter Wittig (Germany), Council President for July, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Secretary-General welcomes the orderly conduct of the parliamentary elections in Thailand and the promise by all parties to respect the will of the Thai people as expressed through the democratic process. He hopes the elections will be an important step towards genuine reconciliation and long-term stability.

Despite being a cornerstone of democratic governance, the rule of law still “rules women out” in too many countries around the world, Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, said at a Headquarters press conference today as she launched the first edition of the gender entity’s flagship report, "Progress of the World’s Women: In Pursuit of Justice".

The Secretary-General expresses his disappointment that the parties to the conflict in South Kordofan State, Sudan, have not yet agreed to a cessation of hostilities and deplores the grave humanitarian impact of continued fighting, particularly in light of the end of the UNMIS mandate on 9 July.