The acting Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic joined humanitarian partners in the country today in condemning the recent upsurge in violence against civilians in Ouham-Pende Prefecture. He called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the continuing political uncertainty in Haiti. He urges all stakeholders to act responsibly in the interest of their country and people, including by refraining from any incitement or resort to violence.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Africa briefed the Security Council today, highlighting the challenges in the region. On the Central African Republic, he said the country continued to face immense challenges, including serious protection and humanitarian needs.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says more than 14,000 Iraqis have been displaced since March following the Iraqi Security Forces’ advance against Da’esh outside Mosul, warning that an eventual assault could displace a further 600,000. Humanitarian agencies are now making contingency response plans.
Calling such violence despicable, the Secretary-General conveyed his deepest condolences to the Governor of Florida, the Mayor of Orlando and the people of Florida for the loss of life and injuries in the horrific terror act that targeted members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Orlando yesterday.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the joint United Nations-Syrian Arab Red Crescent truck convoy delivered food for 2,400 people in Daraya, Syria, the first food supply in years, as well as water, hygiene, sanitation and other supplies for about 4,000 people.
The Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS this morning, stressing that enormous progress had been made, and recalling that Millennium Development Goal 6 of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS had been met. However, he warned that AIDS was far from over.
UNHCR says an estimated 50,000 people have fled their homes in south-east Niger since last Friday following a series of attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on the town of Bosso in the troubled Diffa region. The agency says the attacks occurred on Friday, Sunday and Monday, and that the situation in Bosso is unclear.
The Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, have both welcomed an agreement by the Yemeni parties to release all children that are prisoners. Mr. Ahmed said the unconditional release was agreed by the parties.
The Secretary-General, at the French ministerial conference meeting on the Middle East peace process in Paris, said that although a two-State solution was the only viable option for a sustainable peace, meaningful negotiations required leadership on both sides to reach an historic compromise, and the political will to implement it.