Following armed clashes on 21 June around the village of Thur in Central Darfur, initial reports say several people have been killed and an estimated 17,000 people have fled and sought refuge at a Sudanese Armed Forces site. An inter-agency assessment is planned for tomorrow, pending approval from the authorities.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, briefed the General Assembly via videoconference from Geneva about the political process, saying talks cannot proceed while Syrians are starving. Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien provided further details of ongoing efforts.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned today’s attacks in Kabul and Badakhshan. The Mission reiterated its call for anti-Government elements to immediately cease all attacks in civilian-populated areas and any attacks deliberately targeting civilians.
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.
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.