The Secretary General condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack that took place yesterday on the Pakistani side of the Wagah border crossing with India.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General appointed a 13-member High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, with José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste as Chair. The panel will assess peacekeeping and political missions and identify emerging needs of the future.
The Secretary-General is greatly concerned by the deteriorating situation in Burkina Faso and saddened by the loss of life due to recent events. He calls on all parties to refrain from violence and exercise calm. His Special Representative for West Africa, Mohammed ibn Chambas, will visit the country tomorrow.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan reports continued heavy fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army and Opposition combatants. The Mission expresses its concern that hostilities continue in violation of the 23 January Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and the 9 May Agreement between President Kiir and Dr. Machar.
The Secretary-General said that he understands certain anxieties in Lebanon about the scale of the Syrian refugee presence. He stressed the continuing importance in managing the refugees in accordance with international humanitarian standards, and added that easing the situation is essential to Lebanon’s continued stability.
The Secretary-General has expressed concern over the recent restrictions put in place in several countries and localities applying to people who have travelled to the main Ebola-affected countries.
The Secretary-General commended the European Commission’s new target to reduce, by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent from 1990 levels. The decision demonstrates the European Union’s continued worldwide leadership addressing climate change, and will also set a new standard for all countries in support of the upcoming global negotiations.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launched a $2.2 billion appeal in Baghdad today to address the protection and humanitarian needs of 5.2 million people in Iraq. The appeal calls for assistance with, among others, food, emergency shelters, winterization packages, warm clothes, shoes and health services.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative in South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Løj, told the Security Council this morning that every day without a political agreement contributed the situation on the ground to deteriorate further, complicating the work of the United Nations Mission there.
The World Food Programme (WFP) announced equipment is being airlifted and 7,000 tons of food delivered to the affected countries this week as part of the Ebola response.