Wrapping up a 5-day mission in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said it was clear that a large number of children there are stunted, and warned that chronic malnutrition will have long-term implications for generations to come even if drastic action is taken today. She said the international community must not turn its back on the people of that country.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General said today marks an historic transition for Libya, but added that this is only the end of the beginning. The road ahead will be difficult and full of challenges. All combatants must lay down their arms in peace. This is the time for healing and rebuilding, for generosity of spirit — not for revenge.
The Secretary-General this morning addressed the Security Council on the topic of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that a forthcoming United Nations assessment mission will examine the scope of the threat, as well as the capacity of Benin and of the West African subregion to ensure maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Secretary-General welcomed the recent Israeli-Palestinian prisoner exchange agreement, and views today's releases as a significant humanitarian breakthrough. In the aftermath, the Secretary-General hopes that more far-reaching steps will be taken to end the closure of Gaza and enable reconstruction.
In an address to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Bern, Switzerland, the Secretary-General noted that Governments everywhere are confronting huge budget deficits. But the biggest challenge is not a deficit in budget; it is a deficit of trust. People are losing faith in Governments and institutions to do the right things.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed deep dismay at the worsening situation in Syria, calling on the international community to take immediate measures to protect the country’s people. With more than 3,000 people killed since March, the Syrian Government has manifestly failed to protect its population, she said.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the situation in Yemen continues to be extremely volatile. The price of bread is 50 per cent higher than it was a few months ago, which is very damaging for the poorest families. The World Food Programme is increasing its assistance in the country.
The World Food Programme warned today that more people in Yemen are slipping into hunger as the country faces a serious humanitarian situation. Citing rising prices, fuel shortages and political instability, WFP is scaling up programmes to feed 3.5 million vulnerable people in the country’s northern and southern regions.
The Head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari, has strongly condemned the attack, yesterday night, that killed three peacekeepers and injured six others. Three peacekeepers where killed last night when a patrol came under attack by armed assailants in Zam Zam internally displaced persons camp.
Deeply saddened by the loss of life in Cairo last night, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appealed to all Egyptians to remain united and to preserve the spirit of the historic changes of early 2011. He called on transitional authorities to guarantee the protection of human rights and civil liberties for Egyptians of all faiths.