UN Daily News Issue DH/6677 Thursday, 19 June 2014

Transcription

1 For updates and alerts, visit UN NEWS CENTRE at UN Daily News Issue DH/6677 Thursday, In the headlines: Iraq: As violence spreads, UN advisors warn of impact on minorities, agencies support fleeing throngs Deploring continued use of heavy weapons, Ban urges Syrian parties to end violence Tackling Sahel s enduring challenges requires regional, global cooperation UN envoy Mali s leaders must do more to ensure lasting peace, ease humanitarian suffering UN official Expanding reach of relief efforts, UN refugee agency opens office in southern Syria Community engagement key to tackling noncommunicable diseases, says Assembly President UNESCO chief denounces killing of journalists in eastern Ukraine Iraq: As violence spreads, UN advisors warn of impact on minorities, agencies support fleeing throngs 19 June - Two special advisors to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned today what could amount to war crimes committed in Iraq by terrorist and armed groups, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and raised special concern about the impacts of the deteriorating security situation on religious and other minorities. The protection of civilians should be the primary focus of any strategy to address the current situation, said the Special Advisers to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and on the Responsibility to Protect, Jennifer Welsh. Noting that members of the Christian community are fleeing the northern city of Mosul, and reports of incitement to destroy Christian churches, the Special Advisers underlined that: Given the context of sectarian and confessional polarization in the country, special consideration must be given to assisting religious and other minorities, which are particularly vulnerable. An Iraqi woman from Mosul carries her son at the Garmava transit camp, located near a checkpoint on the road between Mosul and Duhok in Iraqi Kurdistan. The camp will have the capacity to host some 3,000 people. Photo:UNHCR/S. Baldwin They also raised concerns about the well-being of Yazidis and other religious minorities living in north-western Iraq, following the reported capture of the town of Tal Afar. In today s statement, Mr. Dieng and Ms. Welsh reiterated the UN Security Council s call for cooperation in the delivery of humanitarian aid, adding that it is the role of the Government and Iraqi leaders to work with the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) to ensure that aid gets to the intended people. Meanwhile, UNAMI today reported more displacement as a result of insecurity in Mosul and surrounding areas, including Tal Afar and Diyala. UN agencies and their partners are setting up new sites and tents in Erbil, Dohuk and Suleimaniya in the northern region of Kurdistan to accommodate the growing influx of displaced families, according to a UN spokesperson. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said last week that nearly a half-million people have fled their homes since January. At For information media - not an official record

2 UN Daily News least half of them are children, the UN Children s Fund (UNICEF) today confirmed, adding that many need water and sanitation support, immunization against polio and measles, and protection services. The agency has also warned that increasing risks of ethnic violence and threat to Baghdad can make the situation worse as the scale of needs and complexity of the crisis, a spokesperson added. Cargo planes carrying emergency supplies from UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in Erbil this week carrying supplies, including tents, blankets and schools-in-a-box, for more than 35,000 children. Also today, WFP announced that it has started its emergency food distribution to 43,500 of the most vulnerably displaced people. In addition, UNICEF and WHO are also working with the Kurdish health authorities to carry out a mass vaccination campaign to prevent the spread of polio and other diseases among displaced children and host communities. Deploring continued use of heavy weapons, Ban urges Syrian parties to end violence 19 June - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the continued heavy shelling, aerial attacks and use of barrel bombs by the Syrian Government, and renewed his appeal to all parties to the conflict to end violence and seek a political solution. A damaged building in Aleppo City, Syria. Photo: OCHA/Gemma Connell (file) The Secretary-General reiterates his condemnation of the indiscriminate use of any weapon against civilians, which contravenes international humanitarian and human rights law, said a statement issued by his spokesperson. All civilians must be protected in any situation. A recent attack, on an improvised camp for internally displaced people in southern Syria on 18 June, reportedly killed over 50 people, including a number of women and children. The Secretary-General again appeals to all Syrian sides to end the violence and focus on a peaceful, political solution to the conflict, said the statement. The conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, has killed more than 150,000 civilians, displaced millions and led to widespread violations of human rights. Tackling Sahel s enduring challenges requires regional, global cooperation UN envoy 19 June - The countries of Africa s Sahel region struggling to cope with terrorism, weak governance and recurrent droughts need assistance to lay the foundations for stability and sustainable development, a United Nations special envoy told the Security Council today, urging greater cooperation between the region s Governments, neighbours and international partners. The deterioration of the political and security situation in the region and beyond constitutes a serious risk of new connections between terrorist groups based in Sahara- Sahel, Nigeria and [East Africa], said Guebre Sellassie in her first briefing to the Council as Special Envoy for the Sahel. Special Envoy for the Sahel Guebre Sellassie briefs the Security Council for the first time since her appointment on 1 May UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz Ms. Sellassie, updating the Council on the implementation of the year-old UN Integrated Strategy for the diverse but troubled region, which stretches from Mauritania to Eritrea, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal

3 UN Daily News and Sudan, cited UN-backed efforts under way to strengthen governance, security and resilience in the countries concerned. Nevertheless, the Sahel region is still facing enduring political and security challenges which require continued support by the international community and an effective coordination between the existing initiatives in the Sahel. Specifically, Ms. Sellassie said she has been struck by the deterioration of the political and security situation, notably in Libya, the enduring political and security challenges in Mali, the persistent terrorist attacks throughout the region, notably those carried out by Boko Haram in Nigeria, all of which continue to have negative consequences on civilians and local economies. The humanitarian situation remains extremely fragile, at least 20 million people remain at risk of food insecurity and nearly 5 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition, she said, adding that meanwhile, high levels of youth unemployment in the Sahel increase the appeal of violent ideology. Against that backdrop, she said, it is clear that efforts to address security challenges in the Sahel within the framework of the UN strategy cannot ignore the interactions between core Sahel countries [Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger] and North Africa, or between core Sahel and other countries of West and Central Africa. The reality on the ground is that North, West and Central Africa form a contiguous geo-political region where short-term as well as mid-and long-term multidimensional responses to various threats to peace and security need be thought of and implemented collectively, Ms. Sellassie declared. The Special Envoy reaffirmed UN commitment to continue to support the countries of the region and stressed the importance of the political will of the governments of the region which is critical to an effective implementation of the UN strategy for the Sahel. One of the key lessons we learnt from the crisis in Mali is that democratization processes, which translate into internationally-sanctioned elections and efforts towards decentralization, need to be complemented by efforts to strengthen State institutions and better integrate and manage diverse societies, said Ms. Sellassie, emphasizing that along with sustained political will, the strategy must be accompanied by profound political, economic and social transformation in the region. She went on to say that the formulation of the UN strategy has raised very high expectations among the peoples of the region, requiring tangible benefits for the populations as quickly as possible. That is why, in implementing the integrated strategy, the UN system will prioritize the inclusion of civil society, tribal and religious leaders, and research institutions. Concluding her statement, the Special Envoy revealed that the priority of next year will be to amplify joint action by harmonizing and aligning political, security, development and humanitarian efforts throughout the region. Mali s leaders must do more to ensure lasting peace, ease humanitarian suffering UN official Bags of food from WFP s logistics base in Mopti, Mali, waiting at Koureme port, near Timbuktu, to be delivered to schools. Photo: WFP/Alexandre Breche 19 June - A senior United Nations relief official today highlighted the need for courageous leadership by the authorities in Mali to tackle the country s political issues, warning that the already grave humanitarian situation is likely to deteriorate unless peace and stability are restored. The situation in Mali is most certainly not hopeless, but at the moment it s quite bleak, John Ging, Director of Operations in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said as he briefed reporters following a three-day visit to the country last week. Despite initial improvements in 2013, the situation in northern Mali has deteriorated since the beginning of this year. Recent violence, mostly targeting Malian and international security forces, has contributed to an

4 UN Daily News overall sense of insecurity that has impeded the return to normalcy and resumption of economic and development activities. The tragedy of this country is that it is caught up in this situation which is man-made, compounded by its physical location in the Sahel, said Mr. Ging. The good news is that it is a country that has the potential to sustain itself if it can address successfully the issues that are underpinning the violence. The very grave humanitarian situation in Mali includes almost 500,000 children under the age of five who are at risk of acute malnutrition; some 1.5 million people in need of immediate food assistance; and well over 640,000 children who have had their schooling interrupted. Mr. Ging also noted that there are 137,000 Malian refugees in neighbouring countries and 151,000 displaced in Mali itself. Those figures have reduced from their peak of the crisis in June 2013, so we have seen some progress in terms of people returning to their homes but the latest round of violence of course undermines that confidence, he pointed out. A concern that was expressed to him throughout his visit was that of the vulnerability of women and the risks they are facing, including violence against them. Violence against women is a big issue and it s an appalling issue; an issue that we really have to mobilize much more effective action to address, Mr. Ging stated. He also noted that amid the ongoing insecurity, the international community is carrying out a large humanitarian operation, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances. The UN and its partners have reached over half a million with food assistance; over 200,000 have received permanent access to drinking water; 146,000 people are receiving health care; and 420,000 students are getting learning materials and support with education. At the same time, Mr. Ging said that the people have voiced their hope that the authorities will do more to ensure peace and stability. There s a really high degree of expectation among the population that the Government will step up to their responsibility and exercise courageous leadership to address political issues that have been unaddressed for decades, he stated. We in the humanitarian field, we don t stray into the politics of these conflicts, except to say that we are not the solution to the problems the people are facing. We must give voice to the demands of the people, and the demand of the people is very clear: they are seeking an end to the current situation, a solution which will give a peaceful and secure environment and enable them to get on with their lives. Expanding reach of relief efforts, UN refugee agency opens office in southern Syria 19 June - As part of an ongoing plan to expand the reach of its humanitarian efforts in Syria, the United Nations refugee agency has opened a field office and warehouse in the southern city of Sweida and stocked it with aid items for onward delivery to thousands of internally displaced civilians. The newly opened UNHCR office in Sweida, Syria. Photo: UNHCR/Q. Al Azroni On Wednesday, a convoy belonging to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) crossed the border from Jordan and made its way to the nearby city of Sweida with 25,000 blankets, 10,000 sleeping mats, 2,500 kitchen sets, 2,000 plastic sheets and 5,000 jerry cans from warehouses in Amman. Tarik Kurdi, UNHCR s representative in Syria, said the agency will now be able to distribute relief supplies in the southern governorates without the need to transfer them to Damascus first. The aid will be distributed to the neediest among an estimated 550,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the neighbouring governorates of Sweida and Dara a.

5 UN Daily News Mr. Kurdi added that the new venture will facilitate and accelerate the delivery of urgently needed relief items to the most vulnerable, not only in areas that are easily accessible, but also in disputed and hard-to-reach areas. This will help UNHCR improve its effectiveness under the present circumstances. The opening of the office and warehouse in Sweida is part of a policy aimed at expanding UNHCR s humanitarian operation to support the increasing number of IDPs there are believed to be more than 6.5 million across the country. According to UNHCR, the Sweida office will distribute basic relief items, rehabilitate collective shelters and arrange for the provision of health, education and legal services. The office will also become a hub for coordinating the transport of aid across the Syrian-Jordanian border, particularly to Dara'a governorate and hard-to-reach areas. Mr. Kurdi noted that other UN agencies operating in Syria would also benefit from the cross-border transport services and would be able to use the warehouse in Sweida. "Field offices are extremely important as they enable more effective programming and help UNHCR and other humanitarian actors in continuing to implement flexible approaches, he said. UNHCR also has offices in Damascus, Aleppo, Al- Hassakeh, Qamishly, Homs and Tartus. Community engagement key to tackling non-communicable diseases, says Assembly President 19 June - Broader community-based engagement is vital to tackling non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes which are one of the major challenges for development in the 21st century, the President of the United Nations General Assembly stressed today. An African proverb says it takes a village to raise a child, but the same can be said regarding our approach to the health challenges confronting us. It takes a village to prevent and control non-communicable disease (NCDs). Thus, broader community-based engagement is key, stated John Ashe. General Assembly President John Ashe. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras Opening the Assembly s informal interactive hearing with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society groups, the private sector and academia, Mr. Ashe said that no one entity working alone can tackle the global burden and challenges of NCDs. The probability of dying from any of the major NCDs between the ages of 30 and 70 years ranges from 10 per cent in developed countries to 60 per cent in developing countries, he pointed out. This stark contrast not only suggests the depth and disparity of the problem, but is also a reminder that global solutions will require the support of all relevant stakeholders. Today s meeting provides participants with the opportunity to share experiences and perspectives in the prevention and control of NCDs. It also aims put forward specific recommendations for the consideration of Member States at the comprehensive review and assessment to be held next month. Three years ago, the Assembly adopted the landmark Political Declaration on NCDs. Through the World Health Organization s (WHO) Global Action Plan and Comprehensive Global Monitoring Framework, the international community has a clear roadmap to combat the threat of these diseases, said Mr. Ashe. The implementation of this roadmap at all levels must be a priority and augmented by the ongoing work and collaborative efforts of non-governmental organizations and civil society, as well as by the commitment of the private sector, he stated. Your continued efforts to raise awareness about NCDs and to strengthen action at the global, regional and national levels have resulted in tremendous progress. We see the fruits of your labour in the relabeling of food products, the reduction in salt content in food products, and in more responsible marketing of foods and non-alcohol beverages to children.

6 UN Daily News Civil society, the President added, is well-placed to mobilize the necessary political will, public awareness and support in the fight against NCDs. However, you also have the important role of ensuring promises are kept. For NCDs, reaching commitments and observing global goals, targets and indicators is facilitated by organizations such as WHO, with assistance from local NGOs. Together, this assessment of progress can bring the appropriate pressure to bear on governments in order to accelerate prevention and treatment for NCDs. Among the issues the hearing will address are the items to be considered for inclusion in the outcome document to be adopted at next month s review; best practices and lessons learned; and ways to prioritize NCDs in global and national development agendas, including the global development agenda beyond 2015, the target date for the achievement of the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UNESCO chief denounces killing of journalists in eastern Ukraine Photo: Jean-Marc Ferré 19 June - The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today denounced the killing earlier this week of two journalists covering the fighting in eastern Ukraine. Television journalist Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin, working for the Russian public broadcaster VGTRK, were reporting on fighting near the city of Lugansk when they were hit by mortar fire. The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, urged all parties to respect the civilian status of journalists. The work of journalists, especially in situations of tension, is essential to nourish the informed public debate necessary for promoting renewed dialogue and mutual understanding, she stated in a news release. I call on all parties to respect the civilian status of journalists and let them carry out their important professional activities in safe conditions in keeping with the Geneva Convention and its Protocols. The two deaths bring to five the number journalists who have been killed in Ukraine since January this year, according to the Paris-based UNESCO. The UN Daily News is prepared at UN Headquarters in New York by the News Services Section of the News and Media Division, Department of Public Information (DPI)