[afrocarpus] UN DAILY NEWS from the UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

 

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
10 June, 2016
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SYRIA: UN AGENCIES REACH FAMILIES WITH FOOD IN THE BESIEGED TOWN OF DARAYYA

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today announced it delivered food for the first time since 2012 to the besieged town of Darayya, a suburb of Damascus, as part of a joint UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) convoy.

WFP delivered a family ration – enough to feed 2,400 people for one month – and enough wheat flour in bags to feed the entire population of 4,000 people for a month. The nine-truck convoy also carried medical supplies and health items late on Thursday to the people of Darayya. WFP food boxes included rice, lentils, chickpeas, beans, bulgur, oil, salt and sugar.

According to a press release issued by the UN agency, more convoys are planned to all of the 19 besieged locations in Syria as part of the plan for June, following the Government of Syria's approval to reach all these locations.

Elsewhere, WFP reported that a series of airdrops over the besieged town of Deir Ezzor have delivered a month's supply of food for the 100,000 people trapped inside the city. It plans to continue the flights in the next few weeks to deliver another monthly ration.

In total, during the first few days of June, WFP has already provided life-saving food assistance to more than 1.4 million people across Syria as part of the organization's monthly plan to reach 4 million displaced and vulnerable people.

In addition, the agency provides assistance – mostly cash-based transfers through "e-cards" – to around 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon Iraq and Egypt.

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AFGHANISTAN: UN CONDEMNS ATTACK TARGETING CIVILIANS GATHERED FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS

The United Nations envoy in Afghanistan today condemned an attack targeting civilians gathered for Friday prayers at the Hisarak Jami Mosque in Rodat district, in Nangarhar province.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the attack killed at least three civilians and injured more than 70 others – including 31 boys – with at least two in critical condition. An improvised explosive device planted at the mosque detonated, killing a mullah, one man, and one boy as they prayed on the first Friday of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

"An attack deliberately targeting civilian members of a community praying together in a mosque can never be justified and highlights the perpetrators' intent to destroy lives, and spread terror among the civilian population," Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, said in a statement.

"International humanitarian law prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians, including at their places of worship, and imposes a specific obligation on combatant parties to allow religious personnel to carry out their work. At face value, this attack a war crime and the perpetrators must be held accountable," he stressed.

On behalf of the United Nations in Afghanistan, Mr. Haysom expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

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UN DETERMINED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE PROTECTED, SAYS BAN

Speaking at a Security Council debate on the protection of civilians, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that the United Nations is determined to work collectively to support governments to protect their people, and to persuade parties to conflict to abide by their obligations.

"Protecting civilians is a United Nations system-wide responsibility. But the primary responsibility lies with parties to the conflict, non-belligerent States, and this Council," Mr. Ban told the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York.

"Governments and parties to conflict also have an obligation to provide for the basic needs of civilians in conflict. When they fail to do so, they should facilitate principled humanitarian assistance by humanitarian organizations," he added.

Noting that many parties are failing to live up to these obligations, the Secretary-General said it is essential that the UN use all the means at its disposal to hold them accountable.

"The ultimate solution to protecting civilians in conflict is finding sustainable political solutions, based on the rule of law and human rights standards," he insisted, urging the Security Council to exercise this, as it is its "core responsibility."

In his last report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Mr. Ban underlined the urgent need for concrete measures and to make recommendations to that end.

"Enhancing the protection of civilians was a key focus of the World Humanitarian Summit and the Agenda for Humanity. It was one of the dominant themes to emerge from the recent reviews of peace operations, the peacebuilding architecture, and the 'Women, Peace and Security' framework," he noted.

Mr. Ban said these reports, reviews and events underscored "the modest but vital role" that UN peace operations can play in protecting civilians.

"Peacekeeping operations are most effective in protecting civilians when protection is considered a mission-wide activity, driven by a sound political strategy," he explained, adding that the political engagement of civilian staff and their dialogue with parties to conflict, affected communities and partners is essential.

Noting that civilian staff also monitor and investigate abuses – which he said is the only basis for accountability – the Secretary-General highlighted that likewise, United Nations Police make an important contribution.

"UN Police are currently protecting tens of thousands of internally displaced people at peacekeeping missions in South Sudan," he recalled. "I urge this Council to give precedence to political strategy and whole-of-mission approaches when you consider mandates to protect civilians. These can be even more critical than military assets and troop numbers."

Meanwhile, he highlighted that the United Nations Secretariat is working to support the Security Council in this by providing better analysis of threats, and better advice and recommendations on the most effective course of action, depending on the context.

"As I told the General Assembly yesterday, we are reviewing our administrative and logistical procedures to see how we can best support peace operations, and looking at policies to make us more flexible and responsive," Mr. Ban said.

"The Secretariat is also doing its utmost to support missions through a renewed focus on performance and accountability. We will continue our efforts to prevent and address abuses committed by peacekeepers," he stressed.

In this respect, he said the UN is working with troop and police contributors to generate peacekeeping forces and police in a way that matches capabilities with requirements.

"We need troops that speak the right languages, bring the right technology and equipment, and have the right skills and training, in the right places. Member States have a critical role here, in contributing troops and police who are ready, willing and able to take up protection duties. The Kigali Principles set out critical benchmarks for troop and police contributing countries, and I urge all to endorse them," the UN chief stated.

"We also rely on the Security Council to set mandates that are in line with resources, and to use your influence to increase those resources in certain circumstances," he added.

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IRAQ: UN REFUGEE AGENCY WARNS OF STRUGGLES AND NEW DISPLACEMENTS IN MOSUL

More than half a million people remain uprooted from their homes two years after fleeing violence in the Iraqi city of Mosul, while military activities in the north and south-east of the city are causing fresh displacement, the United Nations refugee agency said today.

At the regular bi-weekly news briefing in Geneva earlier today, William Spindler, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said that more than 14,000 displaced Iraqis have been registered in camps north and south-east of Mosul – Iraq's second-largest city – and across the border in Syria, since the Iraqi Security Forces began a new military offensive in late March.

"Many of those who had fled the city two years earlier have had to move several times in search for safety and a decent place to live," Mr. Spindler said, adding that most faced economic hardship.

He noted that a recent survey has found that unemployment is the greatest problem faced by families uprooted from their homes and scattered across Iraq, a country where more than 3.3 million people – around 10 per cent of the population – have been displaced due to conflict since the start of 2014.

The spokesperson also said that 82 per cent of families from Mosul reported not having enough income to cover their basic needs. Such pressure has led to other problems and coping strategies, including high levels of child marriage, which is twice as prevalent among displaced people from Mosul compared with those from other parts of the country, according to the recent survey.

The UNHCR survey of 5,000 displaced families across Iraq, including 800 from Mosul, also found that people from Mosul are about three times as likely as other displaced families to consider moving to another location within Iraq, and about four times as likely to consider leaving the country.

Only a small minority of displaced people from Mosul, about 3 per cent, are considering returning home, compared with 21 per cent of displaced people from other areas.

Of the half a million people who had fled combat in Mosul two years earlier, more than 300,000 have found shelter in Dohuk Governorate of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, while others are scattered across the country, Mr. Spindler said.

Local authorities in Iraq estimate that an additional 30,000 people could be displaced from the area in the coming months, he added.

Asked how the displaced people in northern Iraq are receiving assistance and coping, Mr. Spindler said that their situation is precarious, and many of them are staying in camps for internally displaced persons. Others are just remaining at ad hoc locations, such as abandoned buildings.

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HAITI: UN SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT IN POTABLE WATER CAMPAIGN REACHING 30,000 RESIDENTS

Some 30,000 residents of three localities in Haiti now have access to potable water, thanks to a sanitation campaign launched by the Government and supported by the United Nations following a cholera epidemic that killed almost 100 people in the community.

"So much of my time was spent looking for water," recalled Ivrose Paul, who, along with hundreds of other women and children living in the neighbourhood of Los Palmas – which lies 30 minutes north-east of the city of Hinche – used to leave her home early every morning, walk for more than an hour, and wait for hours to secure a container full of water.

The residents of Los Palmas, Guébo and Jacob – three localities in the third communal section of Hinche – were part of an initiative aimed at increasing and improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in schools in particular, but which also focused on supplying water to health centres and homes.

The initiative also involved engaging in the construction of latrines to avoid contamination of water by open defecation, practices which reduce the spread of waterborne diseases including cholera.

In July 2014, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Los Palmas, along with Sandra Honoré, his Special Representative in Haiti and also Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and Laurent Salvador Lamothe, who was then Prime Minister of Haiti, and expressed sympathy to cholera victims and the victims' families.

Following exchanges with the population, the officials laid the first stone of a drinking water system for the citizens of Los Palmas and surrounding areas.

At the time of his visit in 2014, the Secretary-General said that the UN "stands ready to support this initiative in more remote areas, where cholera persists [...] You can count on me and on the United Nations to do our part of the job."

At an opening ceremony this past week in Jacob, Pierre Ubalijoro, Acting Head of Civil Affairs, who spoke on behalf of Ms. Honoré, stressed that the initiative is crucial to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases including cholera, which he underlined is a priority for the UN in Haiti.

"The work in Los Palmas is part of efforts made by the United Nations family in Haiti and MINUSTAH, various agencies, funds and programs to support Haiti to fight against cholera and to advance towards Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims at ensuring universal access to water and sanitation," he said.

The work, which cost $163,000, was funded by MINUSTAH and realized under the Mission's Quick Impact Program, which provides support to the Haitian authorities by improving public infrastructure and the living conditions of citizens. Specifically, actions included water source collection and the manufacture and installation of 12 kiosks and two water points.

In 2015, there were 326 cases of cholera identified in affected areas, while in 2016, only 6 cases were identified.


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UN-BACKED FUND EXPANDS WILDLIFE PROTECTION PLAN TO 19 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND ASIA

A United Nations-backed partnership fun has approved an additional $40 million to expand its support of a global programme fighting against illegal trafficking to a total of 19 countries in Africa and Asia.

The expansion for the Global Wildlife Program was approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and includes contributions from the Asian Development Bank, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank Group and the World Wildlife Fund.

"The victims of wildlife crime are not only the animals and ecosystems that are devastated by poaching and trafficking, they are people as well. The human cost of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife is measured in lives lost to the criminal networks involved and livelihoods destroyed by the erosion of a natural economic foundation," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"Ending the illegal trade in wildlife requires a concerted and cooperative effort between all sectors. These new projects will further these efforts and help bring us closer to ending wildlife crime once and for all," he added.

Specifically, the Global Wildlife Program was established to address the growing poaching crisis and an international call to action. The value of illegal trade has been estimated at between $10 and $23 billion per year, making wildlife crime the fourth most lucrative illegal business after narcotics, human trafficking and weapons, UNEP said.

The new $131 million agenda is expected to leverage $704 million in additional co-financing over seven years. The national projects aim to promote wildlife conservation, wildlife crime prevention, and sustainable development in order to reduce adverse impacts to known threatened species from poaching and illegal trade.

Additionally, a global coordination grant from the GEF will strengthen cooperation and facilitate knowledge exchange between national governments, development agency partners and leading practitioners, UNEP said.

"Poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking are reaching unprecedented levels, robbing the livelihoods of local communities and eroding the global commons," said Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson. "In response, the GEF has launched a major international effort to help tackle the supply, trade and demand for wildlife products. Importantly, the project is not only about stopping the slaughter of animals in the forests and savannas of Africa; it also aims at reducing the demand in Asia."

This past month, at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in Nairobi, GEF joined other partners to support the launch of the Go Wild for Life campaign, a UN-led campaign that urges politicians, celebrities and business leaders to help bring global attention to the fight against the illegal wildlife trade.

"Wildlife poaching and the illicit trade of wildlife and forest products are abhorrent. This multi-billion dollar worldwide trade is a security issue, an environmental issue, and a development issue," said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

"It is pushing vulnerable and endangered species toward extinction. The illicit trade is also fuelling corruption and conflict, destroying lives, and deepening poverty and inequality. If not addressed decisively, illicit poaching and wildlife trade will have significant national economic impacts," she added.
In June 2015, the GEF approved 10 national projects from Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. Today's announcement expands that program to strengthen the capacity of Governments to combat poaching and trafficking of wildlife, and wildlife products in key range and transit countries that are in the front lines of combatting wildlife crime.

The nine additional countries include Afghanistan, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

Activities in the Global Wildlife Program in the source countries will include enhancing anti-poaching tracking and intelligence operations, increasing the size of conservation areas and improving their management, and providing opportunities for development through nature-based tourism and other agriculture, forestry and natural resource projects that benefit local communities.

In transit countries, the Global Wildlife Program will support anti-smuggling and customs controls, while in demand countries, it will initiate targeted awareness-raising campaigns to help increase legal deterrents for purchase of wildlife and wildlife products.

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY MODIFIES RESPONSE PLAN FOR MEDITERRANEAN AND WESTERN BALKANS

The United Nations refugee agency today announced a revision to the regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan, involving 60 partner organizations and covering the eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans route, in order to focus on the static population in Greece and on protection activities.

In the regular bi-weekly news briefing in Geneva earlier today, William Spindler, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said the Refugee and Migrant Response Plan takes into account the new circumstances on the ground following border closures along the Western Balkans route, as well as the entry into force of the European Union-Turkey agreement.

"Unmet needs remain significant, as living conditions in the sites in Greece, both on the islands and the mainland, have deteriorated as a result of congestion and the rapid nature in which sites were established on the mainland," Mr. Spindler noted.

"The affected population includes many people with specific needs, such as unaccompanied or separated children, single women, pregnant or lactating women, the elderly, people with disabilities, as well as the sick and injured," he added.

The developments have had a significant impact on the numbers of refugees and migrants arriving, with a decrease in the number of people along the Western Balkans route and an increase in the number of people remaining in Greece.

While the measures adopted have significantly reduced the number of arrivals in Greece, more than 57,000 refugees and migrants are currently dispersed along the country in several sites on the mainland and the islands, the spokesperson said.

In this context, UNHCR and humanitarian partners have redefined their engagement from a response primarily targeting people on the move, to focusing on the static population in Greece and on protection activities in countries in the Western Balkans.

Mr. Spindler also said that the financial requirements to implement the plan have been adjusted to reflect the change in circumstances. They currently stand at almost $670 million for 2016, of which contributions of $328.8 million have been received.

The spokesperson underscored that the number of children in these movements has been on the rise, reaching 38 per cent of the total arrivals from Turkey to Greece in 2016.

"There is a risk that these people will increasingly rely on smuggling and trafficking networks, exposing themselves to greater protection risks, which will be even more challenging to address considering the clandestine nature of the movement," Mr. Spindler said.

The regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan was launched in January 2016 following the large-scale population movements registered throughout Europe in 2015, when one million refugees and migrants undertook the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea.

The vast majority crossed the Aegean Sea by boat from Turkey to Greece, with a total of 3,771 people dying or reported missing in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, the spokesperson said.

Despite worsening weather conditions brought on by the onset of winter, the movements did not subside during the first five months of 2016, with some 200,000 arrivals by sea from January to May 2016, including more than 150,000 to Greece.


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BAN WELCOMES CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT'S RESOLVE TO SEEK ALL-INCLUSIVE RESOLUTION TO CRISIS

Meeting today with Faustin Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that the country had turned a corner following the holding of democratic elections, and welcomed the leader's resolve to fully address the root causes of the country's crisis in an inclusive spirit.

According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban met in New York today with President Touadéra to discuss the situation in the CAR, including the President's dialogue with representatives of the armed groups.

"[The Secretary-General] welcomed the President's outreach to the armed groups and his vision for a comprehensive process to address the underlying reasons that had driven them to take up arms," said that statement, adding that the UN chief also welcomed the resolve of the President and his Government to pursue this process in a spirit of national reconciliation and inclusiveness, guided by the principles and recommendations of the Bangui Forum.

The Forum, held in the CAR capital from 4 to 11 May 2015, covered reconciliation, and the inclusive grassroots level consultations that gathered views of local citizens in advance.

Further to today's statement, Mr. Ban urged the armed groups to seize the opportunity afforded by the President's initiative to bring peace and stability to the country by engaging in it in good faith. He stressed that the early restoration of State authority was critical for security and the country's socio-economic recovery.

The Secretary-General also emphasized the importance of the international community's support for the CAR's efforts to tackle the root causes of the crisis and its backing for the country's recovery plan, the statement said, adding that Mr. Ban also reaffirmed the commitment of the UN and its mission in the country, known by the French acronym MINUSCA, to lend its full support to the peace process.


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ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS IN YEMEN'S TAIZ CONDEMNED BY UN RIGHTS OFFICE

The United Nations human rights office today strongly condemned a series of rocket and mortar attacks against several residential areas and markets in Taiz, Yemen, since last Friday, which killed 18 civilians including seven children, and injured 68 others.

"Several markets were hit while full of people who were shopping ahead of Ramadan," said Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at a press briefing in Geneva.

According to several victims injured during an attack near the Delux Market on 3 June, the shelling originated from the Tabat Al-Sofitel hill, in the eastern part of the city of Taiz, which is currently under the control of the Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis and forces loyal to former President Saleh.

The shelling on civilian areas reportedly continued until the evening of 4 June and restarted on the 6th, when several houses in the Al Ta'iziyah and Al-Qahirah districts were hit, killing three civilians and injuring twelve others, including nine children.

Another very serious incident took place in the early hours of 8 June when a school near the Al-Thawrah hospital was hit, killing five people, including three children.

"All victims belonged to a marginalized community, the Al-Muhamasheen, and had taken refuge in the school after having been forced to flee their homes due the ongoing violence. According to eyewitnesses, the shelling also came from the Tabat Al-Sofitel Hill," Ms. Shamdasani said.

Since 26 March 2015 and up to 8 June 2016, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented a total of 3,539 civilians killed and 6,268 injured.


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SOMALIA: BAN CONDEMNS ATTACK ON ETHIOPIAN TROOPS AT MISSION BASE

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned yesterday's attack on Ethiopian troops at an base of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in Halgan, Somalia.

"The Secretary-General calls on the people of Somalia and their Government to remain resolute in the fight against Al Shabaab and extremism," said a statement attributable to Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

"He reiterates the United Nations' unwavering support for their determined efforts to build a peaceful and stable Somalia," the statement also said.

Mr. Ban also expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery for the injured soldiers.


* * *

GAMBIA: UN ADVISER CONDEMNS PRESIDENT'S REPORTED THREATS AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP

The United Nations Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide has condemned the inflammatory speech by the President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia at a political rally this past week, in which he reportedly threatened to eliminate the Mandinka ethnic group.

In a note to correspondents, Adama Dieng, the UN Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, said that on 3 June in Tallinding, President Jammeh allegedly referred to the Mandinka as "enemies, foreigners" and threatened to kill them one by one and place them "where even a fly cannot see them."

"I am profoundly alarmed by President Jammeh's public stigmatization, dehumanization and threats against the Mandinka," the Special Adviser said.

"Public statements of this nature by a national leader are irresponsible and extremely dangerous. They can contribute to dividing populations, feed suspicion and serve to incite violence against communities, based solely on their identity," he added.

Mr. Dieng said he was particularly appalled by President Jammeh's "vitriolic rhetoric," as history has shown that hate speech that constitutes incitement to violence can be both a warning sign and a powerful trigger for atrocity crimes.

"We have seen, in Rwanda, Bosnia – and more recently in the Middle East – how incitement to violence has led to mass killings along identity lines," the Special Adviser said, reminding President Jammeh that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is prohibited under international human rights law as well as under national legislation.

Mr. Dieng also noted that States have the primary responsibility to protect their populations. In 2005, all Heads of State and Government acknowledged the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as well as their incitement.

"I urge the President of the Gambia to fulfil this responsibility," said the Special Adviser, "and ensure that the rights of all populations of the Gambia are respected, irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation."


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