UN Daily News Issue DH/7198 Wednesday, 13 July 2016

Transcription

1 For updates and alerts, visit UN NEWS CENTRE at UN Daily News Issue DH/7198 Wednesday, In the headlines: South Sudan: Amid fears of renewed fighting, UN peacekeeping chief calls for Security Council action UN mission deplores violence, loss of life following protests in Mali s northern city of Gao Syria: deploring hostilities spreading across Aleppo, UN urges end to indiscriminate attacks UN agency urges heightened vigilance after H5N1 outbreaks in West and Central Africa Mali site added to List of World Heritage in Danger UNESCO South Sudan: Amid fears of renewed fighting, UN peacekeeping chief calls for Security Council action Displaced civilians leave the UNMISS (UN Mission in South Sudan) base in UN House, after seeking refuge at the base in the wake of recent fresh clashes in Juba between soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition (SPLA-IO). UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein 13 July Given the unstable security situation in South Sudan following clashes between Government and opposition forces which left some 272 people, including 33 civilians, dead, the United Nations peacekeeping chief today proposed that the UN Mission there be extended until the end of August to allow a rapid assessment on the need for a stronger mandate. The current situation in the country remains fluid and uncertain, said Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous in his briefing to the Security Council on the activities of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), whose mandate will expire on 31 July. The Secretary-General s recommendation for a technical roll-over of the UNMISS mandate remains valid and necessary, while we conduct an assessment of the requirements to address the situation on the ground, he said, adding that the temporary arrangement should be for one month to give the Secretariat time to do a quick assessment, consult the region and the African Union and make recommendations to the Council. He said that if the Mission needs to be reinforced, including through additional troops and more robust capabilities such as attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to fulfil a protection of civilians mandate, it will be imperative that these reinforcements implement the same mandate as all other troops, and answer to the same chain of command. Today s meeting comes after days of heightened concern at the United Nations in the wake of the deadly clashes that erupted in and around the capital, Juba, between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing First Vice-President Riek Machar. For information media - not an official record

2 UN Daily News Mr. Ladsous told the Council that as of this morning, humanitarian partners estimated that at least 36,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting between the Sudan People s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition. According to initial Government figures at least 272 people have been killed, including 33 civilians. I am convinced, however, that this is only the tip of the iceberg, given alarming reports over the last few days indicating that civilians were barred from safer grounds, including UN compounds, he said. Security situation in Juba A ceasefire declared by Mr. Kiir on the evening of 11 July, and seemingly endorsed by Mr. Machar, appears to be holding in Juba, with the exception of sporadic shooting heard in parts of the city, he said, noting that the SPLA appears to be in full control of Juba. Reportedly, opposition forces are currently scattered around the areas of Jebel and Yei road while SPLA troops are setting up defensive positions along the Yei and Gudele road. Further clashes, therefore, cannot be ruled out, Mr. Ladsous explained. Juba airport has reopened, and is firmly under the control of the SPLA. The UN Mine Action Service, yesterday, conducted a visual assessment of the ramp, taxiway and runway of Juba airport and did not find any shells or unexploded ordnances. UNMISS has been able to conduct limited patrolling to assess the security situation and the safety and security of personnel and assets at UN compounds, but securing freedom of movement, however, remains a challenge, with security forces limiting UNMISS s movement every step of the way, citing insecurity, he said, urging the Government to allow UNMISS and humanitarian actors freedom of movement and access to provide vital assistance to the affected civilian population. He said that some fighting has taken place outside of Juba, and the UN remains extremely worried about the potential for the resumption of violence and spill over into others parts of the country, as it has in the past. Political developments On the political front, several efforts were made by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNMISS chief, Ellen Margrethe Løj, and various regional and international leaders, he said. Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also met in an emergency session in Nairobi, Kenya, on 11 July and issued a communiqué condemning the violence in South Sudan, stressing accountability for the breakdown of rule of law, and demanding a revision of the UNMISS mandate to establish an intervention brigade and increase in the number of troops from the region to secure Juba, among other decisions. Following suit, the African Union Peace and Security Council also met yesterday in Kigali, Rwanda, and endorsed the IGAD communiqué in full. Mr. Ladsous said that late yesterday, media outlets reported that President Kiir dismissed Deputy Foreign Minister Cirino Hiteng, allegedly for his presence at the IGAD ministerial meeting in Nairobi. Mr. Hiteng was an appointee of the Former Detainees party to the peace agreement signed in August The President s unilateral dismissal of him is a breach of the peace agreement itself, Mr. Ladsous added. If this is a forewarning of what is yet to come, only a strong political and coordinated approach can salvage the peace process now, Mr. Ladsous said, urging the UN Security Council to urgently reconsider an arms embargo, and immediately enact additional targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking the implementation of the peace accord. While we were cautiously optimistic about the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity back in April, it is unclear now what further progress can be made under current conditions, he concluded.

3 UN Daily News UN mission deplores violence, loss of life following protests in Mali s northern city of Gao MINUSMA peacekeepers on patrol in Ansongo, in the Gao Region of eastern Mali. Photo: MINUSMA/Marco Dormino 13 July Deploring the outbreak of violence that occurred yesterday in Gao, following a demonstration that turned violent, leaving four dead and many injured, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali is encouraging Government-led initiatives to better familiarize the population with the recently agreed peace deal. In a press statement, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) called for calm, while deploring the loss of life, in Gao, which is located in Mali s restive northern region. The Mission noted that Malian authorities plan to conduct an independent and impartial investigation that will aim to shed light on the regrettable events. The Mission said that before and during the incident, it tried to calm the situation by promoting dialogue between local authorities and protesters in order to address the concerns of various parties. This effort is ongoing, the Mission added. Further to the statement, MINUSMA encouraged any initiative in line those such as today s deployment in Gao of a strong Government delegation, which could help end possible misunderstandings and familiarize the population with the Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation. Such actions would also help with while promote discussion on the ways and means envisaged for implementing the accord, which was signed in June. Syria: deploring hostilities spreading across Aleppo, UN urges end to indiscriminate attacks Yacoub El Hillo, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria (centre), inspects the first batch of locally-produced bread bags in East Ghouta, Syria, during an inter-agency convoy on 29 June Photo: OCHA Syria/G. Seifo 13 July Deploring the spread of hostilities throughout the Syrian city of Aleppo, senior United Nations officials today called on all parties to the conflict to end indiscriminate attacks on civilians and fully respect international humanitarian law. The United Nations is deeply alarmed by the escalating violence in and around Aleppo city putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk of death and injury, said a joint statement issued by Yacoub El Hillo, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, and Kevin Kennedy, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis. The UN further called on all parties to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as required under relevant Security Council resolutions, and enable the rapid, safe and unhindered evacuation of civilians who wish to leave. Since 7 July, heavy clashes between the Government of Syria forces and non-state armed groups have rendered the Castello road, the last remaining access road in and out of eastern Aleppo city, impassable, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Government and Kurdish forces have since then reportedly gained control of the majority of Castello road, cutting off humanitarian, commercial and civilian movement in and out of eastern Aleppo city, and putting an estimated 200,000-

4 UN Daily News ,000 people closer to the line of fire and at risk of besiegement. Even before the recent escalation of violence, 10,000 to 30,000 people fled the area between January and June due to increased insecurity. The statement went on to highlight the dangerous security situation, citing intensified airstrikes by Government forces in rural Aleppo, hundreds of mortars and projectiles targeting western Aleppo in the past week, and explosive anti-aircraft projectiles straying into several civilian neighbourhoods. From 8 to 11 July, 57 people were reportedly killed including 15 children and 497 were injured, the statement said. The UN and partners in east Aleppo have enough food supplies for 145,000 people for one month, but humanitarian needs must be immediately addressed, including through re-establishing medical evacuations from east Aleppo. While it is difficult to collect information on eastern Aleppo due to access restrictions, it is among the areas hardest hit by conflict with most people heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance, the statement said. UN agency urges heightened vigilance after H5N1 outbreaks in West and Central Africa 13 July The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) altered Western and Central African governments to be vigilant, and to continue their raised surveillance and prevention efforts after H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks were recently confirmed in chicken farms in Cameroon. We're looking at a quickly spreading disease that has devastating effects on livelihoods in communities, said Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, in a news release today. H5N1 causes major losses of nutritious food and threatens farmers' livelihoods, particularly in resource-poor environments where governments have difficulty providing financial compensation for losses, he added. For the first time since 2006, the H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in Cameroon, putting the number of countries in the region who have battled the virus at six. Photo: FAO/Isaac Kasamani The agency added that the H5N1 strain of avian influenza has caused the death of tens of millions of poultry and losses of tens of billions of dollars worldwide since the virus first spread internationally in In Cameroon alone, losses have added up to an estimated $20 million, according to local media reports. The recent outbreak in Cameroon has brought the number of countries that have battled bird flu in West and Central Africa to six, also including Burkina Faso, Cote d'ivoire, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria. FAO has also called on the governments to include common messaging to the public and data sharing between the public health and agriculture sectors as part of their prevention efforts. The statement further noted that a major concern is that the disease may become endemic in the entire region, particularly in Nigeria where avian influenza has become so entrenched in poultry production and marketing systems that it will be difficult to eliminate. For that reason, FAO said, producers and traders need to be made aware about the clinical signs of the disease symptoms, how and to whom to report it, and implement good hygiene practices to halt its spread.

5 UN Daily News In its response to the outbreak, the agency is working closely with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health to offer assistance such as risk assessments, contingency planning, technical advice and laboratory material. They also help with investigating potential avian influenza cases in animals and humans and locating the source of infection. In Cameroon, FAO is boosting the local veterinary services' capacity to respond rapidly to new outbreaks and is working with the government to finalize an action plan similar to effective plans applied in other countries stricken by the virus. The agency further said that it will continue to assist governments in mobilizing funds to combat H5N1, in addition to the agency's own efforts to help boost local veterinary systems, strengthen laboratories, and deploying FAO specialists to affected and at-risk countries. It added that it is seeking $20 million to support its regional response to H5N1. Mali site added to List of World Heritage in Danger UNESCO 13 July The Committee that establishes the locations that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, has today added the Old Towns of Djenné in Mali to the List of World Heritage in Danger, due to insecurity, which is affecting the area and preventing the implementation of protective measures for the site. The Committee expressed concern over the property, which is situated in an area affected by insecurity, said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in a statement today, referring to the latest decision by the World Heritage Committee. This situation is preventing safeguarding measures from addressing issues that include the deterioration of construction materials in the historic town, urbanization, and the erosion of the archaeological site, said UNESCO Old Towns of Djenné, Mali. Photo: UNESCO/Francesco Bandarin The statement also noted that Committee appealed to the international community to support Mali in efforts to ensure the protection of the site. Inhabited since 250 B.C., the Old Towns of Djenné became a market centre and an important link in the trans-saharan gold trade. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it was one of the centres for the propagation of Islam. Its traditional houses, of which nearly 2,000 have survived, are built on hillocks (toguere) as protection from the seasonal floods. The site located, in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action. The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee began on 10 July and will continue until 20 July. It is chaired by Ambassador, Director General of Cultural Affairs and Promotion Abroad of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lale Ülker. 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)