United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-08-14

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: [email protected]

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MICHELE

MONTAS

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

SECRETARY-GENERAL REAFFIRMS UNS READINESS TO ASSIST TOWARDS A PEACEFUL AND NUCLEAR-FREE KOREAN PENINSULA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met in his office today with Ambassador Pak Gil Yon of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) to discuss issues relating to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. The Secretary-General reiterated his welcome of the forthcoming Inter-Korea Summit to be held later this month and expressed his wishes for a successful outcome. In this connection he emphasized the importance of the Six-Party Talks and expressed his hope for smooth implementation of the February joint statement. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the United Nations readiness to offer help or assistance towards a peaceful, nuclear-free, prosperous Korean Peninsula.

The Secretary-General conveyed his sympathy to the Government and people of the DPRK, which is experiencing heavy damage from flooding. He assured the United Nations would to its utmost in coordination with the international community, to help mitigate the consequences of this natural disaster.

The Secretary-General and Ambassador Pak agreed to continue the dialogue on possible avenues of cooperation, in close coordination with Member States.

U.N. AGENCIES ASSESS NEEDS AFTER FLOODS IN DPRK, AT GOVERNMENTS REQUEST

Concerning the floods in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that UN agencies were invited by the government of that country to participate in a joint assessment mission -- in a preliminary request for assistance.

The mission which includes WFP, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO)visited today one of the four provinces affected by the floods. It is expected to continue its assessment on Wednesday, as well as the following day, in order to identify the needs of the populations affected by the floods.

RELIEF EFFORTS FOR FLOODS VICTIMS IN SOUTH ASIA AND SUDAN

Regarding the floods in South Asia, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) have so far distributed 90 tonnes of high protein biscuits in Bangladesh, and expect to deliver 24 more tonnes this week.

In Nepal, UNICEF has provided more than two thousand mosquito nets and has delivered radio broadcasts in the countrys four regional languages on the necessity of water purification to prevent disease.

In India, where floods have affected some 24 million people, UNICEF is distributing rehydration packs, water jerry cans and water purification packs. The agency is also conducting a massive vaccination campaign against chicken pox.

Meanwhile, in Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says at least 365,000 people have been affected, and preliminary estimates show that the number in need of food assistance may swiftly rise. WHO has prepositioned medical supplies in several locations and has prepared a plan to prevent further diarrhea outbreaks.

HYBRID FORCES COMPOSITION STILL BEING DISCUSSED

Asked about comments attributed to African Union Chairman Alpha Oumar Konar�, that a sufficient number of African troops had been pledged for the AU-UN hybrid operation in Darfur and non-African troops would not be needed, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General is pleased that African countries are willing to provide the number of troops that are needed.

However, she added, beyond numbers of troops, other capabilities are needed, including transportation and communication, which could be provided by other States, not necessarily African ones.

Asked about help from Western countries, Montas said that help has been offered in areas like technology and transport, where some Western nations have a particular capability.

Asked whether some of the troops pledged for Darfur could instead be sent to support the African Union Mission in Somalia, Montas said that was a decision for individual troop contributing countries to make.

The composition of the hybrid force is still being worked out and discussed, she said. The objective is to put a force on the ground as soon as possible.

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES DARFUR, HAITI, CHAD, MIDDLE EAST WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL

The members of the Security Council held their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General today.

The Secretary-General spoke to reporters at the second-floor Security Council stakeout position following the luncheon. He said that he had discussed Darfur, Chad, Haiti and the Middle East with Council members.

U.N. SPECIAL COORDINATOR CALLS ON LEBANESE PEOPLE TO OVERCOME THEIR DIFFERENCES

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Geir Pedersen, today issued a statement that appeared in several Lebanese papers on the first anniversary of the end of last summers war.

Pedersen writes that, since the end of the war, significant divisions have emerged on the Lebanese political scene, and the tensions they bring about hinder progress and threaten stability once more. If the Lebanese people wish to forge a prosperous and peaceful future for their country, he says, they must be able to overcome their differences and work together.

There are a number of initiatives to assist the various parties to come together in dialogue and reach mutually acceptable solutions, both on the presidency and the composition of the government. These efforts will continue, and will be supported to the utmost extent possible by the Secretary-General, Pedersen writes.

Asked about the UNs work on Shaba Farms, the Spokeswoman said that the work has not been finished.

Asked about any deployment of UN troops along the Lebanon-Syria border, Montas said that would be a matter for the Security Council to decide.

NORTHERN UGANDA: REPORT SHOWS COMMUNITIES HOLD BOTH LRA AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR HARM

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today

released a new study on the perceptions of victims of the conflict in Northern Uganda on accountability, reconciliation and transitional justice.

The report highlights the fact that the local communities hold both the Lords Resistance Army and the Government responsible for the harm they have endured and believe both should be held accountable. Truth and compensation were consistently identified as the principal transitional justice need. The study also showed mixed opinions on the virtues of amnesty, domestic prosecution, and the International Criminal Court.

U.N. AGENCIES APPEAL FOR SUPPORT IN SPEEDING UP RETURN OF BURUNDI REFUGEES

The UN Agency Refugee (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are warning that, without additional funding, the return of 149,000 Burundian refugees living in camps in Tanzania could be jeopardized.

WFP says it urgently needs $20 million to continue its work in Burundi, where it provides food rations to returnees as well as food assistance to Burundians.

The agency says it must be able to tell families considering a return to Burundi that they can count on food and other aid to help them. WFP wants to provide a six-month food ration to the returning refugees in order to speed up the pace of returns this year.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. WORKING TO FULLY RESTORE WEBSITE: In response to a question, the Spokeswoman reiterated that several UN websites had been attacked by computer hackers on Sunday, although the sites have since been repaired. The UN technical department had to shut down some communications while fixing the sites, and the United Nations is still waiting for them to be restored fully. Montas noted that other sites have also been attacked by hackers.

MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ARE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL: Asked about the Deputy Secretary-Generals primary responsibilities, the Spokeswoman said that they include development, management issues and the Millennium Development Goals.

REQUEST TO HELP KURDISH JOURNALISTS IN IRAN WAS NOT RECEIVED: Asked about a request to help Kurdish journalists detained in Iran, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General has not yet received such a request.

U.N. CONTINUALLY ASSESSES SECURITY SITUATION IN IRAQ: Asked about the UN presence in Iraq, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations has up to 65 international personnel in Iraq already, and is continually assessing the security situation to determine any further deployment. A new head of the UN Mission should be announced soon.

U.N. BODIES ANALYZING ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS OF AIR TRAVEL: Asked about the environmental damage caused by air travel, the Spokeswoman noted that the United Nations has a number of technical bodies that have studied the issue.

ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED TO BE AT HIGH-LEVEL AT U.N. CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE: Asked about the number of world leaders who would attend the Secretary-Generals high-level conference on climate change next month, the Spokeswoman said that the invitations were still receiving responses, so the final numbers are not ready. However, she anticipated significant, high-level representation at that conference.

Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

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