Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
- Secretary-General/Trip
- Libya
- Security Council/South Sudan
- Western Sahara
- Yemen
- Food and Agriculture/SDGS
- International Day
- Press conference next week
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the opening of the G77+China Summit. He told leaders there that in today’s troubled world, the role of the G77+China remains as important as ever.
However, he warned that the world is failing developing countries and that to change this, we need national action – to ensure good governance, mobilize resources, and prioritize sustainable development.
The Secretary-General also spoke on the role of science and technology in helping achieve development, which is the focus of the meeting. He said that science, technology and innovation can forge solidarity, solve common problems, and help to make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality, but he added that today they frequently inflame inequalities and entrench divisions.
“Only global action can tackle these inequalities, secure a just transition to a digital economy, and ensure that in a new technological era, no one is left behind,” he said.
The Secretary-General told the group that he counted on them to use their power and fight to champion a system rooted in equality, ready to reverse the injustice and neglect of centuries and deliver for all humanity.
And yesterday, he met with President Miguel Díaz Canel and with the UN country team. He also toured the Santa Clara Convent, which is being restored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and will be turned into an arts centre for youth from the Caribbean.
The Secretary-General will be returning to New York this evening.
LIBYA
Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, spoke to the press in Geneva and discussed the recent humanitarian disasters in Morocco and Libya. Mr. Griffiths said that, while the true level of destruction and devastation has yet to be known, the UN and its partners have been fully mobilized to provide swift assistance to the affected population and to support the authorities’ relief efforts.
In Libya, the climate and capacity have collided to cause the tragedy we see, he said. Some 900,000 people are affected by the floods in a country where 300,000 people needed humanitarian assistance even prior to this disaster.
The floods pose significant health risks, including contaminated water sources and potential disease outbreaks. Families were left with nothing. They need to find food, shelter, health care and cash to meet their basic needs. We need to get the right aid to the right people at the right time and therefore coordination is crucial, Mr. Griffiths said.
A UN disaster assessment and coordination team has been deployed and we have set up a coordination hub in Benghazi.
The $71.4 million flash appeal, launched yesterday, aims to support 250,000 people for the next three months.
In parallel, the UN is conducting further assessments to collect more accurate data and an inter-agency team has been deployed to the eastern region, including some already in Derna and other affected areas.
SECURITY COUNCIL/ SOUTH SUDAN
This morning, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, briefed Security Council members on the situation there.
He said that time is of the essence for South Sudan to realize the goals and aspirations of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and its Roadmap, and further steps should be taken by the country’s political leadership to reach the goals.
For her part, Director of Operations and Advocacy Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Edem Wosornu, told Council members that the humanitarian situation in the country continues to encounter major challenges, asserting that the humanitarian community will continue its work alongside the Government of South Sudan to meet the needs of its people and reprioritize activities to focus on those most in need.
And earlier today, the Security Council renewed the mandate of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh (UNITAD) for a final one-year non-extendable term, until 17 September 2024.
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