un daily news - 18 january 2016

8/20/2019 UN Daily News - 18 January 2016

1/13

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Issue DH/7075 Monday, 18 January 2016

In the headlines

• Yemen: Ban urges all sides to commit to ceaseireand resume UN-!ro"ered tal"s to end ig#ting

• $S#arpl% deteriorating conditions& in !esieged areaso S%ria, UN aid agencies report

• Sustaina!le energ% can $save millions o lives,& Bantells summit in '!u (#a!i

• UN envo% on )iddle East peace condemns sta!!ingattac"s in *sraeli settlements in West Ban"

• Funding s#ortall t#reatens UN eorts to counter ElNi+o-eacer!ated droug#t in sout#ern 'rica

• UN announces t#at eru .ill compensate .oman in#istoric #uman rig#ts a!ortion case

• *nternational tourism #its record /01 !illion in12/3, UN reports

• 's 4i!%an parties dela% naming unit% government,UN urges steps to end political divisions

• Counter-terrorism measures t#reaten remittancessent to Somali diaspora 5 UN rig#ts eperts

• UN Securit% Council removes *ranian !an" romsanctions list

• 6Rene.a!le energ% is limitless and .ill last orever,6sa%s Ban at glo!al de!ate

• (espite age o 6mega-crises,6 UN c#ie sa%s#umanitarian inance gap is a 6solva!le pro!lem6

More stories inside

!e"en #an urges all sides to $o""it to $ease%ire and resu"e&'()ro*ered tal*s to end %ighting

18 January - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the Government and all parties in Yemen as well as States in the region to commit to a comprehensive and

permanent ceasefire to enable the rapid resumption of already delayed peace talks whichthe United ations is facilitating!

"eeting with Yemeni #ice-$resident and $rime "inister Khaled "ahfoudh %bdullahBahah in %bu &habi' United %rab (mirates' where he is attending the )orld *uture (nergySummit' he reiterated his deep concern at the continuing conflict' mounting civiliancausalities and alarming humanitarian crisis' despite repeated calls from the internationalcommunity for an end to the hostilities!

+n the face of ceasefire violations "r! Ban,s Special (nvoy for Yemen +smail uld .heikh%hmed ad/ourned peace talks in Swit0erland in &ecember to allow for bi-lateral in-country and regional consultations toachieve a comprehensive ceasefire!

But the year-long conflict between various factions' which has already killed thousands of people' displaced 1!2 million andimperiled the food security of 3!4 million' has continued unabated' pushing back the calendar!

"r! Ban e5changed views with the #ice-$resident on how to renew the ceasefire and prepare for a new round of politicalnegotiations!

In some parts of Yemen, the conflict has

crippled the health system, making the

delivery of services and supplies

extremely challenging. Photo: !"

Yemen

UN Daily News


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UN Ne.s Centre 7 ...0un0org8ne.s

UN (ail% Ne.s /9 anuar% 12/;

6e also stressed the need for all sides to implement the confidence-building measures discussed in Swit0erland last month'including the release of prisoners' and full and unhindered humanitarian access' including to the central town of 7ai0!

+har-ly deteriorating $onditions in )esieged areas o% yria, &'aid agen$ies re-ort

18 January - United ations humanitarian agencies e5pressed concern today that anestimated 188'888 people are facing 9sharply deteriorating conditions: in the besiegedwestern side of &eir-(0-;or city in Syria' while the top U relief official stressed that theworld body continues to act 9impartially' neutrally and independently: to reach people inneed throughout the country!

9Brien said he can assure that 9the U is neither too close to any party nor acting insuch a way to encourage the use of siege tactics!:

9+t is our duty to act impartially' neutrally and independently' and to have contact with all parties to negotiate unimpededand safe access to those who are vulnerable and in need' regardless of how or why their need arises': he insisted!

9But let me be clear' only a political solution for peace and the respect for international humanitarian law by all parties willmake the biggest difference for Syrians seeking assistance and for humanitarian organisations the ability to provide it': heconcluded!

ver @88'888 Syrians in "adaya' Bi=in' *oah' Kafraya and %l )aer have recently received assistance' including food andmedicine!

In #adaya, rural $amascus, %yrian &ra'

(ed )rescent volunteers offload

humanitarian emergency supplies. Photo:

*+I)-


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ustaina)le energy $an +sae "illions o% lies, #an tells su""itin )u Dha)i

18 January - "illions of lives can be saved by ensuring access to affordable' reliable'

sustainable and modern energy' United ations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon todaystressed at the )orld *uture (nergy Summit taking place in the United %rab (mirates!

9Sustainable energy is the thread that connects economic growth' social e=uity' and ourefforts to combat climate change': "r! Ban told industry leaders from around the worldattending the week-long conference in %bu &habi!

6ighlighting last year>s 9landmark: global agreements on the Sustainable &evelopmentGoals AS&Gs and on climate change at .$1@ in &ecember' the U chief noted that forthe first time' every country in the world pledged to act internationally and domestically toaddress climate change!

97he universality of these agreements' and their inclusive nature' mean that we have a clear way forward': he said! 9ow isthe time for action! Governments' the private sector' regional and international organi0ations' must start working toimplement the @3 ambitious Global Goals': he said!

ne of these Goals C S&G3 C aims to ensure access to affordable' reliable' sustainable and modern energy for all! 6ee5plained that clean' sustainable energy will not only help safeguard the future of the planet C keeping temperature rise

below the two degree .elsius goal C it will also directly save an estimated D!E million lives every year! 7hat is the estimatednumber of people who die prematurely from pollution resulting from indoor cookstoves that use fire' coal' charcoal oranimal waste!

9"ost of these people are women and children' who spend their time near wood-burning stoves and open flames! +t iswomen and girls who bear the brunt of collecting firewood and fuels C time-consuming activities which limit their work andeducation opportunities': the U chief warned!

6e added that S&G3 is also at the heart of development' since more than one billion people in the world have no access toelectricity!

9%chieving S&G3 well before 18E8 will vastly improve our chances of achieving the Global Goals on food security' healthcare' education' employment' sustainable cities and more': he declared! 9)e have made a good start! 7here has beenremarkable progress on many fronts!:

7he Secretary-General noted that a new generation of energy-efficient appliances is giving people access to the lighting'heating' communication and other tools that they need' while reminding all leaders and decision-makers at the Summit thatemissions must be cut drastically and counterproductive subsidies must end!

9Governments and the private sector will need to align their decisions': he insisted! 9(very dollar of the trillions that will bespent on new infrastructure in the ne5t @2 years must be invested in climate-friendly pro/ects that will drive the growth oflow-carbon goods and services!:

(nding his remarks' he underlined the important role women play in seeking sustainable solutions! 9)omen are often the primary managers of energy in their households and communities and so can be powerful agents of change in the transitionto sustainable' clean' green energy!:

Fater in the day' the Secretary-General spoke at the launch of 9%bu &habi %ction &ay': saying how inspired he was by presentations showcased at the Summit' especially those created by young people!

he Itaipu hydroelectric po/er plant is a

source of rene/a'le clean energy,

providing around 10 per cent of the

energy consumed in ra2il and 03 per

cent of the energy used in Paraguay. *+

Photo4van %chneider


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9+ am so honoured and e5cited to see that all of you are part of a global push to do something even bigger than adopt aglobal agreement on climate change C namely to make it a reality!:

&' enoy on Middle ast -ea$e $onde"ns sta))ing atta$*s inIsraeli settle"ents in est #an*

18 January - Strongly condemning the two stabbing attacks on two women' one of themfatal' in +sraeli settlements in the occupied )est Bank' a senior United ations envoy onthe "iddle (ast today called upon +sraeli and $alestinian authorities to ensure that the

perpetrators are swiftly brought to /ustice!

97hese tragic incidents only highlight the urgent need for all leaders to work togetheragainst the spiral of violence and the targeting of civilians': U Special .oordinator for the"iddle (ast $eace $rocess ickolay "ladenov said in a statement!

97he volatility of the current situation only serves the hate-filled agendas of e5tremists onall sides! + encourage all parties to promote calm and refrain from inflammatory statementsand retaliatory actions' he added' voicing increasing alarm at the continued attacks in the occupied )est Bank taking placealmost on a daily basis!

7he stabbing attacks took place within the past 1D hours in the settlements of tniel and 7ekoa' resulting in the death of&afna "eir' a EH-year-old mother of si5' and seriously in/uring "ichal *roman' a pregnant woman in her E8s!

9othing /ustifies the murder of a mother in front of her own children': "r! "ladenov said! 9"y thoughts are with thefamilies and friends of all victims of violence!:

)onstruction in the Israeli settlement of

&riel in the est ank. Photo: &nnie

%lemrod4I(I+

3unding short%all threatens &' e%%orts to $ounter l 'i4o(ea$er)ated drought in southern %ri$a

18 January - )ith @D million people facing hunger in southern %frica as the (l iIo

weather pattern' the worst in over three decades' e5acerbates drought' the United ations)orld *ood $rogramme A)*$ warned today that it faces critical funding challenges inscaling up food and cash-based aid!

97he number of people without enough food could rise significantly over coming months asthe region moves deeper into the so-called lean season' the period before the %pril harvestwhen food and cash stocks become increasingly depleted': )*$ said in a news release!9$articularly vulnerable are smallholder farmers who account for most agricultural

production!:

7he cyclical (l iIo pattern of devastating droughts on some regions and catastrophic floods in others that can affect tens ofmillions of people around the globe' is already leading to even worse drought across southern %frica' affecting this year,scrops!

)ith little or no rain falling in many areas and the window for the planting of cereals closing fast or already closed in somecountries' the outlook is alarming!

9&riving through southern ;ambia' + saw fields of crops severely stressed from lack of water and met farmers who arestruggling to cope with a second season of erratic rains': )*$ (5ecutive &irector (rtharin .ousin said at the end of a visitto drought-prone southern ;ambia!

9;ambia is one of the biggest breadbaskets in the region and what,s happening there gives serious cause for concern not onlyfor ;ambia itself but all countries in the region!:

ildlife. *+ Photo4 $arroch


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)orst affected by last year,s poor rains are "alawi with 1!? million people facing hunger' "adagascar with nearly @!Hmillion' and ;imbabwe with @!2 million and last year,s harvest reduced by half compared to the previous year due tomassive crop failure!

+n Fesotho' the Government has declared a drought emergency and some 428'888 people' a third of the population' do nothave enough food! %s elsewhere' water is in e5tremely short supply for both crops and livestock! %lso causing concern are%ngola' "o0ambi=ue and Swa0iland!

*ood prices across southern %frica have been rising due to reduced production and availability! 7he price of mai0e' thestaple for most of the region' is 3E per cent higher in "alawi than the three-year average for this time of year!

9+,m particularly concerned that smallholders won,t be able to harvest enough crops to feed their own families through theyear' let alone to sell what little they can in order to cover school fees and other household needs': "s! .ousin said!

)*$ is working with Governments' regional organi0ations and other partners on contingency' preparedness to secure foodsupplies and protect people,s livelihoods!

)*$ assessment analysts estimate that more than D8 million rural and H million urban people in the region live ingeographic 0ones that are highly e5posed to the fall-out from (l iIo! South %frica' the ma/or breadbasket of the region' has

indicated that this (l iIo-induced drought is the worst the country has suffered in more than half a century!

ne particularly worrying symptom of southern %frica,s vulnerability to food and nutrition security is the alarming rate ofchronic malnutrition! Fevels of stunting among children in "adagascar' "alawi' "o0ambi=ue and ;ambia are among theworst in the world!

7his affects children,s physical growth' cognitive development' as well as their future health and productivity!

&' announ$es that eru will $o"-ensate wo"an in histori$hu"an rights a)ortion $ase

18 January - early a decade after the U 6uman s rights were violated for having been denied an abortion C andrecommended that the Government compensate her C the U human rights officeannounced today that $eru has said it will pay compensation for having refused her accessto a legal medical procedure!

+n 188@' a @3-year-old $eruvian girl' named JK!F!'> was @D weeks pregnant when doctors atthe public hospital in Fima diagnosed the foetus with anencephaly! %nencephaly is a fatal

birth defect' where the foetus lacks most or all of the forebrain! &octors told her thatcontinuing the pregnancy would put her life and health at risk! She was recommended to

have an abortion!

%bortion was legal in $eru for such reasons' but the hospital refused termination on the grounds that the State had not

provided clear regulations for providing the service! K!F! was forced to carry the pregnancy to full term and breast feed the baby for the four days that it lived! %ccording to the ffice of the 6igh .ommissioner for 6uman


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effective remedy' prohibition on torture and cruel' inhuman and degrading treatment' right to private life and right of minorsto measures of protection!

9f course' it would have been better had she not had to wait a decade to obtain it' but the important thing is that the wrongdone to her has now been formally acknowledged': said Sir igel s s s time for $eru to clarify and implement its safe abortion guidelines and continue improving access to critical

reproductive health services for all women and girls': she stated!

International touris" hits re$ord 1.2 )illion in 2015, &' re-orts

18 January - +nternational tourism grew by D!D per cent last year to a record @!@?D billionas calculated by overnight visitors to international destinations' 28 million more than in18@D' and the si5th consecutive year of above-average growth' U )orld 7ourismrgani0ation AU)7 reported today!

97he robust performance of the sector is contributing to economic growth and /ob creationin many parts of the world! +t is thus critical for countries to promote policies that foster thecontinued growth of tourism' including travel facilitation' human resources development

and sustainability: U)7 Secretary-General 7aleb


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structures and procedures' not only to ensure that the sector>s e5posure to threats is minimi0ed but also to ma5imi0e thesector>s ability to support security and facilitation' as seamless and safe travel can and should go hand in hand!:

% few leading source markets have driven tourism e5penditure in 18@2 supported by a strong currency and economy! .hina'with double-digit growth in e5penditure every year since 188D' continues to lead global outbound travel' benefitting %siandestinations such as Lapan and 7hailand' as well as the United States and various (uropean destinations!

By contrast' e5penditure from the previously very dynamic source markets of the s second largestsource market' at nine per cent growth' and the United Kingdom at si5 per cent was boosted by a strong currency andrebounding economy!

Spending from Germany' +taly and %ustralia grew at a slower rate' all at two per cent' while demand from .anada and*rance was rather weak!

s i)yan -arties delay na"ing unity goern"ent, &' urges

ste-s to end -oliti$al diisions18 January - 7he United ations in Fibya has e5pressed regret over the decision of thecountry>s $residency .ouncil to postpone the formation of a national unity government forD? hours beyond the deadline set by a U-facilitated political agreement' emphasi0ing thatall efforts to combat and eliminate these terrorist groups must be led by the Fibyan State!

9Fibya is a critical /uncture! &etermination to start a new chapter must be accompanied byimmediate steps to end political divisiveness and address the numerous security'humanitarian and economic challenges': the U Support "ission AUS"+F said in astatement issued late Sunday!

97he formation of a Government of ational %ccord AG% en/oying the support of the

Fibyans is but the first step': added the "ission!

7he U mission called on all relevant political and security stakeholders to hold Fibya>s national interests above all else!9o effort must be spared nor any opportunity missed to utili0e the window of opportunity that Fibya has to halt any furthere5pansion by terrorist groups represented in &a>esh' %nsar %l-Sharia and %l-Maida': the statement read!

7he boldness with which terrorist groups' such as the +slamic State of +ra= and the Fevant A+S+F' had launched their lateststring of attacks on key oil installations in Sidra'


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current arms embargo on Fibya!

7he U mission urged the $residency .ouncil to adhere to the new target date it had set itself and emphasised the need forall concerned parties to respect F$% timelines!

ounter(terroris" "easures threaten re"ittan$es sent to

o"ali dias-ora 9 &' rights e-erts18 January - (5pressing concern over the impact on vital remittances from diasporacountries into Somalia caused by 9necessary but less considered counter-terrorismregulations': United ations rights e5perts today warned the measures may 9severely affectthe human rights: of Somali people' while urging regulation-setting governments toguarantee the flow of such funds!

9


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&' e$urity oun$il re"oes Iranian )an* %ro" san$tions list

10 January - 7he United ations Security .ouncil announced today that it has removed+ranian Bank Sepah and its international subsidiary from a sanctions list' followingyesterday,s announcement of a U report confirming that +ran has completed necessary

preparatory steps to start the implementation of a plan of action aiming to resolve thenuclear issue!

7he report was submitted to the @2-nation Security .ouncil after U +nternational %tomic(nergy %gency A+%(% inspectors on the ground verified that +ran has carried out allmeasures re=uired under what is known as the Loint .omprehensive $lan of %ctionAL.$% to enable 9+mplementation &ay: to occur!

+n Luly' +ran and a group of si5 countries C .hina' *rance' Germany'


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11/13

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In -hone $all, #an dis$usses $hallenges to regional -ea$e andse$urity with 3oreign Minister o% #ahrain

1> January - United ations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today held a phoneconversation with Sheikh Khalid bin %hmed %l Khalifa' *oreign "inister of the Kingdomof Bahrain' to discuss the situation in the $ersian Gulf region' including challenges toregional peace and security!

96e e5pressed the hope that countries of the region will take concrete steps to de-escalatecurrent tensions': noted a statement issued by "r! Ban,s Spokesperson! 97he Secretary-General acknowledged steps taken by the Government of Bahrain to improve security andthe human rights situation!:

%ccording to the statement' the U chief encouraged the *oreign "inister and theGovernment to take further measures to foster peaceful political dialogue amongst all Bahrainis and to fully comply with theKingdom,s international human rights obligations' including by upholding freedom of e5pression' assembly and otherfundamental freedoms!

9Such measures will not only promote peace' security' reconciliation and prosperity in Bahrain' but will also contribute to

defusing tensions in the region': the statement added!

%ecretary


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"eanwhile' +%(%,s &irector General' Yukiya %mano' said 9+mplementation &ay: paves the way to begin verifying andmonitoring +ran,s nuclear-related commitments under the agreement!

9 January - United ations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned the9heinous terrorist attacks: carried out yesterday in uagadougou' Burkina *aso,s capital'which resulted in more than 1H deaths and many other people wounded!

97he Secretary-General e5tends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims andthe people and Government of Burkina *aso' and wishes a speedy recovery to thosein/ured': "r! Ban said in a statement issued by his Spokesperson!

7he U chief also reiterated the full support of the United ations to the authorities ofBurkina *aso and said he stands in solidarity with the country and the region in its fight

against terrorism!

96e calls on the authorities to do their utmost to bring those responsible for these attacks to /ustice promptly': the statementconcluded!

"eanwhile' the members of the Security .ouncil condemned the attacks in the strongest terms indicating that %l"ourabitoune' a terrorist group affiliated to %l-Maida in the +slamic "aghreb' has claimed responsibility!

97he members of the Security .ouncil reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the

most serious threats to international peace and security': indicated a statement by the @2-member body!

7hey also underlined the need to bring perpetrators' organi0ers' financiers and sponsors of these 9reprehensible acts: ofterrorism to /ustice' and stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable!

%ecretary


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- /< -UN (ail% Ne.s /9 anuar% 12/;

T#e &' Daily 'ews is prepared at UN @eadAuarters in Ne. Yor" !% t#e Ne.s Services Section

est %ri$a &' e$urity oun$il wel$o"es -ositiedeelo-"ents, )ut $on$erned a)out -oliti$al tensions

1> January - )elcoming positive political developments in )est %frica' in particular theholding of peaceful elections in igeria' 7ogo' Burkina *aso' Guinea and .Wte-d,+voire'members of the U Security .ouncil stressed the importance of the upcoming elections in

iger' Benin' .abo #erde' Ghana and 7he Gambia to be 9free' fair' peaceful' inclusive andcredible!:

+n a statement issued following a briefing by the Special

un daily news - 18 january 2016

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