United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-03-21

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

UN

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, March 21, 2003

IRAQ: SECURITY COUNCIL AGREES TO WORK ON HUMANITARIAN AID RESOLUTION

Security Council members met in closed consultations this morning to discuss Secretary-General Kofi Annan's letter suggesting possible adjustments to the Oil-for-Food Programme in Iraq aimed at enabling the United Nations to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq.

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, as well as Benon Sevan, Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Programme, UN Legal Counsel Hans Corell, and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima were present to answer any questions.

[Following consultations, the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Mamady Traoré of Guinea, announced that members of the Iraq Sanctions 661 Committee would meet Saturday morning to begin discussions with a view to preparing a draft resolution based on the Secretary-Generals proposals].

IRAQ: ANNAN TO MEET WITH HEADS OF UN HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES

The Secretary-General is scheduled to meet in New York next Wednesday with the principle UN actors involved in humanitarian assistance in Iraq to discuss the coordination of all future aid to the Iraqi people.

Participants include the heads of the UN Development Programme, World Food Programme, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Oil-for-Food programme and others.

IRAQ: PREPARATIONS BY HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES IN FULL SWING

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in Amman, Jordan, that their offices in the region have not reported any mass movements of refugees into neighbouring states. UNHCR says that it currently has relief supplies in place in the region for some 300,000 people and should have enough for 350,000 by the end of this month.

The World Food Programme says it has moved one portable warehouse close to the Iraqi border to help store up to 400 tons of food. Similar food storage operations are also going on the Turkish side of the Iraqi border.

WFP says it has had some contacts with its national staff in northern Iraq and it seems its work has effectively stopped. In addition to managing the general food distribution system, WFP has been assisting more than 630,000 vulnerable people there including school children, malnourished children. With dwindling supplies and if security conditions deteriorate further this project is going to stop altogether very soon, WFP says.

The UN Childrens Fund said its national staff in Baghdad is responding to a plea for assistance from four institutions housing between 600 to 800 disadvantaged children. This morning they loaded two trucks with basic foodstuffs for those institutions, which house children who are orphaned or separated from their parents and those with severe disabilities, are in the central area of the capital. The staff are aware of problems at two other institutions in Kerbala, but for the moment these cannot be reached. They say they will keep trying.

UN ENVOY CALLS FOR RESPECT OF RIGHTS OF IRAQI CHILDREN

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Olara A. Otunnu today called upon all parties involved in the conflict in Iraq to ensure the rights, protection and well-being of children at all times during the conflict.

It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure that children are given special protection, that children and facilities critical for their well-being, such as hospitals and schools, are not attacked, and that children are not used as combatants, Otunnu said.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS SIERRA LEONE THIS AFTERNOON

At 3 p.m. this afternoon, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sierra Leone Oluyemi Adeniji is scheduled to brief the Security Council on the latest report on the UN mission in Sierra Leone.

Thursday afternoon, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in which it, among other things, it requested an increased presence for the UN mission in the volatile Ituri area in the north-east of the country.

Council members also issued a press statement on the situation in the Central African Republic in which they condemned the recent coup d'etat and invited all the leaders of that country to begin a genuine, political, all-inclusive dialogue immediately in order to restore legality, national cohesion and civil peace and ensure the early restoration of democracy.mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:

ANNAN: SECURITY STILL A SERIOUS CONCERN IN AFGHANISTAN

The Secretary-Generals report on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security was published today. According to the report, security remains the most serious challenge facing the peace process in the country: Re-establishment of the rule of law, elimination of human rights abuses, reconstruction and political transformation are all impeded by the uncertain security situation, the report says.

As the complex political process related to the constitution and preparations in elections get under way, the report notes that despite President Hamid Karzais statesmanlike example of national leadership, elements of the transitional administration continue to be seen by Afghans as serving primarily one constituency or another.

The report warns that there are already too many spoilers who are reportedly intent on undermining the peace process in Afghanistan; they must be left in no doubt that the authorities in Afghanistan and the international community stand ready to protect and see the peace process through to the end.

The Secretary-General also urges donors to continue to meet their commitments to Afghanistan and to stay engaged over the next year as they have over the past year.

THE FIGHT OVER RACISM IS NOT YET WON, SAYS ANNAN

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In a message issued on this occasion, the Secretary-General said that this day commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre on 21 March 1960, in which 69 peaceful demonstrators against apartheid were killed by South African police forces.

That tragedy marked an important watershed in the fight against racism, but the fight is not yet won, the message goes on to say.

More than 40 years later, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are still extremely serious problems. Indeed, discrimination is deeply embedded in the economic, social and political structures of many societies, and has been among the root causes of a number of violent conflicts.

The Secretary-General adds that the United Nations remains at the heart of efforts to the problems of racism and xenophobia.

ANNAN WARNS OF RISKS OF OVER-CONSUMPTION ON WORLD WATER DAY

Tomorrow is World Water Day and in his message to mark the day, the Secretary-General said that over consumption and poor water management are decreasing the quality and quantity of available fresh water, particularly in agriculture, which is the heaviest user of water. He added that the demand for water already outstripped population growth and if the current trend continues, two thirds of the people on earth will suffer moderate to severe water shortages in 20 years time.

Whatever else divides the human community, he said, whether we live upstream or downstream, in cities or in rural areas, water issues the global water cycle itself should link us in a common effort to protect and share it equitably, sustainably and peacefully.

The Secretary-Generals message will be delivered at the Ministerial segment of the World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, tomorrow by Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director if the United Nations Environment Programme.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

APPEAL MADE FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO VICTIMS OF COTE DIVOIRE: In response to the pressing needs of more than 160,000 people directly affected by the six-month conflict in and around Côte d'Ivoire, UNHCR today issued a revised appeal for a total of 29 million dollars.

UN REFUGEE AGENCY VOICES CONCERN OVER NEW U.S. ASYLUM SEEKER POLICY: UNHCR is concerned by a new U.S. government policy to mandatorily detain asylum seekers based on nationality. UNHCR says it would hope that measures to protect civilians and ensure U.S. security would not target those persons who are themselves fleeing persecution and looking for safety in the United States.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Saturday, March 22

Today is World Water Day. The Secretary-General has issued a message to mark the occasion.

Sunday, March 23

Today is World Meteorological Day.

Monday, March 24

The International Civil Aviation Organization will host the Worldwide Air Transport Conference on the theme Challenges and Opportunities of Liberalization in Montreal, Canada. The meeting will end on March 29.

The Group of governmental experts on tracing illicit small arms and light weapons will hold its second session in Geneva until March 28.

Today is World TB Day and the Secretary-General has issued a message on the occassion.

Tuesday, March 25

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Western Sahara.

Wednesday, March 26

The Security Council has scheduled consultations on Bougainville and the Central African Republic.

Heads of UN humanitarian agencies will meet in New York with the Secretary-General review and coordinate plans for dealing with the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

Thursday, March 27

The Security Council intends to hold an open briefing, followed by consultations, on Afghanistan.

Friday, March 28

The Security Council has scheduled formal meetings to consider resolutions on the mandates of UN Missions in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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