United Nations Daily Highlights, 03-03-31

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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

Monday, March 31, 2003

IRAQ: UN STAFF WORK IN NORTH, AGENCIES MOVE SUPPLIES OVER BORDER

UN Assistant Emergency Relief Coordinator Ross Mountain, at a press conference in Geneva today, reported that the United Nations had 3,500 nationals working in Iraq, and that in the north, the staff continued to work at almost 100 percent. The national staff in the south, Mountain said, had been instructed not to go to work or to contact the United Nations if it put them in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Mountain said, there were discussions ongoing related to the United Nations return to all parts of Iraq. Areas such as Basra, where humanitarian problems were evident, were being focused upon, he said.

The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) today said it is looking at ways of moving large quantities of water into southern Iraq under private contract. The need for clean water in southern Iraq is urgent, and the lack of it is a significant health hazard for children. On Sunday, 13 vehicles were commissioned to go into the country. In the end, three managed to deliver water to Umm Qasr.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that the first UN-supervised food supplies to enter Iraq crossed the Turkish border this weekend. Three trucks with 77 metric tons of dried skim milk were offloaded in Dahuk on Sunday. They will help with a nutrition program WFP runs in the Kurdish provinces.

In London, WFP Executive Director James Morris appealed for the $1.3 billion his agency has asked for under the $2.2 billion overall humanitarian appeal for Iraq.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continued to prepare for a possible exodus. The refugee agency also noted that large numbers of Iraqis continue to approach the UNHCR Damascus office seeking temporary protection letters. Today UNHCR received more than 900 Iraqis, while on Sunday, the office was besieged by more than 750 Iraqis.

The United Nations Environment Programme today warned that the smoke from burning oil wells and oil in trenches in Baghdad contains toxic chemicals harmful to children and people with respiratory problems. UNEP fears the fires may further damage Iraqs already highly stressed environment and Director General Klaus Toepfer said there is an urgent need to monitor air quality.

The World Health Organization said today that five cholera kits and two trauma kits had been shipped from its warehouse in Brindisi, Italy, to Amman, Jordan, and would be moved into Iraq as soon as conditions allow.Each cholera kit has medications to treat 500 people and each trauma kit can meet the needs of 200 people. WHO has also been assisting health facilities in the Northern Governorates to purchase fuel, fuel tanks and other supplies to facilitate their work in caring for people moving from the larger towns and cities to smaller villages.

Asked about what the United Nations can do to relieve the humanitarian suffering of the Iraqis, the Spokesman said, We are involved were doing everything we can. At this stage, he added, the de facto authorities are responsible for the welfare of the population in the areas they control, although, when the situation permits, UN staff would go in.

In response to further questions, the Spokesman noted that the United Nations had issued an appeal Friday for $2.2 billion for Iraq through August, adding that the amount needed from Member States could be reduced if more aid is obtained through the oil-for-food program.

ANNAN TO MEET WITH REGIONAL GROUPS ON IRAQ

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, starting at noon today, held the first in a series of meetings with the Member States regional groups, to brief them and exchange views on Iraq. [Press encounter following the meeting.]

The meeting today was with the Arab Group, and he will also meet with all the five regional groups over the course of the week.

Asked further about the meeting, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General had wanted to speak to the Arab Group, which is not one of the five regional groups, and that he would go on to meet with each regions group starting Tuesday. He said the talks would be broad consultations with Member States.

Asked about Member States concerns, the Spokesman said they could raise any that they had, and added that the Secretary-Generals main concern was the well-being of the Iraqi people.

Asked about whether the Secretary-General had discussed the post-war reconstruction of Iraq in his meetings last week with U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Eckhard said that he had not discussed that topic, thinking it premature to have such discussions now. The Secretary-General, he said, was focused on the humanitarian situation.

Asked whether the United Nations had received a letter from Iraq about the recent casualties in the conflict, the Spokesman said that the letters receipt had not been confirmed as of this morning.

Asked about the comments by Iraqi officials rejecting Resolution 1472, the Spokesman said that matter was between Iraq and the Security Council.

UN ENVOY IN MIDDLE EAST CONDEMNS NETANYA BOMBING

On Sunday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, strongly condemned the suicide bombing on the Israeli town of Netanya, in which at least 30 people were wounded.

Calling the attack an outrageous and cowardly act, Roed-Larsen appealed to the Palestinian leadership and people to bring the perpetrators to justice and act immediately to completely delegitimize these murderous acts that produce nothing but misery and fear.

MEXICO TO TAKE OVER SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY FOR APRIL

There are no meetings or consultations of the Security Council scheduled for today.

Tomorrow, April 1, Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser of Mexico takes over as President of the Security Council.

At 4:00 p.m. today, the Security Council Committee on Counter-Terrorism has scheduled a briefing for all UN delegations in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.

On Friday afternoon, the Security Council held consultations on Cote d'Ivoire and issued a press statement calling on all parties to measure up to their responsibilities and adhere to the commitments they made under the Linas Marcoussis and Accra agreements. It also condemned the recruitment of mercenaries.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION WORSENS IN COTE DIVOIRE

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance warned that, as the worlds attention is focused elsewhere, the humanitarian situation in Cote dIvoire continues to worsen.

Intensifying violence and instability in the countrys west are making it difficult for aid workers to reach civilians in desperate need of assistance. The dangerous and unpredictable security situation in the west, especially near the Liberian border, poses a stiff challenge to the aid community.

Conditions in the rebel-controlled areas of the north suffer from a lack of public services and a strangled economy, while in the Government-controlled south, internally displaced persons and the communities who host them face deepening economic and health crises.

ARMS EMBARGO BEING FLOUTED IN SOMALIA, EXPERTS TELL COUNCIL

The Panel of Experts mandated to collect information on arms embargo violations in Somalia reported back to the Security Council that it has found a clear pattern of violations of that arms embargo, with weapons being given by neighboring states and purchased by Somali factions on the international arms market, a practice that is continuing to this day.

The Panel believes the sanctions regime for Somalia should be enhanced, noting, The dismissive attitude to resolutions of the Security Council will continue to prevail if the international community does not show resolve in implementing a strict embargo regime or remain vigilant in investigating new violations of the embargo.

The report, published by an independent, three-member panel, says that Ethiopia has played an overt military role in Somalia, and that Eritrea has also been a major supplier of arms and ammunition to Somali groups. Yemen and Djibouti, among other nations in the region, are also reported to have helped provide weapons to Somalia, mainly to the Transitional National Government.

UN MISSION DEPLORES ATTACKS IN DR-CONGO OVER WEEKEND

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) deplored the attacks on two territories by the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) over the weekend. MONUC said that on Saturday, RCD troops attacked and occupied Bunyatenge and Muhanga territories, and caused a large displacement of people.

The capture of the two territories occurred on the very day RCD had signed the agreement on the future military structure and on the eve of the final session of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, due to take place in Sun City this week. MONUC says that it might unnecessarily increase tensions in a highly troubled area, and impede the efforts of both the United Nations and the international community to restore peace in the country.

YUGOSLAVIA TRIBUNAL SENTENCES TWO BOSNIAN CROATS

Today in The Hague, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia delivered its judgment against two Bosnian Croats who were accused of committing atrocities during the Bosnian war against the Muslim community living in and around the city of Mostar, finding both men guilty of crimes against humanity, war crimes and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

Mladen Naletilic known as Tuta was found guilty on eight counts, including torture, unlawful transfer of civilians and persecution on political, racial and religious grounds, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Vinko Matrinovic known as Stela was found guilty on nine counts and sentenced to 18 years.

WHO EXPERT ON SARS DIES OF THE DISEASE IN THAILAND

Dr. Carlo Urbani, an expert on communicable diseases, died of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, Saturday in Thailand. He was the first World Health Organization (WHO) officer to identify the outbreak of this new disease. Dr. Urbani worked in public health programs in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. He was 46.

Carlo Urbanis death saddens us all deeply, said WHO Director-General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland. His life reminds us again of our true work in public health. Today, we should all pause for a moment and remember the life of this outstanding physician.

In their latest statistical update on SARS, WHO reports a total of 1,622 cases in 13 countries, including 58 deaths.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON IRAQ: Asked whether the General Assembly planned to hold a meeting to discuss Iraq, the Spokesman said he was not aware of any formal move to hold such a session.

BUDGET: India today became the 69th Member State to pay its 2003 regular budget contribution in full, with a payment of more than $4 million. At the end of March last year, 63 Member States were paid in full.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

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Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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