United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-08-20

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MICHELE

MONTAS

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

U.N.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Monday, August 20, 2007

U.N. READY TO ASSIST IN RECOVERY EFFORTS IN CARIBBEAN FOLLOWING HURRICANE DEAN

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was deeply saddened to learn of the human and economic losses brought on by Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean. He extends his sincere condolences to those who lost family and friends.

The United Nations is in close contact with the Government of affected countries and has deployed of a team of disaster assessment and coordination experts.

The United Nations stands ready to support relief efforts with other measures, including the release of emergency funds.

U.N. AGENCIES MOBILIZE TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO COUNTRIES HIT BY HURRICANE DEAN

Hurricane Dean, which entered the eastern Caribbean on Friday, caused damage to rooftops and flooded streets in St. Lucia, Dominica and Martinique, killing 9 people and causing serious economic damage to the agricultural sector in those countries.

The hurricane also passed through Haiti during the weekend, where more than 5,000 people are in temporary shelters, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing biscuits and aid kits while UNICEF has sent essential drugs. The UN Mission in Haiti also provided logistical support to evacuate the people most threatened by the hurricane.

Today, the hurricane passed just south of Jamaica, bringing floods to the streets of the capital, Kingston. UNICEF, the WFP and the World Health Organization (WHO) have pre-positioned medical equipment, water-purification tablets, food stocks and relief staff to transport aid to Jamaica and elsewhere in the region as needed.

The United Nations is sending a five-member disaster assessment and coordination team to Belize, where tropical storm force winds could hit Belize City.

U.N. TOP OFFICIAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS STRESSES POSITIVE PROCESS IN NEPAL

B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs just returned from visits to China, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal. He visited the UN Mission in Nepal over the weekend, where he

pledged full UN support for the countrys political process.

Speaking at a press conference, Pascoe said that he feels very strongly that the process in Nepal is a very positive one and is very optimistic that the process will move forward.

He underlined the importance of an open, fair and transparent election for a Constituent Assembly taking place on time, in November this year.

Also, the United Nations Mission in Nepal today launched a 15-minute magazine-style radio programme, UNMIN Ko Boli, made available to all radio networks and stations around the country.

The twice-a-week programme, produced in partnership with Nepals public broadcaster, Radio Nepal, aims to reach out to communities across the country to increase awareness on what UNMIN and the UN Country Team is doing to support Nepals peace process, especially in the lead-up to the Constituent Assembly election.

SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES EXTENDING AFRICAN MISSION IN SOMALIA FOR SIX MONTHS

Following brief consultations, the Security Council this morning unanimously approved a resolution extending its authorization of the African Union Mission in Somalia by a further six months.

It also requested the Secretary-General to consult with the African Union Commission on what further support might be provided to the African Union Mission, and to develop contingency planning for the possible deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation.

TIMOR-LESTE: U.N. REMAINS FULLY DEPLOYED TO RESPOND TO POSSIBLE VIOLENCE

Over the weekend in Timor-Leste, some 27 incidents of violence characterized by rock-throwing and fighting amongst local groups were reported in Dili. The remainder of the country was reportedly calm although the Viqueque district remains tense.

There have been no security incidents reported from Viqueque, but most government offices and schools remain closed.

Meanwhile, a rally will be held by a radical pro-Fretilin group in Dili today and Tuesday.

United Nations police officers (UNPol) in conjunction with the national police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) and the International Stabilization Force (ISF) continue to remain fully deployed to respond to any disturbances that may emerge.

U.N. MISSION IN IRAQ COMMEMORATES FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF HEADQUARTERS BOMBING

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq on Sunday commemorated the fourth anniversary of the bombing of the UN Baghdad headquarters at the Canal hotel.

During his remarks commemorating the event, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Michael Schulenburg,

said that the United Nations remains determined to shoulder its responsibilities in helping and assisting the people and Government of Iraq as they chart their way towards a future marked by peace and prosperity.

Schulenburg Sunday received Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshiyar Zebari and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at UNAMI headquarters in Baghdad. They had come to pay tribute to the 22 people who were killed in the bomb attack four years ago, and they both laid wreaths at the UN compound.

U.N. ALLOCATES $8.7 MILLION FOR FLOOD VICTIMS IN SUDAN

The United Nations

allocated 8.7 million dollars to support the ongoing humanitarian response for flood victims in Sudan.

The

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, approved a grant from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) that will be used for relief operations in the most affected areas of the countries -- including the states of Gedaref, Kassala, Khartoum and Upper Nile.

Thanks to these funds we will be able to assist over one and a half million current or potential flood victims, until or beyond the end of the rainy season, Holmes said.

The funding will allow the UN agencies to provide, among others, medical drugs, water purification products, non-food items and emergency shelter.

U.N. EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER POTENTIAL INCREASE OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, the

Representative of the Secretary-General for the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kaelin, is

expressing concern over the potential for a significant increase in the number of IDPs if the conflict continues at the present pace.

After a week-long visit to the country, Kaelin reports that the armed conflict in Afghanistan has triggered the displacement of tens of thousands of persons in the last year alone.

The families fleeing the present fighting are adding to the 130,000 internally displaced persons in the South and Southwest who are still living in provisional settlements since they were displaced by drought and insecurity five or more years ago.

Kaelin also stressed that there was a risk that refugees returning from neighboring countries may end up in a situation of internal displacement if they cannot find a durable solution upon their return.

PERU: U.N. FINALIZING APPEAL TO HELP EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS

The United Nations system in Peru is finalizing a Flash Appeal for aid to benefit the survivors of the 15 August earthquake.

The UNDP Resident Coordinator in the country reports that providing water, shelter, sanitation, food and temporary employment are among the priority in assisting earthquake survivors.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Government of Peru has established an air bridge to reach the city of Pisco in order to deliver humanitarian supplies and facilitate the deployment of international relief and aid workers.

In addition, two UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team members are working in Lima to help the Peruvian Government identify the areas that have yet to be covered. Three other team members are in the on-site coordination centre in Pisco.

NEW UNIT CREATED TO COMBAT BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

In Geneva today, a ceremony was held to

inaugurate the new Implementation Support Unit for the Convention on Biological Weapons.

This Unit, which is part of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, will assist States Parties in their efforts to reduce the threat posed by biological weapons.

The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of this years meetings of the Convention, Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Sergio Duarte and a group of experts on biological weapons, who meet this week in Geneva.

U.N. ASIA-PACIFIC COMMISSION HELPS TO ESTABLISH WOMENS COOPERATIVES NETWORK

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) said in a statement today that it is working to establish a regional network of womens cooperatives. The initiative will allow female entrepreneurs to share business knowledge and experiences. It will also help them market their products through the Internet.

A regional meeting is taking place from 23 to 24 August in Bangkok at which participants will develop and adopt a strategy for the creation of the first regional knowledge network.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO DISCUSS ANY GAPS IN ETHICS OFFICE AT UNDP

Asked about a letter sent by the head of the UN Ethics Office, Robert Benson, to UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis concerning the Ethics Offices jurisdiction, the Spokeswoman said that the Secretary-General had received a copy of that letter over the weekend and was studying it. The Secretary-General, she said, is concerned by the issue.

The Spokeswoman noted that, as matters stand, the Ethics Office does not have jurisdiction regarding cases arising from UNDP. But she noted that the Executive Board of UNDP is considering a complementary external review for key issues not covered by the Board of Auditors.

Asked about the lack of an ethics office at UNDP, Montas said that the Secretary-General would discuss ways of filling any gap. She stressed that any credible information about retaliation needs to be examined, and she expected that would be done.

As for issues of jurisdiction, she said, the Ethics Office and the Office for Internal Oversight Services cant examine UNDP issues unless invited to do so by UNDP.

In response to questions about the Secretary-Generals approach, Montas added that the Secretary-General has tried to use quiet diplomacy to deal with disputes and has shown that he can obtain results that way.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

U.N. RELIES ON STATES TO VET OFFICIALS FOR PEACEKEEPING:Asked about human rights allegations concerning a Rwandan general who had been considered for the post of Deputy Force Commander of the hybrid operations in

Darfur, the Spokeswoman said that the United Nations was talking to the Rwandan Government to determine the facts. The United Nations, she added, relies on governments to vet the officials it offers for UN peacekeeping, and Rwanda has denied the allegations against the general.

INVESTIGATION IN COTE DIVOIRE STILL GOING ON: Asked about the status of the investigation into a Moroccan contingent serving in the UN Operation in Cote dIvoire, the Spokeswoman said that a Moroccan team is still on the ground and that the investigation is continuing.