United Nations Daily Highlights, 08-05-07

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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 MARIE OKABE

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

BAN KI-MOON URGES MYANMAR TO ALLOW IN AID WORKERS AND SUPPLIES

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is very concerned about the continuing tragedy in Myanmar, where the government has confirmed that over 22,000 people have died, and more than 41,000 people are missing, following Cyclone Nargis on 2-3 May.

Initial estimates suggest that up to one million people are currently homeless, and many more require assistance.

The Secretary-General believes that this is a critical moment for the people of Myanmar, and emphasizes the importance of providing as much assistance as possible in the vital first few days following the cyclones impact.

He welcomes todays news that some UN aid officials will be allowed into Myanmar tomorrow, which will assist assessment and prioritization efforts.

Given the magnitude of this disaster, the Secretary-General urges the Government of Myanmar to respond to the outpouring of international support and solidarity by facilitating the arrival of aid workers, and the clearance of relief supplies in every way possible.

This can significantly aid the Government in responding to this tragedy.

Asked whether the Secretary-General believes it is desirable to hold a referendum in Myanmar under the current circumstances, the Spokeswoman said she had nothing to add to what she had said on that topic on Tuesday. She noted that at present, the Secretary-General believes it is important to focus all efforts on helping the people who are in desperate need in Myanmar and to save as many lives as possible.

FIRST U.N. FLIGHTS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN YANGON EARLY THURSDAY

The World Food Programme (WFP) has sent four aircraft loaded with critically needed food and other relief items to Myanmar. A total of 45 metric tons of high-energy biscuits is expected to arrive in Yangon early Thursday on two WFP-chartered aircraft from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and one from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.A fourth aircraft from Brindisi, Italy, is carrying 25 metric tones of emergency response equipment paid for by Italy.

These will be the first UN flights to arrive in the city. WFP and partners will quickly transport the cargo to the hardest hit regions along Myanmars southern coast.

Meanwhile, WFP and its partners today distributed 90 tons of rice from existing stocks already in place to Ayeyarwaddy Division townships and other locations near Yangon.

Some 130 UNICEF technical and operations staff are continuing to travel to cyclone-affected areas, identifying the greatest threats to women and children and delivering supplies from pre-positioned emergency stocks. These include family health kits, water purifying solutions, oral rehydration salts, tarpaulins and cooking supplies.

The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is also poised to deliver 22 tones of emergency relief supplies to Myanmar through the border crossing from Mae Sot in northwest Thailand. Plastic sheets and enough tents to provide shelter for 10,000 people are also among the items slated for shipment. UNHCR has emergency relief stocks in Thailand near the nine refugee camps strung out along the lengthy border with Myanmar.

UNHCR says it is not usually involved in natural disaster relief operations, but it has responded to the cyclone crisis because of the scale of the devastation, the urgent need of the victims, and the proximity of its emergency supplies.

DARFUR: BAN KI-MOON DEPLORES BOMBINGS OF CIVILIAN LOCATIONS

The Secretary-General is deeply troubled by the recent bombings of civilian locations in North Darfur. In particular, the bombing of a school, water installations and a market in the villages of Um Sidir, Ein Bassar and Shegeg Karo are entirely unacceptable.

The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur, UNAMID, has assisted in the evacuation of casualties following the attacks.

The Secretary-General strongly deplores these acts, which targeted civilian areas, including in locations where children congregate.

The Secretary-General is also concerned about increasing acts of banditry which are complicating humanitarian operations and impede UNAMIDs ability to carry out its mandate.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call for all parties to urgently cease hostilities, ensure the protection of civilians and to work with UNAMID to promote security and commit to the political process being led by the Special Envoys of the United Nations and African Union.

ZIMBABWE: BAN KI-MOON URGES FUTURE STAGES OF ELECTORAL PROCESS BE CONDUCTED IN PEACEFUL, CREDIBLE AND TRANSPARENT MANNER

The Secretary-General is closely following the evolving situation in Zimbabwe, and has remained in contact with leaders in the region.

He continues to be concerned by reports of politically motivated violence and intimidation in the country as the current impasse continues.

He reiterates his strong belief that future stages of the electoral process must be conducted in a peaceful, credible and transparent manner in the presence of international observers.

SECURITY COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON SITUATION IN SIERRA LEONE

The Security Council, in an open meeting this morning, heard from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Dmitry Titov about the work of the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone.

Titov noted that the new Sierra Leone Government has taken major steps to implement its reform agenda, as well as policies that promote transparency and accountability.

In July, he said, the country will take another major step towards enhancing its democratic process by holding local council elections, for which the U.N. Development Programme is providing technical support. However, he said, there has regrettably been little improvement in Sierra Leones socio-economic conditions.

The Council followed its open meeting with consultations, also on Sierra Leone.

U.N. ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE IN NEPAL WRAPS UP ITS WORK

The UN Mission in Nepals Electoral Assistance Office is

wrapping up its operations, having successfully provided technical assistance and advice to Nepals Election Commission in the holding of the historic Constituent Assembly election.

The Chief Electoral Advisor, Fida Nasrallah, will deliver a final report in June based on the written reports of all electoral advisors.

U.N. REGIONAL CENTER ON DISARMAMENT TO BE RELOCATED TO NEPAL

The Office for Disarmament Affairs announced that Austria this week has committed to contribute 100,000 euros to fund its project on combating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Asia and the Pacific.

Since the beginning of 2008, several other Member States including Turkey, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan and Thailand have made financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which will be relocated to Katmandu, Nepal this July. The Centre needs a total of $1.2 million to implement its two disarmament projects and about $1 million to build its institutional capacity.

Covering 43 countries in the region, the centre relies on voluntary contributions from donors for its staffing needs, operations and all activities and projects.

The Office for Disarmament Affairs has been actively engaged in mobilizing resources for the Centre and for its projects on pressing disarmament issues.

BAN KI-MOON TRAVELS TO U.S. CITY OF ATLANTA

The Secretary-General is leaving this afternoon for Atlanta, Georgia. This is part of his ongoing tour of major U.S. cities.

Tomorrow morning he will join Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin in viewing the Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers Collection at the Robert W. Woodruff Library. He is expected to see documents underlining the deep relationship between the civil rights leader and the United Nations.

The Secretary-Generals tribute to Dr. King will coincide with the yearlong commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Also tomorrow, the Secretary-General plans to: meet with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue; tour the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; visit CIFAL Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the UN Institute for Training and Research; and discuss global health issues at a dinner at the Carter Center.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

DR CONGO HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS RECEIVES FUNDING: The Pooled Fund has announced its first allocation of 2008 for humanitarian projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. US$60 million will fund more than 160 projects. Additional allocations are expected to be announced by the end of the year. The Pooled Fund was established by the international community in 2006 to support humanitarian activities in the DRC. So far it has funded more than US$ 200 million worth of projects, benefiting roughly 20 million people.

U.N. PEACEKEEPING OFFICIAL TO RETURN TO PREVIOUS POST: Asked about the status of Jane Holl Lute, the Spokeswoman said that she had been the acting head of the Department of Field Services and would now return to her previous position in that Department.