International Albinism Awareness Day & Other Topics - Daily Press Briefing (13 June 2019)

Daily Press Briefing: Secretary-General at the Security Council, Syria, Mali, Yemen, Ebola, Climate, World Economic Forum, U.N. Studies, Albinism.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Secretary-General briefed the Security Council’s session on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
The Secretary-General noted with deep concern this morning’s security incident in the Strait of Hormuz and strongly condemned any attack against civilian vessels. 
“Facts must be established, and responsibilities clarified,” he said. “If there is something the world cannot afford, it is a major confrontation in the Gulf region.”
With regards to the cooperation with regional organizations, he reiterated it has been one of his priorities from day one to prevent conflict and sustain peace, and our cooperation with the League of Arab States is pivotal, he said.
While acknowledging the challenges facing the region, the Secretary-General highlighted the potential “for action that will bring real change to the peoples of the Arab world and beyond”.
He also announced that the UN Liaison Office to the League of Arab States in Cairo will become operational this month and thanked the Government of Egypt for its support with this facility.
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will meet the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit tomorrow morning in his office and we will organize a brief press encounter afterwards in the Secretary-General’s Conference Room.

SYRIA
We remain alarmed by the extensive humanitarian impact of hostilities currently unfolding in the northwest Syria de-escalation zone, particularly in northern Hama and southern Idlib.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights documented incidents in which at least 231 civilians, including 69 women and 81 children, were killed and scores of civilians injured since the escalation of hostilities on 29 April. 
More than 300,000 people have fled towards the border with Turkey. Camps for the displaced are overcrowded, with many people forced to stay in open fields or under trees.
Reports of heavy fighting, airstrikes and artillery shelling on several fronts in northern rural Hama governorate continue despite the announcement of a ceasefire yesterday between parties to the conflict.
The United Nations urges all parties to the fighting to recommit fully to the ceasefire arrangements agreed to between Russia and Turkey last September and reminds all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to respect the principles of distinction and proportionality.

MALI
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, briefed the Security Council yesterday afternoon.
He told Member States that Sunday’s attack in Central Mali was another reminder of the gravity of the situation and he highlighted steps taken since March to improve the protection of civilians, including an increase in the number of patrols and actions to promote reconciliation.
“The infernal cycle of violence must be stopped,” he said, as he emphasized the importance of fighting against impunity.
Also on Mali, we shared a joint statement issued yesterday afternoon by Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; Adama Dieng, the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide; and Karen Smith, the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect. They condemned the attack on 9 June and called for immediate actions to de-escalate the cycle of intercommunal, ethnic violence and retaliatory attacks that have been unfolding in central Mali.
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