Libya Clashes, Venezuela & other topics - Daily Briefing (30 April 2019)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
- Sudan & South Sudan
- Western Sahara
- Syria
- Libya
- UNFPA
- Press Briefing Tomorrow
- Jazz
- Honour Roll
SUDAN & SOUTH SUDAN
This morning, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, addressed the Security Council on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). He said the Mission continues to play a stabilizing role in the Abyei Area and along the border regions, adding that he was encouraged by the significantly improved relations between Sudan and South Sudan in the past year.
Also addressing the Council on Sudan and South Sudan was Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. He updated Council Members on recent developments in relations between the two countries, on the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States and the process led by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).

WESTERN SAHARA
The Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, otherwise known as MINURSO, and that mandate was extended for a further six months.

SYRIA
This afternoon, Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy for Syria, will brief the Security Council in a meeting, followed by closed consultations, and he will address reporters after at the stakeout.
LIBYA
On Libya, the United Nations is very much concerned about the continued clashes and their impact on civilians. The UN continues to provide humanitarian support and call for humanitarian pauses and a ceasefire.
An estimated 43,000 people have now been displaced by fighting, that’s according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Almost 30,000 people have received some form of humanitarian assistance since the start of the current hostilities, including assistance to displaced families at collective shelters, assistance to refugees and migrants, including evacuations, and restocking of medical facilities.
Through the Tripoli Flash Appeal, $10.2 million in funding is being urgently needed to assist people impacted by the clashes.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, today expressed grave concern that thousands of civilians remain stranded in conflict-affected areas of Tripoli. In a statement, she stressed the urgent need for the creation of safe humanitarian corridors for trapped civilians and joined calls for an immediate ceasefire and resumption of political talks.
VENEZUELA
Regarding the latest developments in Venezuela, the Secretary-General urged all sides to exercise “maximum restraint,” avoid any violence and take immediate steps to restore calm, a UN spokesperson told reporters in New York on Tuesday (30 Apr).
The Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric also said the United Nations is reaching out to the parties, adding that “contacts had been had at various levels within the United Nations.”
Asked about the Secretary-General’s position on Venezuela, Dujarric said, “It’s not for the Secretary-General to give support to one party or another. The focus of the Secretary-General is on the well-being of the people of Venezuela and ensure that everything is done to avoid violence and the calm be restored.”
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