Somalia: this morning the Security Council held an open debate on legal responses to piracy off of the coast of Somalia, in which the SG reported that in the past seven months there have been 139 piracy-related incidents and 30 hijacked ships, while 17 ships and 450 sailors are currently being held at ransom.
DRC: the SG has issued a statement today in response to the rape and assault of at least 154 Congolese civilians during an attack by armed elements of the Mai-Mai and FDLR in eastern DRC earlier this month, expressing his “outrage”, calling on armed groups in the DRC to lay down their weapons and join the peace process and calling on the government of the DRC to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. He has decided to immediately dispatch ASG Atul Kh
Pakistan: in today’s GA meeting on Pakistan, the SG called the Pakistani floods a “slow-motion tsunami” and “one of the greatest tests of global solidarity” where needs are only expected to grow beyond the 15-20 million people already directly affected and in need of assistance. To date, nearly 1 million people have received a month’s food ration from the WFP and nearly the same have received emergency shelter and clean water from UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, WHO and others.
MONUC: in response to a deadly attack this morning which killed three UN Peacekeepers serving with MONUSCO in the DRC, the SG has called on the Government of the DRC to launch in immediate investigation. The attack comes on the eve of World Humanitarian Day (Aug 19), which is also the seven year anniversary of the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, which claimed the lives of 22 UN staff in 2003. Ambassador Rice issued this
If a tree falls in the UN in August, does it make a sound? UN Direct will be back bringing you insider updates from the UN after a summer break. Convention on Cluster Munitions: on Sunday, August 1 the Convention on Cluster Munitions will enter into force, a development welcomed by the SG. The First Meeting of States Parties will be held in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, a country which has suffered from cluster munitions, in November 2010. UNAMID: today the Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of UNAMID by 12 months, until July 31, 2011. On Sunday, Russia assumes the rotating presidency of the Council from Nigeria. USG OIOS: today the GA endorsed the SG’s appointment of Carman Lapointe-Young (Canada) as USG of OIOS. Though approved without a vote, Egypt and Cuba expressed their disappointment that the selection was not from a developing country. Ambassador Rice’s statement on her nomination is available here. Ms. ICJ: as you may have heard, today the International Court of Justice delivered its advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, which, by a vote of 10-4, decided that the declaration did not violate international law. Secretary Clinton issued this positive statement in response. Both the SG and Clinton have urged constructive dialogue in the wake of this decision.
