Myanmar: The SG yesterday welcomed a joint statement issued by Myanmar’s Peacemaking Committee and the delegation of the Kachin Independence Organization in China, in which they agreed to work on an overall framework for de-escalate the violent conflict in Kachin state. He hopes that such developments would result in a silencing of the guns in Myanmar for the first time since its independence. Meanwhile, the SG’s Special Adviser, Vijay Nambiar, concluded his visit to Myanmar where he was in Kachin as well.
DRC: The 2013 Humanitarian Action Plan for the DRC was launched today, appealing for $893 million in aid to those in need across the country. Over 6.4 million people across the country are food insecure, while an estimated 2.7 million people have been displaced, more than half of them in the North and South Kivu regions in eastern DRC. The funding will go towards food aid, shelter, water and sanitation programs, and it will help local authorities improve access to basic social services including education.
Islamic Summit: The SG urged leaders convened at the 12th session of the Islamic Summit Conference, taking place in Cairo, to exert pressure towards a peaceful end in both Syria and Mali. In his message, he stressed the importance of working together to combat the menace of terrorism and rising intolerance and discrimination such as Islamophobia.
Iraq: Heavy rainfall caused severe damage in Northern Iraq, displacing an estimated 5,000 people and increasing the risk of water-borne and communicable diseases. The UN in Iraq is distributing emergency supplies to hundreds of families in the north-central part of the country after flooding of the Tigris River, 600 families receiving mattresses, blankets, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, and heaters.
Liberia: The SG has appointed Tamrat Samuel as his Deputy Special Representative (Rule of Law) for UNMIL. The new Deputy Special Representative for Rule of Law replaces Louis M. Aucoin of the US, who concluded his assignment in December last year.