YouSaid · the spoken record

Bragg

lines on the record: 30
first: 2011-08-10
most recent: 2011-11-09
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The Council has come far in its efforts to address the protection of civilians and has set important precedents, in particular on accountability. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must do more to advance the protection of civilians and ensure that progress is made where it matters most - in the midst of conflict.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Participants recognized the richness of fact- finding practices and the challenges involved, including selectivity as to the situations under review and the need to improve follow-up on their findings and recommendations. Participants also emphasized the need for the Council to have greater resort to the findings of fact-finding mechanisms established by other United Nations bodies. Finally, participants highlighted the significant number of reparations mechanisms that exist at the international and national levels and the breadth of practice in terms of the forms of reparation awarded. It was agreed that more detailed discussion was necessary to determine how such mechanisms could be supported in the future.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“As mentioned by the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Portugal, together with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, convened a one-day workshop last week on enhancing the role of the Council in ensuring accountability for violations. The workshop saw constructive exchanges on three key aspects of accountability: individual criminal responsibility, fact- finding and reparations. With regard to the first aspect, suggestions were made on the possible development of a checklist of issues for the Council to consider when making referrals to the International Criminal Court, and on how the Council could support national authorities in conducting investigations and prosecutions, including the possible role of peacekeeping missions in that regard.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“In the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, 335,000 people have been displaced, including 49,000 during the first six months of this year. The situations I have described have many aspects in common, not least the perpetration of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Equally common to most of these situations is the failure to hold accountable those responsible for such violations and to provide any form of justice or redress for their victims. The failure of accountability has to end. We cannot continue to ignore war crimes and serious violations of human rights law in situations of conflict, nor can we ignore the need to ensure that victims see justice and reparations for the wrongs they have suffered.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Throughout the Kivus and neighbouring provinces, insecurity has made humanitarian access increasingly difficult, with 135 security incidents involving humanitarian workers having been reported this year. Five humanitarian workers were killed last month and two were abducted in September. Along with those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, civilians in the Central African Republic continue to confront the brutality of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Between January and August, 254 attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army were reported across the three countries, resulting in 126 deaths and 368 abductions. We estimate that approximately 440,000 persons are now internally displaced or living as refugees owing to LRA actions.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“South Sudan faces additional security challenges stemming from militia and intertribal violence. Since January, there have been nearly 430 conflict-related incidents, resulting in 3,100 deaths and displacing over 215,000 people. There is the prospect of further violence as competition over natural resources increases with the return of South Sudanese from the Sudan to areas in which basic services are already stretched. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attacks against civilians by armed groups have intensified in the North and South Kivu provinces this year. The number of internally displaced persons in North Kivu increased by 30 per cent during the first half of 2011, reaching over half a million people by the end of July. Only 20,000 returns have been registered in North Kivu this year, compared with 235,000 in 2010.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“In the Sudan's Darfur region, fighting between the national armed forces and armed movements in such areas as eastern Jebel Marra displaced an estimated 70,000 people during the first eight months of this year, while 425 civilians were killed, including as a result of intertribal fighting. In Southern Kordofan, fighting between Sudanese forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North has severely affected the civilian population, including the 20,000 people who have fled to South Sudan. In Blue Nile State, the fighting that erupted in September initially displaced 130,000 people. A further 28,700 people fled to Ethiopia and over 6,200 to South Sudan. Meanwhile, the continued presence of Sudanese and South Sudanese armed forces in Abyei, following hostilities in May, is preventing up to 110,000 people from returning home.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Turning to sub-Saharan Africa, the recent escalation in fighting and insecurity along the Somalia- Kenya border risks increasing the suffering of civilians already devastated by conflict, drought, famine and displacement. I am concerned by the air strikes conducted by Kenyan armed forces against Al-Shabaab earlier this month, which reportedly killed civilians in a camp for internally displaced Somalis. The Somali conflict has long been characterized by the failure of all parties to respect international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction and proportionality. The need for scrupulous compliance with the law by all parties is of the utmost urgency.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“In Afghanistan, some half a million Afghans have been internally displaced by the conflict, 130,000 of them during the first six months of this year. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented over 1,400 civilian deaths in the first six months of this year, a 15 per cent rise over the same period last year. More civilians were killed in May than in any other month since 2007, when the Mission began to document civilian casualties. Those deaths were attributed to the increased use of improvised explosive devices, as well as suicide attacks, targeted killings, increased ground fighting and air strikes involving helicopters.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“In Colombia in June, the Government took the historic and welcome step of enacting legislation that will provide restitution for up to 4 million victims of the conflict, including through land restitution for those who were forcibly displaced. However, ongoing hostilities involving the guerrilla groups and armed groups that emerged following the demobilization of paramilitary forces in 2006 continue to be marked by violations of international humanitarian law, displacement and the confinement of civilian populations in particular areas. In addition, during the first eight months of this year, 104 civilians were wounded and 16 killed by mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the various groups. Mines and IEDs have also hampered the ability of humanitarian organizations to reach vulnerable populations in a timely manner.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Turning to Gaza and southern Israel, in August, a series of attacks launched from Egypt into southern Israel by unknown militants resulted in the death of six Israeli civilians. In response, Israel conducted air raids on Gaza, resulting in 30 Palestinian fatalities and 103 injured, the majority of whom were reported to be civilians. One Israeli civilian was also killed and seven injured by rockets fired from Gaza during this period. A more limited escalation of violence at the end of last month resulted in the death of an Israeli civilian and injuries to another three Israeli and two Palestinian civilians.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“There are reports of serious human rights violations, including excessive use of force and restrictions on freedom of movement. I am also concerned by the interruption of water and electricity supplies during military operations, and by interference with medical services. In Yemen, conflict, poverty, drought, soaring food prices and collapsing State services have created a daily struggle for survival for millions of people, including 100,000 displaced by recent fighting in the South, and thousands of refugees from the Horn of Africa, as well as 300,000 persons displaced by previous conflicts, in the North. The response to peaceful demands for greater freedoms, an end to corruption and respect for the rule of law has been marked by excessive and disproportionate use of force by the State. Hundreds have been killed and thousands injured.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“In parts of Misrata, the presence of unexploded cluster sub-munitions underlines the importance of the comprehensive ban on such weapons, as is stipulated in the Convention on Cluster Munitions. That is why the ongoing efforts of some States parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects to adopt new international legal standards that would undermine that ban and facilitate the use of cluster munitions is very troubling. I remain extremely concerned by events in Syria. Currently, the situation falls short of armed conflict. However, military operations are exacting a heavy toll. More than 3,500 Syrians have been reported killed since March.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“The widespread availability of small arms and light weapons is of grave concern, as is the National Transitional Council's apparent lack of effective command and control over various militia forces. I am alarmed by reports that some of those forces are involved in the ill-treatment, including killing and arbitrary detention, of segments of the population perceived as loyal to the former regime and of sub-Saharan African migrants. It is a reminder that the protection of civilians remains acutely relevant in the post-Al-Qadhafi period. Throughout Libya, the risk posed to civilians, especially children, by abandoned weapons and ammunition and by explosive remnants of war, is very high.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Eight months of conflict in Libya has led to the death and injury of thousands of civilians, the internal displacement of more than 200,000 people and the outflow of nearly one million migrant workers and third-country nationals. Intense fighting in urban centres routinely prevented the wounded, as well as lifesaving supplies and international assistance, from reaching hospitals. In addition to posing a serious threat to civilians at the time, the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas in such places as Misrata and Sirte has led to significant destruction of housing and essential infrastructure. Displaced people are starting to return home, and schools have reopened throughout most of the country. But normalcy is far from assured.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Ms. Bragg: I am grateful for this opportunity to brief the Council. The following statement is attributable to the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ms. Valerie Amos. These debates are an important opportunity for focused discussion of the protection of civilians in a number of situations and serve to convey some sense of what we see in conflicts, which is marked by the consistent failure of the parties concerned to comply with their legal obligations to respect and protect civilians. That failure manifests itself in many ways: the killing and maiming of civilians; sexual violence; the forced recruitment of children; displacement across and within borders; impeded provision of assistance; and a failure to hold accountable those who perpetrate or instigate violations and to provide support, justice and redress to victims.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“As we have stressed over recent weeks, this is the most severe food crisis emergency in the world right now. We must treat it with the urgency it demands.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“But the magnitude of human suffering in Somalia today demands more. Despite the difficulty of operating in one of the most conflict-riven countries in the world, we cannot let people down. Our response must be scaled up, and the resources to support that effort must be provided. Every day counts. We believe that tens of thousands have already died. Hundreds of thousands face imminent starvation and death. We can act to prevent further loss of life and ensure the survival of those who are on the brink of death. A massive multisectoral response to save lives in the immediate term and rebuild livelihoods in the medium-short term are critical. We will continue to appeal to donors to provide the resources needed to respond to the crisis. We expect assistance needs to continue for the rest of this year, if not longer.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“At the current juncture, it is of paramount importance that the capacity of the local administration be strengthened to allow proper coordination between the humanitarian community and the Government and ensure that the Government fully discharges its responsibilities with regard to the protection of the civilian population. I would like to conclude my statement with some remarks on the funding situation of humanitarian programmes. To date, the United Nations Consolidated Appeal for Somalia is funded at 46 per cent. Humanitarian partners still require more than $560 million for life-saving assistance. In the region, we still urgently need $1.3 billion to save lives. Donors have committed more than $1 billion to the response so far, and continue to pledge more. We are very grateful, especially in these difficult economic times.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“Earlier this week, on 8 August, the Humanitarian Coordinator met with the Prime Minister in Mogadishu, together with the Department of Safety and Security, WFP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to discuss the scaling up of the humanitarian programme and improving security at IDP sites. Last week, the TFG created the Disaster Management Agency (DMA) to coordinate the provision of humanitarian assistance. The Prime Minister reassured the United Nations delegation that the Government would be able to negotiate secure access to assist delivery in the camps. However, technical support will still be required, and OCHA is now following up with DMA to improve information- sharing on the delivery of assistance.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“It remains unclear if this move is a complete pull-out or a change of tactics on the part of Al-Shabaab, or how this new scenario will affect overall security and our ability to deliver humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the capacity of the local civilian administration in supporting the delivery of aid and ensuring the security of IDP sites remains weak. Last Friday, for example, 10 people were shot dead at an IDP site in the area under the control of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the African Union Mission in Somalia, when local clan militias attempted to loot resources destined for IDPs.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“Across southern and central Somalia, sanitation activities have reached almost 340,000 people. Water interventions, such as borehole rehabilitation and water trucking, have reached over 817,000 people. In Mogadishu this week, an Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees airlift carrying 31 tons of shelter material and some 2,500 emergency assistance packages for thousands of displaced people landed in the capital, for the first time in five years. However, humanitarian operations in Mogadishu remain complex, and the scaling up of activities is not a quick endeavour. Humanitarian actors are still assessing the implications of the withdrawal of Al-Shabaab from Mogadishu.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“Since 27 July, 97 tons of supplies have been airlifted to Mogadishu, Gedo and Lower Juba to treat some 34,000 malnourished children under five years of age for one month. High-energy biscuits have also been airlifted to the areas of Gedo and Lower Juba to feed 60,000 people. Emergency measles campaigns targeting more than 72,000 children aged six months to 15 years are under way in accessible districts in the Gedo region, while negotiations are under way with local authorities to secure access to additional areas. A measles vaccination campaign targeting 40,000 children under five years of age was completed in Mogadishu. Furthermore, a health campaign targeting 215,000 children under five years of age with measles and polio vaccines was carried out along the Somali-Kenyan border.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“In July, following assessment missions to two newly accessible areas in the Gedo area, where spontaneous settlements are springing up due to the increased movement of people, we have seen an increase in the delivery of life-saving assistance to the most needy, including, for example, a wet-feeding programme providing 25,000 meals per day for five days, starting 2 August. UNICEF is boosting its supply pipeline to support the existing supplementary feeding centres, stabilization centres and therapeutic feeding centres. Blanket supplementary feeding is meanwhile scheduled to start this week, with priority given to operations in famine-affected regions, including in Lower Shabelle. Supplies will assist an estimated 154,000 people.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“For example, on 4 August, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced the increase of its emergency operations in central and southern Somalia to assist more than 1 million people affected by drought and conflict. The ICRC has been the only organization allowed to conduct food distribution in Al-Shabaab areas since the suspension of World Food Programme (WFP) operations in January 2010. In areas under the control of Al-Shabaab, the United Nations and its partners continue to negotiate access with local authorities and communities to reach new areas and move closer to the people affected.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“Since 1 August, an estimated 1,500 Somali refugees have crossed the border into Kenya on a daily basis. In Ethiopia, the number of refugees has decreased from over 1,000 to an average of 270 people a day. A massive multisectoral response is critical to prevent additional deaths and total livelihood and social collapse. Health interventions are as important as the provision of food aid or therapeutic feeding, in particular since, with the start of the rains in October, the risk of epidemic disease due to a lack of access to potable water is likely to increase. In recent weeks, some progress has been made in scaling up the response.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“We have not yet seen the peak of the crisis, as further deterioration is considered likely given the very high levels of both severe acute malnutrition and under-five mortality in combination with an expectation of a continued increase in local cereal prices and a below-average rainy season harvest. The drought crisis has generated displacement on a large scale within Somalia, as well as refugee outflows into Kenya and Ethiopia. An estimated 100,000 people, fleeing drought and famine, have reached Mogadishu over the past two months alone in search of food, water and shelter. In addition to the 370,000 people who were already displaced to the capital, to date the overall number of IDPs in Somalia is estimated at 1.5 million. An estimated 410,000 IDPs are located in the 15 kilometre stretch of road in the Afgoye corridor outside Mogadishu.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“It means that by the time I go to bed tonight, 13 people, six of whom would be under 5 years of age, would have died, and tomorrow 13 will also die. That will continue the day after that unless we can reverse the trend. And this is only in one community of 10,000. As we all know, the IDP community is a great deal larger than that in the famine area. According to the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit, the current situation represents the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world today, and Africa's worst food security crisis since Somalia's famine of 1991 and 1992.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“Nationwide, 3.7 million people are in crisis, with 3.2 million people in need of immediate life-saving assistance, of whom 2.8 million are in south-central Somalia. That is twice the entire population of Manhattan. Children are the most affected by the crisis, and an estimated 1.25 million children across southern Somalia are in urgent need of life-saving assistance. Tens of thousands of children have already died, and many more will die in the coming days unless aid is provided to them. The under-five mortality rate is higher than 4 per 10,000 per day in all areas of the south, peaking at 13 per 10,000 per day in the riverine and agro-pastoral areas of Lower Shabelle and among Afgoye and Mogadishu IDPs. Let me illustrate what 13 per 10,000 per day actually means.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source
“Ms. Bragg: I thank the Council for the opportunity to brief its members this morning on the humanitarian situation in Somalia. Since our last briefing of 26 July, the magnitude of the crisis has become even greater. A little less than two weeks ago, the United Nations declared a famine in two regions in Somalia and warned that urgent action needed to be taken to prevent famine from spreading further. On 3 August, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit announced that famine thresholds had been surpassed in the three additional areas of southern Somalia, in Middle Shabelle, the Afgoye corridor internally displaced persons (IDPs) settlement and the Mogadishu IDP community.”
2011-08-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6599 (2011) · source