YouSaid · the spoken record

Holmes

lines on the record

557

first

2007-04-04

most recent

2010-07-07

sittings or episodes

25

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

1. “In political terms, the various parties to the conflict must urgently agree to a ceasefire and begin negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting political solution, as recommended by the Group of the Wise. As regards the security situation, a dramatically accelerated reform effort is needed to support the efforts of the Central African Government to restore its authority throughout the territory and to establish a professional and disciplined army that is capable of protecting the population, with respect for international humanitarian law. Furthermore, we must urgently ensure better protection of the borders of the Central African Republic, particularly the border with Darfur.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source

2. “By 31 March, only 18 per cent of the $54 million United Nations humanitarian appeal for the Central African Republic had been financed. Here, as elsewhere, humanitarian assistance can be only a palliative. A lasting solution requires that the Central African Republic authorities meet their obligation to protect the civilian population and put an end to impunity. I made that clear to both President Bozize and Prime Minister Dote. I do not believe, however, that the authorities of the Central African Republic - despite their stated goodwill - are in a position to confront that challenge alone. The international community, including the Council, must therefore assume its responsibilities with a view to finding political and security solutions to this political and security crisis.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source

3. “Humanitarian organizations estimate that lmillion people of the Central African Republic - about a quarter of the population - are in need of humanitarian assistance. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is estimated to have risen from 50,000 to 212,000 in less than a year. In addition, there are 70,000 refugees in Chad and Cameroon. That situation, which is disturbing to say the least, could 07-29528 further deteriorate in the coming months, particularly during the rainy season. It is clear that, despite a very enthusiastic team on the ground, the humanitarian response remains insufficient. We need more partners, more resources and more advocacy. In this regard, I appeal to United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source

4. “In Kaga Bandoro, as well as in Birao, in the north-east, fighting last month between rebels of the Union des Forces Democratiques pour Ie Rassemblement and governmental forces, along with the settling of scores that followed, destroyed 70 per cent of the town and caused the population to flee. I used the word "comparable" because it seems that in certain regions the burning and plundering of villages was the work of the rebels rather than of governmental forces. Lastly, I could not refer to the disastrous security situation in the northern Central African Republic without mentioning the actions of highway bandits and road blockers, which have a devastating impact on civilians.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source

5. “Displaced persons are generally clustered by family groups, a few kilometres from their home and their fields. There they have nothing - no drinking water, no shelter, no health or education services. Those people told me almost unanimously that they had not fled the rebels but, rather, reprisaIs by FACA and the Presidential Guard. They also stated that they did not feel safe enough to return to their villages. It is also clear that the State is no longer present in any form. People have been left to fend for themselves. Other areas of the country have been affected in a comparable manner.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source

6. “2 Following the fighting that took place on 28 January between rebels of the Armee pour Ia Restauration de la Republique et de Ia Democratic (APRD) and the Forces Armees Centrafricaines (FACA), part of the population of Paoua and of surrounding villages fled into the bush, where they remain today. I was able to visit certain villages that had been completely or partially burned, plundered and depopulated. There are no real camps for displaced persons. On the contrary, displaced persons remain scattered in the bush, which makes it particularly difficult to locate them, as they tend to flee when a vehicle approaches. I was, however, able to meet with a number of displaced persons, see the conditions in which they live and hear their often moving stories.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source

7. “Mr. Holmes: Mr. President, I wish to thank you for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on my first mission to the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic. I chose this region for my first visit because Darfur is the world's largest humanitarian operation and because throughout the region we face particularly difficult challenges to civilian protection. I will take the three countries in alphabetical order, not least to ensure that the points I want to make about the Central African Republic in particular are not overshadowed by Darfur, thus reflecting what too often happens in reality. I will report in French on the Central African Republic and Chad, and I will revert to English for the Sudan. (spoke in French) In the Central African Republic, I first visited Paoua, in the north-west region of the country.”

   2007-04-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5655 (2007) · source