YouSaid · the spoken record

Jonathan Allen

lines on the record: 336
first: 2020-03-31
most recent: 2021-05-26
sittings or episodes: 49
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

“In resolution 2417 (2018), the Council recalled that it could consider adopting targeted sanctions — where appropriate and in line with existing practices — that would apply to individuals or entities obstructing the delivery or distribution of humanitarian assistance to people in need while ensuring that they do not negatively affect principles of humanitarian assistance. Therefore, just as it is vital that the Security Council take steps to ensure that humanitarian assistance can be received quickly and that the necessary exemptions are made from sanctions regimes to do so, as we did recently with respect to North Korea, so too must we pursue those individual actors impeding the delivery of aid to those who so desperately need it.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“In resolution 2417 (2018), the Council asked the Secretary-General to provide it with early warning about conflict-related famine and food insecurity conditions. It is through this mechanism that the Council must consider the situations in Yemen and in South Sudan. It is our hope that the Secretary- General will consider further ways to continue responding in a timely manner to this request, and Member States should not constrain his ability to do so. The Security Council must also be prepared to take robust action to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance to populations in need.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“Further, beyond the north-west, we are deeply concerned about the fate of civilians all over Syria who need to see effective humanitarian access throughout the country. That concern is why the United Kingdom has given over $4 billion to Syria and to Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries since the conflict began. It is unacceptable, illegal and inhumane to use hunger as a weapon of war. We call on all parties to conflict to recall their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect the most vulnerable, including women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, refugees and internally displaced persons. However, the Council’s response to this challenge must include horizon- scanning for future problems.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“Political leaders must now show real leadership, and they must act in the interests of their people. In north-western Syria, the United Nations reports increased rates of stunting from malnutrition. Today, three out of ten displaced children under the age of five in the Idlib region are stunted. Because the Syrian regime will not allow aid to flow from Damascus to the civilians in that area, those children, like millions of other civilians in north-west Syria, are entirely reliant on the cross-border delivery of humanitarian aid. It is therefore crucial that the Security Council renew resolution 2504 (2020) before it expires in July in order to allow the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to deliver the food, medical items and other assistance that people in north-western Syria so desperately require.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“I wish to focus today on two countries on the Council’s agenda — Yemen and Syria — while recognizing the important comments made by our briefers on other situations around the world. In Yemen, more than half of the population — a staggering 15.9 million people — are severely food insecure. We therefore urge the Yemeni political leaders, particularly the Houthis, to respond constructively to the call of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy to immediately cease hostilities, focus on reaching a negotiated settlement and do everything possible to counter a potentially disastrous outbreak of COVID-19, including facilitating unimpeded humanitarian access. Taking these actions is more important than ever if a worsening of food insecurity and the already dire humanitarian situation in the country are to be avoided.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“They have all made it clear that as the world faces the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the issue before us presents an increasingly urgent challenge. Many people will die from the COVID-19 virus, but it is a sad reality that every year many people will also die from food insecurity caused by conflict. The risk of a further knock-on impact from the virus on the food supply was made very clear by our briefers and, put simply, those who are well fed have a better chance of survival. I would therefore urge all States Members of the United Nations to respond today and generously to existing humanitarian appeals. While the United Kingdom is one of the largest humanitarian donors in the world, we see humanitarian aid as a last resort. It is a sign of political failing.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“I would like to ask you, Sir, to kindly pass on our welcome and thanks to Foreign Minister Vargas Maldonado for being with us today. I also want to congratulate the Dominican Republic on its efforts aimed at ensuring that the issue before us was properly discussed and debated, thereby showing the Security Council’s transparency on the issue. Let me also thank our briefers for their briefings today and, more importantly, thank them and their teams — their vast teams, in many cases — for the actions that they are carrying out in some of the most dangerous places around the world. It is also particularly nice to see Mr. David Beasley back and well. Our briefers today have rung an enormous alarm bell about situations across the world.”
2020-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/340 (2020) · source
“We also understand the impact that said measures will have on the timing of the planned drawdown of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. Let me conclude by once again reaffirming the United Kingdom’s support for the Government and the people of the Sudan in their endeavours to bring about a peaceful, stable, prosperous and democratic future. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Council to play our part in supporting those efforts.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“I would therefore like to ask Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his assessment of the protection-of-civilians needs and risks in Darfur and the current capacity of the Government of the Sudan to assume full responsibility for such protection. I would also be grateful if he could provide information on the type of deployment that would be required for the new mission to support the Sudanese Government in protecting its civilians. Let me also say that we have noted the measures taken by the United Nations concerning peacekeeping, in particular the pause on rotations. We understand the impact that this could have, depending on climatic conditions, as Under-Secretary- General Lacroix mentioned.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“We understand that the Government of the Sudan would like the United Nations to support capacity-building. The United Kingdom believes that there should also be a role for the capacity-building, training and mentoring of police forces. In the time it takes to implement such capacity-building, we must ensure that a security vacuum does not undermine efforts to achieve comprehensive peace in Darfur and facilititate the overall political transition in the Sudan. And, in a spirit of the new relationship between the Sudan and the United Nations, we firmly believe that the new mission can and should be a partner to the Government of Sudan in responding to the ongoing challenges in Darfur related to the protection of civilians, particularly in the internally displaced persons camps.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“The approximately 1.8 million internally displaced persons in Darfur remain particularly vulnerable to human rights violations and abuses. We cannot ignore the considerable and ongoing challenges in Darfur relating to the protection of civilians. The United Kingdom fully supports the Sudanese Government’s request for a new, whole-of-Sudan United Nations mission that can provide support across the full range of issues related to the transition. We believe that the Council should support that request and back a relationship between the Sudan and the United Nations that is underpinned by national ownership, partnership and collaboration. We should be ready to move quickly in response to the Sudan’s declared needs. As Rosemary DiCarlo said today, the situation is dire.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“That commitment to peace is promising, as is the positive response to the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire by the parties to the Juba peace talks. But we now need to see that all sides, especially the armed movements, engage constructively, immediately and without preconditions to conclude swiftly the negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement. We call on them to do so. Despite the positive progress that has been made in the Sudan, we remain concerned about the security situation in Darfur, which continues to be undermined by ongoing conflict in Jebel Marra that increases intercommunal violence and civilian displacement. Just this week, there were reports of an attack on a village in central Darfur, in which civilians were apparently killed and wounded, 70 homes burned down and approximately 155 households displaced.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“One of the brightest spots on the Council’s agenda has been the beginning of the Sudan’s transition to a democratic and peaceful nation. There has been much progress in the years since the removal of former President Al-Bashir. We encourage all Sudanese parties, as well as the international community, to remain fully committed behind the Sudan to ensure the successful implementation of the Constitutional Declaration, even during the challenges presented by COVID-19. In that connection, I commend in particular the positive role that the African Union continues to play in the Sudan’s political transition. The Government of the Sudan and a number of armed movements have been engaging in talks for comprehensive peace across the Sudan.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“Let me begin by thanking Under-Secretary-Generals DiCarlo and Lacroix and for their briefings. Let me also reiterate the United Kingdom’s condemnation of the attack and the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Hamdok. Regrettably, the Sudan, like many parts of the world, is experiencing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which compounds an already difficult socioeconomic and humanitarian situation. On behalf of the United Kingdom, I want to send today a message of solidarity and support to the Government and the people of the Sudan in their efforts to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate its effects. As part of the United Kingdom’s $1 billion commitment since the COVID-19 outbreak began, we have given $6 million to the United Nations COVID-19 response plan for the Sudan.”
2020-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/336 (2020) · source
“We call on the Government of Yemen to urgently come up with a credible and transparent plan that reassures potential donors of their investments to the Yemeni people. Like Mr. Lowcock, let me echo my gratitude for the announced contribution by Saudi Arabia. I conclude by noting that in the Council we have said for some time now that it is self-evident that no one party can win a military victory in Yemen. Over the years, we have called for political talks and the peace process to take effect, most recently in our press statement on 10 April (SC/14159). Now is that moment. We should all send a strong message of support from the Council to Mr. Griffiths and his team for their efforts, and to the parties to get behind those efforts and to seize this opportunity for the sake of the people of Yemen.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“Lowcock set out elsewhere. I have raised the significant risk posed by the FSO SAFER oil tanker a number of times before. A substantial oil leak from the FSO SAFER tanker would have a devastating effect on Yemen in the Red Sea. And while negotiations are under way to find a diplomatic way forward, I urge the Houthis to allow either the removal of the oil or a repair mission to proceed. Their continued inaction on this issue is reckless. Huge environmental and humanitarian damage must be avoided. We remain extremely concerned that the Central Bank of Yemen will run out of foreign currency reserves in the next few weeks, threatening a major economic collapse with humanitarian and political consequences. Significant external assistance to the Central Bank is urgently needed to keep imports coming in.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“The Houthis must now deliver on the minimum operational requirements that the international community has clearly set out. They include allowing independent needs assessments, signing principal and sub-agreements and allowing humanitarian agencies to operate independently and freely. That last point is vital. It will ensure aid gets to the right people. I know that the World Food Programme has already been forced to alternate monthly food distributions in the north because it could not implement biometric registration beneficiaries. If these minimal operating requirements are not met, then assistance will be scaled back elsewhere. At the same time, picking up on what Mr. Lowcock said, let me call on the Government of Yemen to grant the necessary approvals and complete the necessary bureaucratic requirements, as Mr.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“We need to be clear, as an international community, that any refusal to engage with the Special Envoy’s proposals or any attempt to undermine his efforts through military action is an attempt to frustrate the efforts of the United Nations to end this awful conflict, and will be viewed internationally as such. On the humanitarian side, I think Mr. Lowcock’s message was clear: COVID-19 could have a huge and devastating impact on Yemen. The equation is simple: the more food, the better fed the people; the more medicine, the fewer infections and the fewer deaths. So we just have to get humanitarian access and supplies in. It is deeply disturbing to hear Mr. Lowcock used words like “non-permissive environment” in this circumstance.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“I welcome the Government of Yemen’s positive response to Saudi Arabia’s declaration and its willingness to engage in peace talks to achieve a nationwide ceasefire. And I know, too, that the Houthi responded positively to Secretary- General Guterres’s call for a nationwide ceasefire in Yemen, but it is disappointing that they have not yet seized the opportunity to make this a reality. So I urge the Houthis to show the international community and, more importantly, show their own people, that they, too, are serious about ending this conflict by immediately ceasing hostilities, engaging constructively with Martin Griffiths’s proposals, including on confidence-building measures, of course, for more parties to commit publicly to attending a meeting of the Yemen parties under United Nations auspices as soon as possible.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“Now, a ceasefire and cooperation with the United Nations political process is the best defence we have against the most devastating effects of COVID-19. Mr. Griffiths was clear in his statement about the urgency that the Yemeni people, from wherever they might come, feel for their leaders to come and make peace. The Saudi ceasefire announcement following the Secretary-General’s call on 25 March is a rare opportunity to deliver peace in Yemen. And as we endorse that global call by the Secretary-General, we as the Security Council need to apply it in specific country contexts. In that respect, I call on all parties to seize this opportunity. This ceasefire needs to be made permanent so that the United Nations-led political process can resume and we can achieve a political solution to this terrible conflict.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“As we face COVID-19 in Yemen, we encourage the Government and the Houthis to continue engaging with United Nations bodies and agencies, including the World Health Organization and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which were leading the response, in particular, of course, with Lise Grande on the ground. A total of 24 million people are currently in need of some form of humanitarian and permanent assistance in Yemen, and this will help the World Health Organization to identify requirements, procure equipment and ensure supplies, and reach those in need. I think that there are three important steps that the parties must take to mitigate the worst effects of the COVID-19 outbreak: first, agree to a ceasefire; secondly, engage with the United Nations-led political process; and, thirdly, improve humanitarian access.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“I wish to thank Martin Griffiths and Mark Lowcock, of course, for their briefings, but, more importantly, for their unceasing work on this file and for that of their teams. The very last thing that Yemen needs is a major outbreak of COVID-19, as Mark set out the impact that could have through the communities there. The United Kingdom is providing $930 million to support the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic globally, and we are assessing how we can support Yemen directly to prepare and respond to an outbreak of COVID-19. I will just note that the United Kingdom gave $300 million in the last financial year and has given $1 billion since the conflict began.”
2020-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/313 (2020) · source
“But this means that the need for lasting and inclusive peace is even greater. The United Kingdom continues to support the Colombian Government in its efforts to achieve this crucial goal.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“Lastly, the Special Representative’s report emphasizes the need to keep communities at the heart of implementation. That means ensuring community participation, from process design through to implementation and follow-up and from rural reform and development plans to crop substitution and security. Local authorities, civil society — including women’s organizations — and other community stakeholders have been most affected by conflict. They are also a source of local knowledge, capacity and commitment. It therefore makes sense for them to be at the centre of efforts to secure and sustain peace. Let me conclude by saying that, in these uncertain times, the United Kingdom recognizes that the challenges Colombia faces are great. We need to retain this bright spot on our agenda.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“Similarly, protection measures for former FARC-EP combatants inside and outside former territorial areas for training and reintegration should be strengthened, as that population continues to face security issues. I think this is reputational for Colombia. Secondly, while we recognize the many challenges involved in implementation, we also note that mechanisms to address many of these challenges already exist. The National Commission on Security Guarantees is one such mechanism, and we encourage its more frequent convening and engagement with civil society. Use of other mechanisms for dialogue between the parties would also ensure that disagreements are constructively addressed and overcome and would send a positive signal to all stakeholders about the parties’ credible commitment.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“I think we all remember our visit to Colombia last year and the real concerns over safety that were expressed to us by the community leaders whom we met. That was an overwhelming takeaway from our visit. Now, the launch of the action plan under the comprehensive programme to safeguard women leaders and human rights defenders was a positive step towards addressing this issue. We recognize that COVID-19 may necessitate adjustments to the plan, but we urge the Government to be flexible and to ensure that the plan soon becomes reality, especially as individuals who rightly stay at home to combat COVID-19 are S/2020/305 potentially more easily targeted for attack.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“It was heartening to hear from Mr. Cano Salazar about his personal experience of some of those issues. How important and impressive it was to hear about one community’s adaptability to COVID-19 by creating face masks to help tackle the crisis. Finally, let me welcome the ongoing activity by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, especially to increase the participation of victims in its proceedings; we hope the pace of its important work can be maintained. However, I should also note some areas of concern that require urgent efforts in order to build on progress made. First, as we have mentioned in previous meetings, we are seriously concerned about the continuously rising numbers of killings of human rights defenders and other activists, including women leaders.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“We have also seen progress on implementation of the peace agreement. The continued roll-out of the development programmes with a territorial focus demonstrates the Government’s commitment to working with local authorities to ensure that implementation reaches conflict-affected areas. Similarly, local authorities’ own incorporation of peace-related considerations into their development plans is encouraging. Furthermore, reintegration of former members of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) continues, including efforts to ensure sustainability of reintegration processes both in and outside the former territorial areas for training and reintegration, and we hope to see further efforts on the outstanding issues of access to land and the needs of women former combatants.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“It was therefore heartening to hear your Government’s assurances in the President’s “stay at home” message of 24 March that the implementation of the peace agreement will continue and to see the measures implemented jointly by the parties to limit the spread of the virus and ensure continued service provision for former combatants. Let me also say that we welcomed the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire by the Ejército de Liberación Nacional. The group’s fulfilment of this commitment would facilitate efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially and hopefully representing a step towards constructive engagement around a lasting peace. In addition, let me also express appreciation to you, Mr. Ruiz Massieu, and to your team for all your efforts to continue and adapt your work in the face of the COVID-19 challenge.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“Thank you to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the report (S/2020/239) and his briefing today and to Mr. David Santiago Cano Salazar for his inspiring and wide-ranging briefing on reintegration. I very much look forward to the coffee that we have promised. Let me also welcome Foreign Minister Blum de Barberi to the Security Council today. Let me start with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which is on our minds as we look across the range of Security Council business. I will begin by saying to the Minister that we very much recognize the challenge that this crisis poses to Colombia.”
2020-04-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/305 (2020) · source
“There are many risks ahead of us and around us, but we need the key decision-makers in Afghanistan from all parties, from all areas, to hold their nerve and to do the right thing and to come together for peace and for the people and to tackle the pandemic.”
2020-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/274 (2020) · source
“Over 14 million people are in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity, and that adds to the vulnerability to COVID-19. The United Kingdom has committed in this financial year $362 million. We are ready to work with Finland as co-hosts and other international donors as we look forward to the 2020 pledging conference in Geneva. The coordination between development, security and political actors is more crucial than ever.Let me sign off by saying that we have a tendency, all of us, to talk about the fact that we are at a critical moment in many situations on our agenda, but it seems to me particularly true now and particularly true of Afghanistan.”
2020-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/274 (2020) · source
“Now is the time for them to follow through on their promises, set aside their differences and form a genuinely unified Government. The Afghan people expect and deserve nothing less, and their political leaders must not squander this moment. In particular, we want to ensure that we protect and build on the gains made in the lives of women and girls over the past 18 years. Let me finish my remarks by saying a few words on the Afghans’ development needs. We know that the conflict in Afghanistan is one the deadliest ones in the world, with more than 10,000 casualties recorded in 2019. Years of displacement and hardship arising from conflict and severe drought and flooding, as well as sluggish economic performance, have left more than 80 per cent of Afghans below the international poverty line.”
2020-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/274 (2020) · source
“We have seen some positive moments, including talks between the Afghan Government and Taliban on prisoner releases and the announcement of an Afghan negotiation team, but challenges clearly remain. While it is for Afghans themselves to work out the structures and formats of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United Nations and the international community should be flexible and ready to support, however required. The Taliban must negotiate with the Afghan Government team in good faith. Only a negotiated and inclusive settlement will bring peace and the Taliban must end violence. That is a clear demand from all Afghans. But we are disappointed that leaders in Kabul have been unable to unite ahead of negotiations with the Taliban.”
2020-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/274 (2020) · source
“But it makes it even more important that, first, the Taliban cease its attacks, in line with the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire to confront the spread of the disease; and, secondly, that Afghan political leaders come together so that the Government can lead the necessary response. I am going to say a bit more about both of those point later on. But also, I have a question for later for Ingrid. She talked about some of the concerns and the risks in Afghanistan, but it would be interesting to hear from her what actions she thinks the United Nations should be taking, as the United Nations family, and how members of the Council can support that. Moving on to the political side, I think it is vital that we see quick progress towards intra-Afghan negotiations and ensure that momentum is not lost.”
2020-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/274 (2020) · source
“I thank Jun very much, as well as Ingrid for her briefing. Let me begin, as others have done, by welcoming the appointment of Deborah Lyons as Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and by thanking Special Representative Yamamoto for all his work. Let me start by addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an issue, I think, of concern for us all, and with regard not just to Afghanistan but to a number of the issues — or, indeed, all of the issues — on the Security Council’s agenda. So we are, of course, concerned globally, but also in Afghanistan in particular. For our part, we are looking at our options of scaling up humanitarian action in response to the pandemic. We will work closely with our partners in doing so.”
2020-03-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/274 (2020) · source