- Title: USA: U.N. Secretary-General says 100,000 refugees in Congo are cut off from aid
- Date: 12th November 2008
- Summary: (W1) UNITED NATIONS (NOVEMBER 11, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON WALKING INTO A NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, SAYING: "But at least 100,000 refugees are cut off in areas north of the city, chiefly around Rutshuru and East Masisi. Because of the ongoing fighting these people have received virtually no assistance. Their situation has grown increasingly desperate. I urgently call for an immediate ceasefire in these areas to allow humanitarian assistance to reach many thousands of displaced persons." BAN WAITING FOR A REPORTER TO ASK A QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, SAYING: "I would welcome any measures, any initiatives to address this global financial crisis including the reinvention of all this reinvention, reform of the basic structures of financial institutions. But I'm more interested, my focus will be more on how to insulate the ionterest and well being of developing countries from all this financial crisis impact. That's motre important at this time." BAN SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, SAYING: "The high level representation by member states at this time also demonstrate the willingness of the member states to have some better understanding and more appreciation of different cultures, different faith and religions. I sincrely hope that this will be a very good start." REPORTER ASKING A QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, SAYING: "Normally in the past they have not been sitting in the same place like this. That is again very important and positive and encouraging one. The purpose of this meeting itself is to promote mutual understanduing and address all the differences of opinions either political or religion. And through this high level meeting, I hope this will also creat some atmosphere, favorable, conducive to addressing the differences of political issues." VARIOUS OF THE END OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 27th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA948QB3U9EUYMXVKL8512HUCFL
- Story Text: At a news conference at the United Nations, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon warns that 100,000 refugees in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are cut off from humanitarian aid because of the escalating conflict.
Returning from an African Union Regional Summit in Nairobi, Kenya on the escalating conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR), U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon warned that at least 100,000 refugees were cut off from humanitarian aid in the area.
Ban made the remarks on the conflict in the DCR at a news conference on Tuesday (November 11) at the United Nations. Ban said that UN agencies were delivering food, medicine, fresh water and sanitation supplies to areas where they can operate, particularly in Goma. But he added that at least 100,000 refugees were cut off in areas north of the city, chiefly around Rutshuru and East Masisi.
"Because of the ongoing fighting these people have received virtually no assistance. Their situation has grown increasingly desperate. I urgently call for an immediate ceasefire in these areas to allow humanitarian assistance to reach many thousands of displaced persons," said Ban.
Weeks of violence have forced more than 250,000 people from homes or ramshackle camps where they had taken shelter, bringing to over 1 million the number of internal refugees from years of fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province During the news conference on Thursday, Ban also spoke about other pressing global issues. He stressed the need to protect developing countries in the face of the the turmoil shaking global financial markets. Ban said he would take that message with him to Washington, D.C. this weekend when he attends the summit of the so-called Group of 20 (G-20) nations.
"I would welcome any measures, any initiatives to address this global financial crisis including the reinvention of all this reinvention, reform of the basic structures of financial institutions. But I'm more interested, my focus will be more on how to insulate the interest and well being of developing countries from all this financial crisis impact,"
Ban told gathered reporters.
Ban also expressed optimism about a two day interfaith meeting to be held at the U.N. beginning Wednesday (November 12). The interfaith meeting is an initiative of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah. "The high level representation by member states at this time also demonstrate the willingness of the member states to have some better understanding and more appreciation of different cultures, different faith and religions," said Ban.
U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and leaders and diplomats from some 60 other countries are due to take part.
At a dinner hosted by Ban on Tuesday evening, the Saudi monarch will for the first time be at a gathering with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Saudi officials said there were no plans for close encounters.
Critics dismissed the General Assembly meeting as a public relations exercise. New York-based Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday world leaders should press Abdullah to end systematic religious discrimination in Saudi Arabia. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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