‘Aleppo now synonym for hell,’ Ban
warns in final press conference as UN
chief
16 December 2016 – In his last press conference as United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Ban Ki-moon today delivered stark warnings on two issues at the
forefront of international concern: that “the carnage in Syria remains a
gaping hole in the global conscience;” and that South Sudan faces a risk of
genocide as the country leaders have “squandered a peace agreement.”
“Aleppo is now a synonym for hell,” Mr. Ban said at UN Headquarters in New
York, bidding farewell to the UN press corps.
“We have collectively failed the people of Syria. Peace will only prevail
when it is accompanied by compassion, justice and accountability for the
abominable crimes we have seen,” he added.
On another front, he noted that this week will mark the third year of
conflict in South Sudan, and he deplored that “the country’s leaders have
betrayed their people’s trust, and squandered a peace agreement.”
“Most immediately, my Special Adviser [on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama
Dieng] has warned of the risk of genocide,” he said, urging the UN Security
Council to take more concerted action, including through punitive measures.
Mr. Ban will complete his 10-year service as the world’s top diplomat on 31
December, passing the baton to his successor António Guterres, who was sworn
in this past Monday.
WHO partners in Syria vaccinate children who have fled eastern Aleppo – in
this case to Jibreen, rural Aleppo. Prior to the crisis, Syria had one of the
highest vaccination rates in the Middle East. Now, half of all children are
missing out on life-saving vaccines. Photo: WHO Syria
“This has been a decade of unceasing test,” he said. “But I have also seen
collective action change millions of lives for the better.”
He expressed continued support for the global momentum behind the Paris
Agreement on climate change.
“Climate action means jobs, growth, cleaner air and better health. Leaders
from across the globe and on every front understand this – from Fortune 500
CEOs [Chief Executive Officers] to Governors and Mayors,” he said. “The Paris
Agreement on climate change is a precious achievement that we must support
and nurture. There is no turning back.”
“Difficult as it may sometimes be, international cooperation remains the path
to a more peaceful and prosperous world,” he said, pledging to continue to
spare no effort to urge world leaders, long-standing or newly-minted, to
recognize and embrace that preeminent 21st-century fact.
Mr. Ban stressed that journalists have an important job to do – informing the
world about the work of UN – when it makes progress and when it falls short.
“I deeply believe in your mission,” he said, underlining his efforts to be
the defender of their safety and press freedom.
South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between
President Salva Kiir and his Vice-President Riek Machar erupted into full
blown conflict in December 2013. The crisis has produced one of the world’s
worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians.
As the Syria crisis enters its sixth year, civilians continue to bear the
brunt of a conflict marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and
disregard for human life. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 13.5 million people require humanitarian
assistance, including 4.9 million people in need trapped in besieged and
hard-to-reach areas, where they are exposed to grave protection threats.