HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• WFP continues to deliver critical food assistance to five million vulnerable people in Yemen despite the challenging operating environment.

• To complete planned operations in 2013, WFP requires the urgent mobilisation of US$98 million.

Khartoum, 11 June 2013. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari, expresses shock and sorrow at the killing of a staff member of a humanitarian nongovernment organisation on 9 June 2013 in North Camp, Nertiti, Central Darfur. Mr. Al-Za’tari offers his sincere condolences to the family of the staff member killed and urges the authorities concerned to bring the perpetrators to justice.

More than a million affected by the conflict in Sa'ada Governorate since 2004 with about 226,830 people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2013. In addition, there are about 15,000 to 25,000 stranded migrants living in and around Haradh and Sa'ada.

Geneva, 7 June 2013

Excellencies,
Ministers,
High Commissioner Guterres,
Dr. Chan,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

When we last made an appeal for Syria, we hoped we would not have to do it again. But today, we are here to launch the biggest humanitarian appeal ever, for the people of Syria.

Key issues

• Around 50 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli forces, the majority of whom were minors.

• Settlers violence continued - 1,000 olive trees were damaged.

• Thirteen people were displaced in East Jerusalem as a result of demolitions.

• One Palestinian civilian was injured by Israeli forces near the fence and three children were injured by an UXO in Gaza.

Revised appeal reflects the increase in the humanitarian caseload from 4 million people in December 2012 to an estimated 6.8 million people by April this year. The revised SHARP will be launched in Geneva on 7 June.

Human Rights Council

Twenty-third session

Agenda item 4

Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

Summary

The conflict in Syria has reached new levels of brutality. This report documents for the first time the systematic imposition of sieges, the use of chemical agents and forcible displacement. War crimes, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations continue apace. Referral to justice remains paramount.

Key issues

● Twenty-one Palestinian civilians were injured in clashes with Israeli forces, including two children with serious injuries; five Israeli settlers were injured by Palestinians in stone-throwing incidents.

● Ten Palestinian families were displaced in the context of demolitions in East Jerusalem and Area C.

● The Israeli authorities extended the fishing areas permissible for Gaza fishermen from 3 to 6 Nautical Miles from the shore.

United Nations peacekeepers must be constantly equipped with more and better tools and skills so they could fully meet their mandates in increasingly risky environments, Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said at Headquarters today.