Ambassador Lyall Grant of the United Kingdom, reading a Security Council press statement regarding today’s attack on the UN compound in Somalia. [19 June, 2013]

In a press statement issued later in the day, Security Council members extend their condolences to the victims and families as well as to the people and Government of Somalia.

They commend the brave response to the attack by the Somali Armed Forces and the African Union Assistance Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of the United Kingdom is the President of the Security Council in June.

“The members of the Security Council underline their support for all UN personnel working to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Somali people. The members of the Security Council reaffirm that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever and by whomsoever committed. “(29")

The Security Council underlined that terrorist acts in Somalia will not lessen its resolve to support the country's transition to peace and stability.

Ambassador Grant said according to the information he had, the attack resulted in 15 deaths – four Somali nationals, four foreign nationals including one UNDP worker and seven terrorist attackers.

Dianne Penn, United Nations.

Duration: 1'30"

Ali

Bombings, killings, constant pain and misery – these are just some of the things that Syrians have to contend with for well over two years now.

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), more people are refugees or internally displaced than at any time since 1994, with the crisis in Syria having emerged as a major new factor in global displacement.

Sixteen-year old Ali is one of the millions of Syrians who escaped the violence in Syria to find solace in neighbouring Iraq.

UNHCR's Zahra Mackaoui reports.

Duration: 2'35"

Security Council Chamber

Oil, coal, diamonds, precious metals and other resources are literally the wealth of nations.

But in too many countries the profits they generate rarely reaches the people, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Security Council during a debate on Wednesday on conflict prevention and the extractive industries.

Dianne Penn reports.

Duration: 2’29″

Mr. Kofi Annan, Chairperson of the Africa Progress Panel [UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras]

Mr. Annan, who is now Chairperson of the ten-member Africa Progress Panel which advocates for equitable and sustainable development on the continent, addressed the Security Council on Wednesday as it discussed conflict prevention and natural resources.

He said that in the past 15 years alone, rivalry for access to natural resources has fuelled wars and rebellions in Sierra Leone, Liberia the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan, and elsewhere.

Oil has also played an important role in the recurring violence in the Niger delta, the former UN chief told the Security Council.

Mr. Annan said this close and recurrent association between natural resources and war has led some people to describe the discovery and exploitation of natural resources in Africa as a curse.

"Such a view is far too simplistic. For every conflict, one can find several contrasting examples of African countries where natural resources are now fuelling sustained high growth and are improving their citizens’ daily lives. Natural resources are neither a curse nor a blessing. They are simply a source of opportunity. They can be used for tremendous good or they can be wasted."  (28")

Mr. Annan said that over the past decade, Africa's economies "have been riding the crest of a global commodity wave" as surging demand for natural resources in China and other emerging markets pushed prices to new highs.

Africa's petroleum, gas and natural resources, he added, have become a powerful magnet for foreign investment.

Donn Bobb, United Nations

Duration: 1'40"

Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). [UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré]

Rupert Colville, the spokesperson for the Human Rights Office says "The government of Myanmar has to do a great deal more to tackle this issue and to dampen the fires of interreligious tension".

He spoke to UN Radio's Patrick Maigua in Geneva about the situation of the ethnic and religious minorities in Myanmar.

Duration: 3'52"

WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin

As an international community, we must continue to advocate on behalf of displaced people everywhere, the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin says in a statement ahead of World Refugee Day, to be observed on Thursday 20 June, 2013.

She says whether fleeing conflict, natural disaster or hunger, they must be at the front of our minds.

According to Ms. Cousin, "for over two years, the world has witnessed millions of Syrians fleeing their homes, escaping from violence in search of a safe haven. Many families have been forced to move more than once, bringing only what they can carry. She explains that the "needs of conflict-affected Syrians are huge, almost too big to comprehend: by the end of the year, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide food assistance to seven million people, most of whom are either internally displaced or taking refuge in neighbouring countries.

But she says Syrians are not alone in feeling the devastation of displacement, whether within their own country or across borders. Every day, she works with colleagues who are on the ground in some of the most remote and dangerous places in the world. Ms. Cousin says they remind her, as we are all reminded on World Refugee Day (20 June), that every woman, man and child who has left behind homes, family, jobs, education and lives in search of security and safety deserve our attention and, most importantly, our assistance.

Donn Bobb, United Nations.

Duration: 1’21″

Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson [UN Photo/Rick Bajornas]

That's what UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said in the Security Council as it began its meeting on the maintenance of international peace and security.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), a pickup truck rigged with explosives was detonated outside the gate of the compound.

UNSOM adds that attackers then entered on foot with gunfire and further explosions followed as staff took refuge in secure areas.

Mr. Eliasson describes the attack as outrageous.

"The Secretary-General and I were deeply saddened and shocked by the outrageous attack on the United Nations compound this morning in Mogadishu. Full details are still emerging, but we know that several people have died. The Secretary-General and I express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our thoughts are with the United Nations staff and all those who have suffered through this tragedy. We remain committed to the principles of achieving peace and to keep Somalia on its path to recovery which were so recently strongly endorsed by this Council." (29")

The Deputy Secretary-General expressed thanks to the government of Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for their prompt response.

Donn Bobb, United Nations.

Duration: 1'14"

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank

A 2 degrees Celcius warmer world threatens to block efforts to end poverty around the world and Africa in particular.

This warning comes from the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim who spoke in London on Wednesday.

The head of the World Bank says a 2 degree Celsius warmer world could be upon us as early as the 2030's and 2040's.

He says he is concerned about the impact the warmer world would have on Africa.

"By the 2030's we could see a situation where extreme heat and drought could leave 40 per cent of land that's currently used in growing maize incapable of growing maize. Furthermore, the extreme heat is going to destroy the Savannah grasslands that are supporting pastoral livelihoods. If we are to have any hope of ending poverty, we have to make progress in Africa. If we don't do something about climate change mitigation, we are going to have a very difficult time ending poverty in the world and ending poverty in Africa." (31")

Jim Yong Kim says that in South Asia, shifting rain patterns can leave some cities under water and others without enough water for power generation, agriculture and for drinking.

Donn Bobb, United Nations.

Duration: 1'07"

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay

The government of Myanmar is being urged to devote urgent attention to tackling the continuing discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in the country.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi has warned that failure to act could undermine the reform process.

She says "Myanmar today can act as a source of inspiration by showing how governments can be transformed by a renewed commitment to human rights".

"However", she adds, "the ongoing human rights violations against the Rohingya community in Rakhine State, and the spread of anti-Muslim sentiment across the State and beyond, is threatening the reform process and requires focused attention from the Government".

The High Commissioner says "The President of Myanmar has made some important statements on the need to end discrimination and violence and foster mutual respect and tolerance between people of different faiths and ethnicities", adding that she believes that "the political will is there, but encourage the Government to translate this will into concrete actions".

Some 140,000 people, mostly Rohingya, remain displaced in Rakhine State following violence between Buddhist and Muslim communities last year, and tens of thousands of others have fled by boat. In March, anti-Muslim violence spread to Meiktila in Mandalay region, leaving 43 people dead and more than 1,500 buildings destroyed, according to government figures

The High Commissioner expressed her hope that discussions on Myanmar during the recent session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva would further encourage the Government to combat discrimination.

Dianne Penn, United Nations.

Duration: 1’24″