Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Sudan…

The Secretary-General arrived in Nairobi late last night, coming from the Afghanistan meeting in Doha.  

He also met with UN staff, including those recently temporarily relocated from Sudan. 

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is also in Nairobi chairing the UN Sustainable Development Group’s annual session. Discussions focused on how to boost our country teams’ ambition and support countries’ transitions in key areas such as energy, climate, food systems, education, jobs and social protection.  

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, visited Port Sudan today to reaffirm our commitment to address the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people. 

Speaking at the High-level open debate of the Security Council on Futureproofing Trust for Sustaining Peace, Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that history offers us a warning, but also a way forward.  

In conclusion of his two-day visit to Sana’a, Yemen, Special Envoy to the country, Hans Grundberg, said he had positive engagements with the de facto authorities. He underscored that any agreement needs to deliver tangible benefits for all Yemenis. 

The Special Envoy on Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, made her first visit to Beijing this week, on 1 and 2 May. During the visit, Special Envoy Heyzer held discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, and the Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deng Xijun.   

Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom as his new Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia- UNSOM.

Today is World Press Freedom Day. In his message, the Secretary-General says that this day highlights a basic truth, which is that all our freedom depends on press freedom. 

Japan, Tonga and the United Arab Emirates have made payments to the regular budget. Their payments take us up to 102 fully paid-up nations.

Toby Harward, the Principal Situation Coordinator in Darfur for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees briefed reporter on the humanitarian situation in Sudan.