Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the wildfires in the United States

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General is shocked and saddened by the widespread devastation caused by the fast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area in California.
 
He extends his sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. His thoughts are with the tens of thousands of people who have been forced to evacuate, as well as with the residents whose homes have been destroyed.
 
The Secretary-General commends the courage of the thousands of firefighters and first responders doing everything they can in extremely difficult conditions.
 
The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance if needed. 
 
 

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on China

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General is profoundly saddened by the devastating loss of life caused by the earthquake that struck the Tibet Autonomous Region of China today.
 
He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured and expresses his sincere condolences to the victims’ families.
 
The United Nations is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide support if requested. 
 

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the tragic events in New Orleans

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack in New Orleans, where a driver struck a crowd gathered to celebrate the New Year, reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30 others. He extends his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of Louisiana and the United States. He also wishes a swift recovery to those persons injured.

Secretary-General’s statement – on the passing of Former President of the United States of America, Mr. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr

Source: United Nations – English

am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the 39th President of the United States of America, Mr. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr.

I extend my deepest condolences to the Carter family and the Government and people of the United States.

President Carter’s leadership contributed significantly to international peace and security, including the landmark Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal Treaties.

President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency. He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations.

President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity.

His legacy as a peacemaker, human rights champion and humanitarian will endure.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the plane crash in the Republic of Korea

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of a plane crash in Muan county in the Republic of Korea, which has claimed the lives of 179 people.

He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Korea during this difficult time.

The Secretary-General also wishes a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic event.

Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness [scroll down for French version]

Source: United Nations – English

OVID-19 was a wake-up call to the world. Millions of lives lost, economies shattered, health systems pushed to the brink and daily life upended for all of humanity.

The crisis may have passed, but a harsh lesson remains: the world is woefully unprepared for the next pandemic. Outbreaks of mpox, cholera, polio and Marburg are startling reminders that infectious diseases remain a real and present danger to every country.

On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, I call on countries to heed the lessons of past health emergencies to help prepare for the next.

This means building resilient public and primary health care systems and making good on the promise of Universal Health Coverage. It means making bold investments in pandemic monitoring, detection and response. And it means ensuring equitable access to life-saving tools like vaccines, treatments and diagnostics.

Most of all, it means global solidarity. I call on countries to deliver on the historic Pandemic Agreement to ensure the world works better, together, to prevent and contain future pandemics. 

Today, and every day, let’s commit to working together for a safer and healthier world for everyone, everywhere. 

***

La COVID-19 a été un rappel à l’ordre pour le monde entier : des millions de vies ont été perdues, les économies se sont effondrées, les systèmes de santé ont été poussés à leurs limites et le quotidien a été bouleversé pour l’ensemble de l’humanité.

La crise est peut-être passée, mais la leçon à en retirer est amère : le monde est terriblement mal préparé pour la prochaine pandémie. Les épidémies de variole simienne, de choléra, de poliomyélite et de maladie de Marburg nous rappellent de manière saisissante que les maladies infectieuses demeurent un danger réel et actuel pour tous les pays.

En cette Journée internationale de la préparation aux épidémies, j’engage les pays à tirer les leçons des urgences sanitaires passées pour mieux se préparer aux prochaines.

Pour cela, il faut mettre en place des systèmes de soins de santé publics et primaires solides, tenir la promesse d’une couverture sanitaire universelle, investir énergiquement dans des mesures de surveillance, de détection et de riposte face aux pandémies, et garantir un accès équitable à des moyens vitaux tels que les vaccins, les traitements et les diagnostics.

Plus que tout, il faut une solidarité mondiale. J’engage les pays à respecter l’Accord historique sur les pandémies afin que le monde œuvre plus efficacement, de manière collective, à prévenir et à contenir les futures pandémies.

Aujourd’hui comme chaque jour, engageons-nous à œuvrer ensemble afin de rendre le monde plus sûr et plus sain pour toutes et tous, partout.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the death of Manmohan Singh, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of India

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of H. E. Mr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of the Republic of India.   
 
Mr. Singh played a pivotal role in India’s recent history, particularly in shaping its economic trajectory. As Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Mr. Singh oversaw a period of significant economic growth and development in India. Under his leadership, India also strengthened its collaboration with the United Nations, contributing actively to global initiatives and partnerships.
 
The Secretary-General extends his deep condolences to Mr. Singh’s family and to the Government and people of India.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the plane crash in Kazakhstan

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of a plane crash in western Kazakhstan, which has claimed the lives of many, including citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Russian Federation.

He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his profound sympathy to the affected nations. The Secretary-General also wishes a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic incident.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Brigadier General Amitabh Jha of India, who served as Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) from April 2023. He recently served as acting Force Commander of UNDOF in complex circumstances, following the fall of the Assad government in Syria.

He will be remembered for his leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, including in MONUSCO as a Military Observer from 2005 to 2006.

The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to Brigadier General Jha’s family and to the Government of India for their loss.
 

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of the “United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes”, which is the first international criminal justice treaty to have been negotiated in over 20 years.
 
This treaty is a demonstration of multilateralism succeeding during difficult times and reflects the collective will of Member States to promote international cooperation to prevent and combat cybercrime. The convention creates an unprecedented platform for collaboration in the exchange of electronic evidence, protection for victims, and prevention, while ensuring human rights are protected online.
 
The Secretary-General trusts that the new treaty will promote a safe cyberspace and calls on all States to join the Convention and to implement it in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.