VITAL RESOURCES NEEDED AS UN PREPARES TO DEPLOY MISSION IN MALI, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 25 Jun 2013 14:00:00 -0400
Subject: VITAL RESOURCES NEEDED AS UN PREPARES TO DEPLOY MISSION IN
MALI, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

VITAL RESOURCES NEEDED AS UN PREPARES TO DEPLOY MISSION IN MALI,
SECURITY COUNCIL TOLDNew York, Jun 25 2013 2:00PMAs the United
Nations prepares to take over from the African-led mission in Mali,
top officials today called on Member States to contribute critical
resources, including personnel and equipment, to ensure that the world
body can support the country with key tasks such as implementing the
recent ceasefire accord and preparing for next month's elections.

"The success of these activities will depend on key confidence
building and assistance to put Mali on the path of stability," said
Bert Koenders, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Mali
and head of the new UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization
Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Briefing the Security Council by video-link from the Malian capital,
Bamako, Mr. Koenders updated the 15-member body on the security
situation, the mediation and national reconciliation process, the
preparations for the 28 July presidential elections; and the
humanitarian and human rights situations.

He also called on Member States to fully support the UN mission and
contribute "critical and immediate" resources, military and police
personnel, and key enablers.

The transfer of responsibility from the African-led mission, known as
AFISMA, to MINUSMA is expected to take place on 1 July, when the bulk
of the military units in the former will be 're-hatted' and
transferred to the latter.

The new mission, set up by the Council in April, is tasked with
supporting the political process in Mali, which is recovering from a
conflict between Government forces and Tuareg rebels that uprooted
hundreds of thousands of people since January 2012.

The Council has also authorized MINUSMA "to use all necessary means"
to carry out security-related stabilization tasks, protect civilians,
UN staff and cultural artefacts, and create the conditions for the
provision of humanitarian aid.

"There was unanimous agreement by Security Council members that we
should move to the next phase of Mali's recovery with the deployment
of MINUSMA from the 1st of July, which in the initial stages,
obviously will mean a re-hatting of most of the AFISMA troops,"
Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of the United Kingdom, which holds the
Council's presidency for this month, told reporters after the meeting.

In his recent report to the Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
wrote that there remain "many challenges" to a smooth transition from
AFISMA to MINUSMA. "The initial focus will be on maintaining seamless
continuity between the two operations to preserve the security gains
made to date and avoid creating any vacuums," he stated.

Echoing his comments, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations Hervé Ladsous told the Council that the UN is still seeking
pledges for important outstanding capabilities, including helicopters,
intelligence, information operations and special forces.

"We count on the continued support of both our traditional and new
troop-contributing countries to help us fill these critical
shortfalls," said Mr. Ladsous, who added that the UN is deploying a
mission in a new geopolitical context with asymmetric threats not
previously encountered in a UN peacekeeping environment.

Among the "unique challenges" facing the mission, he cited the harsh
climate, state of infrastructure and vastness of the geographic area
of responsibility.

Briefing the Council on the ongoing efforts to set up the mission,
Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Ameerah Haq said that
despite "formidable" constraints, the UN is on track to meet
requirements for the MINUSMA's deployment.

Yet, she acknowledged that MINUSMA is "one of the most logistically
challenging missions the United Nations has ever launched." Among
others, she drew attention to the "harsh" climatic conditions in
northern Mali, where most of the mission's operations will be located.
The temperature in Timbuktu, for example, regularly reaches 48 degrees
Celsius, or 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

"All information and communications technology, vehicles,
refrigeration, and tentage that is ultimately used in Mali will be
exposed to climatic conditions that accelerate their decay," she
explained.

"We already know that certain technological options are out of the
question: for example, we are unable to deploy our mobile
communications system to Kidal because its sensitive components will
melt."

Ms. Haq also noted that water availability is limited, particularly in
the arid north; the airfields in the north are unable to service large
aircraft; road infrastructure in the north is "spotty;" and there are
still armed groups who have sworn to oppose – and attack – the UN.

"In Mali, neither the challenges nor the risks at hand should be
underestimated. Much is beyond our control," she stated. "But our
efforts to date, and the results achieved by MINUSMA thus far suggest
that, with commitment, vision and the continued support of Member
States, we just may be able to beat the odds."Jun 25 2013 2:00PM
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