UN chief to brief Security Council on Middle East trip

Source: Xinhua | 01-21-2009 09:28

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to brief the UN Security Council on Wednesday on his week-long visit to the Middle East, a UN spokesperson said here Tuesday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C) speaks to journalists in Gaza City January 20, 2009, in front of the United Nations compound that was struck by Israeli fire during Israel's offensive. Voicing shock at stark scenes of destruction, Ban visited the Gaza Strip on  Tuesday, and Israel was poised to withdraw its troops  before the U.S. presidential inauguration later in the day. [Agencies]

Michele Montas, the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told a news briefing here that Ban plans to brief the 15-member council on Wednesday afternoon on his just-concluded Middle East trip upon his return to the UN Headquarters in New York and he is expected to speak to reporters here afterwards.

Ban visited shattered Gaza Strip on Tuesday to demonstrate solidarity with the population and assure them of the full support of the United Nations and the international community, Montas said.

"I am just appalled," the secretary-general said on visiting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) compound that was bombed by Israel last week.

"It is an outrageous and totally unacceptable attack against the United Nations," he said, reiterating his call for a full investigation and to make those responsible accountable.

Ban said he would dispatch a humanitarian needs assessment team on Thursday, led by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes.

"I will do all I can, as secretary-general of the United Nations, to help in this time of need," he said.