HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BYÌýSTÉPHANE DUJARRIC,​
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2023
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SECRETARY-GENERAL TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT Ìý
The Secretary-General is on his way to Beijing, China.Ìý
At the invitation of the Chinese Government, he will take part in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and is scheduled to deliver remarks during the forum’s opening ceremony, as well as in another high-level session focusing on climate.ÌýÌýÌý
While in China, the Secretary-General is scheduled toÌý
have bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping, Vice President Han Zheng, and other senior officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, and the Special Envoy for Climate Change, Xie Zhenhua.  Ìý
Onward travel will be announced in due course.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/MIDDLE EASTÌý
In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General said that, as we are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East, it was his duty to make two strong humanitarian appeals.ÌýÌý
To Hamas, he said - the hostages must be immediately released without conditions. To Israel, he said that rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid must be granted for humanitarian supplies and workers for the sake of the civilians in Gaza.Ìý
Mr. Guterres said that each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves.Ìý They should not become bargaining chips and they must be implemented because it is the right thing to do.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, is traveling to Cairo, Egypt, tomorrow for a mission that is expected to last several days. He will plan to visit Israel.Ìý
He said this morning that we’re living in the worst of times.Ìý Mr. Griffiths said that the taking of hostages – including women, children, the elderly and the ill – is unacceptable and illegal, calling for their immediate release. He also stressed that people must be able to move out of harm’s way with assistance and that they must go to safer areas and have their needs met.Ìý
UN agencies have supplies ready to move into southern Gaza to meet surging humanitarian needs
It is critical that life-saving assistance is allowed to move through the Rafah crossing without delay.Ìý
A planeload of supplies from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived at Al Arish airport in Egypt at the weekend.ÌýFor its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) has plans to reach nearly 225,000 displaced people in 19 UN shelters in southern Gaza.
UNRWAÌý
TheÌýUnited Nations Relief and Works AgencyÌýfor Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today said that over one million people – almost half the total population of Gaza - have been displaced.Ìý Meanwhile, the number of roughly 400,000 people sheltering in UNRWA facilities in Gaza is greatly in excess of the agency’s capacity to assist in any meaningful way, including with space in UNRWA shelters, food, water or psychological support.   ÌýÌý
Despite the Israeli Forces’ evacuation order, an unknown number of displaced people remain in UNRWA schools in the North, whom UNRWA is no longer able to assist or protect.Ìý
The agency adds that people across Gaza have severely limited access to clean drinking water. As a last resort, people are consuming brackish water from agricultural wells, triggering serious concerns over the spread of waterborne diseases.
For the fifth consecutive day, Gaza has had no electricity, pushing vital services, including health, water and sanitation to the brink of collapse, and worsening food insecurity. ÌýÌý
Also yesterday, speaking in a press conference, the UN Relief and Works Agency Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini warned that no place is safe in Gaza.Ìý He added that, so far, 14 UNRWA staff members have lost their lives.Ìý
He said that before it is too late, the siege must be lifted and aid agencies must be able to safely bring in essential supplies such as fuel, water, food and medicine.
LEBANONÌý
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today said that the situation in southern Lebanon remains tense with renewed shelling this afternoon, Lebanese time. ÌýÌý
Yesterday, the Mission observed intense exchanges of fire in several areas along the Blue Line, one of which hit UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The Mission reminds all parties involved about the need toÌýrespect the neutrality andÌýinviolability of United Nations premises at all times. ÌýÌý
̽»¨¾«Ñ¡keepers continue to do their essential work, including through patrolling along the blue line. UNIFIL’s leadership, led by the Head of Mission and Force Commander,ÌýMajor General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz,Ìýremains engaged with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line in his efforts to de-escalate the situation and to prevent any further loss of life.
MALIÌý
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) announced that today it started withdrawing troops from the northern camps in the Kidal region, starting with bases in Tessalit, and Aguelhok. Ìý
This will be followed by the Kidal camp itself. Ìý
The Mission is doing everything it can to complete this process as soon as possible, in the midst of the rapidly deteriorating security situation and also increased risk to the lives of hundreds of peacekeepers. This is becoming increasingly difficult. Today, personnel from the Mission were forced to seek shelter in bunkers due to an exchange of fire in Tessalit. Ìý
All parties, including the Government and including the signatory armed movements, have an obligation to ensure the secure, safe, and unimpeded withdrawal of the Mission personnel and equipment.
A note issued over the weekend said that heightened tensions in northern Mali are increasing the likelihood that the Mission will be forced to depart without being able to repatriate equipment belonging to Troop-Contributing Countries and the UN. Ìý
In light of this, the Mission has intensified engagement with the Malian authorities to convey its concerns and underscore their responsibilities as the host nation for the safety and security of peacekeepers. The UN Secretariat is also engaging in intense consultations with members of the Security Council and Troop and Police Contributing Countries to seek their support for the safety of peacekeepers.
SUDANÌý
This weekend, a grim milestone was marked in Sudan; six months have passed now since the hostilities erupted there.Ìý
In a statement issued yesterday, the Under-Secretary-General, Martin Griffiths, said that for six months, civilians– particularly in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan – have known no respite from bloodshed and terror. He called on the parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to honour the commitments they made in Jeddah to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid, and for donors to step up their support.Ìý
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Sudan said that after half a year, the country has become the largest internal displacement crisis in the world - with over 7.1 million men, women and children displaced within the country.
4.5 million of those have been displaced since violence erupted in mid-April, and the situation is further worsened by significant damage to infrastructure.Ìý
In addition, over 1.2 million people have fled to neighbouring countries.Ìý
Since 15 April, at least 45 aid workers have been killed or detained – almost all of them are national staff. Humanitarians are hamstrung by underfunding.
CHADÌý
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, Violette Kakyomya, today warned that the country is facing multiples humanitarian crises and is calling for urgent support. Ìý
The conflict in Sudan has had a strong impact on Chad, with nearly 490,000 Sudanese refugees – mostly women and children – having crossed the border into the eastern part of the country to seek safety. In total, there are one million refugees are living in Chad.Ìý
The conflict in Sudan is also affecting Chad’s supply chain, with prices of basic food commodities more than doubling since the outbreak of the conflict.Ìý
Chad is also vulnerable to climate change. Last year, the heaviest rains since the 1960s triggered a major crisis, impacting 1.4 million people and destroying 350,000Ìý
hectares of valuable farmland. Ms. Kakyoma underlined the extreme generosity of the people in Chad who continue to welcome refugees and call for support to ensure 7 million Chadians – that is out of a population of 18 million – receive humanitarian assistance this year.Ìý
The $921 million Humanitarian Response Plan for Chad is only 25 per cent funded.
LIBYAÌý
This morning, Abdoulaye Bathily, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, spoke at the Security Council.Ìý He said that the Derna tragedy following Storm Daniel is unprecedented in Libya’s recorded history. He said after his recent visit to the area, that the human and material cost of this disaster is beyond imagination.Ìý
Speaking via video conference, he noted that despite the lack of national coordination between different institutions, their individual mobilisation immediately after the tragedy showed a national momentum of unity inspired by the disaster.ÌýÌý
However, Mr. Bathily said, he is deeply concerned about the continued division of the leadership of Libya over the reconstruction of Derna and its surrounding affected areas. Leaders continue, so far, to display competition and rivalries as to which entity will exert exclusive authority over the reconstruction efforts.
UKRAINEÌý
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today warned that civilians are facing daily attacks along frontline areas in the east and south of Ukraine. In recent days, homes, schools, health care facilities, port infrastructure and aid distribution points have all been hit.Ìý
The UN, along with its humanitarian partners, continue to deliver in impacted areas. On Saturday, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, led a convoy carrying assistance for some 1,000 civilians to Chasiv Yar, just six kilometres from the front line in the Donetsk area.ÌýÌýÌý
Civilians there told her they had been cut off from water, electricity and gas for more than a year. Most homes and civilian infrastructure have been damaged, and 90 per cent of the population has fled.
This year, we have organized more than 90 inter-agency convoys to front-line communities in northern, eastern and southern Ukraine, with one-third delivering aid to the Donetsk region.ÌýÌý
The UN, along with its partners, have now reached more than 8.3 million people in Ukraine with humanitarian assistance in this year alone.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/MARTTI AHTISAARIÌý
In a statement,Ìýthe Secretary-General said that he is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari of Finland.ÌýÌý
Mr. Ahtisaari was a distinguished statesman, a diplomat, and an exemplary mediator who dedicated his life to the cause of peace. In 2008, he was awarded the Nobel ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Prize for his determined and decades-long efforts to resolve conflicts around the world.ÌýÌý
Mr. Ahtisaari made invaluable contributions to the work of the UN, including as his Special Representative for Namibia, Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, and Special Envoy for the Future Status [Process] for Kosovo.
Serving as Finland’s President from 1994 to 2000, he later founded the Crisis Management Initiative, continuing his tireless actions to prevent and resolve conflicts. His remarkable life of service and pursuit of peace will always serve as an inspiration to countless UN officials who had the privilege to work with him.Ìý
The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to his family, to the Government and people of Finland, and to everyone touched by his unwavering commitment to peace.Ìý
And on a personal note, it was a privileged to have worked with him, and he truly was an inspiring leader.
WORLD FOOD DAYÌý
Today is World Food Day. In his message, the Secretary-General says thatin our world of plenty, it is outrageous that a person dies of hunger every few seconds.ÌýÌý
He calls on governments, the private sector, civil society and academia to work together to prioritize feeding the hungry.
BRIEFING TOMORROWÌý
Tomorrow, at 11:00 a.m., there will be briefing by Siobhán Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children.Ìý
***The guest at the Noon Briefing was Daniel Peter Endres, the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for Afghanistan.Ìý He spoke to reporters about the recent earthquakes in the country’s west, the UN’s response and what support is needed to ensure people are assisted quickly, before winter sets in.
This was followed by a briefing by the UN Relief and Works Agency Spokeswoman, Juliette Touma, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.Ìý
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