HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2024
SECRETARY-GENERAL/G20
Good afternoon, I will start off with a trip announcement for the Secretary-General, which will surprise no one.
The Secretary-General is on his way to Brazil, to attend the annual G20 meeting, as he does every year, and that will take place on the 18 and 19 November.
At the G20, the Secretary-General will address sessions on social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty, the reform of global governance institutions, as well as sustainable development and energy transitions.
In Rio de Janeiro, the Secretary-General will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Inácio Lula da Silva, of Brazil. He will also meet with other leaders who will be in attendance the G20. We will, as always, update you on the bilaterals as they happen.
From Brazil, the Secretary-General will return to Baku, for the closing of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, otherwise known as COP29.
Methane
Also on climate, I want to flag that our colleagues at the UN Environment Programme have released a new report today entitled An Eye on Methane: Invisible but not unseen. The report highlights that despite commitments under the Global Methane Pledge to slash emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, alerts from the Methane Alert and Response System represent an untapped opportunity for immediate climate action.
The report adds that the alert system that identifies major methane leaks has delivered 1,200 notifications to governments and companies over the last two years, yet just one per cent of notifications were actually responded to.
The head of UNEP, Inger Andersen, said that to have any chance of getting global warming under control, methane emissions must come down, and they must come down fast.
We now have a proven system to identify major leaks so they can be quickly stopped. The tools are ready, the targets are set – now it is time to act, she said.
The full report is online.
Lebanon/Israel
Our Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, is concluding his four-day visit to Lebanon and Israel today. In Israel, together with the Head of UNTSO, Major General Patrick Gauchat, he met with senior officials of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Defense Force (IDF) leadership in Jerusalem and in the northern city of Metula at the Blue line, where he reiterated calls to uphold the centrality of resolution 1701.
Meanwhile, our peacekeeping forces in South Lebanon reports that one of they patrols near Qallawiyah noticed a cache of ammunitions near the roadway. After informing the Lebanese Armed Forces of the discovery, peacekeepers continued on their planned route.
A short while later, they got out of their vehicle to remove some debris from the roadway. When getting back into their vehicles, two or three unknown people fired approximately 30 shots in their direction. The peacekeepers fired back from their vehicles and moved to safety. No one was hurt and there was no damage to the vehicles.
Peacekeepers, as we have said repeatedly, must never be a target. All actors are reminded of their obligation to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers.
We are also aware of media reports and claims by the parties about strikes outside of UNIFIL’s area of operations, both in Lebanon and in Israel.
The increasing impact on civilians remains of grave concern and we condemn all civilian loss of lives.
As we have been saying, parties to the conflict must adhere to international law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. We continue to support efforts towards a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution.
Lebanon/Humanitarian
On the humanitarian front in Lebanon. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that two convoys delivered essential medical supplies, hygiene and dignity kits to two hospitals, as well as a Primary Health Care Clinic in the Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate. And a third convoy went to Sarafand in South Lebanon Governorate, with supplies to support the rehabilitation of a Primary Health Care Centre that suffered severe damage in the recent fighting, because of airstrikes.
Yesterday, the Word Health Organization, UNICEF and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health launched a national vaccination campaign to protect children under 10 years of age from polio, measles, rubella, and mumps. The campaign will run until the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs continues to be alarmed by the mounting human toll of Israeli airstrikes in densely populated areas around the country.
Yesterday, the Bekaa and Baalbeck regions, in the east of the country, sustained heavy airstrikes with one hitting a Lebanese Civil Defense centre in Douris in Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate. According to what the authorities are telling us, 13 volunteers and rescuers were killed in the attack, and several are still missing.
Parties to the conflict – everywhere - must also take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects under their control against any attacks against civilians.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirms that several displaced Palestinians were killed during attacks in the Al Mawasi area in central Gaza today. Hostilities continue across the Strip, including in North Gaza governorate, which is still under an Israeli siege.
Our partners report that between 65,000 and 75,000 Palestinians remain in North Gaza governorate. OCHA says that conditions in besieged areas are inhuman, given the scale of death, destruction and deprivation over the past five weeks.
Once again, OCHA stresses that civilians must be protected whether they move or stay. Civilians must be allowed to leave for safer areas – and they must be permitted to return as soon as the circumstances allow.
OCHA reiterates that civilians must be able to receive the humanitarian assistance they need, wherever they are. All of this is required by international humanitarian law.
The World Health Organization, for its part, tells us that Israeli authorities continue to deny the agency’s requests to access the Kamal Adwan and the Al Awda hospitals in North Gaza governorate. Last week, all three attempts to deploy an international emergency medical team to Kamal Adwan were blocked. WHO is planning missions in the coming days to deploy another team and to deliver medical supplies, as well as 10,000 litres of fuel. Our health partners are also planning a two-day mission to expand services in Gaza governorate.
Meanwhile, OCHA reports that the ongoing Israeli siege in North Gaza is having a devastating impact on acutely malnourished children there.
Our partners working on nutrition say they have had to stop all activities in North Gaza governorate, including the treatment of children for acute malnutrition, as well as supplementary feeding for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
UNICEF has also prepositioned supplies for treating acute malnutrition in the north through the year’s end. For their part, the World Food Programme has dispatched nearly 200 metric tonnes of supplementary food supplies to north and south Gaza to meet people’s needs this month.
OCHA says that our partners report that as many as 375,000 men, women, and children, are sheltering in Gaza governorate, as people continue to flee the hostilities farther north. Conditions in Gaza City are overcrowded, and basic services are stretched to a breaking point.
And in terms of updates for you on medical evacuations from Gaza.
On Wednesday, WHO and its partners supported the medical evacuation of eight children and six of their companions from Gaza to Jordan. From there, they will go to the U.S. to receive specialized treatment.
WHO says that since October of last year, only about a quarter of the more than 21,000 requests to evacuate patients outside of Gaza have been approved.
Once again, we call for the establishment of evacuation corridors and for all possible routes to be used for the safe and timely passage of all patients who need specialized care.
Mali
Today, the head of our Department for Operational Support, Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare, is in Bamako, where the last remaining site of the former peacekeeping Mission in Mali – MINUSMA - was officially handed over to the Transition Government of Mali.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of that government, Abdoulaye Diop, and the Governor of the Bamako district, Abdoulaye Coulibaly, attended the ceremony and assumed responsibility for the camp on behalf of the Malian authorities.
The liquidation process was expedited thanks to the close collaboration with the Malian transitional government, and the completion date moved forward to 31 December 2024. All remaining liquidation personnel are set to depart Mali by that date. This adjustment aligns with a decision by the General Assembly (A/78/250 B), at the request of the Malian government.
In a meeting after the ceremony, the transitional Prime Minister, Choguel Maïga, thanked Mr. Khare for the smooth liquidation process in Mali.
You will recall that the peacekeeping mission in Mali completed its withdrawal at the end of last year. In a statement we issued at the time, we expressed our appreciation for the commitment and service of the troop contributing and police contributing countries in very difficult circumstances and the Secretary-General also underscored the key role the mission played in supporting the peace efforts and protecting civilians. The Secretary-General paid tribute to the 311 peacekeepers who lost their lives and the more than 700 who were injured in the cause of peace during the 10 years the Mission was deployed in Mali.
Sudan/Aj Jazirah State
Quick update from Sudan, where in Aj Jazirah State close to Khartoum, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that armed violence is putting the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk.
The International Organization for Migration reports that in less than a month, more than 343,000 men, women, and children have been displaced across Aj Jazirah, amid escalating clashes and continued insecurity.
Most have fled to the neighbouring state of Gedaref, as well as Kassala, where we and our humanitarian partners are working with host communities to provide emergency assistance.
Last week, OCHA carried out assessments in both states. Many of the displaced had walked for days and arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They are now sheltering in the open, including children, women, older persons, and people who are sick.
Those people who have fled the fighting in Al Jazirah urgently need tents, plastic sheets, heaters, mattresses, medicines, food, and milk for younger children.
On top of that, OCHA has observed an increase in cholera cases at the cholera treatment centre in Gedaref following this latest wave of displacement.
Sudan/Adre Crossing
And in terms of what is going on in Darfur. Following the Sudanese government’s decision to keep the Adre crossing open, which as you will recall, the Secretary-General of course welcomed, I can share with you that the World Food Programme reports that, for the first time in months, three WFP convoys carrying essential food and nutrition assistance are on their way to Sudan’s Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, as well as Kadugli in South Kordofan.
The trucks going to South Kordofan will deliver aid for some 10,000 people.
The trucks bound for Zamzam are carrying assistance for nearly 40,000 people, including nutrition supplements for malnourished children. The first convoy heading to the camp crossed into Sudan via Adre on Saturday, November 9th.
The second convoy to Zamzam left Port Sudan on Tuesday, and today, those trucks reached Dabbah, a critical corridor for crossline aid that’s about 850 kilometres from Port Sudan.
WFP calls for the safe passage of these convoys to areas that have been largely cut off from aid since the start of the conflict, especially in Zamzam – where, as you know, famine was confirmed last August.
As we have said repeatedly, it is critical that we and our partners are able to deliver life-saving assistance safely and swiftly by all available routes – both cross-border and crossline – to reach people in need wherever they are.
UNISFA
In Abyei, UNISFA strongly condemned today the recent killings in Abyei town which have resulted in the deaths of five people, including a member of the Community Protection Committee (CPC).
The UN Mission said it has intensified security measures in Abyei town, reinforcing its commitment to protecting civilians and upholding the rule of law.
The peacekeeping mission calls on the relevant authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the attacks and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Senegal
As the people of Senegal prepare to vote in legislative elections this Sunday, the Head of our Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, calls on all national actors to remain mobilized to maintain a peaceful environment. He also urges political leaders, candidates and their supporters to refrain from any action likely to incite violence or the use of hate speech before, during and after the elections.
Mr. Simão reaffirmed the continued support of the UN to Senegal and expressed his hope for peaceful and inclusive elections that will consolidate the country's democratic institutions.
Ukraine
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, said in a briefing earlier today in Geneva that 12,000 civilians have been killed and 40 per cent of the population need humanitarian assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly 1,000 days ago.
Mr. Schmale also pointed out the impact of the war on civilian infrastructure, with over 2,000 attacks on health-care facilities and 2 million homes damaged or destroyed.
With winter setting in, attacks on energy infrastructure will pose additional risk, especially for vulnerable people, with potential power cuts extending more than a few days in subzero temperatures.
We and our humanitarian partners continue providing life-saving aid.
This year alone, we have reached more than 7 million people with at least one type of aid, thanks to the support of our donors.
Mr. Schmale said that, as temperatures have started to drop, humanitarians in Ukraine are implementing the Humanitarian Winter Response Plan and delivering solid fuel, ensuring water systems can continue to work and providing cash, among other activities to ensure people can stay warm.
The Winter Response Plan aims to reach 1.8 million people and requires $500 million to be fully implemented through next March.
International Days
A few international days to flag. Today is the first International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime. It aims to raise awareness of threats posed by organized crime and to enhance international cooperation in this regard.
Tomorrow, we will observe the International Day for Tolerance. Bigotry, stereotyping and stigmatizing are just a few examples of intolerance. Only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities globally.
And on Sunday, we will mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. In a message, the Secretary-General honours the 1.19 million lives lost every year on roads worldwide. By improving infrastructure and enforcing safety laws, he says, we can make roads safer for everyone, everywhere.
