HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 02 OCTOBER 2017
U.N. HOPES VISIT TO MYANMAR’S NORTHERN RAKHINE COULD LEAD TO ALLEVIATING SUFFERING
- Three United Nations representatives took part in a visit organized by the Government of Myanmar to visit northern Rakhine today.
- This was a positive step and the UN in Myanmar believes it could help in our efforts to explore how the UN could cooperate with the Myanmar authorities to alleviate the dire situation in northern Rakhine.
- The three UN representatives who took part in the field visit were: the Resident Coordinator, Renata Lok-Dessallien; the World Food Programme (WFP) representative and Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Domenico Scalpelli; and senior UN Refugee Agency official, Cécile Fradot.
- As the Secretary-General told the Security Council last week, the UN calls on the Myanmar authorities to end the military operations; to allow unfettered access for humanitarian support; and to ensure the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of the refugees to their areas of origin.
- Building on this visit, the UN looks forward to strengthening trust and cooperation with all communities and the Myanmar Government. This will be critical in addressing the root causes and setting a sustainable path towards peace and prosperity of all people in Rakhine State, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or citizenship status.
- The UN stands ready to provide its full support to the authorities in responding to the humanitarian and human rights crisis in northern Rakhine, as well as the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.
IN BANGLADESH, TOP U.N. OFFICIALS SEE FIRST-HAND DEVASTATING PLIGHT OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES
- Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake began a three-day visit to Bangladesh, where today, they visited Cox’s Bazar and saw for themselves the devastating humanitarian situation of Rohingya refugees.
- Since 25 August, the number of Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh stands at 507,000.
- Aid agencies continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh to scale up relief operations, with staff and supplies continuing to arrive in Cox’s Bazaar.
- UNICEF is launching an emergency $76 million appeal to help 720,000 children – Rohingya refugee children who arrived in Bangladesh recently as well as those who came before the recent crisis, as well as children from vulnerable host communities.
- Up to 60 per cent of the Rohingya who have fled Myanmar since 25 August are estimated to be children, and UNICEF is concerned about the desperate, traumatized children and their families are fleeing the violence in Myanmar every day.
- The head of the World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, today wrapped up his visit to Bangladesh, where he heard what he called “heart-breaking” stories from Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar.
- These horrors must stop, he said, noting that many of these refugees had been receiving WFP aid in Myanmar and would now receive it in Bangladesh until they are able to return safely home.
- WFP has distributed rice to some 460,000 refugees, and has also been providing high-energy biscuits to more than 200,000 people as an emergency measure when they arrive in the settlements and at border crossing points.
U.N. RELIEF WING ALARMED BY CLASHES, AIRSTRIKES LEADING TO CIVILIAN DEATHS
- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is deeply alarmed by reports of fighting and airstrikes in several parts of Syria resulting in the death and injury of scores of civilians and damage to critical civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and centres for displaced people. Fighting and attacks in Raqqa city, Eastern Ghouta in rural Damascus, and Idlib Governorate continue to be reported.
- Three explosions in Damascus city today reportedly caused the death of ten people and injured 15 more.
- The UN reminds all parties of their obligation to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including facilitating access to those in need in a regular, sustained and impartial manner, in line with International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
YEMEN: HEAD OF U.N. MIGRATION AGENCY URGES STEPPED UP ACCESS FOR AID WORKERS
- The head of the UN Migration Agency, William Lacy Swing, is in Yemen, where today he called on the country’s authorities to step up access for aid workers.
- He stressed that nearly 80 per cent of the population – or 21 million people – do not know where their next meal is coming from.
- Mr. Swing emphasized the authorities’ responsibility to give aid workers more access, including reopening the airport for delivers, while the world has an obligation to help the Yemeni people.
- He also spotlighted the dangers faced by many of the 6,000 migrants who enter Yemen every month, few of whom realize the grave dangers they are likely to face, such as exploitation and abuse.
SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES STRONG SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED KUWAITI MEDIATION EFFORTS IN GULF CRISIS
- In a note to correspondents issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General reiterates his strong support for the continuation of Kuwait mediation efforts aimed at bringing the crisis in the Gulf to an end. He expresses his gratitude for the personal efforts and initiatives of His Highness Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait.
- The Secretary-General calls on all sides to resolve their differences through negotiations, in the spirit of good neighbourly relations and respect. The United Nations stands ready to support such efforts.
U.N.-BACKED APPEAL CALLS FOR $31 MILLION TO HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE MARIA IN DOMINICA
- In consultation with the Government of Dominica, the humanitarian community launched a Hurricane Maria Flash Appeal for Dominica on Friday, 29 September. The appeal seeks $31.1 million to reach 65,000 people, or more than 90 per cent of the population, who need immediate assistance from September to December of this year.
- Following the appeal, Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock announced a US$3-million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to meet the most pressing needs of the impacted people. The funds will be jointly prioritized by UN agencies and humanitarian partners to kick-start response operations based on the frontline responders’ rapid assessment of the damage and needs.
- These funds will not be enough to meet the needs of all the impacted communities of Dominica. Further support is therefore urgently needed in the coming weeks and months to help rebuild people’s lives and livelihoods.
FUNDING SHORTAGE FORCES U.N. AGENCY TO SLASH FOOD AID BY 30 PERCENT IN KENYAN REFUGEE CAMPS
- The World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it would cut food rations by 30 percent for the 420,000 refugees living in Dadaab and Kakuma camps in northern Kenya due to insufficient funding.
- WFP urgently needs $28.5 million to adequately cover the food assistance needs for the refugees for the next six months.
- WFP provides food assistance to refugees in Kenya as a combination of food and cash transfers sent via mobile phones used to buy fresh food items from local traders.
- Overall, refugees living in Dadaab and Kakuma camps will receive a food ration equivalent to 70 percent of their requirements, while keeping the cash transfers unchanged.
- In addition, WFP will not provide fortified flour to the general population as the low stocks remaining will be prioritized for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers through health clinics.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RAMPS UP RESPONSE TO ADDRESS PLAGUE MADAGASCAR
- The World Health Organization (WHO) is rapidly scaling up its response to an outbreak of plague in Madagascar that has spread to the capital and port towns, infecting more than 100 people in just a few weeks.
- The Government of Madagascar has confirmed that the death of a Seychellois national was due to pneumonic plague. The basketball coach died in Antananarivo last Wednesday while visiting the island nation for a sports event.
- Health authorities are tracing people with whom he came into contact in recent days and who may have become exposed to the illness. Once identified, they will be given antibiotics to prevent infection as a precautionary measure.
- The incident brings the death count to 21 since the outbreak was identified in late August; at least 114 people have been infected.
- WHO has released $300,000 in emergency funds, as well as critical medical supplies, and is appealing for $1.5 million to support the response.
- Plague is endemic to Madagascar. Contrary to past outbreaks, this one is affecting large urban areas, which increases the risk of transmission, and the number of cases identified thus far is higher than expected for this time of year.