HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 17 AUGUST 2020
BELARUS
In answer to questions about Belarus, the spokesman said the UN is very much aware of the demonstrations and the events that have been going on in the country.
For his part, the Secretary-General believes that the grievances of the people must be heard and that repression is not the answer.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Secretary-General said that he is closely following the developments in the country, and underlines the importance of enabling all Belarusians to exercise their civil and political rights. This includes expressing their views peacefully in accordance with the law. Authorities must show restraint in responding to the demonstrations. Allegations of torture and other mistreatment of people under detention must be thoroughly investigated.
The Secretary-General calls on all Belarusians to address the post-election grievances through dialogue to preserve peace in the country.
SOMALIA
The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday’s attack on the Elite Hotel in Mogadishu, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 people and many more injured.
He extends his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. He calls on all the perpetrators of this heinous act to be held accountable.
The attack demonstrates that the fight against Al-Shabaab and against all forms of violent extremism in Somalia must continue. The Secretary-General reiterates the support and solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Somalia in their pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity.
And for his part, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the ground, James Swan, said that this savagery has no place in the country that is being built by Somalis, and merits the strongest condemnation.
LEBANON
The United Nations, along with its partners continue to conduct needs assessments and to deliver emergency assistance to people most in need following the blasts.
More than 70,000 workers are believed to now be unemployed due to the explosions, and this has a direct impact for many households. This is on top of the 220,000 workers estimated to have lost their jobs as a result of the financial crisis that began in October last year, not considering those left jobless by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some 40,000 buildings were damaged, with 3,000 residential structures severely damaged. At least 2,000 doctors were either injured or their clinics were destroyed.
Yesterday, Lebanon confirmed 439 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of cases to 8,881, including 103 deaths.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees announced that, in the last 24 hours, four COVID-19 deaths have been recorded among Palestine refugees in Lebanon. This brings to eight the total number of deaths from the virus among that population.
And yesterday, the Spanish contingent serving under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in the Mission’s Sector East donated firefighting equipment to the Lebanese Civil Defense. That is a public civil emergency service that carries out firefighting and search-and-rescue activities across the country.
The donation to seven Civil Defense centres will help up to 175,000 people living in the Marjayoun district, where the Mission’s East Sector is Headquartered.
For its part, the UN Refugee Agency is channeling resources and assistance to where they are most needed.
UNHCR is mobilizing US$35 million for its emergency response to the most vulnerable Lebanese, refugees and migrant households in the capital.
UNHCR’s aid stockpile in the country was not affected by the explosion, and that includes shelter kits, blankets, plastic sheeting, mattresses and other critical items that have been made available to the Lebanese Red Cross and other partners on the ground.
SOUTH SUDAN/PEACEKEEPING
Turning to South Sudan, following clashes in Tonj, our peacekeeping colleagues inform us that the UN Mission in the country carried out an air patrol yesterday to the village of Romich, the centre of the fighting.
The UN peacekeepers were joined on the patrol by the Governor of Warrap province.
The UN Mission says that the local market and clinic were looted and torched during the fighting between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and armed youth.
The peacekeepers spoke to injured young people and to local officials who said that up to 150 soldiers, armed youth, and civilians were killed.
The Mission’s human rights team is on the ground and is working to verify the actual number of casualties. While the situation is calm, it remains tense.
To deter further violence, peacekeepers are establishing a temporary base in Romich and will carry out regular patrols to protect civilians.
PEACEKEEPING COVID-19 RESPONSE
The UN Mission in South Sudan has initiated extensive renovations of the Bentiu Infectious Diseases Centre to turn it into a fully equipped isolation facility for COVID-19 patients. The peacekeeping Mission has upgraded two accommodation units, three ward units, one triage unit, a kitchen and a laundry. This is part of ongoing Civil-Military Cooperation activities to address the needs of host communities.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Central African Republic, the peacekeeping mission there has provided masks, hand washing stations, boxes of soap and radios to educational officials in Bouar (Nana Mambéré prefecture).
In Bria, in the country’s east, the Mission has also organized an information session on the virus for displaced members of the Association of Disabled People.
MAURITIUS/OIL SPILL
In Mauritius, the UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni, is supporting the Government-led response to the oil spill. The UN is providing technical support on the impact assessment and environment protection, also focusing on affected communities. For its part, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has geared up some of its initiatives to immediately allocate US$200,000 to address the impact of the spill, while mobilizing funding from different environmental protection schemes. Also, the International Maritime Organization, the UN Environment Programme and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have deployed an oil spill expert to support the Government. For its part, the World Health Organization is supporting the public health response, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is assessing the risks to communities. Also, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has provided forensic investigation and legal support. UNESCO’s Oceanographic Institute is helping with remote mapping, with the UN satellite imagery and analysis.
Also, the Regional IOM Director, Charles Kwenin, has arrived in Mauritius today, on behalf of the United Nations' Regional Directors for Eastern and Southern Africa, to offer high-level support and solidarity to the Government, to help assess the situation and support the UN team.
SUDAN FLOODS
In Sudan, heavy rains and floods have impacted nearly 220,000 people in 17 of the country’s 18 states.
More than 20,000 houses have been completely destroyed and an additional 20,000 more have been damaged.
Some 2,000 water sources are now contaminated or non-functional, compromising access to clean water in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The collapse of the Bout Earth Dam in Blue Nile State on 29 July could affect 100,000 people’s access to water.
The Government and aid organizations are providing plastic sheeting, tents, medicine, water purification supplies and mosquito nets. In Darfur, they are providing food, shelter, and water and health assistance.
The quick response has been possible because UN agencies and our partners prepositioned supplies for 250,000 people before the rains started.
But our colleagues warn that supplies are being depleted rapidly and more support, including from donors, is urgently needed.
The UN, along with our partners are appealing for $1.6 billion to provide critical aid in Sudan this year, but only 43 per cent of that appeal has been received.
BOLIVIA
In a note issued on Friday, the SG’s Personal Envoy for Bolivia, Jean Arnault, welcomed the agreement reached among the Executive Branch, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and the Plurinational Electoral Organ regarding the 2020 general elections.
He said this consensus is a fundamental achievement that provides guarantees regarding the date of the elections and it helps to overcome the political divisions and the uncertainty that worried many sectors of Bolivian society. With this consensus, he said, the path towards a reliable electoral process whose results are respected by all is effectively consolidated.
He added that the UN will support the country with a team of international and national experts from various agencies to provide the assistance required.
