HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,​
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2020
 

ETHIOPIA
In Ethiopia, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that although access is limited in areas where conflict is ongoing, humanitarian assistance has started to gradually trickle into Tigray.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched emergency health supplies to treat more than 10,000 patients for three months. Additional medical supplies are on the way. The World Food Programme (WFP) managed to deliver food for 35,000 refugees in Adi Harush and Mai Ayni camps this week, but the convoy to Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps has returned due to insecurity in the area.
Water treatment chemicals were also provided to internally displaced people in northern Amhara as well as in western Tigray. Water, sanitation, hygiene and non-food items are also prepositioned in northern Amhara and western Afar for 5,000 internally displaced people.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), together with the Logistic Cluster, led by the WFP, agreed with the relevant authorities on setting up a temporarily humanitarian information sharing mechanism to facilitate access, movements, safety and security of humanitarian assets, personnel and activities in Tigray. This includes border areas where there may be people-in-need. In the meantime, we continue to engage with the Government and all relevant interlocutors for the safe passage of humanitarian personnel and supplies to all parts of the Tigray province.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC/PEACEKEEPING
The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) today denied press reports that were claiming that the town of Bambari had fallen and remained under the control of the UPC armed group. The UN Mission said that UN peacekeepers are patrolling the streets, and that the situation is under control.
MINUSCA launched operations yesterday to expel UPC combatants and re-took full control of the town, following an attack by combatants against these gendarmerie forces.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC/PEACEBUILDING
In a statement issued today, the Central African Republic Country-Specific Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission strongly condemned the recent attacks on civilians, peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, as well as violations of the Political Agreement. These grave incidents risk reversing hard-won gains achieved by the country in recent years, a few days before the holding of the first round of the legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for Sunday.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC/HUMAN RIGHTS
Also today, the UN Human Rights Office said that they were deeply alarmed by the reports of escalating violence in the Central African Republic just days ahead of the elections. The violence, stoked by political grievances and hate speech, has resulted in the forced displacement of civilians, including to neighbouring countries.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA/ LIPA CAMP
The UN in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very concerned about the effective closure of the Lipa temporary reception camp, in the Una-Sana Canton, that took place today. This has forced approximately 1,200 people into below freezing winter conditions. 
Our colleagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina tell us that during the operation to close the camp, a number of tents and containers were set on fire before the blaze was brought under control. No casualties have been reported, however, the centre’s infrastructure and accommodations have been largely destroyed.
The UN commends the local fire-fighters for their quick and effective response, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. 
Our colleagues noted that at least 1,500 migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, including women and children, were already stranded in makeshift shelters, including in forest camps in the area. They tell us that the closure of Lipa camp brings the overall number of people in urgent need of assistance to almost 3,000.
The UN and its partners are providing life-saving items and food parcels to all in need, however, this situation is not sustainable. We urge the authorities to offer immediate alternative shelter to those impacted by the destruction of the camp and to identify and make available new locations, preferably outside of the Una Sana Canton and Sarajevo Canton, for all people stranded outdoors.

MOZAMBIQUE
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that approximately 250,000 children have been displaced by the escalating crisis in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique. These children are now at risk of deadly diseases as the rainy season is setting in.
UNICEF is especially concerned that safe water, sanitation and hygiene services are insufficient to meet the growing needs of children and families in overcrowded temporary accommodation centres and in host communities. The UN Agency stressed that these services must be urgently strengthened and expanded to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases like cholera, as well as the further spread of COVID-19.
In 2021, UNICEF is appealing for $52.8 million to respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs in Mozambique, including $30 million as part of the Humanitarian Response Plan for Cabo Delgado.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Our sincere thanks go today to Gambia, for its full payment to the regular budget. This takes us to 142 fully paid-up Member States.