HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 22 JULY 2022
BLACK SEA INITIATIVE
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the signing in Istanbul of the Black Sea grain initiative. He said that the signing today was a beacon of hope, of possibility and of relief in a world that needs it more than ever.
He said that this is an agreement for the world. It will bring relief for developing countries on the edge of bankruptcy and for the most vulnerable people on the edge of famine. And it will help stabilize global food prices which were already at record levels even before the war – a true nightmare for developing countries.
Specifically, he said, the initiative that was signed opens a path for significant volumes of commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.
The shipment of grain and food stocks into world markets will help bridge the global food supply gap and reduce pressure on high prices, he added.
The Secretary-General emphasized that this initiative must be fully implemented, because the world so desperately needs it to tackle the global food crisis.
We are ramping up efforts to ensure the UN is positioned to deliver on its commitments, he added. The Secretary-General announced the establishment of a Joint Coordination Centre to monitor implementation of the Black Sea initiative.
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that as the war in Ukraine enters its sixth month this Sunday, fighting on the ground remains concentrated in the eastern Donetska oblast. However, air attacks are continuing to impact civilians elsewhere, with the city of Mykolaiv in southern Mykolaivska oblast coming under daily attacks.
The UN humanitarian partners confirmed that a large warehouse of humanitarian aid supplies was severely damaged in a missile strike yesterday. The warehouse was storing at least 100 tons of food supplies.
Meanwhile, living conditions for all Ukrainians have continued to deteriorate. Over half a million people remain without gas and electricity due to damage to critical infrastructure, especially in the east.
People in Mariupol continue to lack access to safe drinking water. And prices of food and basic goods in non-Government-controlled areas of Luhanska oblast are reported to be on the rise.
On the response front, the UN has reached 11 million people with some kind of assistance as of 20 July. More good news is that the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Fund allocated $25 million earlier this week. These funds will support Ukrainians living in damaged homes, and those with limited access to gas and water supplies.
We have also so far received over 90 per cent, or $2 billion, of the funds required under the current six-month Appeal. We thank all our donors, including the UN Member States, private individuals and businesses, for their trust and for supporting our life-saving work.
IRAQ
In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General condemned the deadly artillery shelling on Wednesday in the Zakho district of Dohuk Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, that reportedly killed eight civilians and injured 23 others.
The Secretary-General calls for a prompt and thorough investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and to ensure accountability.
SRI LANKA
In Sri Lanka, the UN Resident Coordinator, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, today said that she is gravely concerned about the use of force to disperse protestors. She noted that journalists and human rights defenders have a right to monitor demonstrations and that their functions should not be impeded.
Ms. Singer-Hamdy also reiterated the importance of the right to peaceful assembly and broad public consultations to resolve the current economic crisis and political instability.
For its part, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that the crisis in Sri Lanka is rapidly reversing agricultural development gains, disrupting livelihoods and threatening the food security of the most vulnerable households.
In the context of a worsening economic crisis, FAO said that farmers’ purchasing power is decreasing with reduced incomes for 73 per cent of households, while the prices of essential products are soaring. FAO is calling for support in mobilizing $14.9 million to support 1.7 million people through October 2022, providing them with time-critical production inputs to enable them to supply local markets with nutritious food and improve the food security of their communities.
MALI
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will travel to Mali from 24 to 28 July. During his visit, which has been planned for some time, Mr. Lacroix will meet with Malian authorities and stakeholders to discuss the mandate renewal and the forthcoming strategic review of the Mission, requested by the Security Council. He will also engage with civil society, women and community leaders.
Mr. Lacroix will reiterate his support and appreciation to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) personnel, who continue to work in challenging conditions on the ground to support the people of Mali.
BURUNDI
In Burundi, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has allocated $1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help 340,000 people in areas affected by Rift Valley fever.
These funds will go towards projects focused on controlling the spread of the disease and ensuring food security.
Rift Valley fever primarily affects livestock, a large component of the economy which accounts for 14 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
The loss of cattle for farmers could lead to people losing assets and sources of income, pushing entire families deeper into poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition.
This year’s Humanitarian Response Plan for Burundi is only 5.1 per cent funded, with $9 million mobilized out of the $182 million required to assist 957,000 people who urgently need help. Roughly half of the people who we hope to reach live in areas where Rift Valley fever is prevalent.
UGANDA
In Uganda, the UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Susan Namondo, is working closely with authorities and other partners to scale up the response to food insecurity, which is currently affecting over half a million people in the country’s northeast.
Over 40 per cent of the population in this area has been facing high levels of acute food insecurity in the last five months, in part due to a climate change-induced drought. The World Food Programme (WFP) has mobilized $7.4 million of the nearly $19 million required and is preparing to reach a total of 217,000 people with feeding programmes in three prioritized districts. The agency is also providing rations for families with malnourished young children, pregnant and nursing women in six districts. We continue delivering treatment for those with acute malnutrition in all districts.
For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilized over $2.4 million to support Ugandans to respond to the health impacts of the drought.
The UN team is also collaborating with authorities on a roadmap that better prepares the most affected region of Karamoja to respond to shocks, including through early warning systems.
HYBRID BRIEFING ON MONDAY
On Monday, the noon briefing guest will be Alison Davidian, Deputy Country Representative for UN Women in Afghanistan. She will brief on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.
