Noon briefing of 30 January 2023

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC​,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 30 JANUARY 2023

PAKISTAN
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the suicide bombing that took place at a mosque in Peshawar in Pakistan, earlier today.
It is particularly abhorrent that such an attack occurred at a place of worship. Freedom of religion freedom of belief and the ability to worship in peace is a fundamental human right.
The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to those injured, and he reiterates the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Pakistan in their efforts to address terrorism and violent extremism.

UKRAINE
Turning to Ukraine. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that fighting and hostilities over the weekend killed and injured civilians, while critical facilities, including several hospitals, were damaged on both sides of the frontline.
On Saturday evening, dozens of civilians were reportedly killed or injured during an attack on a hospital in Novoaidar in the part of Luhansk region currently under military control of the Russian Federation. Earlier the same day, another health facility was reportedly hit in areas under Russian control in the Kherson region.
On Sunday, attacks were reported in Kherson city and other parts of the region that are under Ukrainian control. Health workers were reportedly injured when the Kherson Clinical Hospital was hit. Other civilians were killed or injured and civilian infrastructure - including homes and schools - were damaged.
In Kharkiv city, a residential building was hit last night, once again killing and injuring civilians. Our humanitarian colleagues are on the ground, supporting the survivors.
While there is limited access to areas not under Ukrainian control and the United Nations cannot independently verify the number of casualties, it is clear that the International Humanitarian Law prohibits indiscriminate attacks and requires the parties to take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize civilian harm. The United Nations calls on both sides to comply with these obligations.

IRAN
In Iran, there was a 5.9 magnitude earthquake on Saturday evening. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was told that relief operations and damage assessments are underway, and the Iranian Red Crescent Society has mobilized emergency teams and relief items.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has requested UN assistance, and we stand ready to support the response.
We extend our condolences to the Government of Iran and to the affected families.

HAITI
In Haiti, at least 2.6 million children are expected to need lifesaving assistance in 2023, that’s according to the Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In the past two years, the number of Haitian children in need of humanitarian aid has increased by half a million. UNICEF says that the rise in armed violence, combined with the resurgence of cholera, food insecurity and inflation have restricted access to essential health, nutrition, water and hygiene, and education services for millions of children and their families.
Working with partners on the ground, and the Government, UNICEF has scaled up its humanitarian response, but they are calling for more support. The agency’s humanitarian response in Haiti received about 40 per cent of its required funding last year, making it the most underfunded appeal by the UNICEF emergency operation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

VENEZUELA
Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, concluded his visit to Venezuela over the weekend. While there he met with President Nicolás Maduro and other government officials, including those involved in the Mexico Dialogue to address the country’s political and economic crises. Mr. Türk expressed the need to heal the deep divisions in Venezuelan society and also encouraged authorities to take meaningful steps towards reforming the justice and security sectors, and to take the lead in building trust with victims and civil society organizations, to listen to them, and include them meaningfully in dialogue and respond to their plight.

GUINEA
The United Nations team in Guinea, led by the Resident Coordinator Vincent Martin, is supporting authorities to protect migrants in the Mamou region. Guinea has become a point of origin and transit for many irregular migrants in recent years. The team has been training and offering immediate cash support to migrants, vulnerable youth, returnees, and victims of trafficking. Last year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized the voluntary return of more than 5,000 migrants and supported their small businesses. In addition, some 440 returnees received psychosocial assistance. For its part, the UN Capital Development Fund trained nearly 7,000 returnees and local youth in financial education, helping over 180 small businesses to access credit. And the UN Development Programme (UNDP) trained and supported 500 young entrepreneurs.

HYBRID BRIEFING TOMORROW
Tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m., there will be a briefing here by Tom Andrews, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar.

HONOUR ROLL
Benin, Hungary and Finland have paid their contribution to the regular budget and are on the Honour Roll.