HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 2023

ZERO WASTE 
Today is the first-ever International Day of Zero Waste. The Secretary-General said at a high-level meeting of the General Assembly this morning – as part of the events to mark the Day - that humanity is treating our planet like a garbage dump. He warned that by 2050, municipal solid waste will double to 4 billion tonnes each year. He called on everyone to work as one to build a circular, zero-waste future. 
Mr. Guterres underscored that Sustainable Development Goal 12 reminds us of the imperative to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns by 2030, and that the General Assembly Resolution on Zero Waste Initiatives demonstrates that the political will is there. 
He called on countries to take inspiration from the examples like Türkiye’s Zero Waste project, spearheaded by the First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan.
The Secretary-General also announced that he is establishing an Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste. The Board will share success stories of national and local zero-waste initiatives. 
  
In response to questions about the meeting between the Secretary-General and the First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan, the Spokesman said they discussed the Zero Waste project. 
Mr. Guterres thanked the First Lady for agreeing to chair the Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste – and that will be along with José Manuel Moller, CEO and Founder of Algramo, as vice-chair.  
Algramo, for those of you who don’t know, is a Chilean-based startup that aims to reduce plastic waste, by enabling people to refill household product containers. 
  
MYANMAR 
In a statement released earlier today, the Secretary-General noted his deep concern by reports that the Union Election Commission, appointed by the military in Myanmar, has dissolved 40 opposition parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Any attempts to undermine democratic institutions and processes will only deepen the crisis and delay the return to a fully democratic and inclusive Myanmar. 
The Secretary-General renews his call on neighbouring countries and other Member States to urge the military leadership to adhere to inclusive political processes. 
He reiterates his call for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including President Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
  
SECURITY COUNCIL 
This morning, the Security Council held an open debate on Peace and Security in Africa, focusing on the impact of development policies in the implementation of the Silencing the Guns initiative.  
Briefing the Council members was Cristina Duarte, the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa. She renewed the Secretary-General’s own call that the flames of conflict are fueled by inequality, deprivation and underfunded systems. She outlined that the only effective solution to conflicts in Africa is sustainable development to boost the capacities of African countries to tackle both the internal and external causes of conflict.  
Also briefing the Council was Mirko Manzoni, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique. He spoke about the signing and implementation of the Maputo Accord for Peace and National Reconciliation between the Government of Mozambique and the Renamo group. He pointed out four fundamental reasons for its success: establishing national ownership from the outset, building trust, remaining flexible and ensuring a human-centred process throughout. 
Mr. Manzoni stressed the success of a peace process should not be measured by the difficulties it encounters. Rather, it should be judged on the basis of how those involved choose to overcome such difficulties.
 
MOZAMBIQUE/HUMANITARIAN 
Also on Mozambique, U.N. humanitarian colleagues are appealing for additional funding to help some 815,000 men, women and children impacted by a triple crisis: floods, cholera and Tropical Cyclone Freddy.  
Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that an extra $138 million is urgently needed to complement the Government’s response in southern and central areas of the country. This is in addition to the existing 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Mozambique, which calls for $513 million and is just 12 percent funded.  
The humanitarian team in Mozambique urges donors to step up their funding to provide food, shelter, health, hygiene, water and sanitation services, and other life-saving assistance. The money, if received, will also help fight cholera, which has spread to eight of Mozambique’s 11 provinces. Nearly 20,000 cases have now been reported. 

SOUTH SUDAN 
Speaking to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission today, the Deputy Head of the mission, Guang Cong, commended the resumption of the talks between the Transitional Government and the Non-Signatory South Sudanese Opposition Group, under the auspices of the Sant’ Egidio Community, as well as some security and legislative advances.  
He noted with concern, however, delays in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and called to expedite, without further delay, the adoption of the National Elections Act to allow the reconstitution of the National Elections Commission and, in turn, the commencement of the electoral preparations. 
  
SYRIA/ TÜRKIYE 
Since last month, the UN and its partners have provided shelter support, including tents, to nearly 100,000 people in Syria. Partners have also distributed more than 850,000 ready-to-eat food rations and over 1 million hot meals to people across the impacted areas. 
In the northwest, more than 1,177 UN relief trucks entered from Türkiye since the earthquake, and UN agencies have completed about 45 cross-border missions to meet affected people, assess their needs and coordinate the response. 
Still in the north-west, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that yesterday, two people lost their lives because of a windstorm, among them was a child. At least 500 tents were damaged.
The same areas had already been affected by flooding earlier this month.  
The $4.8 billion appeal for Syria is currently 5.6 percent funded. We urgently need more resources to support over 15 million people across the country who were already in dire need before the earthquakes. 
And in Türkiye, we and our partners have provided shelter to support over 700,000 people and over 4 million people have received basic household items such as clothing and cooking and sleeping items.  
Some 3 million people have also [received] emergency food assistance. 

VANUATU 
In Vanuatu, over 250,000 people -that is about 80% of the country’s population - have been impacted by the two category 4 cyclones and earthquakes that hit the country earlier this month.  
Today, the World Food Programme - through its Pacific Humanitarian Air Service - transported 15 metric tonnes of critical relief assistance to the country.  
The humanitarian cargo includes medical supplies and food rations. WFP continues to support the Government of Vanuatu’s own efforts in the areas of logistics, emergency telecommunications and food security.
   
LEBANON/ISRAEL 
Today, Major General Aroldo Lázaro, the Head of Mission in Lebanon - UNIFIL, the peacekeeping mission,  chaired a regular Tripartite meeting at a UN position in Ras al-Naqoura, in southern Lebanon. 
He urged the parties to continue to coordinate – in advance - activities near the line with UNIFIL and avoid actions that could escalate the situation and increase tensions. 
He underscored that both parties have the responsibility to take preventive action to avoid a breach in the cessation of hostilities. 
  
WESTERN SAHARA
In response to questions related to the work of the UN mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, the Spokesman said that colleagues there recall that a resupply to team sites East of the berm has been an issue on which we have been in discussions with the parties.
Agreement has now been reached for a new convoy to proceed at the earliers opportunity.
This is a welcome development. To recall, because of the lack of ground convoy movements since the resumption of hostilities in 2020, MINURSO team sites East of the berm have been running out of critical supplies, especially fuel.
We look forward to having this convoy move very soon.
  
MIGRANT CHILDREN   
A campaign was launched by the Regional Education Group for Latin America and the Caribbean – which includes UNICEF, UNESCO, Save the Children and others – and which aims to highlight the educational crisis experienced by children and adolescents on the move.  
In the region, around 3.7 million children and adolescents are displaced or on the move, in search of better opportunities and access to basic services. They are forced to interrupt their studies and face multiple barriers to continue their learning, whether in transit or in host countries.  
The campaign called "Education without limits: I learn here or there" will provide resources for these children.
  
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS 
Tuvalu and Mauritius have paid their dues in full.

NOON BRIEFING GUEST TOMORROW 
Tomorrow, the guest at the noon briefing will be António Vitorino, the Head of the International Organization for Migration. He will brief reporters on the International Dialogue on Migration, which is taking place in the Trusteeship Council today and tomorrow.