HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 5 JULY 2023
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, presented the annual report on the same topic to members of the Security Council.
She told them that over 27,000 grave violations against close to 19,000 children were verified by the United Nations last year. Killing and maiming and recruitment and use of children were the violations verified at the highest levels, she said, adding that all violations increased in 2022.
Two new situations – Haiti and Niger – were added to the report, given the worrying and unfolding security situations on the ground.
Turning to positive achievements, Ms. Gamba said that UN engagement with all parties to conflict led to concrete results in multiple situations last year, notably in countries such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq.
Over 12,000 children formerly associated with armed forces or groups were released and provided with protection or reintegration support.
These achievements are important and meaningful but, going forward, she called for bold and resolute action. She said she is committed to working on four major areas during 2023 and forward: advocating for peaceful resolution of conflict, improving the directives for monitors to best identify grave violations, increasing the resources available for child protection expertise on the ground and the development of a new public awareness campaign.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP
The Secretary-General is back in New York. While in Trinidad and Tobago, you will have seen that he took part virtually in the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization yesterday. He told leaders that differences among countries have been aggravated by the diverging approaches to global crises; contrasting views on non-traditional security threats; and the consequences of COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He stressed that global challenges, from the climate crisis to growing inequality and the governance of new technology, can only be resolved through dialogue and cooperation.
The Secretary-General also urged Shanghai Cooperation Organization leaders to strongly engage in preparations for the Sustainable Development Goal Summit and the Climate Ambition Summit in September, and the Summit of the Future next year.
Let us work together for global solutions that advance peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all, he said.
On Monday evening he addressed the leaders of CARICOM and took part in a working session on Haiti.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/INDIA
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has been in India for the past two days, where she met with senior Government officials as they engaged in discussions to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on climate action and financing for development. Ms. Mohammed participated in a roundtable discussion with young changemakers who are driving solutions to get the SDGs back on track.
In Bangalore today, the Deputy Secretary-General visited Infosys, where she heard more about India's digital identity efforts and highlighted the importance of ethical and inclusive Artificial Intelligence and data capacity building. It was followed by a visit to the Indian Institute of Science, where Ms. Mohammed had discussions on technological innovations to accelerate the drivers of the Goals.
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns about civilians’ casualties and damaged homes following recent attacks in Ukraine.
Yesterday, dozens of civilians, including children, were reportedly injured when several multi-storey buildings were damaged in the town of Pervomaiskyi in the eastern Kharkiv region. While verification is ongoing, humanitarian partners provided psychological assistance and delivered emergency shelter materials for at least 180 families whose apartments were damaged.
OCHA has also received reports of civilian casualties and health-care facilities impacted by hostilities from areas of Donetska oblast under Russian control.
On Monday 3 July, at least three civilians were killed, and seven more injured, including a child, when a residential building was hit in Sumy, in the north-east of the country, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.
OCHA stresses that International Humanitarian Law is clear: care shall be taken by all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
On the response side, the UN continues to support affected communities across the country. Today, an inter-agency convoy delivered vital food, medical supplies, hygiene and household items to support 1,300 residents of Siversk town in Donetska oblast, located 10 km from the front line. Humanitarian assistance is a lifeline in this town, which has been shelled continuously. Most of the remaining inhabitants are the elderly, many of whom live in damaged houses without tap water, gas or electricity.
The UN also continues to support the response to the Kakhovka Dam destruction. Yesterday, the 14th inter-agency convoy to the Kherson region brought bottled water, medicines, hygiene kits and disinfectants to nearly 500 people in settlements affected by the flooding and previous months of fighting.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
On the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that they are now in Jenin, together with partners, to assess humanitarian needs in the refugee camp following the end of the Israeli operation there.
The repair of water and electricity networks and provision of shelter for those who have lost their homes will be among the top priorities in the coming days.
SUDAN
Top UN officials today voiced shock and condemnation at increasing reports of gender-based violence in SUDAN since fighting erupted there more than 11 weeks ago.
In a joint statement, the heads of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO) called for an immediate end to gender-based violence, including sexual violence as a tactic of war to terrorize people.
They also stressed the need to swiftly scale up gender-based violence prevention and response services in Sudan, as well as in neighbouring countries, where those fleeing violence have sought safety as refugees, to meet the soaring needs.
SUDAN/REFUGEES
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said today that on 25 June, 28 refugees hosted by Sudan were killed in Khartoum when the area in which they lived was engulfed by the fighting, with additional refugees injured in the incident.
UNHCR called on everyone to honour international humanitarian law and human rights law and prioritize the safety and well-being of affected communities, including refugees.
SOMALIA
The Somalia Humanitarian Fund has put $25 million toward helping communities reeling from the impacts of drought in Somalia. Meanwhile, $18 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund has been allocated for famine prevention efforts in the country.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes that although famine has been averted, with improvements in the food security situation and recent rains bringing some relief – needs remain high. More than 8 million people still need humanitarian assistance and protection, and recovery from a drought of this magnitude will take years.
SENEGAL
In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General saluted President Macky Sall's decision not to run in the forthcoming Senegalese Presidential elections as a strong demonstration of statesmanship and leadership and an important example for his country and the world.
The Secretary-General reaffirms the unwavering support of the United Nations to the Government and people of Senegal in their efforts to consolidate their vibrant democratic tradition and promote peace, stability and sustainable development.
SYRIA
In a statement issued today, UN humanitarian leaders called for the renewal of authorization for cross-border aid deliveries to northwest Syria, describing it as a lifeline for millions of people, most of them women and children.
The heads of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that the Security Council must renew Resolution 2672 for at least 12 months so that humanitarian organizations can continue to reach people in need effectively and without delay. Any and all avenues to deliver humanitarian assistance must be kept open and, indeed, expanded.
YEMEN
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said today that halfway through 2023 more than 77,000 migrants have crossed the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, surpassing last year’s figures and fast approaching pre-pandemic levels.
IOM warned that violence, exploitation, and abuse against migrants is widespread, and perpetrators act with impunity.
In June, IOM teams registered thousands of migrants who asked for assistance to return to their country of origin. These registrations have now been temporarily suspended as the number of migrants requesting assistance far exceeds the resources currently available to help them return.
IOM is also appealing for greater funds to scale up its assistance to stranded migrants, particularly at Migrant Response Points in Aden, Ma’rib and Sana’a where migrants can access safe, dignified and free protection and health services.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Sonja Leighton-Kone of the United States of America as Deputy Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Ms. Leighton-Kone has more than 30 years of experience in international development, overseeing operations in complex environments, including emerging and fragile states. Since 2018, she has held the role of Director of the Corporate Services Division at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya.
COSTA RICA
The UN team in Costa Rica, led by Resident Coordinator Allegra Baiocchi, has today published a new study showing that hate speech and discrimination messages increased by 50 per cent in the country over the last year and 250 per cent in the last two years. Of particular concern is the exponential increase of hate speech targeting women, xenophobia and racism.
The UN team is responding to this increase by building alliances and calling for a constructive dialogue with key sectors to prevent and tackle discrimination. The report is available in Spanish on the UN in Costa Rica website.
WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released today its World Investment Report, showing a widening annual investment deficit that developing countries face as they work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The gap is now about $4 trillion per year – up from $2.5 trillion in 2015 when the SDGs were adopted.
The report shows that global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell 12 per cent in 2022. It highlights that developing countries need renewable energy investments of about $1.7 trillion each year but attracted only $544 billion in clean energy foreign direct investment in 2022. The report also notes that although investments in renewables have nearly tripled since 2015, most of the money has gone to developed countries.
The report calls for urgent support to developing countries to enable them to attract significantly more investment for their transition to clean energy.
MALARIA VACCINES
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that twelve countries across different regions in Africa are set to receive 18 million doses of the first-ever malaria vaccine over the next two years.
Since 2019, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have been delivering the malaria vaccine through the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme. Allocations were also made for new introductions in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
WHO underscores that the roll out is a critical step forward in the fight against one of the leading causes of death on the continent. The first doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in countries during the last quarter of 2023, with countries starting to roll them out by early 2024.
BRIEFINGS
At 1 p.m., there will be a hybrid briefing here by William O’Neill, who is the UN Expert about human rights in Haiti, and he will brief on his recent visit to the country.
