HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 21 JULY 2023
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
On Monday, the Secretary-General will arrive in Rome, where he will take part in the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment. The high-level event is meant to build on the momentum of the 2021 Food Systems Summit. It will be hosted by the Government of Italy, in collaboration with the Rome-based UN Agencies, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the wider UN system.
In his remarks at the event’s opening ceremony, the Secretary-General is expected to underscore that global food systems are broken and billions of people are paying the price. He will highlight that broken food systems are not inevitable, and they are the result of choices we have made.
He will urge governments to respond to the call for an SDG Stimulus, stressing that this will help countries make meaningful progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 to achieve zero hunger, and build systems that can ensure people have access to affordable, nutritious food wherever they live.
While in Rome, the Secretary-General will also meet with the President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and the President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, as well as with other leaders who are attending the summit.
The Secretary-General is expected to be back in New York on Tuesday.
The Deputy Secretary-General will also participate in the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment and arrive on Tuesday 25th of July in Rome. She will speak in several sessions including on Healthy and Protected Oceans, Catalyzing Food Systems Transformations, and Building Africa's food sovereignty and resilience through sustainable investments.
On Wednesday 26th of July, the Deputy Secretary-General will close the Summit by emphasizing the urgency of closing the implementation gap, highlighting the linkages to financing for development, debt relief and science and technology for inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems.
In the margins of the conference, the Deputy Secretary-General will meet with H.E. Mr. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy as well as heads of delegations attending the conference.
The Deputy Secretary-General will return to New York on Thursday 27th of July.
SECURITY COUNCIL/UKRAINE
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on Ukraine. Briefing Council members was the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, who reiterated the Secretary-General’s deep regret over the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate its participation in the Black Sea Initiative.
Ms. DiCarlo added that we have now witnessed a further blow to global food security, as Russia for the fourth consecutive day struck Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv with missiles and drones, destroying critical port infrastructure, facilities and grain supplies. She stressed that threats regarding potential targeting of civilian vessels navigating in the Black Sea waters are unacceptable, and that we are also concerned about the reports of sea mines laid in the Black Sea, further endangering navigation.
Also briefing Council members was Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. He noted that global grain prices have spiked this week, threatening to undo the hard-won progress achieved over the past year, and this potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people. He warned that higher prices will be most acutely felt by families in developing countries already at risk, who tend to spend a much higher share of their household income on food.
Mr. Griffiths emphasized that the UN would continue its engagement with all involved to ensure that Russian and Ukrainian food and fertilizer can be accessed on global markets.
SUDAN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it is deeply concerned by ongoing attacks against aid and health care workers in Sudan. OCHA is appalled by reports that a team from Médecins Sans Frontières was assaulted by armed men in Khartoum yesterday. MSF said the incident happened while the team was moving medical supplies from the organization’s warehouse to the Turkish Hospital in the Sudanese capital. And that it is one of only two hospitals that are still operating in all of southern Khartoum.
OCHA underscores that attacks on health care workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law. They must stop now.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified more than 50 attacks on health care facilities since the conflict erupted in Sudan on 15 April.
WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
The World Food Programme (WFP) today said that the war in Sudan is impacting hunger and migration across West and Central Africa, depleting scarce resources, and worsening inter-communal tensions. WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, who is concluding a visit to Chad, Togo and Benin, today warned that the spillover of the war will be devastating for peace and stability in a region already facing climate extremes, insecurity, and economic decline.
Ms. McCain was in Chad along with the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and witnessed firsthand how conflict, climate shocks, and high food and fuel costs are pushing millions into acute hunger and malnutrition.
WFP urgently needs $157 million to reach those in need and to stabilize the deteriorating situation.
WFP plans to reach 2 million refugees and vulnerable Chadians with emergency assistance but cannot even assist half of them due to insufficient funds.
And staying in the region, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will conduct a two-day official mission to Chad from 24 to 26 of this month. During his visit, he will meet with senior Government officials as well as human rights representatives and members of political parties and civil society.
OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
The Under-Secretary General for Operational Support, Atul Khare, traveled to Tokyo yesterday for an official visit that will last until 26 July. He will meet with senior Japanese Government officials to exchange views on current challenges and opportunities related to global operational support matters, including training and capacity-building for troop contributing countries, support for uniformed peacekeepers, and withdrawal and downsizing of field missions. Mr. Khare’s visit is taking place ahead of the Peacekeeping Ministerial preparatory meeting that Japan is co-hosting with Pakistan in August and the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Ghana in December, which Mr. Khare will also attend.
SYRIA
Today, one truck carrying humanitarian assistance from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) crossed into north-west Syria from Türkiye through the Bab al-Salam crossing. This week, a total of 18 trucks delivered life-saving relief items from UN agencies via Bab al-Salam.
In the coming days, additional truck movements and UN staff missions are planned through the Bab al-Salam and al-Ra'ee crossings.
