HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2023
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Secretary-General is wrapping up his visit to the United Kingdom. He is in London where, today, he took part in the UK Summit on Artificial Intelligence Safety.
In the morning, he had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak. They discussed the current situation in the Middle East, particularly the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza, as well as the global impact of the war in Ukraine.
The Secretary-General also held meetings with the Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris, as well as the Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Robert Habeck, and the President of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In the afternoon, he took part in Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit Sessions, on AI safety priorities and in discussions on concrete steps to make frontier AI safe.
On the occasion of the summit, the Secretary-General said that the speed and reach of today’s AI technology are unprecedented, yet the paradox is that in the future, it will never move as slowly as it does today.
He stressed that the principles for AI governance should be based on the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we urgently need to incorporate those principles into AI safety.
The Secretary-General emphasized that we need a sustained, structured conversation around risks, challenges, and opportunities. And he stressed that the UN – an inclusive, equitable and universal platform for coordination on AI governance – is now fully engaged in that conversation.
The Secretary-General also met with the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly,
And he will be flying back to New York later today and will be in the office tomorrow.
ISRAEL / PALESTINE
The Secretary-General welcomes the continued movement of people and humanitarian assistance through the Rafah crossing. It is essential to have a regular and sustained flow line of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a scale needed to meet the mounting needs of the Palestinian population.
Yesterday, the Rafah crossing opened for some 80 sick and wounded Palestinians in Gaza to get treatment in Egypt, as well as for a number foreign passport holders and rotation of UN personnel. The reports that we are getting is that this is continuing today. All of this is an important step in the right direction, on which we need to build.
Since the delivery of aid was resumed on 21 October, humanitarian convoys carrying food, water and medicines have entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing - while fuel deliveries continue to be prohibited.
The UN remains committed to continuing our intensive work with all parties to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable people in Gaza.
Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, called on the warring parties to agree to pauses in the fighting, adding that “this is the only viable option to get relief items into Gaza right now … alleviating people’s suffering and reducing the risk of civil disorder.”
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that yesterday, ten trucks carrying water, food and medicines entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing, bringing the total number of trucks to 227 since 21 October.
The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship hospital in Gaza city reportedly ran out of fuel yesterday and was forced to stop most of its activities, rendering 70 cancer patients at serious risk.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s telecommunications and internet services were cut for about eight hours yesterday, leaving civilians in grave danger amid heavy Israeli bombardment from air and land.
The UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, reports that some 690,000 Internally Displaced People are sheltering in 149 installations across the Gaza Strip. An estimated 160,000 are housed in 57 shelters in the northern part of Gaza and in Gaza City. UNRWA, however, is no longer able to provide services to the displaced people in those areas.
UNRWA, which as you know, is the largest provider of assistance for the UN in Gaza, still needs $100 million for its operations this year, including to pay its staff salaries in Gaza. Even as it does its work in dangerous conditions in Gaza, UNRWA lacks almost 2 months’ worth of salaries for about 28,000 staff, both in Gaza and in the West Bank.
LEBANON/UNIFIL
On the northern border, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon –UNIFIL - continue to report exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, including several instances of shelling, explosions and gunfire that took place yesterday.
Among those, two projectiles exploded some10 metres from a UNIFIL position near Bayt Lif, in south Lebanon, causing significant damage to a part of the structure and minor damage to some UN vehicles.
The Mission has launched an investigation.
UNIFIL continues to assist in efforts to evacuate individuals who are stranded near the Blue Line.
ADAPTATION GAP REPORT
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today released its annual Adaptation Gap Report, which finds that progress on climate adaptation is slowing on all fronts. The adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10-18 times as big as international public finance flows – that is over 50 per cent higher than the last estimate.
In a message on the occasion of the release of the report, the Secretary-General stressed that action to protect people and nature is more pressing than ever. “We are in an adaptation emergency. We must act like it. And take steps to close the adaptation gap, now," he says.
BANGLADESH
The Secretary-General is concerned about reports of violence at political rallies in Bangladesh, in which at least nine people have died, and numerous others injured. He calls on all parties to refrain from violence. He also underscores that there should be no excessive use of force or arbitrary detention. The Secretary-General stresses the need to respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The Secretary-General calls on all stakeholders to promote a peaceful, inclusive, and credible electoral process.
MALI
The Spokesman shared an update on UN peacekeeping operations in Mali and on a peacekeeping convoy that is travelling from Kidal city to Gao, as part of our withdrawal from the region.
He said you will recall that yesterday, we told you that the convoy had hit an improvised explosive device, and we had mentioned that several peacekeepers were injured. Today, our colleagues are telling us they have confirmed that eight peacekeepers, in fact, were injured, due to the IED.
The peacekeepers were initially evacuated to MINUSMA’s base in Gao for medical care. Today, one of them was transferred to Bamako. The troop-contributing-countries who are impacted are also being updated as the situation develops.
Yesterday’s incident follows two similar attacks since the convoy left our Kidal camp on 31 October, which indicates the perilous nature of this journey.
AFGHANISTAN
Following the Government of Pakistan’s announcement of a plan to deport undocumented foreigners, most of whom are Afghans, our colleagues at UNHCR are appealing to Pakistan to continue its protection of all vulnerable Afghans who have sought safety in the country. UNHCR has offered its support to Pakistan in developing a mechanism to manage and register people in need of international protection on its territory and respond to particular vulnerabilities. UNHCR underscores that any refugee return must be voluntary without any pressure, and to ensure protection for those seeking safety.
Recalling UNHCR’s non-return advisory for Afghanistan released in 2021 and updated most recently in February 2023, the Agency calls for a suspension of forced returns of Afghan nationals regardless of their status.
The role of Pakistan as a generous refugee host for decades has been acknowledged globally but more needs to be done to match the generosity of Pakistan.
And just to add that our colleagues in the UN political mission in Afghanistan -UNAMA – have been engaging with authorities on both sides of the border, particularly regarding the humanitarian impact.
CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS
Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. We can’t emphasize enough that journalists and the media fulfill a vital role in society, upholding and enabling democracy and holding power to account.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says that last year at least 88 journalists were killed for doing their jobs. And in his message for the Day, the Secretary-General notes that the current conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory is taking a horrific toll on journalists. He adds that we need to have better safeguards to defend the journalists who are keeping us informed around the world and calls on all to prevent violence against journalists, to provide a safe environment for them as they go about their jobs and to bring to justice those who commit crimes against journalists and media workers.
FRIDAY BRIEFING
Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., in the press briefing room, there will be a briefing by Václav Bálek, the President of the Human Rights Council.
