HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2023
SECRETARY-GENERAL
This morning in Dubai, the Secretary-General spoke to reporters at the UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP28. He said that while the conference is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow, there are still large gaps that need to be bridged.
“Now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility,” he said, urging ministers and negotiators to move beyond arbitrary red lines, entrenched positions and blocking tactics.
“It is time to seek compromise for solutions – without compromising on the science or compromising on the need for the highest ambition,” he said.
His remarks were shared with you.
And today, he has also been meeting with various delegations, regional groups and members of civil society.
And you will have seen that yesterday he spoke at the Doha Forum, where he said we need a serious effort to bring global structures up to date, rooted in equality and solidarity and based on the United Nations Charter and international law.
He added that the Security Council is paralysed by geostrategic divisions which undermine its authority and credibility.
The Secretary-General noted that even though the Council failed to declare a ceasefire in Gaza last week, this is still necessary - and he promised that he would not give up.
GAZA
On Gaza, Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, said today at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview in Doha that the situation is Gaza is bad and getting worse, while adding that the truce that was achieved last week was of great importance.
He said that the efforts by humanitarian workers will be all the more important during the military operations happening in southern Gaza now.
By last night, 100 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies had entered from Egypt into Gaza, the same volume as in most days since the resumption of hostilities on 1 December. This is well below the daily average of about 500 truckloads, including fuel, and of course, humanitarian and commercial, with the vast majority being commercial, that entered every working day prior to 7 October.
Over the weekend, a daily average of 150,000 litres of fuel entered from Egypt, up from a daily average of 67,000 litres in the previous three days.
The increased amounts are the bare minimum needed to prevent the collapse of critical services, including hospitals and ambulances, water, and sanitation infrastructures, and shelters for internally displaced people. Additionally, on Sunday, nearly 45 tonnes of commercial cooking gas also entered from Egypt, the first such delivery since the resumption of hostilities.
Multiple health facilities and personnel were attacked across the Gaza strip over the weekend. They include Al Yaman As Saeed Hospital and Al Awda Hospital in Jabalia camp.
Also, I just want to flag that in a statement yesterday on the International Human Rights Day, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, stressed that human rights have been under assault in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. She said that violations perpetrated on both populations will bring neither peace nor security, as she reiterated the call for a humanitarian ceasefire.
LEBANON
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today said that it is actively working to de-escalate tensions, restore stability and protect civilians. UNIFIL said that there were intense exchanges of fire across the Blue Line over the weekend, and therefore are calling again on all concerned to cease hostilities and avoid further escalation.
According to the peacekeepers, residential housing was damaged, and civilians were reported to have been injured in southern Lebanon over the weekend. There are also reports of Israel Defense Forces personnel injured in northern Israel during the exchanges of fire.
On Saturday, UNIFIL reported that a watchtower inside one of its positions in the proximity of Ibel Qameh in southern Lebanon was hit by shelling, causing damage to the structure. Fortunately, no peacekeepers were injured. The origin of that shelling is under investigation.
SUDAN
The Secretary-General is horrified by an attack in UDAN yesterday on a convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross which was trying to evacuate more than 100 civilians from Khartoum to Wad Madani, which is located to the south of the capital.
The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to those who were injured.
The Secretary-General stresses that the protection of all civilians is paramount and that humanitarian workers must never be a target.
Just to note that the humanitarian convoy, including three ICRC vehicles and three buses, was due to evacuate the civilians from Khartoum when it came under attack upon entering the evacuation area.
CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION
In a video message for the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, which took place today in Atlanta, Georgia, the Secretary-General notes that corruption not only robs resources, but it also robs people of hope.
Corruption undermines development, subverts social cohesion and aggravates inequalities, and fuels distrust in institutions.
The Secretary-General called on all Parties to use the opportunity to strengthen international cooperation to prevent, detect, and prosecute corruption – in partnership with civil society and the private sector.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council was briefed by Bintou Keita, the Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). She said that we are at an important turning point in relations between the UN and the DRC but, she added, with nine days to go before presidential elections, this is also an important moment for the country itself.
SECURITY COUNCIL/AFTERNOON
And this afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., Council members will reconvene to hold a meeting on threats to international peace and security. The Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, is expected to brief Council members.
MALI
Earlier today in Bamako, in Mali, our peacekeeping colleagues held a ceremony to mark the conclusion of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), following our UN peacekeeping Mission’s 10-years of service to the people of Mali.
Speaking at the event, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and head of the Mission, El Ghassim Wane, thanked the thousands of peacekeepers, past and present, who have served with courage and commitment. He expressed gratitude for the international support provided throughout the lifespan of the Mission - including the many operational partners as well as Member States who contributed troops and police over the years.
While acknowledging the obstacles faced by the Mission and its limitations, Mr. Wane highlighted some of its successes, including supporting the 2015 peace and reconciliation agreement and ensuring respect for the ceasefire. And also underscored peacekeepers’ role in protecting civilians from violent extremist groups throughout the northern part of the country.
He also mentioned the Mission’s work to facilitate the return of State authority in central Mali, by rehabilitating infrastructure to provide basic services and livelihoods for communities, as well as support to build the capacity of national security forces.
The Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Atul Khare was at the ceremony and is currently in Mali. He thanked the Malian people for their support. He also paid tribute to the 311 peacekeeping personnel who gave their lives in the cause of peace, including 174 of those who died in hostile acts.
Meanwhile, MINUSMA has now closed 10 bases, including its Mopti camp, which was transferred to Malian authorities on Friday. Overall, 10,754 peacekeeping personnel out of 13,871 have now departed Mali and the remainder will leave by the end of December, except for those involved in the liquidation process, which will begin from 1 January 2024.
SOUTH SUDAN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that more than half of South Sudan’s population is going hungry, and an estimated 1.6 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through June of next year.
OCHA says that this year’s humanitarian appeal to help 7.4 million people is just half funded, with about $1 billion received to date. Meanwhile, humanitarians have been forced to halve rations and reduce support due to the funding cuts.
In a joint statement – the UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator, Reena Ghelani, and the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Martie Helen Verney, said the world cannot turn a blind eye to the extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition we’re now seeing in South Sudan.
WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL
Over the weekend, the head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, concluded a working visit to Abuja, in Nigeria. He took part in yesterday’s Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
In his remarks, Mr. Simão stressed the importance of continued dialogue and engagement with transition countries for a return to constitutional order. More information on the interweb.
GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW
This morning, on behalf of 1,900 humanitarian organizations, we released its global humanitarian appeal for 2024 – calling for more than $46 billion to help more than 180 million people worldwide with life-saving assistance and protection.
Events marking the release of the Global Humanitarian Overview were held in Doha, were held in Geneva and Addis Ababa.
The Secretary-General sent a pre-recorded video message. He said that 2023 saw human suffering on an epic and heartbreaking scale.
But, he added, the women and men of the humanitarian community are staying and delivering in some of the world’s most dangerous places. This year, they overcame enormous barriers to reach 128 million people with food, shelter, medicine, sanitation services and protection.
And, he said, they did so with a fraction of the support they need — just one-third of the $57 billion we had required.
This, the Secretary-General said, represents the worst funding shortfall for humanitarian operations in years and he called on donors to turn the tide.
Speaking in Doha, Martin Griffiths called on donors to dig deeper, citing a “severe and ominous funding crisis.”
About 300 million people around the world still need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2024 – as armed conflicts, the climate emergency and collapsing economies continue to drive hunger, displacement and disease.
GUATEMALA
Over the weekend, we issued a statement expressing the Secretary-General’s alarm at recent developments in Guatemala, where the Public Prosecutor’s Office has taken steps to annul the general elections, which had been certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal at the end of August.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the respect of the will of the Guatemalan voters and for a smooth transition of power next month. He trusts that the results of the election as certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal will be respected.
HUMAN RIGHTS AT 75
Earlier today in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, opened a high-level event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
After a moment of silence in honour of the victims of human rights violations all over the world, Mr. Türk said that the event was a call to hope and a call to action. A call to overcome polarisation, at a time of so little solidarity, and so much divisive and short-sighted vision. And a call to work together, with courage and principles, to resolve the huge challenges we face, he added.
The event continues tomorrow and can be followed online.
BRIEFING TOMORROW
Tomorrow, at 9:00 a.m., the Somalia Security Conference will kick off in Conference Room 2.
Following the event, at around 4:00 p.m., the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, will hold a hybrid press briefing.
MOUNTAIN DAY
Tomorrow, starting at 9:00 a.m., the Somalia Security Conference will take place in Conference Room 2.
Following the event, at around 4:00 p.m., the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, will hold a hybrid press conference here in this room.
