HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2023
GAZA
The United Nations is working with all involved to ensure that the flow of goods into Gaza is sufficient, predictable, swiftly delivered and based on what people need most. While the current scale of supplies entering Gaza falls short of what is required, what is equally crucial is reestablishing conditions within Gaza that allow for meaningful, efficient and large-scale humanitarian operations.
Currently, intense fighting, the lack of electricity, limited fuel and disrupted telecommunications severely restrict access to loading points and trucks, as well as the ability to deliver, prioritize, plan and coordinate critical operations – with civilians bearing the brunt.
Yesterday, the Israeli military designated a new area covering about 20 per cent of central and south of Khan Younis city for immediate evacuation.
The area was marked in an online map published on social media. Prior to the onset of hostilities, this area was home to over 111,000 people. The area also includes 32 shelters that accommodated more than 141,000 displaced people, the vast majority of whom were previously displaced from the north.
The Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says us that access to evacuation information on Khan Younis and other key information is impaired by interruptions in telecommunications and the lack of electricity. Telecommunications are still down in most of Gaza for the eighth day in a row.
On the health front, the World Health Organization led a mission yesterday to deliver medical supplies to Al Ahli and Shifa hospitals in Gaza City. This is one of few humanitarian convoys to reach areas north of Wadi Gaza since the end of the humanitarian pause on December 1st.
Only 9 out of 36 health facilities are partially functional in the whole of Gaza, all of them in the south, according to WHO. The hospitals in the north are still sheltering thousands of displaced people.
GAZA/FOOD INSECURITY
According to a food security analysis issued today, more than half a million people are facing catastrophic hunger conditions in Gaza.
The World Food Programme warns that these levels of acute food insecurity are unprecedented in recent history and that Gaza risks famine.
The analysis, issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and includes data from the World Food Programme, other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, confirmed that the entire population of Gaza – roughly 2.2 million people – are in crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity.
It further highlighted that 26 percent of Gazans – that’s more than half a million people - have exhausted their food supplies and coping capacities and face catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5) and starvation.
The population falling into the Catastrophe classification in Gaza or IPC Level 5 is more than four times higher than the total number of people currently facing similar conditions worldwide.
WFP has been calling the situation desperate, and no one in Gaza is safe from starvation. The United Nations has been calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the opening of all border crossings, and the resumption of commercial cargo to provide relief and put an end to the suffering.
SUDAN
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), up to 300,000 people have fled Wad Madani in Al-Jazirah state, in a new wave of large-scale displacement after fighting spread to the area.
And the Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that at least 150,000 children were forced from their homes in less than a week. These latest movements will push Sudan's total displaced population beyond 7.1 million, the world’s largest displacement crisis. More than 1.5 million people have fled to neighbouring countries.
Since the onset of the crisis, IOM has been delivering essential life-saving aid to nearly 660,000 people in Sudan and neighbouring countries.
UNICEF and partners have also worked to provide life-saving assistance to over 6 million children inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries, including water, health, nutrition, safe spaces and learning.
All humanitarian field missions within and from Al-Jazirah state have been suspended, jeopardizing the already fragile delivery of critical aid to over 270,000 people in need within Wad Madani - Sudan’s second largest city - and the displaced populations fleeing the ongoing violence, according to the Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan.
Access to basic necessities such as food and health care has been severely disrupted, while nearly 25 million people require humanitarian assistance and protection.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
This morning, Under Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix travelled to Birao in the northeast of the Central African Republic, together with the Minister of the Interior, Henri Wanzet-Linguissara, and the head of the peacekeeping mission, Valentine Rugwabiza. They interacted with the local population and also visited Sudanese refugees at the Korsi site.
Mr. Lacroix paid tribute to the resilience and generosity of Central Africans and the authorities towards the refugees, and praised the collaboration between the Mission and humanitarians, who are continuing to provide assistance.
Ms. Rugwabiza noted that peacekeepers would continue to patrol in the area to provide protection.
Responding to concerns of the local population on the need to secure borders areas such as Am-dafock and Tissifongoro, she announced that patrols to secure these areas would be carried out before the end of the year.
Back in the capital, Bangui, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, the Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic has allocated $13 million to address the most urgent needs of some 150,000 internally displaced people and returnees – as well as host communities.
This allocation from the Central African Republic Humanitarian Fund will assist the most vulnerable in the southeast of the country and other hard-to-reach and underserved areas – where thousands of people need vital support, including with health, nutrition, shelter and clean water.
This region, particularly the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, has seen the humanitarian and security situation worsen since March, amid clashes between armed groups.
The Humanitarian Coordinator called on the parties to protect civilians and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.
GUINEA-BISSAU
The Secretary-General is following developments in Guinea-Bissau with concern.
He calls on all parties to respect the constitution and to engage in constructive dialogue towards the resolution of their political differences.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Simão, is liaising closely with relevant stakeholders and is ready to engage with the country's political leadership and other relevant stakeholders in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international partners.
SYRIA
At the Security Council this morning, Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, wrapped up the year with a message: He said that in 2024 there is a clear need to refocus on the political process which was called for eight years ago in resolution 2254. He added that his good offices are ongoing with the Syrian parties, the regional players and the international stakeholders in this regard.
Briefing on the humanitarian situation, Lisa Doughten, the Director of Humanitarian Finance and Recourse Mobilization Division at OCHA, reminded members of the importance of ensuring that Bab al-Salam and Al Ra’ee and Bab Al-Hawa crossings remain open. She said that in the coming days, the United Nations will formally request that the Government of Syria extends its consent for the use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for as long as humanitarian needs persist.
WORLD BASKETBALL DAY
Today is the first World Basketball Day.
Basketball has grown to become one of the most popular and widely played sports in the world. Beyond iconic names, basketball is a global grassroots sport and is played and enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, from organized leagues to casual pickup games.
SECRETARY-GENERAL STAKEOUT
Tomorrow, at 12:30 p.m., the Secretary-General is expected to be at the Security Council stakeout.
BRIEFINGS
There will not be briefings next week. The noon briefing will resume on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.
