Noon briefing of 25 January 2024

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 25 JANUARY 2024

GAZA
In a statement today, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, Thomas White, said heavy fighting near the remaining hospitals in Khan Younis, including Nasser and Al Amal, has effectively encircled these facilities, leaving terrified staff, patients and displaced people trapped inside. Al Khair hospital has shut down after patients, including women who had just undergone C-section surgeries, were evacuated in the middle of the night.
Mr. White said the situation in Khan Younis underscores a consistent failure to uphold the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law: distinction, proportionality and precautions in carrying out attacks.
This is unacceptable and abhorrent and must stop. 
The near collapse of the health system and the lack of trauma care in Khan Younis city are making the humanitarian situation ever more intolerable and intense.

UNRWA
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said today that the UNRWA Khan Younis Training Centre was hit by direct fire yesterday at a building housing 800 displaced people. At least 13 people were killed and 56 injured, 21 of them critically, in what should have been a place of safety. 
UNRWA says that there are 43,000 internally displaced people registered in this massively overcrowded UNRWA shelter.
Throughout the day and into the early evening, ambulances and UNRWA emergency teams were denied access to the site. When they finally reached it last night, they were able to evacuate around 45 people. The near collapse of the health system and the lack of trauma care in Khan Younis city are making the humanitarian situation ever more intolerable and intense.
Yesterday’s strike was the third direct hit on this compound. Buildings flying the UN flag have been hit at least twice by tank fire, without warning. 
The UN shares the location of its shelters directly with the Israeli authorities and the UN had received assurances that people inside them would be safe. 
The UN continues to call on all parties to take every precaution to minimize harm and protect civilians and civilian objects, especially in densely populated areas, and to protect hospitals, clinics, medical personnel and UN premises in accordance with international law.  

SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, María Isabel Salvador, the head of the UN mission in Haiti, briefed the Security Council on the situation there. She said the country remains plagued by escalating violence – with an unprecedented surge in kidnappings, rapes and other crimes committed by armed gangs. This, she said, increasingly affects the livelihoods of people and undermines humanitarian activities.
Last year, the UN office documented over 8,400 direct victims of gang violence, including people killed, injured and kidnapped. This is an increase of 122 per cent as compared to 2022.
Ms. Salvador said she will continue to encourage all Haitian stakeholders to effectively prepare for the deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission (MSS).
She also renewed her appeal to Member States to contribute generously to ensure the timely deployment of the multinational mission to Haiti.
Ghada Waly, the Head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said that in a report released by her team yesterday, includes more information about the illicit flows of firearms and ammunition.
She added that the report found 11 informal or clandestine air strips in Haiti, which represent a blind spot possibly used by traffickers and smugglers.
In the current context, Ms. Waly added, it is more important than ever to take every measure possible to prevent illicit flows from further destabilizing the country.

SECURITY COUNCIL/AFTERNOON
This afternoon, the Security Council will reconvene at 3:00 pm for a private meeting on ‘Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine’. The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi will brief, and after the meeting, he will speak at the stakeout.
This meeting will be followed by a briefing on threats to International Peace and Security. Rosemary DiCarlo, the head of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, will brief Council members.

SYRIA
The Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, attended the two-day round of the Astana talks in the Kazakh capital. Ms. Rochdi held constructive meetings with representatives of the governments of Syria, Russia, Turkiye, Jordan and Lebanon. During the meetings, she underscored the need for immediately de-escalating violence both within the region and specifically in Syria.
Ms. Rochdi also conveyed that the common priorities include civilian protection, resumption of the Constitutional Committee, promoting confidence-building measures, supporting Syrian people everywhere, and implementing Security Council Resolution 2254. The UN will continue to work with the various Syrian parties and all international actors, as well as push for concrete progress.

HONOUR ROLL
Belize has paid its regular budget dues in full for 2024. This brings the number of Member States on the Honour Roll to 22.

BRIEFING GUEST TODAY AND TOMORROW
The noon briefing guest is the Chief of UNCTAD’s (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) Trade Facilitation Section, Jan Hoffmann. He will brief you on disruptions to trade in the Red Sea.
Noon briefing guest tomorrow is Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; along with Rabib Fatima, Under Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.