HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2024
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that strikes in Rafah have heightened concerns of an escalation in Gaza’s southernmost city, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge.
Of the 1.7 million people displaced in Gaza, the majority are situated in Rafah governorate, where humanitarian operations are now based. The growing insecurity in Rafah is greatly impacting humanitarian response activities.
Ground operations and heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups continue to be reported, particularly in Rafah and Khan Younis. In Khan Younis, intense fighting – especially near Nasser and Al Amal hospitals – continues to jeopardize the safety of medical staff, the wounded and the sick, as well as internally displaced people.
Across Gaza, people displaced by the hostilities are facing acute shortages of shelter, clean water, food and medicine.
Despite the worsening situation, the UN and partners are doing everything to deliver life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in need. The UN’s humanitarian partners are reaching about 450,000 people weekly with a variety of health services.
Each week, partners carry out nearly 300,000 primary health care consultations, on average. They are also planning to open stabilization centres for acute malnutrition cases with medical complications.
More than two dozen partners are providing shelter assistance – and some 28,000 tents and other equipment are currently in the pipeline.
However, the cost of these supplies is rising, and there is an urgent need to restore the role of the private sector in providing basic commodities.
SYRIA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that on February 10th, the Government of Syria extended its consent for the United Nations to deliver humanitarian assistance through both Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra’i crossings for an additional three months, until 13 May 2024.
This extension follows the renewal of consent on January 11th for the UN and its partners to utilize the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for an additional six months until 13 July 2024.
These extensions are crucial, as the UN's cross-border operations remain a vital support system for people in north-west Syria. Every month, we and our partners deliver critical assistance and protection services to an average of 2.5 million people.
Since February last year, approximately 5,000 trucks carrying UN aid have crossed from Türkiye to north-west Syria via the Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al Ra’i border crossings. Moreover, UN personnel have completed more than 350 cross-border missions during this time.
SUDAN
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, urged all those involved to immediately restore network access across Sudan, and warned that outages are preventing people from accessing essential services and transferring funds, as well as hindering the humanitarian response.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros, echoed those concerns, and said that the disruptions are impeding health operations, as well as access to health services.
This comes at a time when humanitarian needs in Sudan are at record highs. Nearly 25 million people – that’s every other person – need humanitarian assistance this year.
Just last week, the UN and its partners launched the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to reach some 14.7 million people inside Sudan with life-saving aid and protection services.
ABYEI
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) reports that they have been maintaining enhanced levels of patrolling to protect civilians, particularly in southern Abyei where most of the violence has taken place and remains committed to doing so.
The Mission is also providing refuge to civilians displaced in the clashes, many of them children, and working with our humanitarian partners to meet their needs. At the same time, the Mission is engaging with stakeholders at the national and community levels to calm tensions and coordinate to provide longer-term security and voluntary return options to those displaced.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) reports that the situation in Kinshasa remains tense today, as demonstrations continued in the capital for a third day.
Over the weekend, civilians protesting the rising insecurity in the country’s east targeted UN staff and assets in Kinshasa, setting fire to several UN vehicles and burning tires in front of diplomatic installations, including UN premises. Fortunately, no UN personnel have been wounded.
In a statement on Saturday, Bintou Keita, the Head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo condemned the attacks on UN staff and called on the Congolese judicial authorities to launch investigations with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators.
Ms. Keita stressed that threats and attacks against UN staff and their families are unacceptable, noting that these assaults have a negative impact on the implementation of the respective mandates of the agencies, funds, and programmes of the entire UN system, including MONUSCO.
The Mission is doing its utmost to protect civilians in the east, including through support to the Congolese armed forces. “Operation Springbok”, being conducted jointly with the Congolese armed forces, is ongoing, with the additional deployment of a Quick Reaction Force to Sake in North Kivu last week. Peacekeepers are also continuing to protect the main routes leading towards Goma and Sake to prevent M23 rebels from advancing towards both cities.
YEMEN
The Special Envoy for the country, Hans Grundberg, held several meetings over the weekend with officials and representatives of the Yemeni society.
On Saturday he was in Aden, where he met with the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi. He explored ways to de-escalate tensions, prevent a relapse into violence in Yemen, and continue progress towards a nationwide ceasefire, economic measures, and the resumption of a political process under UN auspices.
In Mokha, Grundberg met yesterday with a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Tareq Saleh, and emphasized the importance of maintaining calm along the frontlines.
Also, over the weekend in Aden, Mr. Grundberg met with 30 youth and civil society activists. He underlined that they have a critical role in supporting the peace process, and in representing the Yemeni people.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on threats to international peace and security.
Briefing Council members was Miroslav Jenča, the Assistant Secretary-General for Central Asia, Europe, and Americas at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
Mr. Jenča noted that the approaching anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is not only an occasion to recount the horrors of the past two years. He pointed it that it is also a reminder that the armed conflict in Ukraine did not begin on 24 February 2022, but has been ongoing in the country’s east since 2014.
Mr. Jenča emphasized that the UN has been, and will remain, fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that hostilities continued over the weekend and today.
On 10 February, evening strikes in Kharkiv City in the east led to a massive fire at an oil depot. The fire spread to homes nearby and local authorities reported more than 50 casualties. The fire also impacted the electricity supply in the area.
Humanitarian partners are mobilized and distributing hot meals and materials for urgent repairs. They are also providing mental health and psychosocial support at the site of the attack.
Damage to energy facilities has also been reported by the state energy provider in the Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
In total, 386 towns and villages across Ukraine remain without electricity due to the impact of hostilities. That’s according to Ukraine’s main energy company.
AFGHANISTAN
Turning to Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is deeply concerned over recent arbitrary arrests and detentions of women and girls by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities because of alleged non-compliance with the Islamic dress code. The UN Mission is looking into allegations of ill-treatment and incommunicado detention, and that religious and ethnic minority communities appear to be disproportionately impacted by the enforcement operations.
The UN Mission fears the current crackdown is pushing women into even greater isolation due to fear of arbitrary arrest and creating a permissive environment for men to enforce repressive measures at home.
UNAMA has discussed these issues with the de facto authorities, including the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, and calls for the immediate release of those detained.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Over the weekend, Trinidad and Tobago faced an oil spill originating from an unidentified vessel that overturned off the coast of Tobago.
In response, under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana, the UN team is reallocating existing resources to support the authorities with the immediate cleanup efforts.
An emergency meeting is underway with the Tobago Emergency Management Agency to discuss current needs. Our UN team is actively collaborating with the Government and international partners, conducting assessments to facilitate a coordinated aid response.
While the Government-led containment of the vessel leak is nearly under control, the UN is boosting support for community-level cleanup.
Efforts are also geared towards addressing the long-term environmental and economic impacts, ensuring a comprehensive response to safeguard local livelihoods and Tobago’s vital tourist sector.
WORLD’S MIGRATORY SPECIES REPORT
The first-ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report was launched today by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN biodiversity treaty.
The report shows that while some migratory species listed under CMS are improving, 44 per cent are showing population declines.
According to the report, more than one-in-five of CMS-listed species are threatened with extinction. Nearly all - 97 per cent - of CMS-listed fish are threatened with extinction.
The report adds that the extinction risk is growing for migratory species globally, including those not listed under CMS.
PREVENTION OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM
Today is the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism. In his message, the Under-Secretary-General for Counter Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, says that this Day is an opportunity to highlight the essential and ongoing commitment from Member States, the UN system and all relevant global partners to unite in the common efforts against violent extremism.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Australia, Colombia, Greece and Morocco have paid their dues in full. 55 countries have paid in full so far.
