HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 13 MARCH 2024
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Related to the Human Development Report, the Secretary-General said in a message that the report explores the roots of polarization and its devastating impact on sustainable development. He added that it demonstrates that our best hope for the future is by combating divisive rhetoric and stressing the common ground that unites the vast majority of people everywhere.
The Secretary-General called it an important contribution as we prepare for the Summit of the Future in September.
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the townhall meeting with members of civil society which is part of this year’s Commission on the Status of Women. He told the participants that around the world, women’s rights are under attack, civic space is being squeezed, and women’s rights defenders face violent threats for daring to speak up for justice.
This is appalling and cannot stand, he told the participants, citing examples from around the world including in Afghanistan, Sudan, and the current conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The Secretary-General also warned of two worrying trends. One, the backlash from the patriarchy trying to undermine women’s rights in the name of “traditional” values. Also, the new technologies, including artificial intelligence which had biases embedded in them.
The Secretary-General also heard from participants and answered their questions.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrived in Geneva earlier today, together with the Under Secretary-General Guy Ryder. Opening the eighth Europe and Central Asia Regional Forum for Sustainable Development, Ms. Mohammed stressed the need to ramp up action towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfilling the vision of the 2030 Agenda.
The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the critical role of investments in key transitions and underscored the UN’s commitment to supporting the Governments in these efforts. On the sidelines of the regional forum, Ms. Mohammed also met with the Co-Chairs of the forum.
The Deputy Secretary-General then chaired the United Nations Regional Collaborative Mechanism for Europe and Central Asia, where they discussed regional-level efforts to effectively support SDG acceleration, the UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams in the region. Meeting with the UN Resident Coordinators in the region, they discussed accelerating progress and supporting governments and other stakeholders in shaping investment pathways for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the country level.
The Deputy Secretary-General will return to New York later tonight.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held an open debate on Promoting Conflict Prevention - Empowering All Actors Including Women and Youth”.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the head of the Political and Peacebuilding department, briefed the Council, and she said that as we are witnessing an upsurge in armed conflict around the world, we need more prevention, because prevention saves lives and safeguards development gains.
The New Agenda for Peace places inclusion at the centre of prevention efforts and focuses on how women’s full, meaningful and effective participation is closely connected to our efforts to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.
Simply put, she said, without half the population participating and deciding, there cannot be sustainable peace. She also called on council members to prioritize the inclusion and empowerment of youth.
YEMEN
Tomorrow, after Security Council’s morning meeting and consultations on Yemen, the Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, will be at the stakeout to talk to reporters.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that as the bombardment and fighting in Gaza continue, the UN and its partners are working to provide mental health and psychosocial support, particularly for children.
Since the escalation of hostilities on 7 October, humanitarian partners working on child protection issues have reached more than 267,000 children across Gaza – as well as some 27,000 caregivers – with essential services, including mental health and psychosocial support, as well as winter clothes.
UNRWA
At least one staff member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was killed and another 22 were injured when Israeli Forces hit a food distribution centre in the eastern part of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said today’s attack on one of the very few remaining UNRWA distribution centres in the Gaza Strip comes as food supplies are running out, hunger is widespread and, in some areas, turning into famine.
He noted that every day, UNRWA shares the coordinates of all its facilities across the Gaza Strip with parties to the conflict. The Israeli Army received the coordinates, including of this facility, yesterday.
Since the war began five months ago, UNRWA has recorded an unprecedented number of violations against its staff and facilities that surpass any other conflict around the world, including at least 165 deaths.
UN SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, issued a statement yesterday to mark the beginning of Ramadan, calling for the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem to be upheld and respected, taking note of the guarantee by the Israeli authorities to allow the Muslim population of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, access to the Holy Sites. He also noted that there is a growing risk of a wider political and security calamity. This must be avoided at all costs, here said.
HAITI
On Haiti, the UN continues to be concerned by the impact of violence on civilians and on aid operations. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continue to deliver assistance to those who have been displaced by the most recent violence, while continuing their regular programmes in other departments of Haiti.
To date, the World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered some 75,000 meals to those displaced by the recent violence.
Many of those in need are women and children. They need emergency assistance, as well as spaces where they can be safe. And for that, we need safe and unhindered access to all areas of Port-au-Prince to reach those who need our help the most.
We have a little bit of positive news on Haiti to report today: The first ship was able to leave Port-au-Prince since the end of February, and that ship left for the port of Miragoâne with 8 trucks loaded with medicine and medical supplies for the health sector in the Grand Sud Department, which is in the south of the country. The consignment seeks to reach more than 80 health facilities in the area.
As a reminder, some 5.5 million people – nearly half of the population – need humanitarian assistance across Haiti.
And we continue to need funding to be able to support the people of Haiti with basic needs. The $674 million Humanitarian Needs Response Plan has not received new funding since we last mentioned it – it is still only 2.6 per cent funded, with $17.7 million received.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), in collaboration with the Congolese Armed Forces, launched an operation targeting the CODECO militia and their bases and hideouts in Djugu territory, which is in Ituri province.
The operation secured the villages of Go and Vesa, which are about23km south of Djugu, resulting in the armed group withdrawing from both locations. Peacekeepers are continuing to maintain a presence in the area, including through patrols at night, and no peacekeeperswere injured during these operations.
SUDAN
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today warn that malnutrition is soaring in the country. Some 220,000 severely malnourished children and more than 7,000 new mothers could die in the coming months if they do not receive urgent assistance – that’s according to the latest figures from partners working on nutrition.
Already, we have been seeing alarming reports of child deaths related to malnutrition, including at displacement sites in Darfur.
Across Sudan, some 3.7 million children are suffering from malnutrition. Many are unable to access treatment, especially those living in areas that are difficult to reach.
As you heard me say last week, the country is on track to becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis. Some 18 million people are facing acute food insecurity – a number that we fear will surge when the lean season arrives in the coming months.
Additional resources are also needed in Sudan for us to scale up the response – so far, this year’s humanitarian appeal, calling for $2.7 billion, is just 5 per cent funded with only $130 million in our bank.
We also need rapid and unfettered humanitarian access to people in need across the country – including for those held behind conflict lines. And again, we reiterate our appeal for a silencing of the guns during the holy month of Ramadan.
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that a wave of overnight attacks in the centre and the east of the country caused civilian casualties and damaged apartment buildings. Yesterday, an attack in the city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro Region resulted in civilians being injured and killed, including children. The attack damaged hundreds of apartments, two schools, two kindergartens and other facilities, according to authorities.
Today, there were also attacks in the north-east and in the southeastern regions of Ukraine.
UN agencies and humanitarian partners have promptly mobilized to provide emergency assistance. They provided first aid and psychological assistance and distributed repair materials, blankets, mattresses and other essential supplies. The support continues as we speak, and we reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructures must be protected.
ROHINGYA
Today, the UN Refugee Agency, along with its partners, launched its Joint Response Plan to support Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts.
The plan seeks $852.4 million to help almost one million Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and on the island of Bhasan Char, and some 346,000 people from host communities, with food, shelter, health care, access to drinkable water, protection services, education and livelihood opportunities and skills development.
UNHCR said that 95 per cent of Rohingya households in Bangladesh are vulnerable and remain dependent on humanitarian assistance. More than half of the refugees in the camps are under 18 and are languishing amidst limited opportunities for education, skills-building and livelihoods.
UNHCR says that the international community must continue investing in education, skills training and livelihood opportunities for Rohingya refugees as this is a lifeline for them as they struggle to meet their basic needs.
GIANDOMENICO PICCO
I just want to end on a note, noting the passing of an esteemed colleague. We were all saddened to learn of the passing of Giandomenico Picco, a legendary UN staff who served in many different key roles at the United Nations.
Gianni Picco, as he was known, was a fledgling political officer in our UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, who was “discovered” by Javier Perez de Cuellar while his was serving as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General there in the 1970s. Mr. Perez de Cuellar brought him to the Executive Office. From there, Mr. Picco went on to play a major part in many key hotspots, including Afghanistan and during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80s. He was admired by many for the risks he took, including in resolving major hostage situations. He will be sorely missed by all of us, and we send our condolence to his friends, family and colleagues.
***The guests at the Noon Briefing were the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Achim Steiner, and the Director of the Human Development Report Office, Pedro Conceição. They briefed reporters on the new Human Development Report and Index.
