HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2024
Gaza
The Secretary-General condemns the death of at least 18 people, including children, women, and six UNRWA staff, in Israeli airstrikes that hit a school serving as a shelter in Nuseirat on 11 September. This incident raises the number of UNRWA staff killed in this conflict to 220. The Israeli Defence Forces stated that they had targeted a command-and-control center in the compound. This incident must be independently and thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability.
The continued lack of effective protection for civilians in Gaza is unconscionable. Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on must be protected and meet the essential needs of the civilian population. The Secretary-General calls upon all parties to refrain from using schools, from using shelters, or the areas around them for military purposes.
All parties to the conflict have the obligation to comply with international humanitarian law at all times.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza. This horrific violence must stop.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
The polio vaccination campaign is continuing, despite the numerous challenges we keep talking about. UNRWA tells us that, as of yesterday, nearly 530,000 children have now received the vaccine across the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and its partners, in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates, organized yesterday the largest medical evacuation from Gaza since October 2023.
WHO tells us that 97 sick and severely injured patients and 155 of their companions were transported via the Kerem Shalom crossing to Ramon Airport in Israel for onward travel to Abu Dhabi for specialized care.
In the West Bank, we continue to follow the developments there with concern and we have been updating you about these for the past several days.
Meanwhile, the economy in the Palestinian Territories has been heavily influenced by this ongoing conflict. A report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, otherwise known as UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), issued today a report that revealed that Gaza's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plummeted by 81% in the last quarter of 2023, leading to a 22% contraction for the entire year. By mid-2024, Gaza's economy had shrunk to less than one-sixth of its 2022 level.
According to the report, the West Bank has been undergoing a rapid and alarming economic decline as well. More is online
Lebanon
Turning to Lebanon. The situation on both sides of the Blue Line continues to be fragile, and is taking its toll on civilians, particularly, on children.
Our colleagues at the peacekeeping force in Lebanon – UNIFIL – informed us that two children were reportedly killed by a drone strike in southern Lebanon yesterday evening.
UNIFIL reiterates its condemnation of any attacks on civilians, which must stop.
Again, UNIFIL calls on all parties to this conflict to cease the exchanges of fire across the Blue Line and return to a cessation of hostilities.
UNIFIL will continue all efforts to use its mandate to de-escalate the situation and underscores that a diplomatic solution must be found.
Global Call on the Summit of the Future
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the Global call on the Summit of the Future, which is organized by Namibia and by Germany– who as you know are the co-facilitators of the inter-governmental negotiations on the Pact for the Future.
Member States are in the final stages of negotiations for the three agreements to be adopted at the Summit - the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General urged countries to push hard for the deepest reforms and most meaningful actions possible. We need maximum ambition during these final days of negotiations, he said, because the challenges we face are moving much faster than our ability to solve these challenges.
The Secretary-General added that the Summit of the Future is an opportunity for far-reaching agreements on international collaboration for a safer, more sustainable and more equitable world.
He called on Member States to act swiftly, with vision, with courage, solidarity and a spirit of compromise, to get the three draft agreements over the finish line – and to make the most of this critical milestone on the road to a more networked, effective and inclusive multilateralism for the 21st century.
Yemen
This morning, our Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, spoke to Security Council members via video technology. He underscored that his primary objective remains the mediation of a sustainable and just resolution to the conflict in Yemen.
He mentioned that his office is preparing for further consultations with political parties and civil society to promote a vision for an inclusive peace process in the country.
For her part, our Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, said that for the first time on record, three districts – two in Hodeidah and one in Taiz – are facing extremely critical levels of malnutrition. Four more districts are projected to reach that level by October, that is next month.
By the end of 2024, she added, more than 600,000 children in the Government of Yemen-controlled areas are estimated to be acutely malnourished.
The coordinated humanitarian appeal for Yemen is only 28 per cent funded. In response to the serious lack of funding for this appeal, OCHA released $20 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund to help our work in Yemen.
Aid Worker Deaths /Ukraine
Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said today that she is outraged that aid workers continue to be killed –so soon after World Humanitarian Day, which as you know was less than a month ago.
In addition to the six UNRWA staff who were killed in Gaza yesterday, three staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross were killed by shelling in Ukraine today. Ms. Msuya said that like all civilians, aid workers must be protected – and must never be a target.
In Ukraine, our ICRC colleagues tell us that their staff were killed when a planned aid distribution site on the front lines in the Donetsk region, in the east of the country, came under shelling. Two other staff were wounded when the organization’s vehicles were hit.
We stress the need for respect of international humanitarian law, including taking every precaution to ensure that those engaged in humanitarian activities are not targeted or caught up in hostilities.
We of course, extend our most heartfelt condolences to our colleagues at the International Committee for the Red Cross.
Today’s deadly attack in the Donetsk [region] comes amid ongoing hostilities in other parts of Ukraine. In the north-east of the country, aid workers are responding to an attack that struck the Sumy region overnight. Authorities say civilians in the town of Konotop were injured, and homes and civilian infrastructure were also damaged, leaving the town with no power and no water.
We, along with our partners, are continuing to reach people in need in the front-line parts of the Kharkiv region, in eastern Ukraine. Yesterday, a UN-led convoy delivered essential hygiene supplies to vulnerable residents in one community there, including older people and people with disabilities. It was the seventh such convoy in 2024 to the Kharkiv area.
Libya
The UN political mission in Libya – UNSMIL - tells us that progress was made regarding the crisis surrounding the Central Bank of Libya.
In a meeting hosted by the Mission today and yesterday, participants from the House of Representatives and the High Council of State on one hand, and the representative of the Presidential Council on the other, agreed on taking steps leading to the appointment of a new governor and a board of directors for the Central Bank.
And just to note that our Under-Secretary-General for Political [and Peacebuilding] Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, ended her visit to Libya yesterday. In all her meetings there, she underlined our commitment to stand by the Libyan people in their efforts to overcome years of conflict and achieve a durable and sustainable peace.
South Sudan
Moving South to South Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that hundreds of thousands of people in the country risk going without life-saving support, unless additional funding is received as soon as possible.
This year’s appeal to help some 6 million vulnerable people in South Sudan is only 43 per cent funded, with $773 million received of the $1.8 billion that we need.
The need for additional resources for response efforts is especially critical given the flooding that has impacted some 700,000 people in South Sudan. Between now and December, about 3.3 million people are expected to be impacted.
Nigeria
Turning to Nigeria, our Humanitarian Coordinator there, Mohamed Malick Fall, has condemned a deadly attack on civilians in Yobe State, in the northeast.
According to local authorities, at least 128 men and boys were killed by a non-state armed group in Mafa town on 1 September. Many others were injured in the attack, including women and children. Shelters and businesses were also reportedly burned down, and improvised explosive devices were reportedly planted along roads leading to the town.
We will be conducting a joint mission there in the coming days with the government and are on standby to provide assistance as required.
In 2023, more than 4,500 civilians were killed as a result of the conflict in the northeast of Nigeria, that is according to our report [of the Secretary-General] on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
An update from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and our efforts to fight the mpox outbreak. UNICEF said today they are stepping up their support to the government to protect the lives of children under 15, who account for about 60 per cent of the suspected cases of mpox and 80 per cent of the deaths this year.
From the beginning of the year to the end of August, more than 21,000 suspected mpox cases were recorded in the country, as well as and 700 deaths.
Over the past week, UNICEF has received the first shipments of the mpox vaccine totaling 215,000 doses. More shipments are expected.
UNICEF is also supporting the vaccine roll-out through related supplies and logistics, and the training of health workers in transportation, storage, and the administration of vaccines to patients.
The agency has also enhanced community-based surveillance, the training of health workers, and community engagement teams.
UNICEF says they need $35 million to reach over 2.2 million people, including 1.3 million children, over the next 6 months. UNICEF has only received about 21 per cent of that needed amount.
South-South Cooperation
Today is the Day for South-South Cooperation. In a message, the Secretary-General said today we celebrate the transformative power of unity and solidarity among developing countries.
He underscored that South-South cooperation does not reduce the responsibility of wealthier nations to help tackle global inequalities, but added that strong South-South partnerships – along with triangular cooperation – is crucial to building a better future for all.
And there is a panel discussion today, which seeks to spotlight efforts made by Member States, the UN System, the private sector, and civil society on South-South cooperation. You can watch it on the UN Webtv.
Cybersecurity
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released today the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, which says that countries around the world are improving cybersecurity efforts, but stronger actions are needed to meet evolving cyberthreats.
Threats highlighted in the report include ransomware attacks targeting government services and other sectors, cyber breaches affecting industries, costly system outages, and breaches of privacy for individuals and organizations.
The report also provides a roadmap of activities to make further improvements on cybersecurity.
Rwanda Tribute
There is a new statue in the UN Garden called the “Kwibuka Flame of Hope”. It is a gift from the Republic of Rwanda. It depicts the Kwibuka flame, which symbolizes the resilience and courage of Rwandans since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, when more than one million people were systematically killed.
This is also a reminder of the need to speak out against hate speech.
The flame was installed yesterday afternoon in the north garden area. It can be seen from the Visitors’ Plaza.
New Resident Coordinator
The Secretary-General has appointed Mama Keita of Guinea as the new Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Niger. She started on 9 September, with the Government’s approval.
She brings over 20 years of experience in development economics. We congratulate her and welcome her.
Guest Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Laila Baker, the United Nations Population Fund Arab States Regional Director, will brief reporters virtually from Amman. She has just concluded a visit to Sudan.
She will share what she has witnessed on the ground - the suffering of the Sudanese people, especially the women and girls who struggle to obtain life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and protection from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
