HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2024
United Nations Day
Today is United Nations Day.
In his message, the Secretary-General says that this organization was built by the world, for the world.
In today’s troubled world, he says, hope is not enough. Hope requires determined action and multilateral solutions for peace, shared prosperity and a thriving planet and it requires all countries working as one.
On this Day, he calls on all countries to keep this beacon for the world, and its ideals, shining.
BRICS
Earlier today, the Secretary-General addressed the 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan in the Russian Federation.
The Secretary-General, in his remarks, said that he saluted the valuable commitment and support for international problem-solving of the participants. He added that no single group and no single country can act alone or in isolation and that it takes a community of nations, working as one global family, to address global challenges.
He outlined the four areas where the September’s Summit of the Future offered a roadmap for strengthening multilateralism: finance, climate, technology and, of course, peace.
He underscored the need for peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine.
In relation to Ukraine, he reaffirmed his position and told the delegates that we need a just peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.
Everywhere, the Secretary-General added, we must uphold the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all States.
On the sidelines of the session, the Secretary-General had a number of pull-aside conversations, including with the President of Türkiye, Recip Tayyip Erdogan; the President of Egypt, Abdelfattah al-Sisi; the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas; and the Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri, among others. He also had bilateral meetings with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Lebanon Conference
In a video message to the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty – that took place in Paris today – the Secretary-General underscored that an immediate ceasefire is needed now – along with meaningful steps towards full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.
He expressed his grave concern about the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line. He also urged friends of Lebanon to support the ongoing humanitarian response efforts.
The Secretary-General saluted the brave women and men of our peacekeeping force in Lebanon -- UNIFIL – and the UN family across the country, who are striving to implement their mandates in such challenging conditions.
“We need a ceasefire in Lebanon” he said – “as we need a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages.”
For his part, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said that a central element of our response must be to support efforts to end the violence.
Mr. Lacroix told the attendees of the conference that in order to advance the full implementation of Resolution 1701, the increased deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon is essential to extend the authority of the State and bring about a political solution to the situation along the Blue Line.
The Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told the conference that concrete action to end hostilities is needed.
She stated that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is already catastrophic. She reminded that the UN launched the $2.72 billion Lebanon Response Plan and the complementary $426 million Flash Appeal. Absent a ceasefire, however, humanitarian needs in Lebanon will only continue to grow.
And at the conference, our Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza warned that the country risks falling off a humanitarian cliff as hostilities there persist.
Lebanon/Israel
On the ground, intense strikes by the Israel Defense Forces into Lebanon and by Hizbullah into Israel continued over the last 24 hours.
The IDF struck various locations in the UNIFIL area of operations as well as Beirut, Bekaa and elsewhere. Hizbullah targeted numerous sites, including near Haifa and Tel Aviv.
We note with concern that the Lebanese Armed Forces in Yater Bint Jbeil suffered another 3 fatalities from Israeli strikes while attempting to evacuate wounded persons, and on Wednesday, 23 October, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health announced that at least 28 individuals were killed and 139 were injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon in the preceding 24 hours.
Again, we stress the need for all actors to immediately cease the violence. We also condemn the ever-increasing toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure and the loss of civilian lives. We remind all actors on the ground of their obligations under international law to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Yesterday, one of our UN positions near Kfar Shuba was impacted by indirect fire of unknown origin. Fortunately, no injuries to peacekeepers were reported.
We again remind the parties of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times.
Lebanon/Humanitarian
On the humanitarian front, today, a humanitarian convoy supported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reached Tyre, in South Lebanon. The mission comprised five NGOs and delivered 14 trucks of aid, including food, mattresses, and other items.
So far this month, the UN has sent assistance to people in hard-to-reach parts of Lebanon using seven humanitarian convoys.
For its part, the UN Population Fund continues to deliver services across Lebanon. However, due to the worsening security situation, some of the sites that UNFPA supports are no longer operational. This includes six out of the 16 primary healthcare centres that the agency supports, as well as one of nine mobile units and five out of 17 safe spaces for women and girls.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to the situation in Gaza, OCHA reports that intense fighting continues to kill and injure civilians and damage civilian infrastructure in Northern Gaza, especially in and around Jabalya.
OCHA says the widespread devastation and deprivation brought on by the siege in North Gaza is indicative of a war being waged with little, if any, regard for the requirements of international law.
OCHA has received reports that families in Tel Al Zaatar, northeast of the Jabalya refugee camp – as well as west of the camp in Al Faluja – remain trapped and unable to move. Between 50,000 and 70,000 people are estimated to remain in Jabalya. Since the Israeli ground offensive in the north began on 6 October, some 63,000 people have been newly displaced from North Gaza Governorate to Gaza City.
Palestinians in North Gaza also continue to flee the Beit Lahia area, with reports of people there moving westward through Jaffa Street. However, many residents remain in their homes amid heavy bombardment.
The Palestinian Civil Defense says its operations have completely stopped in North Gaza Governorate, leaving the entire population there without humanitarian rescue services.
The Civil Defense reports that several of its staff members were either injured or detained by Israeli forces. Meanwhile, the only firefighting truck in the north reportedly caught fire after it was shelled.
OCHA stresses yet again that parties to the conflict must protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel and first responders. The vital work that they do must be facilitated, not targeted.
Women, Peace and Security
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, briefed Security Council members on the topic of women, peace and security.
She said that while every year the global community reaffirms its commitment to ensuring women's full equal and meaningful participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery, progress still remains dishearteningly slow. Peace and security decision-making is overwhelmingly dominated by men and ending impunity for atrocities against women and girls is still but a distant goal.
Ms. Mohammed said that the past year has been especially difficult in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinian women and girls have been killed and injured amidst continuing war and a terrible humanitarian crisis. She reiterated the Secretary- General's call to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure and to uphold international law.
The Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, also briefed Council members and said that women are frustrated by the meetings they are invited to in the margins of actual decision-making - the many consultations with no outcome, the strategies with no funding. They are calling for action, she said, by pursuing accountability for gross violations of women’s rights; by removing discriminatory laws; by making policy commitments with a target and a deadline.
Those remarks are online.
On the margins of the Security Council’s open debate, the Department of Peace Operations held an event yesterday entitled “Advancing Women, Peace, and Security in UN Peacekeeping: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo”.
Speakers discussed lessons on the effectiveness of peace operations, particularly our Mission in the DRC – MONUSCO - in implementing the Women, Peace and Security mandate in the country.
The Mission was key in advancing the mandate, particularly in protecting women and promoting their participation in peace and political processes including elections.
However, participants recognized that the Women, Peace and Security mandate will not implement itself. It will be realized through political leadership, shared commitment and sustained funding.
That event is available on UN Web TV and if you need more information, please reach out to our Peacekeeping colleagues.
Syria/Security Council
Just for the record, you saw that yesterday afternoon the Security Council held a meeting on Syria.
Our Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said that the conflict is raging in Gaza and Lebanon, but the heat is felt in Syria too. He reminded Council members of the importance of the presence of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force – known as UNDOF.
He also spoke about the need for constructive international diplomacy in support of a UN-facilitated intra-Syrian process to advance Security Council Resolution 2254.
For her part, Edem Wosornu, the Director of Operations and Advocacy at OCHA, said that more than 16.7 million people in Syria need aid and more than 7 million are internally displaced. Women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden.
Syria
As ongoing hostilities in Lebanon displace more people across the border into Syria, the Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, has allocated an additional $4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for urgent relief efforts. This brings the total amount allocated to support new arrivals from Lebanon in Syria to $12 million.
This funding will allow the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, UNFPA and UNICEF to provide emergency support, including food, nutrition and shelter.
Meanwhile, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdeloumoula, is warning about the impact of an air strike earlier this week on the main road at the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria – the second such strike in less than three weeks.
In a statement, he said the attack has rendered this vital route impassable. The crossing is the main pathway for people escaping the escalating hostilities in Lebanon into Syria. Parents are now having to carry their children and belongings as they navigate their way between two huge craters in the road.
Sudan
Turning to Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) has brought in food assistance for 360,000 people in Darfur across the Adre border since it reopened in August.
Distributions have been completed for over 200,000 people in Kerenik and Sirba – areas at risk of famine in West Darfur.
Also, WFP is scaling up its efforts to reach 180,000 people in Zamzam, located near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, with monthly food packages.
Of this, so far nearly 70,000 people have received assistance. Additional WFP assistance is on the way.
According to the food agency, early indications show little improvement in food security as historic flooding across Sudan destroyed crops and ongoing conflict made it difficult for farmers to plant, cultivate and now to harvest.
WFP has assisted over 6 million people this year. But this is still a drop in the ocean compared to the needs.
In September, WFP supported the highest number of people in the greater area of Khartoum since the start of the conflict, reaching over half a million vulnerable individuals.
Central African Republic
Our colleagues in the peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic report that they continue to support the voluntary disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants across the country.
Recently, peacekeepers assisted in the demobilization and reintegration of 74 former combatants in the towns of Bria, Bangassou, and Kouango.
The Mission is also responsible for the storage of weapons of war collected at the site of operations and transported to Bangui, where they are checked and marked by MINUSCA for subsequent handover to the relevant ministries for appropriate use.
Philippines
Turning to the Philippines, where Tropical Cyclone Trami, which made landfall earlier today, has resulted in widespread flooding and landslides across the country.
We are working closely with the government, which is leading the response, by providing supplies already in the country, such as hygiene and dignity kits. The World Food Programme is coordinating with the government to deploy mobile storage units, while the Food and Agriculture Organization is working to support farmers affected by the cyclone.
According to authorities, there have been 10 deaths, with more than 2.6 million people having been affected across 14 of the country’s 18 regions. Provinces in the south of the largest island of Luzon have been most affected, with floods and landslides damaging roads, bridges and power lines, leaving communities isolated. Hundreds of families have been displaced.
Emissions Gap report
This morning, the UN Environment Programme released its annual Emissions Gap report.
This year’s report is entitled “No more hot air … please!” and says that nations must deliver dramatically stronger ambition and action in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions or the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal will be gone within a few years.
In a video message for the report launch, the Secretary-General said that we are teetering on a planetary tight rope. “Either leaders bridge the emissions gap, or we plunge headlong into climate disaster – with the poorest and most vulnerable suffering the most,” he said.
This report shows that annual greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high – rising 1.3 per cent last year. However, they must fall 9 per cent each year to 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the very worst of climate change.
The report and the video message are both online.
** International Days
Today, Disarmament Week starts.
It seeks to promote awareness and better understanding of disarmament issues and their cross-cutting importance.
Global Media and Information Literacy Week also starts today, under the theme “The New Digital Frontiers of Information: Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information”. It will underscore the importance of keeping pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
And today is World Development Information Day. This Day was established to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them.
** Guest Note and Briefings - tomorrow
We have a few briefings to tell you about for tomorrow.
Starting at 11:00 a.m., there will be a briefing here by Cecilie Bailliet, the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity.
Then, at noon, we will be joined virtually by our guests: Waanja Kaaria, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Haiti, and Lola Castro, WFP’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. They will connect from Haiti and Panama respectively and will brief on Haiti.
At 1:00 p.m., there will be a briefing by Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, and finally at 1:30 p.m., there will be a briefing by Alice Jill Edwards, the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
** Financial contribution
Haiti has made a full payment to the UN’s regular budget.
