HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC​,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 01 SEPTEMBER 2020

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL/YOUTH
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the virtual High-Level Meeting on Generation Unlimited on the theme “Connecting Half the World to Opportunities.”
He told the young people who joined the meeting online that his generation has failed to respond properly to the global challenges we face, but that youth are leading the fight against inequality, discrimination and division, and for the climate action, human rights, gender equality, and sustainable economies and societies.
The Secretary-General added that without the energy, technological savvy, optimism, and sensitivity to injustice of young people, we have no hope of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or implementing the Paris climate agreement.
He stressed that putting resources into digital learning and training of young people is an essential investment as countries recover from the pandemic.  Mr. Guterres reiterated the UN’s commitment to ensure that young people can access opportunities for education, training and entrepreneurship.
He also encouraged them to speak up, and to tell him about the challenges they face today.

SUDAN
We issued a statement on Sudan last night, in which the Secretary-General welcomed the initialing in Juba, in South Sudan, of a peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) and Sudan Liberation Army led by Minni Minawi.
The Secretary-General congratulated the people of Sudan for this historic achievement.
The Secretary-General is fully committed to supporting the implementation of this agreement, which marks the start of a new era for the people of Sudan and for people living in Darfur and the Two Areas, in particular.
This will require sustained commitment and collaboration between the parties and the people of Sudan. The UN will offer support, as requested by the parties and within its capacity and mandate, to the implementation of this and future peace agreements during the transition period.
The United Nations will also support the Sudanese stakeholders in longer-term peacebuilding efforts aimed at achieving accountability and consolidating peace and security gains.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, also welcomed this development.

SUDAN FLOODS
In Sudan, our colleagues at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said today that some 125,000 refugees and internally displaced people have been impacted by heavy seasonal rains that have caused flash floods and rivers to burst their banks.
Homes and community buildings are badly damaged and destroyed, and this has an impact and a danger that hygiene and sanitary levels will plummet due to flooded latrines and contaminated water supplies. This is even more dangerous in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even before the floods, the funding levels have been low. This year, UNHCR has received just 38 per cent of the nearly $275 million needed for its operations in Sudan and to face the floods UNHCR is working with the Government and partners in providing emergency aid to people in the White Nile region.

COVID-19/PEACEKEEPING
In Darfur, in Sudan, our colleagues at the joint African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation (UNAMID) have recently held a workshop on preventing and mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus at the women’s wing of the Nyala Central Prison. The training also sought to enhance safety in the delivery of justice services and to increase compliance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Sudan’s Ministry of Health.
In Mali, while addressing the pandemic, our peacekeeping colleagues there continue to deliver on their mandate to help protect civilians and stabilize the country. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) supported a meeting to strengthen the peace and social cohesion in the Gao region.
This meeting aimed to reinforce inter-community dialogue between Arab, Tuareg, Songhai, and Fulani communities, as well as young people, women, civil society groups and others.
During the gathering, there was also a symbolic signature of a protocol by representatives of the communities, following violence in the city of Askia that took place two weeks ago.

AFRICA AMNESTY MONTH
Today is the start of Africa Amnesty Month, an initiative that has taken place every September since 2017. It is designed to reduce the flows of illicit small arms and light weapons on the continent.
Throughout the month, anyone can hand in illicitly owned weapons, as part of this initiative, which is also linked to Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020.
This year, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) are supporting a wide range of activities including capacity building of law enforcement, weapons collection, safe storage and destruction.
The project, launched in March 2020, is supporting activities in many African countries.

SYRIA
In Syria, cross-border operations from Turkey into the country are continuing to provide life-saving assistance to people in the northwest. Today, 24 trucks of the World Food Program (WFP), which included supplies for 74,000 people in Idleb, crossed at the only crossing point of Bab-Al-Hawa.
Despite the removal of one of the border crossing points by the Security Council in their resolution 2533, the UN continues to reach people in need throughout the northwest.
We are taking steps to mitigate the impacts of losing one crossing point, including in expanding the size of the transshipment hub, and engaging in humanitarian access negotiations with parties to the conflict.
However, the Secretary-General, as he said in his last report to the Council, operations have proven to be more risky, costly and time consuming, resulting in less efficiency.

COVID-19/COSTA RICA
In Costa Rica, the UN team there, led by the Resident Coordinator Allegra Baiocchi, is supporting efforts to tackle the health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
To support frontline responders, the UN team has provided 2 million items of personal protective equipment. The team also donated 27 tonnes of emergency medical equipment for the most vulnerable communities.
One of our top priorities is to protect indigenous groups, Afro-descendants, people with disabilities, older adults, children and youth. The UN contributed the national plan to curb the pandemic among indigenous peoples.
A UN-led campaign is working to curb the increase in sexual and gender-based violence. We are providing hygiene kits and lifesaving cash assistance to prevent families from falling into poverty.
We are also boosting temporary employment for women and indigenous people. The UN team is supporting migrants and those in transit and is promoting remote learning during school closures, while preparing for the safe reopening of schools.