U.N. SECURITY
At about 10:45 a.m., a UN staff member who was entering the building at the 43rd Street gate alerted the UN guards at the gate that there a man with what appears to be a shotgun on First Avenue.
The New York Police Department was immediately alerted by UN Security and our security services took the decision to lock down the compound.
The police activity ended calmly at 1:40 p.m.
The person in question was taken into custody by the New York City Police Department.
The pedestrian gate at 42nd street remains closed for the time being, as the NYPD conducts clean-up operations, however the gate is expected to be opened soon.
We thank the NYPD for their quick response to the incident and we remain in contact with them as they conduct their investigation.
GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW
This morning, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched its annual Global Humanitarian Overview, which is an assessment of global humanitarian needs for next year, how we plan to respond, and what it will cost.
Our colleagues say that 274 million people worldwide will need emergency assistance and protection next year. This is a 17 per cent increase compared to this year.
The Global Humanitarian Overview estimates that $41 billion will be required to provide relief and protection to the 183 million people most in need around the world. The report includes 37 response plans, covering 63 countries.
As a comparison, so far this year, 107 million people have been reached and donors have provided more than $17 billion for projects included in the Global Humanitarian Overview. Funding remains less than half of what the UN and partner organizations had requested.
AFGHANISTAN
Moving to Afghanistan and the humanitarian situation there, we are told that aid distributions and needs assessments are continuing across Afghanistan, with a focus on food and cash assistance, non-food items, and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.
Since 25 November, along with our partners, we have provided food assistance to approximately 280,000 people in Baghlan, Takhar, Badakshan and Parwan provinces. This week, distributions of cash and winter assistance, household items, and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies were also completed for an estimated 20,000 people in Kabul, Parwan and Ghor provinces.
In the coming days, some 15,000 people in Baghlan, Kunduz, Badakshan and Balkh provinces will also receive humanitarian assistance.
The Afghanistan Flash Appeal, which identified prioritized needs between September and December of this year, requires $606 million, and is 113 per cent funded.
The Afghanistan Humanitarian Response, which was launched at the beginning of 2021, requires $869 million, and is currently 84 per cent funded.
Our humanitarian colleagues note that the two appeals complement one another, identifying 18.4 million people in need and targeting 17.7 million people – a goal that is expected to be achieved by the end of year.
As part of the 2022 Global Humanitarian Overview launched today, Afghanistan is one of the largest emergencies in the world. Next year, 24.4 million people will need humanitarian assistance. Of these, humanitarian partners have planned to reach 22.1 million people with urgent humanitarian support, requiring $4.4 billion.
LIBYA
In Libya, the Special Envoy for Libya, Ján Kubiš, yesterday met with the Chairman of Libya’s High National Elections Commission, Dr. Imad al-Sayeh, in Tripoli. The Special Envoy was briefed about the progress made so far by the Elections Commission in the preparation for holding parliamentary and presidential elections on December 24th of this year. He praised the High National Elections Commission’s extraordinary efforts to implement the election, despite technical challenges in a short timeframe, amid a heavily polarized political climate.
He noted that more than 2.4 million voters had collected their cards, demonstrating their yearning for an opportunity to elect their representatives and renew the democratic legitimacy of their institutions.
Mr. Kubiš echoed the Security Council’s call on all stakeholders and candidates to respect their commitments towards the holding of elections on December 24th and, of course, to accept the results.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The UN Mission in the Central African Republic says that, on Monday, combatants presumably belonging to the armed group 3R (Retour, Reclamation et Rehabilitation) attacked four villages southwest of Bocaranga, in the Ouham-Pende prefecture. At least 29 civilians and two Central African soldiers were reportedly killed.
UN peacekeepers were deployed to the area to help ensure the protection of civilians. They also are investigating the incident.
SECURITY COUNCIL
Christian Ritscher, the Special Adviser to the UN Investigative Team to promote accountability for crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) briefed the Security Council for the first time this morning. He said that a potential turning point was being reached in efforts to deliver justice for the victims of Da’esh crimes.
He discussed the progress made by the Investigative Team in the last six months, in cooperation with Iraqi authorities. Mr. Ritscher announced that conclusions had been reached in a key line of investigation into the mass killing of prisoners at Badush Central Prison. The Team also found that these attacks constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity.
MOZAMBIQUE/COVID-19
We have a COVID-19 update from Mozambique, where authorities two days ago confirmed two suspected cases of the Omicron variant.
The UN team, led by the Resident Coordinator, Myrta Kaulard, is increasing its support on the health and socioeconomic fronts, working with authorities, the private sector and civil society.
To tackle the wider impacts of the pandemic, 13 per cent of the UN team’s sustainable development programme funding has been redirected to the COVID-19 response. Nearly 3 million people have received services, including food assistance, water and sanitation supplies, emergency cash transfers and psychosocial support.
Mozambique has received over 5 million doses through COVAX, and the World Health Organization and UNICEF are supporting the ongoing national vaccination campaign.
MYANMAR
From Myanmar, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) today launched the first national standards for hotlines to address gender-based violence, as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
These standards seek to improve the quality of services and mitigate practices that may cause unintended harm to survivors and service providers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted service providers addressing gender-based violence to increasingly support victims through hotlines and online channels.
In Myanmar, service providers also turned to remote options in response to public health restrictions related to COVID-19 when the military takeover took place in February.
FOOD PRICE INDEX
Our colleagues in Rome at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today said that food commodity prices in the international market rose for the fourth consecutive month in November. This was led by strong demand for wheat and dairy products.
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 134.4 points in the month, the highest level since June of 2011 and 1.2 per cent higher than during October. The index was 27.3 percent higher than its level in November 2020.
FAO also published the latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation Report, which shows that conflicts and drought are worsening food insecurity conditions in several parts of the world, particularly in East and West Africa. According to the report, 44 countries, including 33 in Africa, nine in Asia and two in Latin America and the Caribbean, are in need of external food assistance.
BODYRIGHT
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) today launched the bodyright campaign in a bid to end rising online violence.
The campaign highlights that corporate logos and copyrighted Intellectual Property are more highly valued and better protected than images of people’s bodies are online. It drives the message that women, girls, racial and ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized groups are undervalued, exploited, and violated online.
The heart of the bodyright movement is a unique ⓑ symbol, which is a new ‘copyright’ for human bodies. The symbol can be added to any image directly via Instagram stories using stickers, or by going to the bodyright webpage to use the automatic ‘bodyright tool’ or to download the symbol directly.
The ambition is for everyone to join the movement to hold policymakers, companies, and individuals to account.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
Today is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. In his message, the Secretary-General stresses that we must never forget the immeasurable suffering of millions of African men, women and children under the evil of the transatlantic slave trade.
The Secretary-General says that, while some may believe slavery to be a thing of the past, this evil continues to blight our modern world and that modern slavery often hides in plain sight. He says that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency for greater vigilance.
GUIDED TOURS
Since yesterday, a limited number of guided tours are being offered at the UN. There is a limit of 10 people per tour, and they will take place from 10 am to 4pm, Monday through Friday.
We are following all local COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Visitors must wear a mask throughout the visit. Anyone aged 12 and above must show proof of vaccination.
Tickets are available online for now.
The UN Bookshop and the UN Stamp counter are now open for all of us, from 11am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
GREETING
And I just want to say a big online hello to the participants of the 2021 UN Virtual Training Programme for Palestinian journalists, who are listening in.
