HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY TÉPHANIE TREMBLAY, 
ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES  
WEDNESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2022 

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL/CANADA 
Today, in Montreal, in a press conference on the sidelines of COP15, the Secretary-General reiterated the urgent need to address biodiversity.  He called on Member States and the private sector to move effectively and focus on the future of humanity’s relationship with nature.  “Ecosystems have become playthings of profit,” the Secretary-General said, “and human activities are laying waste to once-thriving forests, jungles, farmland, oceans, rivers, seas and lakes.” Humanity’s war on nature, he said, is ultimately a war on ourselves.  
The Secretary-General added that climate action and the protection of biodiversity are two sides of the same coin.  In response to questions, he noted the linkages between climate change and the loss of biodiversity and stressed the need to deal with both. 
Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General met with a number of other constituencies, including local and indigenous populations, women’s groups and youth groups among others. He listened to their concerns regarding the loss of biodiversity and related issues, especially human rights. 
The Secretary-General also had meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

SECURITY COUNCIL 
This morning, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes, briefed Council members. He said that the dynamics in the country over the past couple of weeks, including the signing of the political framework agreement, are a sign that Sudan may find a way out of the crisis and embark on a more sustainable transitional phase. 
However, Mr. Perthes also warned that the situation remains precarious, with thousands having been displaced by violence this year and many having suffered the impacts of floods and inflation. He called on Council members and the international community to support Sudan in a successful and peaceful transition that is Sudanese-owned and led.

SOUTH SUDAN 
Today, the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in South Sudan, Peter Van der Auweraert, strongly condemned the ongoing violence in Upper Nile State which has displaced more than 9,000 people. According to local responders, at least 75 per cent of the newly displaced are women and children. There are also reports of a significant number of people crossing into Sudan, while others are hiding in swamps. 
More than 2,300 people have arrived at the Malakal Protection of Civilians site since the start of the crisis. This surge of new arrivals puts additional pressure on the already limited capacity of our partners to provide services to support them.  
The UN and its humanitarian partners are working to provide critical supplies such as food, access to water, sanitation, hygiene and healthcare facilities. However, the ongoing insecurity is hampering our ability to deliver assistance to thousands of people. Some assessment missions have had to be put on hold and, in some areas, violence has resulted in the relocation of humanitarian workers, looting of humanitarian facilities and supplies. 
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), along with its partners, said that it has scaled up its response even though there is a severe funding shortfall. By the end of November, just 46 per cent of the $ 214.8 million needed this year had been received.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is calling for a renewed social contract between the government and citizens, as well as within societies, to rebuild trust and adopt a common, comprehensive vision on human rights. At its weekly press conference, the MINUSCA welcomed the first verdict of the Special Criminal Court and the abolishment of the death penalty earlier this year.   
The Mission also released the figures for the year 2022 up until 30 November, which document 1,070 violations and abuses across the country. These impacted 2,666 victims, including at least 262 women and 540 children. Over 506 violations were attributed to state actors, and armed groups were responsible for 521 abuses.  
The UN Mission also said that it has increased joint patrols with the internal security forces, which led to a 37 per cent decrease in crime in Bangui. MINUSCA added that it is readjusting its military posture to better address the threat of armed groups and to protect civilians, with 2,017 patrols this week, including 5 jointly with the national armed forces in newly identified risk areas.

MYANMAR 
The UN team in Myanmar today noted that the humanitarian community welcomes the recently announced informal ceasefire agreement between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar Armed Forces. However, concerns are growing that ongoing armed clashes, tight security, access restrictions and threats against aid workers are putting lives at risk and hampering humanitarian operations in other parts of the country. Humanitarians reiterate the Secretary-General’s call on the parties to the conflict to end the fighting and to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need.  
Aid workers are also deeply concerned about the potential impacts of the recently passed NGO registration law on the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance by partners.  
The Humanitarian Response Plan for this year remains severely underfunded, with only 28 per cent of the requirements received as of December 5th, leaving a gap of $593 million as the year almost reaches its end.

RESIDENT COORDINATOR 
The UN Development Coordination Office announced that Richard Howard of the United States is today taking up his post in Papua New Guinea. Mr. Howard was appointed by the Secretary-General and confirmed by the host government.  
Resident Coordinators are leading our UN teams’ work on the ground to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals, supporting authorities to tackle development emergencies. They are the Secretary-General’s representatives for development at the country level.

INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION DAY 
Today is International Civil Aviation Day, which aims to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States. It also highlights the unique role of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in helping States to cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.

NOON BRIEFING GUEST TOMORROW 
Tomorrow, the noon briefing guest will be Ulrika Richardson, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. She will brief reporters on the humanitarian situation in Haiti.