HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FLORENCIA SOTO NINO,
ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 9 AUGUST 2024
NAGASAKI PEACE MEMORIAL
Earlier today, Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, delivered the Secretary-General's message to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial.
Nearly eighty years have passed since Nagasaki was incinerated by an atomic weapon, but sadly the memories are still fresh for those that endured this horrific catastrophe, the Secretary-General said.
Eliminating these weapons is our highest disarmament priority, he said, adding that he worries the lessons of nearly eight decades ago have not been learned.
The Secretary-General said next month’s Summit of the Future will be a critical opportunity for countries to renew their commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development and peace, and adopt an actionable and forward-looking Pact for the Future to that end.
Disarmament, and a world free of nuclear weapons, he said, must be a central part of these efforts.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says we and our partners estimate that at least 60,000 Palestinians may have moved toward western Khan Younis in the past 72 hours. This follows yesterday’s order by the Israeli military for residents in parts of central and eastern Khan Younis to immediately evacuate. On Wednesday, the Israeli military twice ordered people in parts of northern Gaza to evacuate.
OCHA says the parts of northern and southern Gaza newly placed under evacuation this week encompass nearly 43 square kilometres. Initial tracking by our partners in Gaza say these areas include some 230 displacement sites; more than three dozen water, sanitation and hygiene facilities; and five functional health facilities, including the Indonesian Hospital.
More than 80 per cent of the Gaza Strip is now assessed as having been placed under evacuation orders since October of last year.
OCHA says the entry of aid supplies into Gaza remains challenging due to active hostilities, access constraints, high levels of insecurity, the lack of public order and safety, and other factors.
As a result, the volume of aid able to be brought from the operational border crossings into Gaza has decreased by more than half since early May, when the Rafah crossing was closed. It has gone from a daily average of 169 trucks in April to fewer than 80 trucks in June and July.
At the Kerem Shalom crossing, the decrease was even steeper over the past three months, with a more than 80 per cent drop in aid cargo that was brought into Gaza from that border crossing.
Meanwhile, humanitarian assistance missions requiring coordination with Israeli authorities continue to be denied and impeded. OCHA reports that as of yesterday, just 24 of 67 planned aid missions to northern Gaza this month have been facilitated by Israeli authorities. The rest were either denied, impeded or canceled due to security, logistical or operational reasons. The same was true for southern Gaza: Out of nearly 100 planned humanitarian missions, about half were facilitated by Israeli authorities – and again, the rest were denied, impeded or canceled.
YEMEN
In Yemen, in response to a request for an update on the floods in the western part of the country: the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report that we and our partners are delivering supplies and assistance to people in the affected areas.
The situation is constantly changing, but initial reports indicate that at least 10,000 families have been impacted since Tuesday, when heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding in several parts of Al Hodeidah, Hajjah, Raymah and Al Mahwit governorates – damaging homes, farms and infrastructure.
This number is likely to increase as more information becomes available.
Both the World Health Organization and UNICEF have been delivering much-needed medical supplies to local hospitals and health centres, as well as preparing to deploy dozens of mobile health teams.
Partners have provided immediate assistance – including food, water and hygiene kits – to more than 1,600 people in affected areas, with additional resources being mobilized.
An estimated $4.8 million will be needed to provide priority support to families – but as with almost all of our humanitarian response efforts, underfunding is a major challenge there.
LIBYA
Turning to Libya, the UN Mission there – UNSMIL- today expressed its concern at the recent mobilization of forces in various parts of Libya, particularly in the southern and western regions. It commends ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further tension.
It also urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any provocative military actions that could be perceived as offensive and might jeopardize Libya’s fragile stability and the safety of its people. The Mission calls for continued communication and coordination between forces affiliated to the Libyan National Army and Government of National Unity.
The Mission stands ready to facilitate dialogue and provide technical expertise and support.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Head of the International Organization for Migration, Amy Pope, has just concluded a visit there with a call for urgent and concerted action to stem the worsening humanitarian situation in the country’s east.
Fighting in eastern Congo has displaced over 7 million people from their homes, many of them multiple times.
In other areas of the country, including around the capital, Kinshasa, heavy rains and flooding have displaced tens of thousands more people.
Ms. Pope said that we need to bring together efforts across the humanitarian, development and peace sectors to drive comprehensive, innovative, sustainable solutions – putting affected people at the centre.
She also renewed our call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and facilitate the safe and unhindered delivery of aid.
And a reminder that the 2.6 billion Humanitarian Response Plan is only 33 per cent funded at the moment.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO/ HUMAN RIGHTS
And staying in the country, UN human rights colleagues there have issued today their latest update, covering the first six months of the year.
Basically, it says that between January and June, they have documented 2,355 human rights violations that affected over 6,300 people. This, they say, represents a 15 per cent increase in the number of people impacted by human rights violations.
Armed groups were found responsible for nearly 3 out of 4 violations documented.
The full report is available online.
UKRAINE
Turning to Ukraine, the outgoing Humanitarian Coordinator there, Denise Brown, has condemned a deadly attack that killed and injured dozens of civilians in the eastern town of Kostiantynivka, in the Donetsk Region, just hours ago.
In a statement, Ms. Brown said civilians are paying the highest price for the war and underscored that we must not allow this to be normalized.
OCHA says that escalating attacks in both the Donetsk and Sumy regions over the past two days have killed and injured civilians there and damaged the infrastructure that they rely on.
Increasing attacks in the Donetsk Region are deepening the needs of some 60,000 people in impacted communities. The towns of Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk and Toretsk have endured repeated strikes since early August, causing casualties and damage to homes, schools and health facilities, as well as the displacement of nearly 5,000 people.
Our humanitarian colleagues also tell us that despite the risks, many civilians – especially older people – are reluctant to leave. They are struggling to meet their basic needs at a time when ongoing hostilities are making humanitarian access more difficult.
In the face of these challenges, aid workers continue to assist those most affected in the Donetsk Region and those who have fled, including by providing food, hygiene supplies, school materials, cash assistance, and legal and psychological support.
NEW RESIDENT COORDINATOR
The Secretary-General has appointed Matthias Schmale of Germany as the new Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, with the host Government’s approval. He will start his work on 11 August.
Mr. Schmale succeeds Ms. Denise Brown to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service.
He brings more than 30 years of experience in humanitarian and development work. He has served as Senior Adviser to the UN Development Coordination Office’s regional team for Africa, in several positions with UNRWA, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and NGOs at global, regional and country level.
PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS
In a statement issued today by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, which said it is monitoring attacks and threats against journalists. The agency noted that in recent months, multiple journalists covering protests in different parts of the world have been subjected to various forms of attacks, including killings, injuries, arbitrary detentions, and confiscation of their equipment, while exercising their rightful duties as journalists.
UNESCO recalls that all authorities concerned have the duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests around the world, in accordance with international norms and human rights obligations.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General says that indigenous peoples are the keepers of knowledge and traditions that help safeguard some of the most biodiverse areas of our planet. And as guardians of the environment, their survival is our survival.
On Sunday, it’s World Steelpan Day. Steelpan, if you do not know, is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. It possesses cultural and historical significance.
