HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2021

SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Following consultations with the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Secretary‑General is announcing the appointment of Catherine Russell of the United States as UNICEF’s next Executive Director.
She will succeed Henrietta Fore of the United States, to whom the Secretary‑General is grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization. The Secretary-General wishes to express his appreciation to Ms. Fore for her inspiring leadership of UNICEF and in particular, UNICEF’s critical role in the global response to COVID-19 and in reimagining education. As a result of her leadership, UNICEF is now an organization with a broader array of public and private sector partnerships and a bolder focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ms. Russell brings to the role decades of experience in developing innovative policy that empowers underserved communities around the world. She currently serves as Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues in the U.S. Department of State and we welcome her, and we send our congratulations also to Henrietta Fore for her work.

MIGRANTS/DEATHS
I wanted to flag a horrific story, which I think many of you have seen and the International Organization for Migration today said that at least 54 migrants died in yesterday’s truck crash in Chiapas, in Mexico. This is the single deadliest incident for migrants in Mexico since at least 2014, when IOM began documenting deaths of migrants.
As a reminder, some 651 people died this year attempting to cross Mexico’s border with the United States, more than in any year since 2014. This increase is especially concerning because most data for this border region is reported only after the year ends.
According to IOM, the number of deaths and disappearances has increased on many migratory routes across the world in 2021, including in Europe and the Americas. The UN Agency said that with the case in Mexico, the migrant death toll in 2021 has surpassed 4,470 men, women and children.
The organization notes that globally, the number of deaths this year is already more than the 4,236 total recorded in 2020. According to IOM, more than 45,400 deaths have been recorded since 2014 and if this latest incident isn’t a reminder for the world and for Member States to agree on controlled and managed it’s unclear to see what is.

SECURITY COUNCIL
The Security Council is currently in closed consultations on Sudan. Volker Perthes, The Special Representative for the Secretary-General in that country, said in the open meeting that preceded the consultation that in the last six weeks, Sudan’s political transition has been undergoing its greatest crisis to date. He noted that this crisis is not over yet, but discussions on the way forward have begun.
Mr. Perthes said he cautiously welcomed the November 21st political agreement between Prime Minister Hamdok and Lt. General Burhan – which was reached after weeks of domestic and international efforts to find a way out of the crisis.
He called the Agreement far from perfect, but said it can help to avoid further bloodshed, and provide a step towards comprehensive dialogue and a return to constitutional order.
He acknowledged that many feel betrayed by the coup, and now reject any negotiations or partnership with the military.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
And today is Human Rights Day. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General says that our world is at a crossroads. The COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and the expansion of digital technology into all areas of our lives have created new threats to human rights.
But we can choose a different path, he underscores, adding that recovery from the pandemic must be an opportunity to expand human rights and freedoms, and rebuild trust.
The principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remain the key to realizing all human rights, for all people, everywhere, he concludes.

SYRIA
A crossline convoy of 14 trucks organized by the World Food Programme (WFP) reached Syria’s northwestern Idlib governorate on 9 and 10 December. The convoy moved from Aleppo to the agency’s warehouses in the opposition-controlled area of Sarmada transporting lifesaving humanitarian assistance for highly vulnerable families in the northwest.
With support from the United Nations, the convoy carried enough WFP food assistance to feed 43,500 people for one month along with female dignity kits, soap, sanitary napkins, diapers, hygiene kits, masks, micro-nutrient products, and education materials on behalf of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Crossline deliveries provide additional ways to reach people in need in northwest Syria, in support of existing cross-border operations. The United Nations and its partners reach an average of 2.4 million people -- mainly women and children -- with humanitarian assistance each month through UN Security Council-authorized cross-border operations.

CAMEROON
The UN Refugee Agency says today that it is deeply concerned by renewed intercommunal clashes in Cameroon’s Far North region.
At least 22 people have been killed, according to UNHCR. Thousands have been displaced inside the country and more than 30,000 have fled into Chad.
Eighty per cent of the new arrivals into Chad are women and children. UNHCR, working with Chadian authorities and partners, is supporting refugees with emergency shelter and assistance. The clashes began in the border village of Ouloumsa, following a dispute between herders, fishermen and farmers over dwindling water resources. Violence then spread to neighbouring villages. UNHCR said ten villages have been burned to the ground as the situation remains volatile.

SOUTH SUDAN
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, has made a fresh plea to political leaders to to fully implement the 2018 peace agreement.
At a press conference in Juba, Mr. Haysom noted the positive progress made since the signing of the peace deal but said there was growing frustration that the pace of implementation remained too slow. He said that a “business as usual” approach could not continue and there was a need for parties to inject fresh urgency into the process. This includes finalizing transitional security arrangements, legislation promoting financial and judicial reform, and the constitution-making so that free fair and peaceful elections can be held.
Mr. Haysom also drew attention to the catastrophic floods in South Sudan which have affected more than 850,000 people, causing loss of life, widespread displacement and exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation. He acknowledged the ongoing generosity of donor countries in providing humanitarian funding but urged the international community to consider additional support for emergency relief and recovery.
The Special Representative will brief the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan next week.

COVID-19/JAMAICA
Jamaica recently received 100,000 doses of vaccines through COVAX, bringing the total number sent by COVAX to Jamaica to more than one million.
The UN team in Jamaica, led by Resident Coordinator Garry Conille, is working with authorities and partners to increase confidence in vaccines and the uptake of doses.
The Pan-American Health Organization has called on countries to increase vaccination coverage while also implementing public health measures to limit the transmission of the virus.
More than 780,000 new COVID-19 infections and 11,000 deaths were reported in the region last week alone, yet just 55 per cent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated.

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY
Tomorrow is International Mountain Day, and this year’s theme is sustainable mountain tourism.
Ahead of the Day, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN World Tourism Organization today released a report highlighting the role of tourism in the sustainable development of mountain regions, including by boosting livelihoods, alleviating poverty, and promoting environmental conservation.

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DAY
Sunday is the International Universal Health Coverage Day. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General emphasizes that as we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must urgently strengthen our health systems to ensure they are equitable, resilient and capable of meeting everyone’s needs, including for their mental health.
The Secretary-General stresses that the best insurance for resilient economies and communities, as well as pandemic preparedness for the future, is strengthening health systems before a crisis arrives. He calls all to join the commitment to end the pandemic and build a healthier, safer future for all by investing in health systems that leave no one behind.
And Sunday is also the International Day of Neutrality.