HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

WEDNESDAY, 11 JNAUARY 2023

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UKRAINE 
In Ukraine, humanitarian colleagues on the ground say that intense fighting continues in the eastern Donetsk region, with multiple civilian casualties reported in recent days on both sides of the front line.  
In the cities of Bakhmut and Soledar, which both experienced shelling, some 7,500 residents remain, according to the local authorities. With houses and infrastructure having been destroyed or heavily damaged, people are seeking cover in shelters and basements. Due to continuing fierce fighting, the possibility of delivering assistance or evacuating the remaining residents is very limited indeed. 
In the areas of the Donetsk region currently under the military control of the Russian Federation, the premises of two critical energy facilities were reportedly damaged.  
The UN has also received reports about education facilities coming under fire from both sides of the front lines.  
Also in Ukraine, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, is currently visiting the most impacted communities in the eastern Kharkiv region. Even though humanitarian access to the areas has improved after the Government of Ukraine regained control, the situation there remains dire.  
Ms. Brown is meeting with local communities, local responders and authorities to plan the delivery of essential winter supplies to support people as the temperatures drop below minus 15 degrees Celsius.  

PERU
In response to questions about the situation in Peru, the Spokesman said the Secretary-General is following with concern the situation in Peru and is deeply shocked by the number of deaths reported in the context of the protests that we have seen. He urges the authorities to ensure respect for human rights and to ensure that a diligent, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation is carried out into the allegations of excessive use of force and human rights violations.    
The Secretary-General underscores that demonstrations must be carried out in a peaceful manner, respecting life and public and private property.  

There is also a statement from the local UN country team expressing its concern.

COLOMBIA 
This afternoon the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, will brief Security Council members.  
And after the meeting the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez, will be at the stakeout to answer your questions. 

CAMEROON 
In Cameroon, Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, has allocated $6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help people in the Far North, North-West, and South-West regions of Cameroon. 
Last year, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes and abandon their property because of violence or floods. These forced displacements increased protection risks, loss of livelihoods and food insecurity in those impacted areas. 
The new funds will help provide protection and shelter services as well as food and nutritional assistance. 
Despite the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations to access remote areas due to violence, impediments to movement and poor road conditions, we, along with our partners remain mobilized to provide aid to the most vulnerable. 
This year, humanitarians will need more than $413 million to help 2.4 million people. 

UGANDA 
Uganda today marked the end of its Ebola outbreak. In Geneva, the head of WHO, Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus] congratulated Ugandans, reiterating that Ebola can be defeated when the whole system works together. 
For her part, our Resident UN Coordinator in Uganda, Susan Ngongi Namondo, appealed to the public to continue embracing prevention measures put in place by health authorities and the World Health Organization.  
With WHO and other UN entities on the ground, our team there supported the response from the government, including with surveillance and contact tracing, case management, and follow-up with Ebola survivors.  
Our colleagues also supported diagnostics and labs, risk communication, community engagement, infection prevention, and other areas. Efforts also entailed care and treatment for patients in Ebola Treatment Units, safe and dignified burials, and ensuring the continuation of other essential health services.  

SOUTH SUDAN 
The Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in South Sudan, Peter van der Auweraert, today strongly condemned the recent killing of three aid workers. Two were shot and killed on 2 January in the Abyei Administrative Area while on duty at a humanitarian facility in Rumameer village. In a second incident on 7 January, an aid worker was killed by unknown individuals while he guarded humanitarian commodities in Duk County in Jonglei State. Humanitarian goods were also looted during that incident. 
Mr. van der Auweraert called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice. Since the conflict began in 2013, 141 humanitarian workers lost their lives while providing crucial assistance to the people of South Sudan. In 2022 alone, nine were killed in the line of duty.    
  
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 
In the Central African Republic, peacekeepers are conducting operations in the country’s West in response to the threat of unexploded ordnance. This will facilitate mandate implementation as well as humanitarian access and the delivery of aid.  
Meanwhile, the Mission increased the number of long-range patrols it conducted this week to cover several areas in the country, including in Ndele, Birao, and Bangassou. Over the past week, peacekeepers conducted over 1,800 patrols, including five jointly with the Central African armed forces, to help protect civilians and secure high-population areas and roads.  
Separately, as part of its efforts to strengthen judicial institutions and to fight impunity, the Mission reports it is financing the construction of the High Court building of Carnot in the Mambéré-Kadéï prefecture. The building is expected to be completed within six months.  
The Mission also extended its support to the Government’s efforts to combat hate speech and disinformation by working with 20 local artists in the fields of music and theatre. They created works of art to highlight the harmful impact of hate speech and to prevent its spread. 
  
BRIEFINGS TOMORROW 
Tomorrow, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division, along with Daniela Bas, the Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development, and Shantanu Mukherjee, the Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division, will brief reporters on the World Social Report 2023. 
 
At 3:45 p.m., there will be a hybrid press briefing by the Deputy Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yukiko Okano.