HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2020
PARIS PEACE FORUM
The Secretary-General spoke to a high-level session of the Paris Peace Forum this morning, during which he renewed his call for action on climate.
He noted encouraging steps, saying that early next year, countries representing more than 65% of global CO2 emissions, and more than 70% of the world economy, will have made ambitious carbon neutrality commitments.
Climate action is part of a broader vision to protect our planet, he said, and in particular, biodiversity.
As we face the COVID-19 pandemic, the Secretary-General said that we must not forget that about three quarters of new infectious diseases are zoonotic. By destroying the ecosystems, he added, we weaken the biological barriers that keep these viruses at bay and we ourselves weaken our coping skills.
He called for the integration of climate and environmental action into stimulus packages to rebuild sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.
FINANCE IN COMMON SUMMIT
The Secretary-General spoke by video message to the Finance in Common Summit, one of the main events of this year’s Paris Peace Forum.
He said public development banks are uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the world’s transformation towards carbon neutrality. He added that they can also help build the foundations of a new economy, fit for the 21st century.
The Secretary-General said that he counts on public development banks to come to the Climate Ambition Summit in December, and COP 26 next year, with concrete plans to realize our vision for a carbon-neutral, resilient, inclusive and sustainable world.
G77
The Secretary-General spoke this morning at the annual ministerial meeting of the Group of 77 developing states. He said that we are at a historic moment as we face the greatest test of global solidarity in generations.
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to inflict unprecedented harm on people, societies and economies around the world. But he added that within this crisis lies an opportunity – a chance to embark on a path to revive economies, ensure gender equality, protect our planet and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The United Nations, he said, is calling for a transformative response and recovery, based on unity and solidarity. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework remain our guiding lights. He added that they must be at the heart of all national and global response and recovery efforts.
The Secretary-General also expressed his hope that 2021 will be year we are able to forge a global alliance for carbon neutrality.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General is now in Mali, where she is currently meeting with the Prime Minister and other government officials. Earlier in the day, in Niger, Amina Mohammed saw the impact of climate change when she visited sites affected by some of the worst floods of the country’s recent history. The United Nations is working with the government of Niger and NGO partners to build resilience and reinforce adaption measures for affected communities. The Deputy Secretary-General spoke with relocated families and members of a fisheries community near the capital, Niamey.
Ms. Mohammed also met with a group of girl entrepreneurs who are supported by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
She had a second follow up meeting with President Mahamadou Issoufou before departing for Mali.
Her programme in Mali will continue tomorrow.
ETHIOPIA
In Ethiopia, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that they are increasingly concerned over the protection of civilians due to the fighting in Tigray.
There are reports of civilians moving within Tigray as well as to the neighbouring Amhara region in search of protection, but we do not have details.
We are also alarmed by the already large number of Ethiopian asylum-seekers who have crossed into Sudan fleeing the hostilities or out of fear of an attack.
Food, health and other supplies are in warehouses, awaiting loading for immediate delivery in Tigray.
In addition to concerns over disrupted humanitarian aid to more than 2 million people in Tigray, there is also rising worry about the inability to assess additional humanitarian needs that are likely to spike.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, Catherine Sozi, is engaging with the Government of Ethiopia and others at the highest levels to facilitate immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access.
The UN and humanitarian partners call for full access to reach people in need, as well as to conduct needs assessments. We also call for the safe passage for civilians in search of safety and assistance and to guarantee the security of aid workers.
We are also calling on the federal and regional authorities to enable humanitarian access to reach people in need in areas under their respective control and we are committed to staying and delivering humanitarian assistance.
LIBYA
The Acting Special Representative for Libya, Stephanie Williams, said that we have had a breakthrough in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum that is taking place in Tunisia.
She said that the Forum’s participants had reached a preliminary agreement on a roadmap for ending the transitional period and organizing free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections. They outlined the clear steps for reaching these elections, including agreement on a constitutional basis. According to the process they outline, elections will be held in no more than 18 months, she added.
The roadmap also outlines steps for uniting Libya’s institutions, restoring public services, and beginning a process of national reconciliation and transitional justice. Ms. Williams added at the same time, that we are under no illusions, and we know that a lot of work remains to be done.
I was asked about the fate of the crew of fishermen detained in Libya and I can say we remain concerned. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has received a request from the families to help establish contacts with the detainees. The Mission is following up in close consultation with the relevant authorities. We hope that the situation will be resolved and that the detainees will be released as quickly as possible.
CENTRAL AMERICA
In Central America, the United Nations is continuing to support the people impacted by Hurricane Eta.
In Honduras, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has delivered more than 39,000 personal protection items in an effort to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, as well as hygiene kits, blankets, clothes and water bags.
In Nicaragua, IOM, in coordination with local NGOs, will assist with the delivery of food kits and hygiene items. And in Mexico, the agency will distribute humanitarian aid to seven shelters in the south of the country while evaluating the extent to which shelters in Chiapas have been affected.
CAMBODIA
In Cambodia, the UN and humanitarian partners there launched a Floods Response Plan calling for more than $9 million to help some 237,000 of the most vulnerable people for six months.
Since the beginning of October, Cambodia has been hit by widespread flooding following a number of tropical storms.
More than 2 million people have reportedly been exposed to flooding and some 800,000 people have been directly affected. The livelihoods of more than 175,000 households have been affected and more than 300,000 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged.
PHILIPPINES
In Philippines, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that Typhoon Vamco made landfall yesterday evening over Quezon province, which is southeast of Manila.
Initial reports indicate massive flooding and landslides in several areas of Luzon island. At least 170,000 people in the affected areas have been evacuated, adding to the nearly 83,000 still displaced from Typhoon Goni last week.
The UN and our partners are supporting the government-led response efforts, by providing drinking water, food and shelter materials. We stand ready to assist in conducting rapid need assessments.
COVID-19/KAZAKHSTAN
In Kazakhstan, the UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Michaela Friberg-Storey, who took up this post recently, is working with authorities to address the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is discussing Kazakhstan’s participation in the COVAX mechanism which, as you know, aims to speed up the search for an effective vaccine for all countries. WHO is also providing guidance to the Government, with new lockdown measures in place.
Together with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO held seminars on the use of personal protection equipment, immunization, infection prevention and control, as well as on the safe reopening of schools.
The UN team procured over more than $500,000 worth of critical health supplies.
During the lockdown, more than 4,600 migrants and victims of human trafficking received direct support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Last month alone, the UN team reached some 13 million people with messages on how to prevent the spread of the virus, which is helping curb the spread of misinformation.
COVID-19/MARITIME TRADE
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) today said that global maritime trade will plunge by 4.1% in 2020 due to the unprecedented disruption caused by COVID-19. A new report warns that new waves of the pandemic that further disrupt supply chains and economies might cause a steeper decline.
The report also decries the humanitarian and safety crisis caused by the pandemic, when more than 300,000 seafarers have been stranded at sea for months beyond the end of their contracts. We reiterate our call to authorities to designate seafarers as key workers and exempted them from COVID-19 travel restrictions.
SAUDI ARABIA
The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly attack that wounded at least three people during a ceremony organized by the French consulate at a cemetery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The event was organized to commemorate Remembrance Day, marking the 102nd anniversary of the armistice signed by Germany and Allied countries to end World War I.
The High Representative stresses that such terrorist acts are utterly unjustifiable and should not dissuade us from working together to promote mutual respect and understanding among diverse cultures, ethnicities, religions, and faiths.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC/ELECTIONS
The UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said today that the UN continues to provide multifaceted support to the electoral process in the country. This support ranges from good offices and political engagement, to security, operational and technical assistance to ensure successful elections.
The country’s National Elections Authority has received 22 applications to contest the presidency, including from one woman - former transition President Catherine Samba Panza. They also received over 1,000 candidacies for the legislative elections, including 153 women.
The Constitutional Court is expected to issue a ruling on the validity of the candidacies by December 3rd, and the first round of elections is scheduled on the 27th of December.
