HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY ERI KANEKO,
ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 16 JUNE 2020
SECURITY COUNCIL
Geir Pedersen, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Syria, briefed the Security Council this morning. He said that currency and price volatility remain acute in that country, and the inflation rate has hit peak levels in the past six months.
Before this recent deterioration, he said, more than 80 per cent of Syrians were estimated to be living below the poverty line. The situation is undoubtedly more severe today, and the intensity of that poverty is likely more acute.
He discussed recent violence in the country and once more appealed for calm to be sustained in Idlib and elsewhere, and for a nationwide ceasefire, in line with resolution 2254.
Mr. Pedersen said that he is ready to convene and facilitate a third session of the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned constitutional committee. Conscious that global travel restrictions remain in place, he is hopeful that a session in Geneva may be possible towards the end of August.
SYRIA
The UN Refugee Agency today warned that the economic downturn prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in the Middle East into an ever more desperate situation and has increased their humanitarian needs.
UNHCR says that the number of vulnerable refugees who lack the basic resources to survive in exile has dramatically surged as a result of the public health emergency. The refugee hosting communities in countries in Syria’s neighbourhood experience similar hardships.
Since the start of the pandemic, UNHCR has provided emergency cash support to nearly 200,000 additional refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey who previously did not receive financial aid, along with other efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The five countries alone host more than 5.5 million Syrians, the biggest refugee group in the world. The agency is attempting to support at least 100,000 more refugees with one-off payments.
YEMEN
The UN remains extremely concerned by shortfalls in funding for the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. As you know, Yemen is now also being ravaged by COVID-19.
The situation in Yemen has never been so dangerous, and now is not the time to reduce international support.
On June 2nd, donors pledged $1.35 billion for humanitarian assistance – that’s about half of what we received last year. Most of that money remains unpaid several weeks after the conference. This is having an immediate impact on the response, including efforts to contain COVID-19, which is spreading rapidly.
Already, incentive payments for 10,000 health workers on the front lines of the pandemic response have stopped. The world is telling these workers, most of whom have little to no protective equipment, to risk their lives for free.
By the end of June, humanitarian organizations will be forced to cut services that provide clean water to nearly 6 million people - nearly half of them children. Many other programmes also remain at risk, including healthcare, nutrition services and more.
The UN calls on all donors to disburse their pledges immediately and to consider increasing their support. The UN has put forward a clear plan to cover operations through the end of the year.
The Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen has concluded a virtual two-day meeting with Yemeni women peace actors.
The goal was to increase women’s meaningful participation and gender inclusion in the peace process.
On the first day, participants were briefed on the political process and explored global perspectives of gender-inclusive ceasefires. On the second day, they had a discussion with the Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, on the role of women in driving the peace process.
The Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen plans to convene additional consultations with an array of Yemeni women on topics of relevance to the peace process – ranging from power-sharing and state institutions to local governance and security arrangements.
LIBYA
UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) are joining forces in Libya in a project that will aim to reach up to 10,000 food insecure refugees and asylum seekers with emergency food aid this year.
The partnership was launched in recognition of the severe socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Libya as well as the effects of the ongoing conflict. Nutritious food supports a healthy immune system, which is even more critical in challenging times of a global pandemic.
A quick needs assessment conducted by WFP between the 30th of May and the 3rd of June 2020 found that on average, one out of two respondents had poor or borderline poor food consumption. In the past 30 days, 77 percent of respondents could not access supermarkets, and 70 percent had no money to buy food.
The first distribution of food assistance began yesterday at UNHCR’s registration centre in Serraj, Tripoli. Some 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers will be reached in this pilot phase.
SOMALIA
The UN and its partners today welcomed the dialogue between President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ and President Muse Bihi Abdi, hosted by President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
In a joint statement, we and our partners commend the regional support and engagement that led to these talks.
We welcome the commitment of the two leaders to continue the dialogue.
And this full statement is available online.
NIGERIA
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Monguno and Nganzai local government areas in Borno State, which took place on the 13th of June and killed dozens of civilians, injured several others, and damaged a major humanitarian facility – and this was in Nigeria.
The Secretary-General conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the Government of Nigeria. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. He reiterated the need to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The Secretary-General further reaffirmed the United Nations continued solidarity with the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in their efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism.
The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) has announced a $22.4 million allocation for life-saving activities and the COVID-19 response in the country’s northeast states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
This is the largest allocation by the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund since its creation in 2017.
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said that the funding will support the rapid scale up of critical food and water supplies, as well as shelter and health services, among other urgent efforts, to address pre-existing needs and new vulnerabilities triggered by COVID-19.
Emergency measures associated to the country’s pandemic response, including restrictions on movements and gatherings, have affected livelihood activities such as trading and communal farming.
$246 million is required for COVID-19-specific humanitarian action in the north-east of the country, in addition to $834 million required to respond to the underlying humanitarian needs of 10.6 million people.
SOUTH SUDAN
The Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudéhou, today launched an urgent appeal for an additional $390 million to support the response to COVID-19 and for new humanitarian needs. This brings the overall humanitarian appeal for South Sudan for this year to $1.9 billion.
Aid organizations are aiming to help 7.4 million people by the end of the year, up from the 5.6 million planned before the outbreak of the pandemic.
Mr. Noudehou said that the humanitarian community in South Sudan is committed to staying the course and to deliver much-needed essential services and assistance for the most vulnerable people.
The virus is spreading rapidly in South Sudan, with more than 1,700 confirmed cases. It is already having a significant negative impact on the humanitarian situation and any socio-economic and political progress the country has made over the past few years.
Some 4 million people have been reached with risk communications about the virus; 3.2 million people have received advanced food rations ahead of the lockdown and travel restrictions; more than 300,000 internally displaced people have received messaging on how to prevent COVID-19 in Protection of Civilians sites and camp-like settings; and 265 health facilities have received supplies.
Mr. Noudehou stressed that the collective response to the COVID-19 crisis will only be effective if organizations are able to operate in a safe environment.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In the Central African Republic, the UN Mission has donated hygiene kits, including soap, handwashing devices, and more than 7,000 protective masks to communities in Bangassou, Mbomou prefecture, as part of its support to communities to fight COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the UN, in partnership with the European Union and others, has provided electoral material for the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December.
Over the weekend, 4,400 tablets, solar panels, batteries and other supplies arrived in the capital, Bangui, and will enable voter registration to begin on June 22nd.
This equipment is an additional contribution; last month, 69 tons of material, including forms and other electoral kits were donated to the government.
In accordance with its mandate, the UN Mission continues to work closely with national stakeholders to provide logistical support, security assistance as well as to facilitate political dialogue to ensure peaceful, free, and inclusive elections that will ultimately contribute to sustaining peace and the consolidation of democracy in the country.
BRAZIL/COVID-19
In Brazil, the UN team is working with authorities to save lives and livelihoods in the midst of the pandemic, focusing on the most vulnerable groups, particularly indigenous peoples, migrants, people in prisons, and youth.
There have been nearly 900,000 confirmed cases and more than 43,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in the country.
In the Amazon region, the International Organization for Migration has donated hundreds of hygiene kits to state authorities for distribution in eight shelters supporting Venezuelans and Brazilians affected by the pandemic.
At the border with Venezuela, the UN has distributed over 159 hygiene kits, 90 bottles of hand sanitizer and mosquito nets to informal settlements, with hundreds of people receiving medical attention through mobile health units. Also, 15,000 meals were offered to indigenous people coming from Venezuela and sheltered since April.
The UN children’s fund has delivered over 200 masks and health and water and sanitation services for indigenous peoples in shelters, with vaccines administered to 100 residents, including children, pregnant women and the elderly.
And UN-backed health workers monitored 2,000 people at high risk of infection, leading to over 300 migrants and refugees identified with COVID-19 symptoms, who are now receiving treatment.
And the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is investing more than $43 million to mitigate the effects of the pandemic in the northeastern region, boosting skills and income for rural families.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme received over 2,000 kilos of food items to be donated in partnership with NGOs, in addition to face masks and hand sanitizers.
For its part, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized an online session on judicial integrity during the crisis, bringing together lawyers and judges to share lessons following the rapid digitization of judicial services during the lockdown period.
And finally, we are also working with authorities to safeguard the rights of vulnerable women, including domestic workers, in a partnership with the government.
LATIN AMERICA
The Food and Agricultural Organization and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) today released a joint report which warns that millions of people may slide into extreme poverty and hunger in 2020 in Latin America and the Caribbean due to the pandemic.
The number of people living in extreme poverty could reach up to 83.4 million people this year, which would also lead to a significant rise in hunger.
The report proposes ten measures to prevent the current health crisis from becoming a food crisis including an anti-hunger grant, school-based food programs and financial support for agricultural companies, among others.
ANNUAL REPORT ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT
The UN verified over 25,000 grave violations committed against children last year, according to the annual report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, published yesterday afternoon.
The most substantial increase involved the denial of humanitarian access to children. With 4,400 verified incidents, this represented an increase of over 400% of that violation.
The overall number of children killed or maimed decreased, although it was still high, with more than 10,000. Afghanistan remained the deadliest country for children, followed by Syria and Yemen.
The recruitment and use of children in conflict continues to be a concern in conflict situations. However, UN-mandated action plans and other measures led to the release of 13,200 children from armed forces and groups.
The report also announced that Burkina Faso and Cameroon will be added next year as new situations of concern.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
The UN Conference on Trade and Development – or UNCTAD- said today that global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows are forecast to decrease by up to 40% in 2020, from their 2019 value of $1.54 trillion.
According to its World Investment Report 2020, this would bring foreign direct investment below $1 trillion for the first time since 2005. The report also notes that foreign direct investment is projected to decrease by a further 5% to 10% in 2021 and to initiate a recovery in 2022.
UNCTAD said that the COVID-19 pandemic is a supply, demand and policy shock for foreign direct investment. The lockdown measures are slowing down existing investment projects and the prospect of a deep recession will lead multinational enterprises to reassess new projects.
COVID-19/DOMESTIC WORKERS
The International Labour Organization -ILO- warned today that more than 55 million domestic workers around the world are at significant risk of losing their jobs and income. This is due to the COVID-19 lockdown and lack of effective social security coverage
According to new estimates by the ILO, 37 million of these domestic workers are women.
The UN agency said that the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing issues. Only 10 per cent of domestic workers have access to social security and many earn as little as 25 per cent of average wages, leaving them without savings in case of a financial emergency.
Domestic workers in both formal and informal employment have been affected. However, those in informal employment accounted for 76 per cent of those at risk of losing their jobs or working hours.
REMITTANCES
Today is the International Day of Family Remittances, and in his message to mark the Day, the Secretary-General recognized the determination of 200 million migrants who regularly send money home, and the 800 million family members throughout the developing world who depend on those resources.
But this year, as a result of COVID-19, the World Bank projects that remittances will fall by about 20 per cent, or $110 billion. Millions of migrant workers are losing their jobs, and many remittance families are suddenly pushed below the poverty line.
At this time of global crisis, the Secretary-General is appealing to people everywhere to support them. He calls on all stakeholders to take steps to reduce remittance transfer costs, provide financial services for migrants and their families – particularly in rural areas – and promote financial inclusion for a more secure and stable future.
PRESS BRIEFING TOMORROW
Tomorrow, immediately following the noon briefing, Reem Abaza, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, will do a briefing.
