HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2021
CHIEF EXECUTIVES BOARD
This morning, the Secretary-General brought together, as he does twice a year, the heads of the UN system organizations in a virtual meeting of the Chief Executives Board (CEB). And this meeting is to reflect on current world affairs as they affect and relate to the UN system’s work. The Board deliberated on salient emerging trends, opportunities and challenges facing the system.
The CEB members are engaging in a dedicated discussion on how progress and prosperity are currently measured and how to encourage collectively committed complementary metrics to GDP in order to capture human well-being and planetary sustainability, otherwise known as GDP+.
SUDAN
In Sudan, following the recent coup and the wave of protests in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities, the UN has seen yet again the de facto authorities use excessive force against protesters yesterday (17 November) resulting in the deaths of reportedly 15 people so far, and an unconfirmed number of injuries.
This brings the death toll of peaceful civilian protestors to 37 since the beginning of the protests against the October 25th coup.
The UN strongly condemns this repeated use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and renew our call upon the de-facto authorities and the security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from committing further human rights violations.
Freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental human rights afforded to every Sudanese, and they need to have the opportunity to express themselves peacefully and without fear of retaliation.
All those detained as a result of the protests, and those held since the October 25th coup must be released.
AFGHANISTAN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that aid operations continue across the country with new needs being identified in ongoing inter-agency assessments.
Earlier this week, in an inter-agency mission to Kandahar, our colleagues assessed the capacity and the needs of a UN-supported health facility. The facility has recorded a significant increase in patients over the last three months due to a lack of access to basic health services in other districts. Our colleagues also noted an increase in cases of severe acute malnutrition among children under five.
The mission also visited a UN-supported Reception Centre for returnees that provides cross-border return and reintegration services. Reportedly, more than 3,000 people have returned from Iran to Afghanistan since the border reopened in November.
In Herat province, some laboratory services have been halted for the last three weeks due to the non-payment of staff salaries.
Yesterday, another UN mission to Taloqan in Takhar Province conducted assessments to help vulnerable households. Takhar Province has seen an increase in the number of people requiring assistance, including due to drought.
Humanitarian colleagues also warn that the use of unexploded ordnance across Afghanistan remains a major safety risk. Earlier this week, two unexploded ordnances and one improvised explosive device detonated on several civilians, including three children, who were injured, in Tirinkot city, in Uruzgan province.
The Flash Appeal for Afghanistan, which is seeking $606 million for the last four months of this year, is 87 per cent funded, having received $530 million to date.
SECURITY COUNCIL/AFGHANISTAN
Yesterday afternoon, Deborah Lyons, the head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan, briefed the Security Council and the press.
MYANMAR
The UN team in Myanmar remains deeply concerned by the continuing levels of people displaced internally, as well as by the worsening humanitarian needs due to conflict, political instability and COVID-19 since the military seized control of the Government on February 1st.
According to UNHCR, since February 1st, a record high of 234,600 women, children and men have been newly displaced. This is up from 176,000 people at the end of August, compounding an already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
The latest displacement figures come on top of the 370,000 people that had already been displaced before the military takeover.
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, with more than 3 million people requiring critical assistance and protection services since the start of 2021.
The UN is particularly concerned about increasing food insecurity in Myanmar.
The town of Mindat, in Chin State, has experienced heavy fighting in recent weeks, with many people fleeing their homes. Our colleagues say that food for displaced people and host communities is running desperately short. Humanitarian access to Mindat has been extremely limited and aid workers need urgent access to the area to deliver much needed aid.
Humanitarian organizations expect to have reached more than 2 million people with aid by the end of 2021. They stand ready to scale-up their response, but this requires increased access to the people who actually need our help.
MIDDLE EAST
The Envoys of the Middle East Quartet - the European Union, the Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Nations- met in person in Oslo. This follows an important meeting of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee addressing the Palestinian economic situation.
The Envoys welcome steps announced by Israel to reach out to the Palestinian Authority and to assist with the fiscal crisis. The Envoys remain deeply concerned by developments in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza, including ongoing acts of violence in the West Bank, the advancement of new settlement units, the untenable fiscal crisis within the Palestinian Authority and threats of violence in Gaza.
That full statement was released.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN peacekeeping colleagues repelled an attack by combatants from the armed group known as CODECO. This took place in Drodro, in the Ituri province. The peacekeepers secured a camp for displaced people, the hospital and the office of an NGO. Staff from the NGO were sheltered in the peacekeeper’s temporary base for the night.
Our colleagues reiterated their concern about the increasing number of attacks by armed combatants in the eastern part of the DRC, especially in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
The Mission continues to work to protect civilians, including through a stronger presence in areas with ongoing military operations and where the population can be targeted by retaliatory attacks.
MADAGASCAR
Today, the Government and humanitarian partners launched a revised Flash Appeal that seeks $231 million to provide assistance to 1.3 million people through May of next year.
As we have been reporting over the past few months, the climate crisis is having a devastating impact on people’s lives in the country, especially in the southern part –known in French as Grand Sud. For the last three years now, consecutive droughts, combined with sandstorms and pests, have made it nearly impossible for people in this area to grow their own food.
The UN, along with partners in Madagascar estimate that 1.3 million people are facing severe hunger and 28,000 people are in famine-like conditions.
Humanitarian organizations have significantly expanded their operations this year and provided life-saving assistance to over 900,000 men, women and children.
But, with the peak of the lean season fast approaching (that’s January to April), more assistance is needed.
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Madagascar, Issa Sanogo, is calling for the international community to urgently increase its support. We have already received about US$120 million towards the $231 million, but additional funding will enable humanitarian organizations to provide food, water, health services, and life-saving nutrition treatment for people in need.
If you look, we are asking for $231 million, and as a point of comparison, I saw a flat for sale in London for $242 million. So, instead of buying an apartment, give to this humanitarian appeal.
MALDIVES/COVID-19
From the Maldives, the UN team there, led by Resident Coordinator Catherine Haswell, continues to support the country’s health and socioeconomic response to the pandemic.
As of November 13th, nearly 80 per cent of people over the age of 18 have been fully vaccinated. More than 90 per cent of children between 12 and 17 have also been fully vaccinated.
The UN has been supporting the vaccination rollout. More than 250,000 doses have been delivered through COVAX, with most of the doses donated by Japan and the U.S. A big thank you to them.
While the Maldives has managed to keep the number of cases low in the capital, Malé, in recent months, a rise in cases has been observed in the outer atolls of the Maldives.
HYBRID GUESTS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, guests at the noon briefing will be the head of UN Women, the head of UNICEF and the head of UNDP. They will be joined by the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the UN, Olof Skoog to launch the Spotlight Initiative’s impact report for 20-21, 'Rising to the challenge'.
