HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 21 JUNE 2022
PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
This morning in Vienna, the Secretary-General spoke by pre-recorded video message to the first meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
He said that the once unthinkable prospect of nuclear conflict is now back within the realm of possibility.
The Secretary-General reiterated that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is an important step towards the common aspiration of a world without nuclear weapons.
He told participants that the decisions they make at this meeting will help cement the Treaty’s position as an essential element of the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. These decisions will also, hopefully, convince more countries to get on board.
DSG TRAVELS
This evening, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will depart New York for Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and to meet with United Nations officials and other stakeholders.
On 26 June, she will go to Paris to participate in the Transforming Education Pre-Summit and meet with Member States and other stakeholders.
On 30 June, she will then travel on to Lisbon, where she will participate in the UN’s Oceans Conference. The Deputy Secretary-General will be back in New York on 4 July.
UKRAINE
In Ukraine, the UN and its humanitarian partners, were able to deliver yesterday 12 trucks of critical supplies to help nearly 64,000 people in the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Those are close to the frontlines in the Government-controlled areas of Donetska oblast.
Humanitarian needs have increased over recent weeks in these two cities and are particularly concerning in Sloviansk.
Sloviansk, which is just 10 kilometres from the frontline, has experienced intense shelling over the past weeks. Previously home to about 100,000 people, about a quarter of the population remains. Those are mainly the elderly who are among the most vulnerable, and who are spending their days hiding from the constant bombardment.
People in that town, we are told, have no piped water and electricity is quite limited. Basic supplies are lacking in the few shops that remain open and, of course, as usual in these situations, prices have gone up markedly.
Yesterday’s humanitarian convoy reached Sloviansk with water purification tablets and vital hygiene supplies to cover the needs of 20,000 people, critical household items for around 2,000 people and enough food to feed around 5,000 people for a month.
We also went to Kramatorsk, where kits to purify water and hygiene supplies will be provided for more than 20,000 people, and food assistance for at least 10,000 men, women, boys and girls.
This humanitarian convoy was possible thanks to the support of several UN agencies as well as Non-Governmental Organizations.
The international community has now stepped up and generously provided nearly 70 per cent funding to our humanitarian appeal for Ukraine, which stands at US$2.25 billion.
MALI
The Spokesman said we add our voice to the strong condemnation by our colleagues in the Peacekeeping Mission, following attacks by extremist groups on a number of villages in the Bandiagara region of Central Mali. This happened over the weekend, and according to the Mission, more than 100 civilians were killed, and several homes and shops were burned. These attacks also led to the forced displacement of several hundred civilians.
The Mission says that attacks also took place in several localities in the Gao region of Mali, causing the death of dozens of men, women and children, as well as the displacement of populations fleeing insecurity.
We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Mali and we wish a speedy recovery to those wounded.
In accordance with its mandate given to it by the Security Council, the UN Peacekeeping Mission facilitated a visit for the region’s authorities to the areas impacted by the violence. An integrated team from the Mission, operating from Mopti, took part in this visit. At the request of the Malian Armed Forces, the UN peacekeeping mission also assisted in the evacuation of wounded civilians to Sévaré town.
The Mission is ready to support national authorities, assist the population and strengthen security, depending on the needs and based on close coordination with the Malian Armed forces, including ground patrols, and aerial reconnaissance or aerial deterrence. The Mission will also continue to pursue its actions to support the stabilization of Central Mali, which is a strategic priority.
KINSHASA HATE SPEECH FORUM
In Kinshasa, starting today and until Friday, the authorities are hosting a forum to develop a draft regional strategy and action plan to prevent and combat hate speech in Central Africa. The meeting gathers communications professionals as well as media regulators and civil society from countries in the Economic Community of Central African States.
The forum is jointly organized by the Regional Office for Central Africa and the Economic Community of Central African States, with support from several UN offices, including peacekeeping missions in the region and the International Organization for La Francophonie.
GAZA
Today marks 15 years since the start of the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Our humanitarian colleagues say that - largely due to the blockade, poverty, high unemployment rates and other factors - nearly 80 per cent of Gazans now rely on humanitarian assistance. More than half of Gaza’s more than two million people live in poverty, and nearly 80 per cent of the youth there are unemployed.
This year, humanitarians need $510 million to provide food, water, sanitation and health services to 1.6 million people. The appeal is currently just 25 per cent funded.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, needs an extra $72 million by the end of September for its Gaza emergency food programme, to meet the food needs of 1.1 million Palestinian refugees through the end of the year. The World Food Programme also needs an extra $35 million to compensate for increasing commodity prices.
More needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian situation, with the eventual goal of a full lifting of the Israeli closures, in line with Security Council resolution 1860 of 2009. Only sustainable political solutions will relieve the pressures on the long-suffering people of Gaza.
Efforts must also continue to encourage all Palestinian political factions towards political consensus and bringing Gaza and the occupied West Bank under one legitimate, democratic Palestinian authority.
BANGLADESH
In Bangladesh, UNICEF has been providing emergency relief to children stranded by the recent floods. Four million people, including 1.6 million children, need urgent help. UNICEF has already dispatched 400,000 water purification tablets that can support 80,000 households with clean water for a week. The agency is also working to support the Government’s response with millions of water purification tablets, more than 10,000 water containers, and thousands of hygiene kits for women and adolescent girls. UNICEF is also procuring emergency medical supplies for district health facilities.
BOSNIA
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, began a four-day official mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today. This is the first visit by a High Commissioner for Human Rights to Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1998.
She will meet senior Government officials, representatives of civil society, survivors and families of victims of the conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of the judiciary, and representatives of the international community.
COMOROS/COVID-19
In the Comoros, the UN team, led by Resident Coordinator François Batalingaya, just completed a 25-day campaign to support the national vaccination programme and boost the number of people, particularly adolescents, vaccinated against COVID-19. Our team, including WHO and UNICEF, provided technical support to more than 70 per cent of adolescents in the country with the COVID-19 vaccine. UNICEF continues to train a group of young people to mobilize their communities on the importance of vaccines. The team is also gearing up for a follow up three-day vaccination campaign to support national authorities in reaching 100 per cent vaccine coverage for adolescents.
SYRIA
Yesterday, the Secretary-General told the Security Council that humanitarian needs in Syria are at their highest since the start of the war 11 years ago. The massive humanitarian response that the UN and our partners is conducting in Syria has staved off the worst, but more is required.
He added that while increasing cross-line assistance was an important achievement, in the present circumstances, it is not at the scale needed to replace the massive cross-border response. He called on Security Council members to maintain consensus on allowing cross-border operations to continue.
COLOMBIA
In a statement, the Secretary-General commended the people of Colombia for their participation and historic voter turnout in the second round of the presidential elections that resulted in the election of Mr. Gustavo Petro and his running mate Ms. Francia Marquez to the leadership.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is the International Day Yoga. In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General notes that this year’s theme — Yoga for Humanity — reminds us how yoga is truly universal. In a world beset by disaster and division, he says, yoga’s values of mindfulness, balance, moderation and discipline are essential as we seek out a new relationship with one another and our planet.
On this important Day, he adds, let us be inspired by this timeless practice and values of yoga.
And it’s also the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice.
NOON BRIEFING GUEST TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the guest at the noon briefing will be Valentine Rugwabiza, who is the Special Representative for the Central African Republic and Head of the peacekeeping Mission [MINUSCA].
