HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

TUESDAY, 22 MARCH 2022

UKRAINE
At the stakeout this morning, the Secretary-General said that since the war in Ukraine started one month ago, we have seen appalling human suffering and destruction in cities, towns and villages.  But the war is going nowhere, fast, he said. Even if Mariupol falls, Mr. Guterres said, Ukraine cannot be conquered city by city, street by street, house by house.  
The only outcome to all of this is more suffering, more destruction, and more horror as far as the eye can see.
Mr. Guterres said that from his outreach with various actors, elements of diplomatic progress are coming into view on several key issues.  He said that there is enough on the table to cease hostilities and start serious negotiations now.    
Continuing the war in Ukraine, he added, is morally unacceptable, politically indefensible and militarily nonsensical. It is time to end this absurd war and give peace a chance. 
 
UKRAINE/HUMANITARIAN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is warning that the situation is deteriorating and acute humanitarian needs in areas with ongoing fighting, such as Mariupol, are of particular concern, as the Secretary-General himself said. 
The main challenge remains to secure safe access in areas with ongoing fighting.  
Humanitarians continue to engage with the Humanitarian Notification System, in the Russian Federation in Moscow and the Ukrainian authorities in-country. Discussions are ongoing for future convoys to areas with high humanitarian needs, including Mariupol, Volnovakha, Melitopol, and Kherson. 
The humanitarian system has scaled up aid delivery in the last weeks. To date, we, along with our partners, have delivered more than 2,500 metric tonnes of food, with about 3,700 metric tonnes of food in transit or planned to be shipped to Ukraine. 
Over 1,100 metric tonnes of water, sanitation and hygiene items have also been delivered, with more than 930 additional metric tonnes in transit or planned to ship. 
More than 180 metric tonnes of medical supplies have been delivered, with an additional 470 metric tonnes in transit or planned. 
On funding, the Ukraine Flash Appeal for this year has received $428 million so far, and that represents a 38 per cent funding level. 
And today, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, urged the parties to immediately cease attacks on schools and hospitals, and on related protected personnel and not to use these facilities for military purposes. She issued a reminder that uprooted children are at their most vulnerable and all must be done to ensure their protection.

OUR COMMON AGENDA 
The Secretary-General addressed a meeting of the Economic and Social Council dedicated to the follow-up to his Common Agenda report. 
He reiterated that the report aims to address the interlinked crises that we are faced with, so that we can rescue the Sustainable Development Goals and get back on track.   
He highlighted areas, where, following support expressed by Member States, we can consider moving forward to more detailed discussions. These, for example, include accelerating efforts on gender equality and inclusion of young people; ongoing work to prepare the Transforming Education Summit, as well as biennial summits that will convene Member States with the G20 and international financial institutions under the UN umbrella to accelerate ways to finance the implementation of the Global Goals and improve global economic governance. 

LIBYA 
Stephanie Williams, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, today welcomed the members of Libya’s High Council of State who showed up in Tunis for the important task of determining the constitutional basis needed for national elections.  
She said Libya is at yet another critical inflection point, and it is extremely important for all of us to respect the will of the 2.8 million Libyans who registered to vote.  
She added that she looks forward to using this opportunity to consult on the many components of the constitutional basis and see where we can find potential points of consensus. She said that the UN is here to help facilitate this consensus, mindful of the central role of the two chambers in agreeing on a constitutional basis and within our mandate to facilitate the holding of elections in the shortest possible timeframe.    

MIDDLE EAST
Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council by video conference on the continued settlement activity by Israeli authorities in the occupied Palestinian territory and that is his periodic report, as requested by security council resolution 2334. 
He said that settlement expansion continues to fuel violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, further entrenching the occupation, undermining the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, independent statehood, and eroding the possibility of establishing a contiguous and viable Palestinian State. 
Mr. Wennesland added that he is deeply troubled by the continued loss of life and serious injuries, including children, in the occupied Palestinian territory and the overall deterioration of the security situation, including an apparent increase in shooting attacks during the reporting period.  
The Special Coordinator also noted the forthcoming Ramadan, Pesach and Easter observances and said that this should be a time of peaceful reflection, prayer and celebration for all religions. Provocations must be avoided. Leaders on all sides have a critical role to play to ensure there are no provocations.  

WESTERN SAHARA 
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, met with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Monday in Brussels.  He was also in touch with other relevant interlocutors in recent days, including Algeria.   
In the context of the recent announcement by Spain on their relations with Morocco, the Personal Envoy took good note of Foreign Minister Albares’ support for a UN-facilitated process on Western Sahara aimed at a mutually acceptable solution, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular the most recent one, which is [resolution] 2602 (2021).   
Mr. de Mistura continues to count on the support of all concerned parties to his efforts towards a constructive resumption of the political process. 

ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION  
The Secretary-General also spoke today by pre-recorded video message to a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.  
The UN and the OIC enjoy a close relationship, he said, adding that in recent years, we have deepened our collaboration on key issues– including mediation, countering terrorism and promoting religious tolerance. 
Today, the Secretary-General said the imperative to join forces is more urgent than ever. Challenges abound, he said, from the war in Ukraine and its global ramifications, to growing inequalities and proliferating assaults on human rights. 

WORLD WATER DAY 
Today is World Water Day, which this year focuses on freshwater. In his message, the Secretary-General said pressure on water resources is increasing due to overuse, pollution and climate change and underscored that water can be a source of conflict but also of cooperation.  So it is essential we work together.                     
           
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION 
Trinidad and Tobago, have paid their budget dues in full.