HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 23 MARCH 2021
CLIMATE
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke, in a video message, to the 2021 Ministerial on Climate Action, convened by China, Canada and the European Union.
He said that decisions that countries make during this make-or-break year have the power to keep the limit of 1.5 degrees within reach.
He underscored that “we simply cannot contemplate any alternative,” and said that the net zero coalition must grow to cover well over 90 per cent of global emissions this year.
The Secretary-General also urged countries to submit, or re-submit, ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.
His full remarks are online.
VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS
A statement we issued yesterday afternoon said that the Secretary-General is profoundly concerned about the rise of violence against Asians and people of Asian descent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The world has witnessed horrific deadly attacks, verbal and physical harassment, bullying in schools, workplace discrimination, incitement to hatred in the media and on social media platforms, and incendiary language by those in positions of power. In some countries, Asian women have been specifically targeted for attack, adding misogyny to the toxic mix of hatred. Thousands of incidents across the past year have perpetuated a centuries-long history of intolerance, stereotyping, scapegoating, exploitation and abuse.
The Secretary-General expresses his full support for the victims and families, and stands in solidarity with all those who face racism and other assaults on their human rights. This moment of challenge for all must be a time to uphold dignity for all.
SECURITY COUNCIL/AFGHANISTAN
This morning, Deborah Lyons, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, briefed the Security Council by VTC on the situation in that country. Ms. Lyons said that she was very sorry to report that in the first two months of 2021, we have witnessed the continued trend of rising civilian casualties. Particularly worrying is the array of attacks deliberately targeting civilians.
Ms. Lyons noted that given the many interests involved – both domestic and international, to be clear – we always knew that this would be a complicated peace process. Decades of conflict have created real grievances on all sides and there remains a lack of trust amongst the parties. There are also genuine and profound differences between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban over their desired end state.
Ms. Lyons stressed that none of this can be resolved in the work of a moment – nor in a few meetings, no matter the location or format. Addressing these issues will require patience and commitment on all sides.
SYRIA
In a statement we issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the recent wave of attacks in northwest Syria, which have killed and injured dozens of civilians.
The Secretary-General reiterates that directing attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including medical units such as hospitals, are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law. There must be accountability for crimes perpetrated in Syria.
The Secretary-General reaffirms the need for a nationwide ceasefire, as called for in Security Council resolution 2254 (2015). He calls on all parties immediately to renew their commitment to a cessation of hostilities.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/ASIA-PACIFIC
The Deputy Secretary-General took part at the first meeting of a new platform in Asia and the Pacific that brings together UN staff working to promote development in the region.
She stressed the importance of regional efforts to respond to COVID-19 and other complex challenges that know no borders.
In Asia and the Pacific, the COVID-19 pandemic has erased years of social-economic progress, with the UN Economic and Social Commission in the region (ESCAP) estimating that nearly 90 million more people in the region have been pushed back into extreme poverty.
LEBANON
Najat Rochdi, the Officer in Charge of the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), today called on Lebanon’s political leaders to focus most urgently on the formation of an empowered government. She said that was a critical step to address the country’s multiple and serious crises and implement required reforms. “This step must be taken and can no longer be delayed,” she said.
Ms. Rochdi called on Lebanese leaders to set aside their differences, step up to their responsibilities, end the paralysis and finally offer solutions to the people of Lebanon.
YEMEN
And we have an update on COVID-19 in Yemen: The World Health Organization reported yesterday the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in one day in the country since the start of the pandemic. Some 140 cases were confirmed, bringing the total caseload to 3,422.
This is an alarming upward trajectory in Yemen, as COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50 per cent over the last month.
These figures greatly underestimate the actual COVID-19 caseload in the country, as underreporting is widespread due to many factors, including limited testing capacities and a reluctance to seek testing and treatment.
MYANMAR
On Myanmar, our country team says it is deeply concerned about the continued use of force against children. This includes live ammunition.
The team reiterates its call on security forces to refrain from violence and to keep children and young people out of harm’s way.
UNICEF says that, as of today, at least 23 children have reportedly been killed in the violence since the 1st of February, while at least 11 more have been severely injured.
BANGLADESH/ROHINGYA
On Bangladesh, the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency expressed their sadness at the loss of life and immense suffering caused by yesterday’s massive fire in the Kutupalong Balukali refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar.
As of this morning, some 15 refugees are confirmed to have died in the fire in the sites which are managed by IOM, with hundreds more missing or injured. Some 45,000 Rohingya refugees were displaced from their homes.
The IOM’s largest health centre – which served more than 55,000 people in the last year – was also destroyed, making it more difficult now to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
IOM’s Director General, António Vitorino, said this disaster is a terrible setback that exacerbates the humanitarian needs of refugees in Cox’s Bazar.
UNHCR, IOM and their partners – together with refugee volunteers – are rushing to provide critical support and protection.
LIBYA
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Libya, Ján Kubiš, arrived yesterday in Tripoli to continue his engagements with the new interim Government of National Unity, among others. He will work to expedite the implementation of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Roadmap, including mobilizing the required support and resources to hold national elections on the 24th of December 2021.
He met, among others, with the leadership of the Presidency Council, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Special Envoy will conduct a series of meetings with various Libyan stakeholders in the coming days.
ETHIOPIA
In a joint statement issued yesterday, senior UN and officials from non-governmental organizations called on all State and non-State parties to the conflict in Tigray region to ensure their forces respect and protect civilian populations, particularly women and children, from all human rights abuses. They also called on all parties to the conflict to explicitly condemn all sexual violence and act to bring perpetrators to justice where abuses do occur.
This call comes amid a worsening humanitarian situation in Tigray, where indiscriminate and targeted attacks against civilians are reported, including rape and other horrific forms of sexual violence.
Women and children in affected areas are reporting significant challenges in accessing health, social welfare and justice services. The full statement is available online.
NIGER
The Spokesman presented an update on Sunday’s attacks in the Tahoua region of Niger. As you may have seen, according to authorities, the death toll for the attacks has now risen to 137 – all of them civilians.
The Government, the UN and humanitarian partners are preparing to conduct a rapid assessment in the area to identify the humanitarian needs of the affected communities.
Since the beginning of the year, we have seen an upsurge of violent and deadly attacks by Non-State armed groups, especially in the regions of Tillaberi and Tahoua, which are bordering Mali and Burkina Faso. Since January, at least 290 civilians have been killed in the attacks. This is over half of all victims killed in attacks in 2020.
The UN Refugee Agency is preparing to assist affected people with health care and protection services.
UNHCR reminds us that Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, in the Sahel, are at the epicentre of one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement and protection crises. The region is already hosting nearly three million refugees and people displaced inside their own country.
COVAX/BRAZIL
In Brazil, authorities have received more than a million doses of the COVAX-backed COVID-19 vaccine. They arrived by plane from laboratories in the Republic of Korea on Sunday. This is the first batch of many doses expected to be shipped to Brazil via COVAX, complementing other COVID-19 vaccines being distributed nationally.
The Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization Representative in Brazil, Dr. Socorro Gross, welcomed this crucial step to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19. She added that the UN team will continue to work together with health authorities and partners to make more vaccines available and to strengthen public health measures.
For its part, in the Amazon region, the International Organization for Migration continues its activities and donations of non-food items focusing on indigenous and riverside communities. In the past two weeks, IOM delivered nearly 4,000 pieces of personal protection equipment to communities in the Amazon region.
The UN Refugee Agency continues to focus on a vaccination campaign for indigenous communities. In the past two weeks, UNHCR has also delivered more than 1,400 items such as mattresses and hygiene kits in the region.
UN Women is providing financial support to several women's organizations in the North and Northeast regions, also to curb violence against women.
ACUTE HUNGER
A report issued today by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme warns that without urgent and scaled-up assistance, acute hunger is set to soar in over 20 countries in the coming months.
According to the Hunger Hotspots report, Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria top the list and face catastrophic levels of acute hunger. Families in pockets of South Sudan and Yemen are already in the grip of or at risk of starvation and death.
Already, more than 34 million people across the world are grappling with emergency levels of acute hunger, meaning they are one step away from starvation.
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY
Today is World Meteorological Day. This year’s theme is “the ocean, our climate and weather.
The ocean absorbs over 90 per cent of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, shielding us from even greater temperature increases as a result of climate change. But this comes at a heavy price as ocean warming and changes in ocean chemistry are already disrupting marine ecosystems and people who depend on them.
The Day highlights how observations, research and services are more critical than ever before as climate change makes the ocean both more vulnerable and perilous.
Ocean-related climate indicators are also featured in WMO’s report on the State of the Global Climate 2020, which will be released ahead of Earth Day on the 22nd of April.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
The Maldives have paid their regular budget dues in full. There are now 75 fully paid-up Member States.
