HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 2021

FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT 
Today, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed briefed reporters on the Financing for the Development report.  On this same topic, the Secretary-General’s brief on debt and liquidity will be published on Monday.
Also on Monday, the Secretary-General, along with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, will convene the “Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond: Meeting of Heads of State and Government on the International Debt Architecture and Liquidity.”  
At 11 a.m. the three of them will hold a press briefing. The Secretary-General will be in the press briefing room and the two leaders will join virtually. That briefing will replace the Monday noon briefing.

SECRETARY-GENERAL/SLAVERY
Today is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
At a General Assembly event, the Secretary-General honoured the memory of the millions of people of African descent who suffered immeasurably under the evil of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. 
The Secretary-General noted that, while the transatlantic slave trade ended over two centuries ago, the ideas that propelled it remain alive today. 
In Europe, the United States and elsewhere, he said, white supremacists are organizing and recruiting across borders. We must counter all lies of racial supremacy.
By tackling inequities and inequalities, by building inclusive communities and economies, and by educating about history, we truly honour the memory of the victims of slavery, the Secretary-General said.

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
As you know, the Olympic Torch Relay began today in Fukushima, Japan, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics this summer. 
In a Tweet, the Secretary-General says he salutes the participants as they carry this symbol of hope and resilience across the country. He also conveys our best wishes to Japan and all Olympic athletes.

GLOBAL HEALTH CONFERENCE
Today, the Deputy Secretary-General spoke in a video message on behalf of the Secretary-General, at the opening ceremony of the conference named "Reinforcement of the role of the EU in Global Health", which was hosted by the Government of Portugal. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 2.6 million lives and caused a socio-economic impact of unprecedented magnitude in contemporary history.
Ms. Mohammed added that the pandemic has exposed the grave risks of underfunded health systems, and the chronic lack of investments in pandemic preparedness. She said that it should now be clear to all that without ensuring every person’s right to health, we will never have just societies.

MIDDLE EAST
Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the members of the Security Council by VTC this morning.  He said that we have witnessed a spike in demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures, which include internationally funded humanitarian projects. 
Mr. Wennesland urged Israel to cease demolitions and evictions, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law, and to approve plans that would enable these communities to build legally and address their development needs.
He added that COVID-19 continues to have a devastating effect on Palestinians. In addition to the brutal impact on public health, the recurrent lockdowns, school closures, and reduction of commercial activity have severely undermined living conditions. The Special Coordinator said that support to the Palestinian COVID-19 response should be significantly enhanced to ensure that Palestinians receive a fair and timely share in the distribution of vaccines.
Mr. Wennesland said he is deeply concerned by the daily violence that continues to fuel mistrust and drives us further from a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He is particularly concerned that children are so often the victims. Children should never be the target of violence by any party, nor be exposed to violence, he said.

FSO SAFER
On the issue of the FSO SAFER, I just would like to note that the discussions with the Houthis (who call themselves Ansar Allah) are ongoing to resolve all pending logistical and security arrangements.  
We hope these discussions will come to conclusion soon so we can pin a timeline of deployment. 
There was also a technical meeting with the Government of Yemen to brief them on the ongoing efforts to deploy the mission at the earliest possible opportunity.

ROHINGYA/BANGLADESH
The UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, today released $14 million from the Central Emergency Respond Fund, or CERF, to help tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees after a devastating fire tore through the Kutupalong camp – the world’s largest refugee camp – in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
That fire on 22 March displaced more than 45,000 Rohingya refugees and affected many others. A hospital and other critical health, nutrition and education sites were destroyed.
The funds will help set up and rebuild shelter and provide people with emergency services, including water, sanitation, food and mental health assistance.
Mr. Lowcock said that Rohingya refugees need our support now more than ever, as the pandemic continues to take its toll and the monsoon season is coming. 
He noted that Rohingya refugees themselves have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the aid workers, volunteering their services to support response efforts in the camps. Now is the moment for the international community to stand by them.

MYANMAR
On Myanmar, the UN team in the country is deeply concerned about the impact of the political developments on vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas. The UN team is helping some one million people, one-third of whom are internally displaced.
Aid agencies’ work is hampered by disruptions to the banking system and limited availability of cash, as well as challenges to the supply chain. Active conflicts in areas such as northern Shan and Kachin also make the situation difficult for humanitarian organizations.
The UN team is also concerned about the low level of funding received for the Humanitarian Response Plan. Only 10 per cent of the nearly $270 million needed has been received so far. 
Also on Myanmar, you saw yesterday that we took note of reports that hundreds of demonstrators have been released. We remain concerned at ongoing arbitrary arrests, including of journalists and civil society leaders. We call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 
We continue to follow developments closely and are also extremely disturbed over the killing by security forces of a seven-year-old child in her home this week. There must be accountability for all the crimes and human rights violations that continue to be perpetrated in Myanmar.  We continue to call for maximum restraint.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), says its patrols helped prevented looting by armed groups in Markounda in Ouham prefecture yesterday.
The Mission has also increased patrols in parts of Nana Mambere prefecture following clashes between the country’s military and armed groups.
Earlier this week, the Mission helped to launch an awareness campaign on the peaceful movement of cattle, which can be a major driver of violence in the Central African Republic.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today said that 114 million children are still out of the classroom in the region. This is the world’s largest number of children without face-to-face schooling.
UNICEF said that, to date, only seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have fully opened their schools. In 12 countries and territories, schools remain fully closed. In the rest of the region, classrooms are partially closed.
During school closures, some 45 million students in 24 countries in the region have been supported by UNICEF in the provision of distance programmes, and nine million children, parents and primary caregivers have received mental health and psychosocial support in the community.

HONDURAS
From Honduras, the UN Resident Coordinator, Alice Shackelford, has condemned the assassination of Juan Carlos Cerros Escalante, an indigenous leader and climate activist. 
Ms. Shackelford and our human rights colleagues call for justice and for the protection of indigenous leaders and human rights defenders.

EL SALVADOR/COVAX
El Salvador has so far received 85,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses so far, and more are on the way. The UN team has been working for months with health authorities in the area of logistics, among many others. 
The first batches of vaccines will be given to health workers and people over the age of 50 living with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory diseases.

FORESTS/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today launched a report to show evidence of the key role that Indigenous and Tribal Peoples play in preserving forests and reducing carbon emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The report reveals that deforestation rates in the region are significantly lower in Indigenous and Tribal territories where governments have formally recognized collective territorial rights.  It argues that improving the tenure security of these territories is an efficient and cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions.

INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD/REPORT
The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) today launched its Annual Report for 2020, highlighting a global hidden epidemic of drug use among older people. 
According to the report, as the world population ages, the number of older people with drug use disorders has been increasing. However, this development has been largely overlooked. 
The International Narcotics Control Board also expressed concern about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global supply chain of medicines. The report noted that people with mental health and substance use disorders have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH DETAINED AND MISSING STAFF MEMBERS
Today is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General says that we recognize the extreme dangers encountered by so many colleagues as they carry out the vital work of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General notes that the threats vary -- from deliberate and deadly ambushes to kidnappings, intimidation and unlawful detention.  But the thread is the same, he adds. He emphasizes that these are unacceptable obstacles to fulfilling our mandates and advancing peace, sustainable development, human rights and humanitarian assistance around the globe.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION 
Benin has now paid its regular budget dues. This takes us to 76 fully paid-up Member States.