HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2021
SUDAN
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the ongoing military coup d’état in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudan’s political transition and stability. The Secretary-General calls for the immediate reconstitution of the governing arrangements provided for under the Constitutional Document.
The unlawful detention of the Prime Minister, government officials and politicians is unacceptable and contravenes the Constitutional Document and the partnership critical for the success of Sudan’s transition. The Secretary-General calls for the immediate release of the Prime Minister and all others who have been detained immediately.
Sudanese stakeholders must immediately return to dialogue, and engage in good faith to restore the constitutional order and Sudan’s transitional process.
The United Nations reiterates its unwavering commitment and support to the realization of Sudan’s political transition. Any attempts to undermine this transition process puts at risk Sudan’s security, stability and development.
The United Nations will continue to stand with the people of Sudan as they strive to fulfil their aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future.
ETHIOPIA
The UN remains extremely concerned about the continued escalation of hostilities in the northern part of the country, including new airstrikes over the weekend in Tigray.
Yesterday, two airstrikes were reported on a textile factory in Adwa Town. That’s in the Central Zone in Tigray, and in May Tsebri, a town in the North Western Zone of Tigray. According to reports, three civilians were injured in the airstrike in the town of May Tsebri. Our colleagues on the ground are verifying the details of the airstrikes and the impact on civilians.
Fighting has also reportedly continued in multiple locations in Amhara, leading to the displacement of thousands of people.
The UN continues to remind all the parties involved in this conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The UN also continues to call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate the free and sustained movement of humanitarian workers and supplies in Tigray, Afar and Amhara.
MIDDLE EAST
Yesterday, Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that he was deeply concerned by the continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This followed the announcement by the Israeli authorities of tenders for the construction of more than 1,300 housing units in the occupied West Bank.
Mr. Wennesland reiterated that all settlements are illegal under international law, remain a substantial obstacle to peace, and must cease immediately.
DSG TRAVELS
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrived in the United Arab Emirates to attend, on behalf of the Secretary-General, Expo 2020 and participate in the ceremony honouring UN Day. She also met with senior Government officials and the UN Country Team.
On Sunday, the Deputy Secretary-General traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate, on behalf of the Secretary-General, in the inaugural launch of the Middle East Green Initiative, which happened today in Riyadh. During her time in Saudi Arabia, the Deputy Secretary-General will meet with senior Government officials, UN officials and the leadership of the Islamic Development Bank.
She will be heading back to New York tomorrow.
TUNISIA
Rosemary DiCarlo [ Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs] was last week was in Libya and also in Tunisia. In Tunis, Ms. DiCarlo met with Tunisian Foreign Minister Jerandi, as well as the Resident Coordinator and members of the UN country team. Discussions with the authorities focused on regional developments and the situation in the country.
During her meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ms. DiCarlo expressed support for the people of Tunisia and for the consolidation of democracy in the country and reiterated the UN’s readiness to offer support for an inclusive dialogue process. She further commended the role of Tunisia as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
AFGHANISTAN
The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme today warned that more than half of the population of Afghanistan, that’s a record 22.8 million people, will face acute food insecurity starting in November. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, the combined impacts of drought, conflict, COVID-19 and the economic crisis have severely impacted lives, livelihoods, and people’s access to food.
The report reflects a 37 per cent increase in the number of Afghans facing acute hunger since the last assessment was issued in April of this year. Among those at risk are 3.2 million children under the age of five who are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by the end of this year.
This is just a further reminder of the need for donors to transform pledges into cash, so the UN can fund humanitarian activities throughout Afghanistan.
HAITI
In Haiti, humanitarians warn that lives are likely to be lost if fuel supplies do not reach hospitals immediately. Roadblocks are preventing the delivery of fuel, creating obstacles to the provision of essential services and are also preventing access by humanitarian workers.
Hospitals and medical centres are hit especially hard. In Port-au Prince, as well as other cities, hospitals are reporting extremely low fuel reserves needed to power the generators that keep services going.
In two of the capital’s major hospitals, pediatric services for 300 children, maternal health care for 45 women and critical care for 70 other patients will be interrupted if supplies are not received by tomorrow.
The UN is calling on all those who have an influence over the current situation to ensure that fuel supplies can be delivered to hospitals, and that humanitarian access to earthquake-impacted victims in the south-west is not further disrupted.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke in a video message to the event marking the 25th Anniversary of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.
He said that for 25 years, the Trust Fund has played an important role as the only global grant-making mechanism exclusively dedicated to eradicating violence against women. He congratulated the Fund for its record of support for over 600 initiatives led by civil society, in 140 countries and territories.
SECRETARY-GENERAL PRESS CONFERENCE \ LAUNCH OF EMISSIONS GAP REPORT
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will be in the Press Briefing room at 9:15 a.m. to launch the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report. He will be joined virtually by the Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen.
GREENHOUSE GAS BULLETIN
Today, the World Meteorological Organization released its Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, which says that abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere once again reached a new record last year, with the annual rate of increase above the 2011-2020 average.
The report says the economic slowdown from the pandemic did not have any discernible impact on the atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases and their growth rates, although there was a temporary decline in new emissions.
UNFCCC
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change today published an update to the synthesis of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The update confirms that the updated or new climate action plans can be effective in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG). However, the updated report also confirms that for all available NDCs of all 192 Parties taken together, a sizable increase, of about 16 per cent, in global greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 compared to 2010 is anticipated.
Patricia Espinosa, the Executive Director of the UNFCCC, urges countries to raise the level of ambition in their Nationally Determined Contributions, stressing that we are now nowhere near where science says we need to be.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The UN Mission in the Central African Republic is reporting that yesterday, five armed individuals attacked the village of Yene, which is located 60 km north of Paoua in the Ouham-Pende prefecture. Three civilians were killed during this attack and another one was injured. The person injured received medical treatment at the Peacekeeping base in the area. The UN Mission also dispatched a patrol to Yene to ensure the protection of civilians.
Meanwhile, on Friday, armed combatants from the UPC/CPC (Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique/Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement) attacked Central African soldiers in a village North-West of Bambari, in the Ouaka prefecture. One civilian was wounded. The following day, UN Peacekeepers patrolled the area where the attack took place and reported that relative calm had returned.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Tonga has become the 132rd Member State to pay its dues in full this year.
GUESTS TODAY
Volker Perthes, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Khartoum (UNITAMS) briefed reporters virtually from Khartoum.
Achim Steiner, the Administrator for UNDP, also briefed reporters on UNDP's 'Peoples’ Climate Vote'.
