HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST 2020
CLIMATE
Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General delivered the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture in India.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General stressed that clean energy and closing the energy access gap are good business and that they are the ticket to growth and prosperity.
He said continued support for fossil fuels in so many places around the world is deeply troubling and reiterated his call to all G20 countries, including India, to invest in clean, green transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This means ending fossil fuel subsidies, placing a price on carbon pollution and committing to no new coal after 2020,” he said.
He also noted that in India, subsidies for fossil fuels are still some seven times more than subsidies for clean energy, and research on G20 recovery packages shows that twice as much recovery money has been spent on fossil fuels as clean energy. Mr. Guterres underscored that this strategy will only further economic contraction and damaging health consequences and urged for a clean recovery.
He also called on India’s innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders to spearhead the global search for a solution to solar cooking at the household level, and on the country’s leaders to adopt the policies necessary to combat climate change.
SYRIA
Just an update on the Syria talks, which, as you know, resumed in Geneva yesterday. The Small Body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee met again today and intends to meet again tomorrow. As the Special Envoy, Geir Pedersen, has noted, there is a clear agenda for this session, and the discussions have been constructive. He said that useful points have been raised.
MIDDLE EAST
On the situation in Gaza, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, tweeted today that the situation in and around Gaza is rapidly deteriorating.
He said that militants continue to launch projectiles and incendiary devices. The tightening of closures is making life inside the Strip unbearable, with electricity down to 3 hours a day and hospitals barely functioning.
Mr. Mladenov noted that, while the situation in Gaza gets worse, there is a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases. With a failing health system, no electricity, unemployment soaring, continuing militant activity and closures, he said that he is very concerned that escalation is imminent.
Mr. Mladenov stressed that the Palestinian militants must immediately stop the launching of projectiles and incendiary devices.
He also said that Israel must restore fuel deliveries for electricity. Under the current circumstances, no mediation efforts to prevent escalation and improve the situation can succeed in these circumstances.
LEBANON
In Lebanon, we, along with our humanitarian partners, are now seeking $344 million to help 300,000 people with immediate life-saving needs, as well as to help move the country towards recovery, for the next three months following the Beirut explosions earlier this month.
The Flash Appeal, which was initially launched on 14 August, has been revised downward to reflect operational realities and evolving needs.
Aid agencies are focused on getting assistance to people who need it. Pledges from donors have been encouraging, but right now the Appeal is only 17 per cent funded.
Beyond humanitarian assistance, Lebanon requires substantial and long-term assistance to support reconstruction and economic recovery.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This evening, at 6:30 p.m., the Security Council is meeting to adopt resolutions on women in peacekeeping, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia.
DR. DENIS MUKWEGE/ THREATS
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today expressed deep concern over a recent death threats directed at the Congolese human rights defender and Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege. Ms. Bachelet called for swift action to investigate who is behind the threats and bring them to justice.
Dr. Mukwege founded and runs the Panzi hospital in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He has received threats in the past and survived a major assassination attempt in October 2012.
The recent alarming surge of threats against him have been conveyed via social media and in direct phone calls to him and his family.
The threats followed his condemnation of the continued killing of civilians in eastern DRC and his renewed calls for accountability for human rights violations and abuses.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO/MEASLES
We have updates from our Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator David McLachlan-Karr and the UN team in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They tell us that the measles outbreak in the country is now under control, with a nearly 90 per cent drop in weekly cases compared to last year.
7.5 million children were vaccinated during a two-year measles response campaign in the most affected areas—an initiative led by national and local authorities.
We, along with our partners and NGOs, contributed to the progress with vaccination, surveillance, case management, logistics and strengthening of routine immunization.
MADAGASCAR
In Madagascar, the UN Human Rights Office today said it is very concerned by reports of excessive use of force by security forces at a jail recently when 22 inmates were killed and eight injured during a mass escape.
This occurred amid concerns that Madagascar’s squalid and overcrowded detention facilities are a hotbed for the spread of COVID-19.
The UN Human Rights Office reminds the Malagasy authorities that the use of force must strictly comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination.
COVID-19/MYANMAR
In Myanmar, The UN team there, led by Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ola Almgren, is concerned by the spike in COVID-19 cases in Rakhine state.
The UN and our partners have reaffirmed our continued commitment to support Myanmar tackle challenges in Rakhine, including COVID-19. We have helped to increase preparedness for the pandemic in camps and sites for internally displace people across the country by distributing hygiene, personal protective equipment, and other supplies.
In Rakhine, the we along with our partners provided nearly 30,000 face masks, dozens of handwashing facilities, and food, water, sanitation and shelter for nearly 700,000 people. In Rakhine, UN colleagues and NGO staff have tested positive for COVID-19. They are receiving treatment and their contacts are under quarantine.
Our urgent work continues across the country and we continue to employ prevention measures.
Urgent work continues across the country and we continue to apply prevention measures.
PAKISTAN
In Pakistan, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that heavy monsoon rains and flooding have continued across Sindh province, affecting several districts.
The extent of impact, including casualties and damages to houses and crops, is still being verified as the continued heavy rains and flooding are hindering access and assessment.
Local authorities and humanitarian organizations are providing aid to those affected, while the military is carrying out rescue operations.
The UN and humanitarian partners will also support with needs assessments.
FLOODS/ETHIOPIA AND SUDAN
In Ethiopia, heavy rains continue to cause flooding in several parts in the country. Nearly 455,000 people have been impacted by the rains, forcing the displacement of 120,000 people.
We are working in support of the government-led response efforts, providing food, shelter and non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene to the impacted population, working alongside partners. At least 67,000 people have received emergency assistance.
And in neighboring Sudan, heavy rains and flash floods since mid-July have also affected more than 380,000 people and killed nearly 90 across 17 states.
More than 37,000 homes have been destroyed, forcing impacted families to seek shelter with relatives across communities. Also, many, many thousands of acres of crops have been lost.
The Government, UN agencies and our partners pre-positioned supplies to respond to the needs of 250,000 people before the rains started. But stocks are being depleted rapidly and more support, including from donors, is urgently needed.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE VICTIMS OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES
This Sunday, 30 August, is the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General said that the crime of enforced disappearance is rife across the world.
He notes that we see new cases almost daily, including the disappearance of defenders of the environment, who are often indigenous people. Meanwhile, the excruciating pain of old cases is still acute, as the fate of thousands of disappeared people remains unknown, making the crime a continuous presence in the lives of the loved ones of the lost.
For the Secretary-General, impunity compounds the suffering and anguish. Under international human rights law, families and societies have a right to know the truth, and he called on Member States to fulfil their responsibility.
WOMEN’S TOWN HALL
Next week, at 10 a.m. on Monday, the Secretary-General will hold a virtual Townhall Meeting with Women’s Civil Society groups in light of the COVID-19 crisis.
As you know, the Secretary-General’s annual consultation with women’s civil society during the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was postponed earlier this year due to the pandemic and the lockdown in New York. So, this townhall will provide an opportunity for women’s civil society groups to engage with the Secretary-General, share their experiences with him on the impact of the pandemic and their recommendations in addressing the crisis and building back better.
That event will live streamed on our UN WebTV.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Last, but not least, we say thank you to our friends in Uganda for their full payment to the regular budget, bringing us up to the magic number of 111 fully paid-up Member States.
