HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

FRIDAY, 30 APRIL 2021

CHIEF EXECUTIVES BOARD
On Tuesday, 4 May, the Secretary-General will bring together the heads of the UN system organizations in a virtual meeting of the Chief Executives Board (CEB) to reflect on current world affairs as they affect and relate to the United Nations system’s work. The Board will discuss salient emerging trends, opportunities and challenges facing the system, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic response, as well as risks for human rights, biodiversity, climate action, global economic prospects and deepening inequalities. 
The CEB members will engage in a dedicated discussion on current and emerging root causes of conflict, within the context of a comprehensive prevention agenda.

INDIA
On India, you will have seen that the Secretary-General tweeted that he and the UN family stand in solidarity with the people of the country as they face a horrific COVID-19 outbreak.
The Secretary-General said the UN stands ready to step up our support. And the Resident Coordinator in India, Renata Lok-Dessallien, shares the Secretary-General’s sentiments.
For its part, UNICEF has sent critical supplies, including 3,000 oxygen concentrators, diagnostic tests, medical kits, and other equipment, to India.
Dr. Yasmin Haque, the UNICEF Representative in India, said much more is needed as the outbreak continues to spread rapidly.
The agency is helping to procure and install oxygen plants for hospitals in the Northeast and in Maharashtra, as well as the installation of thermal scanners at ports of entry countrywide.
UNICEF has also been helping the Government to ensure that ensuring critical services for the most vulnerable children can continue functioning, as well as to help more than 12 million children in 17 states continue learning from home.

ISRAEL
The Secretary-General just tweeted that his heart goes out to the people of Israel following the terrible tragedy at Mount Meron. 
He offers his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

PALESTINE
Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, took note today of the Palestinian leadership’s decision to postpone Legislative Council elections scheduled for May 22. He said that he fully understands the disappointment of the many Palestinians who have so clearly expressed a desire to exercise their democratic rights after nearly 16 years without elections. 
Mr. Wennesland encouraged Palestinians to continue on the democratic path. He said that the holding of transparent and inclusive elections throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in East Jerusalem as stipulated in prior agreements, remains essential for renewing the legitimacy and credibility of Palestinian institutions and opening the path to re-establishing Palestinian national unity. He added that setting a new and timely date for elections would be an important step in reassuring the Palestinian people that their voices will be heard.

TAJIKISTAN/KYRGYZSTAN
The UN’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Natalia Gherman, held telephone conversations today with the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, to discuss the current situation at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.  
Ms. Gherman expressed deepest regret on the loss of life and injuries. The Special Representative welcomed the dialogue between the President of Tajikistan and the President of Kyrgyzstan and the resumption of the work of the intergovernmental commission on delimitation and demarcation of the border.
She expressed support regarding steps aimed at de-escalation of the situation and urged the two governments to intensify efforts to find a long-term solution to border disputes through peaceful means. 

SOUTH SUDAN
In South Sudan, on Wednesday, humanitarian staff from a United Nations agency and a national non-governmental organization were physically assaulted by youth in separate incidents in the town of Torit in Eastern Equatoria.
Meanwhile, on 24 April, in Jamjang in Ruweng Administrative Area, some youths entered an international NGO compound and physically attacked staff, resulting in multiple injuries.
These attacks come amid high levels of youth unemployment in the country and their demands to be hired by humanitarian organizations.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudéhou, said that attacks against aid organizations are completely unacceptable and must stop. He urged authorities and communities to guarantee the safety and security of aid workers, and the Government to enforce law and order.

SUDAN
In Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the security situation in the town of Ag Geneina in western Darfur is stable, but remains tense and unpredictable.
More than 230,000 people were displaced by the conflict in Darfur since the beginning of this year which is more than four times the 53,000 people displaced by the conflict in all of 2020.
The top needs of the those who have been newly displaced are food, protection, shelter and water, among others.
The UN and its partners continue to scale up their response. As of yesterday, and since the start of the current conflict in January, we have reached more than 100,000 people with food assistance; 65,000 people with health services; and 64,000 people with emergency shelter and other supplies.
The UN warns that, with the rainy season approaching, scaling up the humanitarian response would be a major challenge given the current capacity limitations and shortage of funding. So far, the Humanitarian Response Plan is only 10 per cent funded.

MOZAMBIQUE
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today said that is deeply concerned by the humanitarian consequences of the rapid escalation of violence in northern Mozambique, where some 30,000 people have fled the coastal town of Palma since it came under attack by armed groups on the 24th of March.
According to UNHCR, the ongoing armed conflict in the oil- and gas-rich Cabo Delgado province has resulted in grave rights abuses, the disruption of critical services and severe impact on civilians. Some people are still fleeing Palma, but with only a few evacuation routes remaining open, UNHCR is worried for those who are unable to leave the area.
Today, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also expressed concern about the continued exodus of civilians from insecure areas of Cabo Delgado province. IOM said that at least three-quarters of the displaced people from Palma are women and children.
 
MYANMAR/POVERTY
On Myanmar, a new report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) says that the number of poor people in the country could double due to combined impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing political crisis.
The report says that 12 million more people could be pushed into poverty, resulting in 25 million people – nearly half of Myanmar’s population – living below the poverty line by early 2022.
This comes after more than a decade of progress in reducing poverty in Myanmar.
The UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, said that, without functioning democratic institutions, Myanmar faces a tragic and avoidable backslide towards levels of poverty not seen in a generation.

BOLIVIA/COVID-19
Bolivia received 92,000 vaccine doses a couple of days ago. This is the second COVAX-backed shipment to the country. This is an effort led by authorities in partnership with the UN team, especially the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the UN Children’s Fund. This brings the total number of COVAX-backed doses to over 320,000, supporting the national vaccination scheme with priority given to at-risk groups, especially health workers, older adults and those people with other medical conditions.

COVID-19/BRAZIL
In Brazil, the UN team continues to support national and local authorities to address the multiple impacts of the pandemic, particularly in the Amazon region. The International Organization for Migration conducted a 10-day training on malaria and prevention of COVID-19 for indigenous health workers from the Yanomami community in the northern state of Amazonas.
In the state capital Manaus, one of the cities most impacted by the pandemic, the IOM team continues working with authorities to provide health care to indigenous and riverside communities. IOM has also provided medical care to 200 refugees, migrants, and the host community in the past 15 days.
With UNICEF's support, a Young Indigenous Communicators Network in the Amazon region launched a podcast series "Amazon Indigenous Voices" on Spotify. They produced six episodes addressing vulnerabilities of indigenous peoples during the pandemic.
The UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF are working with local authorities in the northern state of Pará, establishing a Committee of Reception and Assistance to Warao people. This is an opportunity to address the needs of indigenous peoples, including relocation where needed. 

AIDS/REPORT
Today, the Secretary-General has released a new report with recommendations and targets to get the world back on track to end AIDS. He warned that despite intensive action and progress made against HIV in some places and population groups, HIV epidemics continue to expand in others and he issued a set of 10 key recommendations. He urged the world to address the inequalities that are slowing progress.
According to the report, the 1.7 million new HIV infections that occurred in 2019 are more than three times higher than the 2020 target of less than 500,000 new infections. In addition, the 690,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2019 far exceed the 2020 target of reducing deaths to fewer than 500,000 a year.
The report also notes that COVID-19 has caused additional setbacks. The Secretary-General warned that COVID-19 is not an excuse for missing AIDS targets, but rather a stark warning to the countries that they can no longer afford to underinvest in pandemic preparedness and responses.
 
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY
Today is the tenth anniversary of International Jazz Day. In his message to mark the day, the Secretary-General recalled jazz’s historic role in the struggle against racism and discrimination. He also highlighted how this art form continues to unite cultures across the globe.
But, he added, amid a global pandemic, performers and workers dependent on the creative arts are suffering. The Secretary-General reiterated the importance of restoring our vibrant societies as safely, equitably and quickly as possible.
Tune in at 5 p.m. on jazzday.com for an all-star Global concert that will include performances from New York, Paris, Cape Town, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities around the world.
The concert will feature artists from over 20 countries, including Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Lovano, Angelique Kidjo and many more.

WORLD TUNA DAY
Sunday, 2 May, is World Tuna Day. The purpose of the day is to highlight the importance of sustainably managed fish stocks in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

PRESS BRIEFING MONDAY
On Monday, at 3.30 p.m., Ambassador Zhang Jun, the Permanent Representative of China and President of the Security Council for May, will be in the Press Briefing Room to brief on the Council’s programme of work for the month.

CONTRIBUTIONS
The United Kingdom has paid its Regular Budget dues in full.  This takes the number of fully paid-up Member States to 98.