HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2024
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch today of a long-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The DPRK’s continued launches of missiles using ballistic missile technology are clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Secretary-General remains concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He has consistently called for de-escalation and the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, as well as for an environment that is conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of talks.
Diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
UNIFIL
In Lebanon, Blue Helmets - who remain at their positions and continue their essential work to monitor and report to us and the international community what is actually happening on the ground, tell us that intense clashes between Hizbullah and the Israel Defence Forces have been reported in the Khiam area in UNIFIL’s Sector East.
The Israeli Defence Forces have continued to strike areas across Lebanon, including in the south, Baalbek and near Beirut, with multiple casualties reported. Hizbullah’s rocket fire has reportedly killed five people today near Metula in northern Israel.
Yesterday, a UNIFIL position near the Blue Line, south of the Shab’a village (Sector East) sustained minor damage to its barracks and a vehicle due to a nearby explosion.
We once again remind all involved in this conflict of the inviolability of UN premises, and those premises must be respected, as well as our peacekeepers, both uniformed and civilians.
The intensifying hostilities are, of course, extremely concerning. We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and avail themselves of the diplomatic initiatives to end this conflict. We continue to support efforts towards de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.
The UN peacekeeping mission also remains focused on helping local communities. This week, they delivered essential humanitarian aid to the Municipality of Tyre amid a challenging situation in south Lebanon. The aid included medical devices as well as medicines.
Lebanon/Humanitarian
On the humanitarian front, as in many conflicts, children and woman bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities.
In a statement today, UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, said that 166 children have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023, that is what Lebanese authorities are telling UNICEF, while thousands of others have been injured.
UNICEF is on the ground providing emergency psychological support to thousands of children and their caregivers.
For its part, the UN Population Fund says the conflict is also impacting more than 10,000 pregnant women including 1,300 who are expecting to give birth soon amid significant damage to infrastructure and a health system that is extremely strained.
The displacement crisis remains a key issue. Our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that today, the Israeli army issued new orders for people to leave their homes in several villages as well as in the Rashiedeh Palestinian refugee camp, which is located in the south. This is the first time the Israeli army has called for the evacuation of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.
OCHA says that yesterday’s displacement orders and strikes in Baalbek and surrounding areas have forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Many of them spent the night in their vehicles.
And yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, visited Akkar in Tripoli, which currently hosts around 70,000 people who have been forced to flee, and are in conditions that you can only imagine.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that the scale of destruction is overwhelming, affecting nearly every area of the Gaza Strip. In the north, intense hostilities continue, especially in Jabalya, Beit Lahya and Beit Hanoun.
OCHA tells us that the third floor of the Kamal Adwan Hospital was bombed today, resulting in the loss of medical supplies that was delivered just five days ago, and the delivery had been done by the United Nations through a joint mission with the World Health Organization, with the support of OCHA. Hospitals are under assault and rescue teams are unable to work, due to the arrests of personnel and the confiscation of essential equipment, including ambulances and a fire truck.
Meanwhile, forced displacement continues to be reported.
According to our partners, some 300 Palestinians were displaced today from the north to the south through the Al Rashid checkpoint. This included women, children and the elderly. Within northern Gaza, Palestinians staying around the Indonesian hospital and Tal Al Arabi school in the Al Fakhoura area were displaced today to Beit Lahya.
Since the start of this latest ground operation in the north on 6 October, about 100,000 people have been displaced from North Gaza Governorate to Gaza City.
OCHA also tells us that, aside from limited missions, almost no aid operations have been permitted into [North] Gaza, where dwindling supplies, high casualties, frequent airstrikes on healthcare facilities, and widespread displacement continue to worsen an already dramatic humanitarian situation.
The siege surrounding Jabalya refugee camp and nearby areas remains in effect.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, OCHA tells us that three Palestinians were killed during the Israeli raids in Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps yesterday and today. One of the raids involved an airstrike, armed clashes and extensive damage to infrastructure, with medical teams facing prolonged access delays while water, electricity and internet services were also disrupted. Since 7 October of last year, 736 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; at least 12 people were killed by Israeli settlers and the rest mostly by Israeli forces. During the same period, 23 Israelis – comprising 16 members of Israeli forces and six settlers – were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, between 1 and 28 of this month [October]. OCHA also documented nearly 270 settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians and their property, with more than half directly linked to the olive harvest.
Ukraine
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, today strongly condemned the deadly attack in Kharkiv City last night.
First responders and humanitarian organizations provided medical and psychological aid, distributed hot meals, as well as shelter materials.
In the last 24 hours alone, scores of civilians have been killed and injured across the country amid attacks in Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk, Sumy and Dnipro regions. Those attacks damaged civilian infrastructure, as we are told by local authorities.
This latest wave of attacks comes just one day after Mr. Schmale briefed Member States and urged support for Ukrainians who are facing increased risks, displacement and uncertainty, as winter is approaching.
The continued damage to energy infrastructure due to attacks could increase the challenges civilians will face as winter approaches.
We and our partners are working closely with the Government to assist 1.8 million people this winter. Mr. Schmale called for early funding of the winter response plan to ensure timely life-saving assistance, especially in front-line areas.
Security Council
Also related to Ukraine, this morning, the Security Council heard a briefing on threats to international peace and security.
Briefing on our behalf was Adedeji Ebo, the Director and Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. He said that as we approach the tragic milestone of 1,000 days since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, we continue to witness unimaginable levels of civilian deaths and injuries with escalating Russian attacks reported across the country.
He urged all concerned to refrain from any steps that may lead to further spillover and intensification of the war.
He also reiterated our support for all meaningful efforts to bring a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law, the UN Charter, and relevant General Assembly resolutions.
Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed is in Doha for the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family Conference, focusing on family and contemporary megatrends. Yesterday, she met with Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser to discuss the importance of quality education and the need to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She also had a number of other events.
She met today with the Finance Minister, Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari. They discussed various issues, including ways to better address the debt crisis. She then visited the Al Thumama Complex, where she interacted with Palestinian women and children. During her visit, she had the opportunity to sit with the women and participate in a number of activities that are part of psychosocial support.
Cuba
In Cuba, in the wake of the Hurricane [Oscar] that hit Cuba, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has released $3.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. That is to address urgent needs in the areas of shelter, health, food and water. This allocation follows an earlier release of an Emergency Cash Grant [from OCHA] of $100,000 to immediately deliver essential items.
The Resident Coordinator, Francisco Pichón, together with OCHA, the World Food Programme and UNICEF, as well as authorities and first responders, visited areas impacted by the hurricane over the last couple of days.
They reported that widespread flooding is making rescue operations and people’s ability to access essential services – such as water, food and health care – extremely challenging, with ongoing power outages and damages to roads further disrupting communications and the response.
We are supporting the Government-led response, including through distribution of pre-positioned food, medicine and hygiene kits, and other essential supplies.
Assistance will expand tomorrow when a $33 million Action Plan is launched. This new Plan aims to reach 478,000 people impacted.
South Sudan
In South Sudan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of our peacekeeping mission there, Nicholas “Fink” Haysom, urged political leaders to produce a clear and realistic workplan for implementing outstanding provisions of the peace agreement.
“The clock is ticking”, he warned at a meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, adding that limited progress has been made since the Government announced an extension of the transitional period and delayed elections back in September.
West and Central Africa
The UN Refugee Agency is appealing for $10.6 million to address the most pressing needs of 228,000 displaced people as well as their host communities across West and Central Africa. This funding will be used as part of the response to the torrential rains and floods that have impacted over 5.1 million people in the region. It will provide support, including protection, shelter and emergency relief items, and will also strengthen preparedness activities.
UNHCR says the climate crisis is worsening existing vulnerabilities and triggering new waves of displacement in regions already hosting large numbers of people uprooted by conflict and insecurity. Currently, 14 million people are forcibly displaced across West and Central Africa, double the number reported in 2019.
World Cities Day
Lastly, today is World Cities Day. In his message, the Secretary-General said that with more than half of the world’s population and 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, cities are at the forefront of fighting climate change.
The energy and vision of youth leading the charge is part of the change that we need.
Guest briefing
Nicholas Koumjian, the Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, briefed reporters on the situation in Myanmar.
Briefings tomorrow
Tomorrow, there will be a briefing at 11 o’clock by Omar Zniber, the President of the Human Rights Council.
Then, at 1 pm, there will be a briefing by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom and the President of the Security Council for the month of November.
Lastly, after that, there will be a briefing by Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.
