HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2023
GAZA
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued an urgent plea today to all States with influence to take steps to defuse the “powder keg” situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He stressed that international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be respected in all circumstances.
He said that all parties must immediately cease attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects.
The High Commissioner called on Palestinian armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who were captured and are still being held. And he added that the imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Lynn Hastings, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said today that Israeli authorities have cut their water supply to Gaza, reducing an already scarce availability of potable water. And in accordance with the complete siege ordered by the Israeli Government on Gaza, access to electricity, food, and fuel have also been severed, inevitably worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. Palestinians in Gaza now only have electricity to 3-4 hours per day. This hinders the ability of health facilities to function and treat those injured, she noted.
She said that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are working to meet acute needs, in particular shelter, in dangerous circumstances. However, access for humanitarian staff and supplies into Gaza has also been cut and the intensity of the hostilities is limiting the ability of staff to deliver aid.
Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed with mass casualties and are running low on medical supplies. Ambulances are running out of fuel. Moreover, healthcare facilities and personnel have been affected by the attacks: Since hostilities began, eight health care facilities in Gaza have been damaged.
UN RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reports that mass displacement rapidly increased in the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip. OCHA has reported that in Gaza, at least 200,000 of the 2.2 million residents have been displaced after fleeing for fear of their lives or their houses were destroyed by airstrikes.
Nearly 137,500 internally displaced people (IDPs) are sheltering in 83 UNRWA schools in all areas of the Gaza Strip. As heavy airstrikes continue, more and more IDPs seek shelter in UNRWA’s schools. Every effort is being made to provide basic services to the IDPs. However, the conditions are difficult, with some shelters overcrowded, and with limited availability of potable water.
In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), bread was distributed to the displaced people in the shelters.
Last night, a building housing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters in Gaza City sustained significant damage as a result of airstrikes nearby. All UN international staff present in Gaza are taking shelter in another building within the same compound.
UNRWA did not record any casualties among its staff during this incident. However, two UNRWA staff members and five UNRWA students have been killed since 7 October. United Nations buildings and facilities must be protected at all times, including in times of conflict.
FIFTH COMMITTEE
The Secretary-General this morning introduced the proposed programme budget for 2024 at the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly. He said that this budget is being put forward as we face challenges on every front. The role of the United Nations has never been more vital – and we are stepping up our efforts.
To fully implement our mandates, the Secretary-General said, we will require a total of $3.3 billion dollars. This includes a total of 10,334 posts, a net increase of 199, excluding special political missions. Most of the additionalposts are required to implement new inter-governmental mandates.
Mr. Guterres warned that the UN’s liquidity situation has worsened this year with lesser collections through the end of the third quarter. Specifically, we have collected only 64 per cent this year compared to 71.9 per cent in 2022 and 82.7 per cent in 2021. He called on Member States to pay their dues fully and on time.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed concluded her three-day visit to Iceland today. During her visit, Ms. Mohammed held a number of bilateral meetings with senior government officials, including President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir.
In her engagements, Ms. Mohammed highlighted the role of Iceland - as well as the wider group of small States - in advancing multilateral solutions to key issues facing the world including climate change, global peace and security, and the need to reform the international financing architecture to better service people and the planet. She also exchanged views on these issues with parliamentarians and young people.
Ms. Mohammed visited areas affected by the climate crisis, including Iceland’s second largest (and fast melting) glacier, Langjökull, and the Ice Cave. With less than two months until COP28, she called for action for those on the frontlines.
Earlier today, the Deputy Secretary-General attended the Imagine Forum: Nordic Solidarity for Peace event. She stressed that the rise of conflicts and unsettling developments of the last few days should not be a reason for the international community to give up but rather stepping up to restore peace.
Ms. Mohammed outlined that creating a peaceful future for all requires doubling down on sustainable development and reinvigorating multilateralism. Among other things, she underscored the need to end the wars across regions and on nature, which is exacerbating conflicts and challenges.
Ms. Mohammed left today to Marrakech, Morocco, for the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
AFGHANISTAN
In Afghanistan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that aftershocks continue three days after the earthquake which struck Herat Province and affected more than 12,000 people. The district of Zindajan is the worst affected area, with more than 1,300 people killed and nearly 500 people still reported missing, according to community-level assessments. The latest UN satellite imagery also indicates extreme levels of destruction in the district of Injil.
The UN, along with its partners, are on the ground and providing assistance.
The World Food Programme (WFP) distributed high-energy biscuits to more than 450 households in Zindajan district and dispatched 75 tons of foods to Zindajan and Gularan districts. Health partners are providing emergency trauma care in Herat Regional Hospital - which is the main referral hospital - as well as primary healthcare and mental health support in affected villages.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has responded with an initial delivery of 250 tents and 1,190 blankets to families. Some 1,050 Core Relief Items will be distributed to households who have lost everything including kitchen sets and basic hygiene items.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also delivered emergency shelter tents, non-food items and repair tool kits and water trucks. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has distributed hygiene kits and soaps and is providing water trucking. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has also provided dignity kits and mother and baby kits to affected communities and is also providing specialized counselling.
OCHA warns that children are particularly vulnerable and have suffered severe psychological distress from the earthquake. They require mental health and psychosocial support.
MYANMAR
The UN is alarmed by reported attacks on a camp for displaced people in Kachin State. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, according to reports from humanitarian partners, 30 internally displaced people and other civilians were killed and dozens more injured. This incident affected a village and an adjacent displacement camp which is home to more than 6,000 people.
Kachin has seen an escalation in fighting over recent months driving a surge in displacement, as well as worsening needs and protection concerns.
Humanitarian organizations have faced severe access restrictions in this part of Kachin for many years. UN partners need unimpeded and safe access to deliver timely and efficient assistance to displaced communities.
Yesterday’s incident underscores the dangers faced by the nearly two million people who are now displaced in Myanmar, including 1.7 million people who have fled their homes as a result of conflict and insecurity since February 2021.
The Humanitarian Response Plan for Myanmar, which calls for nearly $890 million, is just 28 per cent funded.
IRAQ
This morning, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and head of the UN Assistance Mission there, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, briefed Security Council members on recent developments in Iraq and the Secretary-General’s latest report on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
She noted that long-awaited reforms in the banking and finance sectors are now underway, adding that the Iraqi parliament adopted the Federal Budget Law, which represents the highest proportionate allocation to the delivery of social services yet, and will hopefully expand access to healthcare, education and other services.
RUSSIA
Yesterday in Moscow, the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan, and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths (who appeared by video link) continued consultations with the Russian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vershinin. They focused on global food security.
Following the meeting in Moscow, Ms. Grynspan and Mr. Griffiths today held further consultations on the same issue with the Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Burak Akçapar, in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The UN team noted that in an increasingly hungry world, all food supplies matter, and exports of agricultural products from the Black Sea remain critical to support global food security.
The UN reiterated its determination to continue its efforts to facilitate unimpeded exports of food and fertilizer from Ukraine and the Russian Federation to global markets.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) today said that joint operations with the Congolese armed forces against the CODECO militia are continuing in Ituri’s Djugu territory. These operations were launched last week in response to threats against civilians and the presence of CODECO members in the area.
This collaboration with the Congolese armed forces, involves joint patrols, sharing of critical information, reinforcing military presence in affected areas, and establishing a protective perimeter around sites hosting internally displaced people. The joint efforts aim to halt ongoing clashes, protect civilians and safeguard sites hosting tens of thousands of people displaced in Ituri province.
Separately, the Mission reports that in Ituri’s Rethy village, peacekeepers facilitated the release of seven civilians that had been held by CODECO since the end of August.
MENTAL HEALTH DAY
Today is World Mental Health Day. The theme this year is ‘Mental health is a universal human right”. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General says Mental health is not a privilege but a fundamental human right – and must be part of universal health coverage.
