HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 2023
SECURITY COUNCIL/UKRAINE
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine. Briefing Council members, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, said that as we are all only too aware, the killing, destruction and suffering continue unabated in Ukraine.
Ms. DiCarlo noted that the most significant destruction of civilian infrastructure to date took place on 6 June when the Kakhovka Dam was damaged. She pointed out that, as part of our immediate response to the incident, the UN and humanitarian partners have rushed to deliver supplies and evacuation support for hundreds of thousands of people in the affected area.
Ms. DiCarlo said that there are still people we are unable to reach, and the Russian Federation has so far declined our request to go to these areas.
She stressed that aid cannot be denied to people who need it and urged the Russian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure safe and unfettered access to all areas in need.
The Under-Secretary-General also noted that since its signing in July last year, the Black Sea Initiative has enabled the safe transportation of over 32 million metric tons of foodstuffs. We are, however, disappointed by the slowing pace of the implementation of the Initiative, she said, urging that all obstacles be removed to ensure the continuation of this agreement.
UKRAINE
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs continues to support the communities impacted by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Two inter-agency convoys - one yesterday and one today - delivered aid to more than 3,000 civilians in four villages of the Tiahynka community, in the Kherson region. The supplies included water and water purification tabs, 30-day food rations, medical supplies and hygiene and shelter kits, among others.
Our humanitarian colleagues note that most of the people in these villages are older people from rural communities impacted by the flooding, which destroyed homes and disrupted critical services, including water, gas and electricity supplies. These communities have already been enduring the heavy impact of hostilities, which left them without electricity since November last year. The only source of water has been community boreholes, which are no longer safe due to contamination after the flooding.
The latest supplies in the two recent convoys were provided by the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and World Vision International. In addition to this, dozens of aid organizations, including UN agencies and NGOs, have been working since day one to support people, complementing the work of local groups and volunteers.
SIERRA LEONE
The Secretary-General is following with concern developments in Sierra Leone in the run-up to the 24 June elections. He calls on all political actors and their supporters to adhere to the 25 May presidential candidates’ peace pledge, and to contribute to the holding of transparent, credible and peaceful elections.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, arrived in Freetown yesterday to engage with key political leaders, in collaboration with the African Union, ECOWAS and other international partners.
The Secretary-General reaffirms the United Nations’ commitment to continue supporting the Government and people of Sierra Leone in their efforts to consolidate peace, democracy and development.
DSG TRAVELS
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will depart this weekend to undertake an official visit to China in a series of engagements with Government and business leaders, as well as other key stakeholders, to strengthen cooperation in the areas of financing for sustainable development and climate action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During her trip, Ms. Mohammed is expected to visit projects focused on addressing climate change, technology and biodiversity conservation.
The Deputy Secretary-General will then continue to Bangladesh to engage with the Government and other stakeholders in discussions on climate action and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at their crucial mid-way point, to galvanize support for the Summit in September 2023.
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
And also on Bangladesh, we have a trip announcement from our peacekeeping colleagues.
Starting today and until 26 June, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will be travelling to Dhaka, Bangladesh to attend the first UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Meeting. This is the first of a series of four themed conferences ahead of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, to be held in Accra, Ghana, on 5 and 6 December 2023.
The theme of the preparatory meeting, which is co-hosted by Bangladesh, Canada, and Uruguay is “Women in UN Peacekeeping”.
The two-day meeting will welcome representatives from troop and police contributing countries, and UN Peacekeeping experts to discuss progress, challenges and good practices to promote women’s meaningful participation in UN peacekeeping and to foster gender-responsive leadership.
After Bangladesh, Mr. Lacroix will travel to Nepal and Bhutan from 27 June to 3 July. He will discuss the countries’ ongoing support to UN peace operations, including within the framework of the Peacekeeping Ministerial.
EGYPT
In Egypt, our team, led by Resident Coordinator Elena Panova, is addressing food insecurity challenges, worsened by disrupted grain exports from Russia and Ukraine and increasing fuel import costs.
Our team has been supporting vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, and the impoverished, through cash transfers, vouchers, and food distribution.
During just the first four months of this year, we provided nearly 130 metric tonnes of food, and this assistance has intensified over the past three months due to the Sudan conflict. To date, more than 120,000 displaced Sudanese families in Egypt receive essential aid, such as food, water, health services, and cash assistance.
The team is also supporting some 4,600 vulnerable smallholder farmers by providing fertilizers, loans, and training to improve their livelihoods.
The World Food Programme is also distributing daily snacks to primary school students and fortified date bars to 118,000 community school children in 11 local governments.
PEACEBUILDING DAY
Today is Peacebuilding Day. In her video message, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar, underscores the critical need to increase efforts to address root causes of conflict and invest in peacebuilding.
In this regard, the significance of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture has never been greater. Since 2006, the UN Peacebuilding Commission has provided political accompaniment and support for a growing number of countries and regions in their peacebuilding efforts. The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund remains the leading instrument for investing in peacebuilding.
The Secretary-General’s proposed New Agenda for Peace, currently under development, presents an excellent opportunity to prioritize prevention and peacebuilding.
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is the United Nations Public Service Day. In his message to mark the occasion, the Secretary-General says that public servants and the institutions they support will be increasingly critical as the world accelerates action towards the Sustainable Development Goals, which are badly off track.
Today is also International Widow’s Day. There are more than 258 million widows around the world, but historically they’ve been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies.
Tomorrow is the International Day for Women in Diplomacy, which is a reminder that women’s leadership styles, expertise and priorities broaden the quality of outcomes.
And Sunday is the Day of the Seafarer. This year’s campaign will look at seafarers' contribution to protecting the marine environment.
NOON GUEST MONDAY
Monday, Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will brief reporters on her recent mission to Haiti.
