SECRETARY-GENERAL/RIGHT TO A CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
This morning, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of its historic Resolution recognizing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. He says that this landmark development demonstrates that Member States can come together in our collective fight against the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
The Secretary-General says that the international community has given universal recognition to this right and brought us closer to making it a reality for all. He notes that the Resolution will help reduce environmental injustices, close protection gaps and empower people, especially those that are in vulnerable situations, including environmental human rights defenders, children, youth, women and indigenous peoples.
The Secretary-General added that the Resolution will also help States accelerate the implementation of their environmental and human rights obligations and commitments. However, he stresses, the adoption of the Resolution is only the beginning. He urges States to make the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment a reality for everyone, everywhere.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has also issued a statement on this.
JOINT COORDINATION CENTRE/ISTANBUL
In a statement we issued last night, the Secretary-General warmly welcomed the official inauguration of the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul earlier in the day.
He underscores the importance of the Parties working in partnership directly to effectively implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with a view to reducing global food insecurity.
The work of the JCC will enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world. This will help to effectively respond to and prevent rising global food insecurity.
Together with the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on promoting the access of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets, it will help reinstate confidence in the global food market and reduce food prices from their current levels.
UKRAINE
Further on Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues in the country are sounding the alarm about a new wave of shelling and airstrikes having a high impact on civilians across most of the country. Over the last 24 hours, at least 10 of the country’s 24 oblasts have experienced attacks, including intense fighting reported in the Donbas region, according to our partners on the ground and local authorities.
Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that in Donetska oblast, strikes and fighting have reportedly left many people killed or injured over the last 24 hours, on both sides of the front line. Yesterday, for example, a hotel was hit and completely destroyed in Bakhmut, in the Government-controlled areas of the oblast, leaving an unconfirmed number of people injured and at least one dead.
The situation is also critical in the southern Mykolaivska oblast, where civilians have endured daily shelling and airstrikes for more than a week. According to humanitarian security reports, Mykolaivska oblast has been impacted by attacks at least 184 times in July alone, which, besides damaging and destroying infrastructure, have killed over 20 civilians and injured more than 80 others.
In Luhanska oblast, although fighting has reduced since the Russian Federation forces and affiliated groups took control of most of the region, the humanitarian situation is reportedly increasingly critical.
The UN and its humanitarian partners have not had access to the region since early June, but reports we have received from local authorities say that access to water and sanitation services, as well as much-needed health care, is extremely limited.
Across Ukraine, we, along with our humanitarian partners, have provided critical assistance to more than 11 million people. However, insecurity and impediments imposed by the parties to the conflict are hampering operations and impacting our ability to provide life-saving assistance to those who are the most impacted by the war.
RESIDENT COORDINATORS
We have two new Resident Coordinators to announce today, following approval by the respective host governments.
The Development Coordination Office says in Ukraine, Denise Brown of Canada will take up her post as Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator on 30 July. In Kyrgyzstan, Antje Grawe of Germany will lead our UN team on the ground, starting 31 July.
You can find the full biographies of our newly appointed colleagues online.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TRAVELS
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, departed for Bridgetown, Barbados at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, who is Chair of the Development Committee and a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate.
They will co-host a High-level Retreat on the Global Financial Architecture for a World Facing Global Shocks. The meeting will seek to have an informal dialogue on taking stock of the international financial system, examining ways it needs to shift to serve the world we live in today, including opportunities for immediate action and longer-term changes to expand resource availability to enable countries to meet the SDGs, including their climate commitments.
The Deputy Secretary-General will return to New York on Monday.
YEMEN
Turning to Yemen, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that torrential rains and heavy flooding have hit several areas across Yemen over the last two weeks, causing extensive damage to public infrastructure, shelters for displaced people and other private property.
Across the country, approximately 86,000 people have been affected, including more than 10,000 families in Marib who had already been displaced by the war.
Humanitarian agencies are providing the worst affected families with emergency food, hygiene kits and other supplies.
So far, nearly 8,000 people have received assistance, and additional shelter support has also been provided to more than 1,600 families.
Flooding in Yemen is a seasonal threat. Unfortunately, many of the sectors in the Humanitarian Response Plan that address floods are drastically underfunded. For example, the shelter response has received only 18 per cent of its requirements so far. We urge all donors to increase support for the Yemen humanitarian response plan.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
We have an update from the Central African Republic where our peacekeeping mission continues to help build national capacity to protect civilians and promote security.
Training on the “Central African model community policing” is currently underway in Bangui with support from the Mission and the UN Development Programme. Twenty-seven heads of units of the Internal Security Forces, including five women, are participating in this training aimed at bringing the country’s security forces and the local population to work closer together to build trust and improve security. The training is expected to be rolled out in other cities, including Bambari, Bangassou, Berberati, Bouar and Sibut.
Meanwhile, peacekeepers report they have increased their presence and patrolling, including by carrying out more than 1,200 patrols this week throughout the country. In the east, protection efforts by peacekeepers to secure Bakouma, Birao, Bria, Nzako, Ouanda-Djallé and Rafai, are helping to improve the security situation and the resumption of economic activities there.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
I have a senior personnel announcement. Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Abdou Abarry of Niger as his Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).
Mr. Abarry succeeds François Louncény Fall of Guinea, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and excellent leadership of UNOCA over the past five and a half years.
Mr. Abarry brings extensive experience in the areas of politics and diplomacy. He is currently serving as Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations in New York, and you will find lots more on his career in a bio being shared with you now.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
We have an update now from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the situation remains tense and fragile as protestors continue to target UN peacekeeping bases, although to a lesser degree than in previous days.
We acknowledge the efforts of political and community actors to restore calm by urging people to refrain from violence against the mission. Particularly in Goma, Nyamilima, and Rwindi, the increased presence of national security forces near our compounds has helped deter violence directed at UN personnel and bases. The UN Mission (MONUSCO) is ready to work with the Congolese authorities to investigate incidents in which demonstrators lost their lives or were injured. The mission is also continuing its work with the authorities and people of the DRC to protect civilians, deter armed groups, and build the capacity of state institutions and services.
Today, MONUSCO remains on high alert and continues to work closely with local security forces and to engage with national authorities, civil society, and community groups to restore confidence and calm. At a camp in Uvira, protestors briefly breached the perimeter and damaged some vehicles. In Beni, protestors threw petrol bombs at our Boikene base, while an attempt to breach our Madiba compound was blocked. In a concerning development in Butembo in North Kivu, it has been reported that Mai Mai combatants have joined protestors to reinforce the demonstrations. Threats against the mission are also continuing to circulate on social media.
WORLD HEPATITIS DAY
Today is World Hepatitis Day, and this year’s theme is “Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to You.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that most acute hepatitis infections cause mild disease and even go undetected. But in some cases, they can lead to complications and can be fatal. In 2019 alone, an estimated 78,000 deaths occurred worldwide due to complications from acute hepatitis A to E infections.
***The guest at the Noon Briefing was Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
