HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

THURSDAY, 13 APRIL 2023

 
DPRK  
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch of yet another long-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 
The Secretary-General reiterates his calls on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully comply with its international obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions, to reopen communication channels, and to resume dialogue leading to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 
 
SOMALIA 
Somalia has now been affected by flooding – which has now affected some 175,000 people. That’s up from 100,000 just two weeks ago. Overall, 140,000 men, women and children have been displaced due to the flooding.  
Our colleagues on the ground tell us that the floods have destroyed shelters and farmland and washed away livestock. Roads have been damaged and schools closed. The worst affected areas are the Baard-heere district in Jubaland State and Baidoa in Southwest State, where the Secretary-General was. 
We and our humanitarian colleagues are concerned that the rains could worsen outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Since January, at least 4,000 suspected cholera cases have been reported and 17 people have reportedly died of cholera.  
If the rains continue, the flooding could impact as many as 1.6 million people, potentially displacing more than 600,000 people. 
We and our partners are responding with assistance for more than 100,000 men, women and children – including food, shelter, cash assistance and hygiene kits. We are also rehabilitating latrines and pre-positioning cholera kits and investigation tools – and tracing tools for cholera and other diseases.  
But there’s still an urgent need for food, shelter, health and other items. The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023 for Somalia of $2.6 billion is only 15 percent funded. We urge donors to pledge and to fund this appeal.  

WORLD CHAGAS DISEASE DAY  
Today is the World Chagas Disease Day, and the theme for this year is “Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care”.   
The disease can lead to severe cardiac and digestive alterations and become fatal, but the infected majority have no symptoms or extremely mild symptoms, which is why it also often termed as the “silent or silenced disease”. So, it is essential to raise awareness to improve the rates of early treatment and cure. 

PRAYER FOR PEACE 
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will be joined by religious leaders to hold a special ‘Prayer for Peace’ moment here at UN Headquarters. 
With Ramadan, Easter and Passover, as well as the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, all coinciding this month, the Secretary-General wants to spotlight the importance of peace at a time of so much conflict and suffering around the world. 
The event will take place outside, in front of the Knotted Gun sculpture, on the Visitors Plaza, at 12:30pm. 
You are all invited, as well as Delegates, staff and visitors.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION  
Saudi Arabia is the 91st Member States to pay its dues to the UN regular budget.

NOON BRIEFING GUEST TODAY 
Máximo Torero, the Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), briefed reporters on the latest report by FAO on the Status of Women in Agrifood Systems.